At my university in the United States, a lot of people go to lunch alone and they study or read alone during that time. Eating lunch alone is almost nonexistent at my Colombian university! If someone sees you eating alone, they might ask why you are alone or ask to share the table with you. When I tell someone I’m going to run an errand, they usually offer to accompany me. Even if it will take a while, they still offer to help! This desire to do things together is more typical of a collectivist society than an individualistic one.
Greetings: A huge difference between our cultures is the way we greet people. In Colombia, women greet other women and men with a kiss on the cheek. Men usually greet each other with a handshake or a hug. It’s also expected that you'll have a mini conversation when you greet someone, wherein you ask everyone how they are and talk a bit about your day. At first, I just knew to kiss the cheek and say “hola.” Then, after many instances of people asking me if I was okay after just saying "hola," I realized it is expected that I should say a little more. I asked a Colombian friend about this and he told me I was right! If you just say "hola," people usually assume something is wrong! Instead, when greeting your companions in Colombia, you should ask how their day is going or maybe what their plans are later.
Attitude: I’ve also noticed a general difference in perspective in university students here. In my opinion, they seem to generally have a more positive attitude towards school. They seem to stress less than our counterparts in the U.S. To me, Colombian students are more optimistic and they seem to balance school and social life better.
