G'day and Kaya and welcome to the Australians Teach English Podcast, the podcast by language learners with language learners for language learners. My name is Glen, and I'm the owner and director of the Australians teach English Institute. And I've got two absolute legends with me today, who are also going to help us help us to dispel to dispel some myths about some urban legends as well. So welcome to the show legend one Katherine and legend two Irma. Hello. G'day. G'day, Catherine, can you tell our audience whereabouts you're from?
Yes, I'm from Colombia. And I've been in Australia for a year I come from Medellin, Colombia.
Excellent. And Irma where are you...Where are you from?
So I am from Mexico. And I've been in Australia three years.
Alrighty. And so to cut to the chase to to, to get to the point. So when we're talking about legends from Colombia and Mexico, what are the two biggest things that people will talk to you about straight away? Or will what will they think about? When they when they hear that you are from Mexico? Or Columbia?
I think the most is safety. Or drugs.
In my country is drugs and also yeah, that sometimes if it is safe to travel there.
And are you related to Pablo Escobar? Is that the second? Is that the second question?
Yeah, for in my case, I feel sometimes ??? But someone asked me about that. Because they didn't realize that maybe it's a little rude for me. Because my country is more than that. That this is part of our history. But also especially because I am from Medellin we have been... Because I am from Medellin I've been suffering a lot. Because that situation or in the past that we live with this guy. So yeah.
Yeah, exactly. So anyway, anyone that will watch to watch the Netflix series or know anything about Pablo Escobar will be thinking "oh, well, Medellin,would which was the place where he lived was that that's where like everyone got killed and everyone there is involved in the drug trade". Is that Is that correct? Or is that just a legend?
That sometimes it's because now it's like a business? When I was I was in my country in December I was in my city of course. Now they have a tour being of the tourists or the Pablo Escobar Because it's about money is not about why would people from my TV, think about the guy or why the guy they took everyone know now it's just more business. So and also they are selling a painting with a Pablo Escobar face. Yeah, I'm unsure about some years ago. It was is a famous guy. His name is Wiz Khalifa. He's a singer. You know, from United States he was taking pictures of him in the Pablo Escobar home. So in my case, I think it's very disrespectful and most of the time because they don't know the history about my city, about my country. And yeah.
So it doesn't give anyone really a true indication of what life was or is actually like really. Yeah. And then in your case Irma is that something similar in in Mexico as well?
Um, I, in my feelings is different because if someone asked me "can I shouldn't travel to Mexico are always saying Yes. Always signing by today. Trouble in Don't be scared. Mexico is beautiful. It's like really colorful. But when someone told me "I never been there, because it's dangerous". And I to be honest, I don't want to like give my opinion because already I feel they don't want to travel. And I say yeah, I did. Because I feel like it's hard to say that they are ignorant. They know they know already they know trouble. And they don't want to travel. And they don't maybe don't want to stay here at home. So when they say is dangerous, so have a lot of drugs. If I start to ask a little question to know about what is more thinking about drugs or Mexico, I will say no, that's not true, but when they are ready, I saw This is strongly thinking is dangerous. I say yeah.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Just because it's just easier than that having been having an argument with them probably. So when when you came to move to Australia, there was obviously there are obviously some urban myths and legends that you would have heard come out, said to you guys as well. I'm sure we know. Yeah. What was what was some of these legends that would would come out?
I think about spiders, spiders everywhere in the spider webs. Sharks.
What about what about you? Katherine? What.... Did you hear the same stuff?
No, to be honest, I was watching many series in Australia when I was a child. So I was thinking, Oh, my everything is beach. Everyone is on? Everybody's hot. Yes. So everywhere. I arrived in Sydney, and it was so different. And then I moved to here. And it's cold. Yeah, most of the time I have to wear a sweater.
Yeah. One of the one of the common legends that I hear is, "oh, you never have winter in Australia, do you?" And you guys are in Melbourne at the moment. And it's the middle of summer and it's 10 degrees. So you know, it's a bust, bust busts that legend out of the water. So then when you got here, what was the reality? What was it that there were spiders everywhere?
