What is the family? It is the group of people with whom we grow, learn, laugh, plan, share, work, dream, discuss and live, it is a team ... our favorite team, it is our support, they are our friends and accomplices. It's our "combo", that's our family.

In Colombia we say: my family, my combo, my patch, mine. Here we speak of family nuclei according to the region with the existing cultural differences in the country. The natural regions of Colombia are territorial divisions that divide the country into six large geographic areas:

1. Pacific region: Approximately 56 indigenous families live in the Pacific, gathered in 218 communities and belonging to the Embera, Waunan, Eperara-Shapidara, Tule and Awa ethnic groups.
2. Orinoquía Region: here we find the llanera family and the indigenous family of the low plain that are grouped in small nuclei that belong to the Hitnu (Macawan), Betoye, Wamone (Cuiba), Sikuna (Guahibo) and Sáliba peoples.
3. Island region: It is made up of all the islands of Colombia and its extension is just over 50 square kilometers. The Insular region is an archipelago located in the southwestern Caribbean, off the coast of Central America. According to geographic data, this group of islands has the largest reef barriers in Colombia that protect the beaches (78 percent of the country's coral area), and the native families are called islanders.
4. The Caribbean Region: here we find the coastal family, the natural region of the Caribbean has an extension of 132.218 square kilometers. This region begins in the Gulf of Urabá (border with Panama), and reaches the Guajira peninsula. In the south, it limits with the Western and Central mountain ranges; and in the north, with the Caribbean Sea.
5. Andean region: here you find the paisa families, cachacas, boyacense families, among many others. The Andean region is formed by the three mountain ranges of the Andes: the Cordillera Occidental, the Oriental and the Central. With its 305.000 square kilometers of extension, it covers both the mountains and the valleys that separate the three mountain systems, thus occupying the entire central part of the country.
6. Amazon region: It is located in the south of the country, exactly in the Colombian Amazon. Its extension is 403.348 square kilometers and it is, therefore, the largest region. It is believed that the number of isolated peoples in the Amazon could be 145 peoples, of which at least more than 80 have been studied and described by anthropologists. Of all the countries in which we find indigenous peoples, Colombia is after Brazil, where they are located in the largest number, reaching more than 100 different peoples, and followed by Peru with 25 peoples.

These six regions are distributed throughout the more than one million square kilometers that Colombia has, and pass through the 32 departments of the country, many of them located among more than one natural region.

In Colombia the family is very important, we grow together, we celebrate as a family, we work for the family, we defend the family, we shout goooooooooool as a family, including friends. Arms are always open to welcome friends, friends of my friends, neighbors, foreigners, there is always plenty of food and coffee to share. In addition, we have families of animals such as: rooster, hen, chickens; bull, cow, calf; hummingbird family; flower families, and many more.

If you visit this beautiful country you will be welcome to our house, you will share, explore, live and you will also be able to know our indigenous families, animal families, flower family, and of course the family Nueva Lengua: while you learn Spanish in this school you will be able to share different cultural activities, you will find friends and best of all: a family.

Arthur, a retired American, was in our school for 3 months. During this time he learned Spanish, met many Colombians, enjoyed the cultural activities from school, traveled to other cities, tried different flavors of food, had fun doing volunteer jobs. With the children of the foundation (another opportunity to learn and serve), he shared and as he himself expresses it: he was with the family. He did not feel alone because he received help, advice and guidance to enjoy a good experience in Colombia.

Be part of this family, visit us, meet us, learn, share and live a new experience. It will be fun!! Write to us info@nuevalengua.com and receive information about it.

Sandra Patricia Vargas - Spanish Teacher.