Here we go, My First Post
Here we go, my first post…
I’ve been thinking about this one a lot. I mean telling stories and involving bigger issues about my country??? Sounds hard if not impossible. Suddenly I remembered that in my Mass Research class there is this way of studying “x” phenomena called the “inductive” way, where you start out with little things to get to the bigger issue. So if human behavior can be studied using this method, why not apply it to my blog? That’s how I decided to do this. Because I get the chance to tell my stories and still address issues that I care about. “Prosaic-me” came from this idea of simplicity but relevance. And the term of “inductive PR” really came to be because people like you and me want to see the big picture but sometimes we don’t understand how we are part of it. Inductive PR is the perfect way to get people involved in something bigger but still recognize them as important individuals. Lets see how it turns out.
Unfortunately spring break is over… that short but much needed break is over. I’m getting ready to go to the airport: double-checking that I have tickets, money, ID and passport. While driving to the airport my grandma tells me over the phone-as she usually tells everyone traveling outside Colombia- “remember to be eating something at all times, so they won’t think you are suspicious” I’ve always assumed that by “they” she means immigration… But what I never quite got was the “suspicious” part. Seriously, suspicious of what? Not being hungry at 6 am when I’m boarding because is too early and I’ll probably throw-up anything I eat, or suspicious of not wanting to stuff my mouth all the time for an entire trip that lasts 12 hours? (talk about gluttony). Anyways, for the first time her comment got me thinking -besides I have a 8 hour flight so what else I’m I going to do?- Why are we so afraid when traveling outside Colombia? or exactly what is it that we are afraid of? Truth be told, there is nothing to be worried about when you have nothing to hide. Its all because of what and how international news show Colombia. I’m not saying the news are inaccurate, but they certainly focus on just one part of the whole, the negative part.
Colombians are not all about violence, terrorism or drugs… That is a small part, and unfortunately a very notorious one. But I have never let that little part of the news affect me. That is because I know there is a lot that I can do to change that. I know it sounds weird, but instead of just complaining or eating for 12 hours in a row to proof that I’m not “suspicious” of i don’t know what. I decided that if I want something to change I better take part in making that change happen. If I want to change the image of how my country -Colombia- is being portrayed outside, then I have to do something to make that happen.
I discovered some interesting sites while surfing the web that helped me be a participant in the struggle against the negative issues surrounding Colombia. For instance http://www.visionmundial.org.co is a branch of world Vision International that focuses on helping children finish their high school education as well as fighting against underage labor. I understand that at this point you are not sure of what you would like to do, but you still want to be part of making things different? then I recommend first visiting: http://www.colombianosenelexterior just to get some info and background about what are some of the problems and what can be done to help. Then, if you feel like being more active and want to participate but you are not sure what sites to visit, I say you visit Shakira’s organization at: www.fundacionpiesdescalzos.com to help Colombian children get an education and a better quality of life. In Shakira’s page you can donate money online, sponsor a child or buy the Hard Rock Cafe T-shirt she designed (were the money collected is donated to her organization). But if you feel like helping with an issue that is more directly related with the negative news I mentioned above, there is the Unicef Colombia site at http://www.unicef.org.co where you can get information on how to contribute to the fight against antipersonnel land-mines in Colombia. Also fighting the same issue there is http://fundacionmisangre.org an organization led by Colombian singer Juanes that raises funds to support programs that help the victims of anti-personnel land-mines.
Now you have a wide array of subjects from which to choose from to ensure that things can actually be different. I hope that by now you have found something interesting that you want to contribute with. If not, I invite you to explore the web. I would also love to help you find something, so please feel free to contact me. I am sure that the next time you are traveling to a foreign country with a Colombian passport there will be no need to show you are not suspicious, because as cliché as this might sound, your face will show a smile of satisfaction and your eyes will show how confident you are about being part of making change happen.
BOD Blog Overdose
BOD (blog overdose) a rollercoaster of feelings.
I’m back and guess what? I finally found what I’m into. But, please bear with me while I share my journey through 48 hours of blog overdose.
