Colombian finds americans lack knowledge of other cultures
new radio program
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Photo by Tim Ford
Carlos Jimenez is cofounder and president of the UNL Latin American Association.
by paula dittrick
Carlos Jimenez is a city boy from
Colombia studying agriculture at UNL.
Cofounder and president of the UNL Latin
American Association, he described Nebra
skans as shy and hard to get to know.
He said he helped organize the associa
tion because he saw a need for Latin
Americans and their friends "to get united.
It's a survival type of thing."
The association has about 50 members.
Membership is open to anyone. Jimenez
said the American members are girl
friends and boyfriends of Latin American
members.
The .-gronomy and horticulture senior
said he found many east campus students
came from the same towns and had gone to
high school together before coming to
UNL. He said a foreigner has trouble be
coming part of such a group.
"I feel students here are not taking real
advantage of foreign people," Jimenez said.
Many students do not try to learn about
the foreign students' culture.
He said he was urged to join American
groups. However he said he believed Ameri
cans also need to try to get to know him.
He described Nebraskans as "real nice"
once he got to know them, but he criti
cized the American government for not
teaching students more about other
cultures. He said he had to learn English
and French before graduating from high
school .
Jimenez urged everyone to go overseas
to live and use a foreign language. He said
in America he encountered a cultural
differences and had to learn the ways of
this country. He said in America he en
countered a cultural difference and had to
learn the ways of his country.
he said he had no trouble getting per
mission to study in the United States be
cause of some people in Florida who had
been in the Peace Corps and who had lived
in his house in Colombia. He also has
relatives living in North Platte.
Jimenez said it is hard to get an educa-
congratulating him about the show.
"This community likes the Latin Amer
ican movement," said the UNL junior.
"Whatever I have tried to do. they (Ameri
cans) have responded to me."
He said he worried about how his accent
would transmit but he was told listeners
like the accent because it assures them "a
real Latin American guy" is producing the
show .
The program has included guests dis
cussing different issues about various Latin
American countries. He said these speakers
live in Lincoln but added that he hopes to
recruit speakers from other universities.
His musical ensemble, Venezuelan Style
is composed of UNL Venezuelan students,
who have temporarily disbanded to
concentrate on their studies, Siso said.
nezuelan Style qualified for the nat
ional finals of the "Bob Hope Search for
the Top in Collegiate Talent." However,
the members already had made plans to
return home for Christmas and missed the
Jan. 4 final competition.
Siso said he never expected the group or
his radio show to be received so warmly.
He added that he has not done anything to
promote the radio program.
Lincoln East High and Pius X high
school Spanish classes have been instructed
to listen to his program, Siso said.
Calling himself a cultural ambassador
for his country, he said he asked KZUM
board of directors about producing a Latin
American program.
He was told to bring a sample program
which the board approved. The non
commercial station finances itself by
soliciting donations through subscription
memberships. Siso said the program cost
him nothing.
Siso said he had no broadcast exper
ience before the show. "I like it. I need a
lot of experience, but I know what I'm
doing." he said. He does all the planning
himself.
Siso said Americans have been open to
his ideas and he has not run into any
stereotype difficulties.
"I don't belong to the government. I
don't represent the government. You repre
sent your country or your love for the
country."
tion in Colombia because students often
strike at the government owned agri
culture schools. He said it would take him
about three more years to graduate in
Colombia than it will take at UNL because
of problems in his country.
He described most Latin Americans as
being pleased about the Panama Canal
treaties. However, he said he thought 20
years was too long to wait until the canal is
turned over to Panama.
The U.S. Senate ratified a treaty con
cerning canal neutrality after the year 2000
when Panama is slated to take control of
the canal. The second treaty established
the process for turning the canal over to
Panama.
Jimenez said his country has a proverty
problem and lacks a strong educational
system. He added that unemployment is
high and the government does not
subsidize the farmers.
He said he agreed with the American
Farm Movement but noted that these
farmers are 100 percent better off than
Colombian farmers. Coffee is his country's
main crop but he said he believed
Colombia could produce other crops and
become more self sufficient.
Foreign investors are trying to keep
coffee the main Colombia crop, he said.
the economy of my country is based
on coffee." Jimenez added that high costs
made the increased coffee price necessary.
He said he hopes to work on a farm near
North Platte this summer and to attend
graduate school in California next year. He
said he wants to be an extension agent for
the Colombian government when he
returns. However, much of the specialized
knowledge he has learned about modern
techniques, such as using fertilizers and
sophisticated farm equipment, will not be
used back home.
Noting other changes between
cultures, he said he liked to watch the
American woman's lifestyle. American
women are given more jobs and the oppor
tunity to express their opinions than are
Colombian women.
However, he said Colombian women
are trying to become more liberated. Slave
is not the way to describe the Colombian
woman's lifestyle, he said. However, he
added that she is given little chance for an
education and is expected to get married
and care for her children.
He praised President Carter in his drive
for human rights, but criticized Russia for
trying to dictate what his government
should be like. Colombia and Venezuela
are the only democratic countries in Latin
America.
He said he believes Americans should
be more open to ideas from abroad and less
eager to claim that the United States is
always the best or always has the right
answers.
Fathom Editor: Carla Ertgstrom. Managing Editor Janet
Lliteras. Cover Design and Layout: Liz Beard.
Fathom is a magazine jblished by the Daily Nebras
kan. Editor in Chief: Ron Ruggless. Advertising Manager
Gregg Wurdeman. Production Manager: Kitty Policky.
Business Manager: Jerri Haussler.
Unless covered by another copyright, material may be
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Monday, may 1, 1978
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