Favorite Links

detodounpoco.com is designed to be a bridge between the english and spanish speaking worlds, offering insights, information and ideas.  In particular, it offers insights into the predicament of Venezuelans in Melbourne, Australia.  In the last decade the Venezuelan population in Melbourne has grown from almost nothing to now a few thousand.  Perhaps the local population fear the streets will soon resemble a scene from "Secuestro Express", a Venezuelan film about the latest Venezuelan craze of express kidnappings.

Many latin americans seek to escape the chaos of their homelands, reinforcing the cliched views of gringos and others that latinos are crazy fun-loving people, residing in corrupt and crime-ridden crazy countries.  Likewise latinos may view gringos as unemotional, well-organised robots.  The origin of the term "gringo" is debated, strictly it is a US citizen, but is often applied to english-speakers generally.

Some Australians try and learn Spanish or take lessons in Latin dancing.  One way to learn about Venezuela is to read "The Hacienda: a memoir" by Lisa St. Aubin de Teran.  This is a tale of a young bride who goes to live in Venezuela, describing the mentality of the local society in the early 1970s.  One thing that has not changed is the importance of "?que diran?"  (what will they think?).  Venezuelans are very concerned about appearances and prestige, being the greatest consumers of scotch whisky, perfumes and cosmetic surgery.

Many Venezuelan men like to have a "second front" (mistress).

Venezuelans are very family-orientated, often travelling back to Venezuela or being visited by family members from Venezuela.