So after seeing all my eyes and clicking fingers could resist. Well… I’m not going to lie, I was very overwhelmed and kind of frustrated. There are so many good blogs out there and so many good writers, I was feeling like I had nothing to do as a debutant blogger. Unlike Amanda on on the Prowl, literature was not my first option (check her blog i love it.). I like reading a lot, but when it comes to writing I have to think it twice. And in another language is even more challenging (FYI I’m Colombian so Spanish is my first language). But no worries, my brief new media experience has taught me – and as professor Quigley likes to remind us – that blogging is all about having a voice… And believe it or not, I started thinking that maybe my own voice doesn’t even speak English…. (I know soo dramatic). I guess what I was really thinking was that my voice is very different in English than it is in Spanish. Of course that did not stopped me.
After more clicks and links and coffee (hmm good Colombian Coffe) I soon remembered what Scoble and Scott and Cluetrain and professor Quigley say (I promise I will read more books and blogs to start quoting more people, but for now give me credit I’m really trying) Ok, so all of these smart guys say that -blogging- is all about passion, finding your passion writing with passion, passion, passion, passion… So I concluded that anyone would understand my passion even if it happens to have an accent.
Back to the blogosphere. I’m clicking and linking to everything. Trust me when I say I covered the spectrum. I went from automobilist to art, to animals to traveling then click on Indy films then music then surfing or fashion…. I changed my mind in every click… All these bloggers write with such a passion for what they do, I feel like trying surfing or dancing or singing or car racing or even acting -You get the point-. But I want to clear one thing…. Not everything in the web was as great as I just mentioned. Unfortunately I can’t tell you everything I read in my 48 hour blog marathon because you will get tired. So let’s keep the good stuff.
Finally, after wanting to try everything I could possibly imagine and changing my mind as how to write my blog, I decided that my passion and what really gets me talking and talking for hours are two things in life. One is telling stories and the second one is talking about my country, Colombia.. Yes my country, and although someone must be thinking “oh here comes other girl wanting to change the world into a better place..bla bla bla.”. Talk about Repetitive or what?? BORIING!. But no, that’s not what I’m about. Here is the thing… I have to thank one of my classmates for the next thing. She does not like blogs, but her reason is because she feels blogs are not being used in a way that helps a community improve with the exception of a few (at least that is how I interpreted her). I’m very intrigued to see how her blogs turns out to be, I will let you know when in find out. Anyways, thanks to her comments I decided that if I have to write something and let everyone read it, it will be on something that really keeps me up at night and is also doing something to help a cause that I feel passionate about.
Before starting to Blog.
Right now I am trying to remember everything i have learned until now… “have a voice, a tone, be authentic, be transparent, engage your audience” i am having a serious problem with focusing on one thing, or one idea… i tend to start a sentence and not finish it and then start a new one… anyways, here are my thoughts about my debut as a blogger… first of all i have to admit this blog started as an assignment for one of my classes, but as i went through the process of exploring the blogosphere i realize this is a very fun thing to do, i can be myself and address the issues i want, specially i love the idea of being myself….. BUT i have to accept it, writing was never my favorite class, specially since english is not my first language. Don’t get me wrong, i like writing, i just don’t like the idea of people reading what iI write, and more specifically grading it… but here i am, publicly writing my thoughts and accepting the fact that some people might not like it at all. After thinking and over thinking my blog, I realized that I need some research. There are so many ideas crossing my mind that I’m sarting to feel dizzy. Besides from what i have read in my PR class we have to explore the blogosphere before we start our new blog.. But that’s fine with me, I mean if Scoble and Todd Defren says it and David Meerman Scott and the guys of Cluetrain….well it must be true. All of them are like my new media celebrities. Funny part is that as much as I love the Hollywood paraphernalia… I have never been close to one celebrity as to have a real conversation about their jobs and passions. But with these new media guys is different, I already know 2 of them and let me tell you they are great…I even fealt like asking for an authograpg but that’s probably too oldmedia for them (I mean paper and a pen common). Anyways, Todd Defren and David Scott were amazing.