No. No, I never seen like a bigspiders scare me never. So I see little spides.. Even I have more bigger in Mexico. And....
They're bigger in Mexico that what that was? That's what she said.
Yeah. And another thing that is interesting, I was thinking before so we saw a lot of kangaroos around Australia. And when I come here, I think after one year, I meet my first kangaroo.
Yeah, I mean, depends where you are. It depends where you are. I mean, in Melbourne, you're not gonna see kangaroos hopping down the street. But in some places in Australia, yes. You. You really are gonna see Kangaroos hopping down the street it kinda depends where you are. Yep. What about you, Katherine? What was your experience with with spiders when you first arrived?
No, to be honest, I have never seen a spider. Maybe a snake. And just one. That said, now to be honest now about dolphins. Yes, whales. So, huge sharks no. When I was living in Sydney, we went to travel with my brother in law and my sister. We were because the bugs here are very huge in my country are small. And here they are huge. So I think for me was really impressive.
At least our bugs you don't don't cause things like malaria or Dengue fever and stuff like that. So we don't have to worry about that. So was that was that actually surprising to you that there weren't just snakes and spiders everywhere? where you went? When you when you came to Australia? Was that something that shocked you?
Because I wasn't expecting that, so for me, or me was not a huge thing. But I know some people that they were thinking, saying that I'm going to see dangerous animals and these kind of things, but I wasn't thinking that so no, I cannot think about that.
Yeah, what about you, Irma? Was that something that surprised you when you arrived you that there weren't just spiders and snakes everywhere?
No, no, that's what I said. I never see a spider. They're really like a dangerous. So there's tiny ones, but they're not scary. And yeah, also, I would like you to imagine Australia nice beaches around in surfing and whatnot.
So I mean, okay, so we've we've done a good job of dispelling that, you know, there aren't snakes and spiders just everywhere, everywhere you look. But there are some actual dangers in Australia that probably people don't really give much thought to. Are there any things that have struck you as dangerous when when you arrived in Australia that you weren't really prepared for?
No, in my case, I think maybe not dangerous but maybe I was impressed with the...There are many people that consume drugs here.
But you're from Colombia.
Because sometimes you think, and some people think that because we are from countries that most of the people think that we produce drugs and everybody's drugs. But for me, it was a little strange that here, there are many people that consume drugs. And it's a huge problem. But especially because most of them have mental health problems.
Probably one of the biggest things that I noticed when I started going overseas as an Australian was the amount that we drink here as well. And how dangerous it can be actually going to pubs and things here. Like, you just see fights all the time here in Australia at pubs, for no apparent reason, but I don't think I ever saw one fight in all the time that I was in Argentina, going to pubs and nightclubs and things. So I'm really don't understand what what that is about. What the cultural aspect of that is. What about you, Irma? Is there something that struck you as dangerous? When you when you first arrived, or that you thought was dangerous that you weren't expecting?
No, no. I saw also the the many, normally teenagers or young people it consumed like drugs, but not really. So I really feel safe here. Eh, no.
What about when you guys got to Melbourne? Were the trams dangerous? crossing the road with the trams?
No, no.
No, there you go.
In our country's different Yeah.
I know. I know. I know. But one thing that that people do really underestimate the danger of before they get to Australia and once they are here is the water you were speaking about the beaches before and everyone surfs and everyone swims and things like this. But Australia is a very, very different culture to most other countries. And so the it is not the animals that you have to worry about the snakes, spiders, sharks, whatever that will, they won't kill you. But it's the water that will there's probably more tourists that drown than any other any other thing that kills, kills tourists or anything like that. In Australia, it is it is the water. And then conversely from that is not having enough water. So people often go into very remote remote areas,
???.
Yeah, and they and they don't take enough water and they get dehydrated, and they die. So yeah. So apart from apart from the, you know, the legends that are out there, like the snakes and the giant spiders and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. There are some actual real dangers. I mean, unfortunately, one of my friends was killed by a crocodile. So I mean, it, it does, it does happen. But he was also doing something that he shouldn't have been doing. So as long as you take the precautions, then really, you're pretty, pretty unlucky, to be honest. But you guys, you guys have some other projects going on that I want to that I want to talk to you about, which is why I really brought you on this show to talk about to talk about legends. So who wants to who wants to talk about their project first?
Kathy.
Katherine could speak. Yes. So what is the project apart from studying here, Katherine, what is what is your project here all about?
Okay, so, because we Irma and I, we were working the same shop in a Mexican shop in Queen Victoria Market. So and also because both of us we are an architect for our countries. So we have many things in common. And when I was in Colombia, when I was living there, I started my page on Instagram about history architecture. Sorry my cat and so, when I was I, I, I think I really wanted to have a friend who can I start my own business with her. When I was with Irma, one day we were talking about many things and also we were doing a small tour guide in Melbourne, with some friends, and Irma proposed me. "You want to have our own business together". And now Irma can continue. Please. Continue.
Okay. Sure. So I really I also I think in that moment, but I propose a new proposal about Kathy because I think like Kathy say we are architects, so I know proposed nothing about her like, create or imagine like how know we have so just about like, photograph or even for architecture projects. And she told me Oh no, you're mad, I am interesting for something I want to learn it architecture from zero, I no one to really. Like I know feel really how can say yeah....Confident now with my own skills in architecture. So I prefer another since and we started talking about what we would like to do like tours around Melbourne and photograph or maybe try Latin food. And another time Kathy proposing that show that we working together doing workshops, and I think, where is the start of the idea? . So Kathy have really good skills for drawing and since she's so what I like to do with a embossing art, and she also and so I give them the first idea to start a business. But she also given us the first idea like with the workshops, telling the stories to relate with another people what they think in about Latin culture in those the broken the legends, and someone's thinking about. So from Colombia from Mexico,
Bloody legend, so, so storytelling, and this is why this is why I chose this expression to talk about today, legends. So how is storytelling, really important for you for you guys, and also dispelling breaking down some of those myths and legends and whatnot that are not necessarily positive about Colombia and Mexico? What is the what is the purpose of this?
Okay, we want to create something good. And especially because both of us are very creative. We have many skills because we were studying architecture, but also we think we are artists. So Irma is started to running some workshops in the Mexican shop. And I was doing, I was teaching a Spanish and also art in some, in some places in a community center in a school. So I was thinking, you know, we have the knowledge we have, we have the skills, so maybe we can continue you contribute with our community. But also because we're working in the Mexican shop, some people are really interested to know more about us, because they like the culture. They like the language. Also, they like that Mexican, Chile and Argentina. And so everyone from Latin America, we are very friendly. And most of the time we are positive. So I think we want to share with everyone this kind of things, or maybe not everyone knows, but also our food, especially because I'm from Colombia. And I'm going to say that many people they don't know. They know Colombia, they think, ah, there are many people from Colombia, but they don't know anything about us. I was talking with a woman today. And she and I said, "Have you ever tried Colombia food" because she told me that he has a neighbor from Colombia, and she told me "Ah no I am from Macedonia. And most of my food is spicy like your food", and I say "my food is not as spicy".
But this is but this is the problem though. If anything is like Latin food or anything like that immediately it's Mexican.
Yeah, that's why but Colombia is not Mexico.
And there's nothing there's nothing that gets someone from Colombia, Argentina, or Uruguay or Brazil more more annoyed than calling them Mexican. That's always a fun trick.
And also, I think it's a little disrespectful. One day one person told me so you speak Mexican and you say "I don't speak mexican, I speak spanish"
Hablo boludence.
Sometimes for us, I'm not sure for Irma but for me because I'm Colombia. So it's good that people say ahh Colombia there are many people here Okay, good, but just superficial. So I think it's good for us. We can share things about us that they are really good. If not just about drugs or yeah, so maybe....
So that was so that was my that. So that was my next question. Well, okay, so obviously it makes us feel better when someone knows a little bit more about, about where where we're from or our culture. But what is the better benefit to the other people? What can they gain from that from you guys sharing that knowledge?
Okay, Irma?
I think I'm not sure. But I always ask if they've been in Latin America, and then we start to give you where they feel connected with us, or with the culture or what they like it. Yeah. So I think yes.
So that developing connections is one positive thing.
Yeah. But I mostly think, for me, it's important because if I know my own history, I can inspire someone to know their own history as well. So and also he got, because there are many people that they are from Latin America, and they have children, but the children don't speak English, and don't speak Spanish. And they don't know anything about our culture. So I think it's good also for us to share with people that maybe they have background from Latin America, but they are not really involved because they are living here. And they have been studying in college or universities with Australia and are with different people from different countries. So I think this is good for us, inspire people that they want to know more about them, and also about the history and also about creativity, curiosity, because curiosity is a good way to try to find. Yeah, and...
So yeah. Learning about your own heritage and your own culture, if you're disconnected from that is is a way of increasing your own health and well being. So this is a common aspect when it comes to language learning, that people feel like learning their heritage language or their grandparent's language or so on, is a way of actually connecting with them is actually feeling feeling more and more in touch with their own with their own selves. So actually, internal well being is is a really important aspect of this. So you mentioned the workshops. So when and where are your your workshops?
They will run in every Thursday. Umm. Near that restaurant. It's in Brunswick. And will we start at 6pm to 8pm
And in Melbourne?
Yes. Brunswick Brunswick? Yes.
In a Mexican restaurant. Excellent.
No. They are from Chile.
Chilean restaurant. Ah, so did they have like completos there as well?
I am not sure
That's Chilean food isn't it a completo. Okay. It's like it's like a really fancy hot dog basically.
I just listen about a lot of empanadas.
They're not Chilean you'll start. You'll start you'll start a few start a fight with somebody if you call them Chilean.
They have some because I don't know as well. They have. But they have empanada chilena they have because yeah, we have empanada argentina, from Colombia from Chile and different countries. But they are, he is from ??? Chile. But the restaurant is from South America and empanadas chilenas but most of the dishes are from Chile most of the food.
Okay. All right. All right. So we've spoken you know a little bit about you know, negative legends and things like this so far in our show. But what are some positive? What are some positive legends or maybe even some funny legends that we can think of, from from our own our own countries?
Maybe from my countries, everyone thinks that because we're from Colombia, we dance everywhere and we are the best dancers. And sometimes it's funny because I have some friends....They don't know how to dance. So most of them say...
Yeah, so, so sometimes these stereotypes like when when I arrived in Argentina and no one dances tango, and you're like that's like a bit of a shock that actually, you know, you think that something is the case. And it's actually, it's actually not. But I can I actually did half a show about this Colombian legend is kind of a little bit infamous. So he was famous, or he was a rollerblader, or someone something like this. And he celebrated too early in a world championship and he lost, and he lost the World Championship. And it became a became a word of actually, you know, celebrating too early. So he would, he became a legend. In the same way that in the same way that Steve in this is in the episode about Steven Bradbury and the Winter Olympics for Australia. He was the first person to win a gold medal in the Winter Olympics for Australia because everyone else fell over. So he became he became a legend. This is how we could also use these this word as well. What about...Yeah, so what about in in Mexico? What are some positive what who are some positive legends that you could think of?
I think now I think they're really big legend. I'm not sure. But after maybe el Chapo Frida Kahlo?
Yeah, Frida Kahlo.
Yeah. Yeah, I need to say I don't like Frida Kahlo art, but here in Australia, all the girls mostly love Frida. Yeah, I to be honest, I don't understand why.
She's just like, such a personality. I think that's perhaps her story is pretty incredible.
Yeah, I know. I know. But it's not the only girl that have like you say incredible history. A lot of and so that's why I really thinking like, oh, sorry. So everybody thinking I will love Frida because when I say I don't like Frida, then I say why you shouldn't do you are Mexican? And I say no, I don't like it. And I feel ??? like maybe I shouldn't like and I start to look in a little bit of art. But I said no, it's not connect with me.
But she is now a legend of you. I guess you could say Latin America. And yet she's, she's a hero for all of Latin American women or Latin America.
I know. I know. Yeah. I really understand. And I respect that. But just with that part. I never really feel connected. And when someone said you shouldn't like her art I say no. Yeah, that's one of the funny things also for me.
So recently, Argentina, gained a whole heap of of Legends but prior to the end of last year, who was who was their number one legend, do you think?
Messi?
Yes. Well, that's Messi now. But it was Maradona before Yeah, he's, yeah. So again, these are these are sort of, you know, what we would say legends they are, they are legends. In Australia, we've spoken about, you know, Steven Bradbury he's you have to you have to find this story, because it is hilarious. He's what we would call a legend. But we also sort of have this this mixture of historical stories as well. And, and other legends so in, in indigenous, in some indigenous tribes, they have mythical monsters like what we call the bunyip, which is also another another legend, and he would come and take, you know, misbehaving children away. These sort of these sort of legends as as a way of, of storytelling. So, is there a word that you can think of that that translates in a similar manner, to the way that we've used legends today?
I'm not sure maybe in Colombia in Mexico, we have kind of similar themes, but also la madre monte, la patasola, La llorona...
La llorona is very famous.
Yes, she's very famous Mexico everywhere and she knows for sure. So she is crying the whole night for his child up or her child. And yeah, so are you really sure about that but one of my uncle's when he was maybe a little drunk. And also at midnight, he was walking, walking to home and he started to listen to the llorona. He was he was running. Yeah. So because it was the "No, she's going to make something bad for me" and this kind of thing.
Yeah, exactly. So so these are these are legends based on folk tales that over time to take on a much more significant bigger meaning. But are there is there any translation for the word legend?
Leyenda?
Leyenda would be the the obvious one. Mito. but what about what about if you're talking about say Frida Kahlo as a legend as Lionel Messi as a legend
No, me neither.
Like a hero. I can....
Famoso?
Legendario? I feel like a hero is someone you really admire, proud about what they do before or the hero?
But I've never I've never had I've never heard anyone say to their friend or your you're a hero, or anything like yeah, like it doesn't get used that way does it? When you're speaking to a friend like we might say this in Australia like you guys are legends. We wouldn't...
it may be in my country ??? ??? (spanish) , I didn't say in my case because I don't like clear Carlos I believe
we're gonna get some we're gonna get some hate mail messages messages into us you know, that don't you. Maybe this is your homework, you can you can think about, well, how, how would you actually use this in your own language?
Okay, maybe.
And then people can write into us and maybe maybe give us some ideas and even from from different languages as well, in the different ways that we use this word in Australia because it's not universal in the way that we use it. So we use legend in the way that you might speak to a friend or legend in terms of a story or a hero. But in most of the English speaking world, a legend is a story or someone that has a story developed from from a hero so it doesn't have quite the same meaning as what it does in Australian English. So the people looking for you on Instagram and looking for more information about your projects. Where can they find you?
now we not have like the real page for because we name for a group with their Colibri stories. But now we have a ??? page in my page. And yeah, so I shouldn't give you my I will I will
Put it up for everyone listening to this episode. I'll put it up on Instagram. But if there is if there is a anywhere that you would like people to find you for your project then
Okay, so we have our personal Instagram is not personal because it's public. Public. Our name so my name is Katherine under under cursory taborda gotta know. And another because we don't have website at the moment. So because we are just starting with the workshop, and we are just thinking, Oh, we are going to in that way and another way. Irma, can you share us, how is your Instagram please?
Yeah, it's IR.huitzilin our dog, h u. e. T said El. I am. Excellent.
Excellent. Chevere. Do you say you say that in Colombia? Yeah.
Chevere, si todo el tiempo. Yeah.
Excellent. Excellent. So it's been an absolute pleasure having you you Bloody Legends on on the show talking to us about about your stories and well, and what positives we can actually bring out of reformulating these stories and sharing and making connections with different people across the world. So thank you very much, guys, for coming on. Much appreciated. Thank you.
Thank you. So I appreciate your amazing job and reading our pages our message and sharing our information.
That's called stalking I believe, it's got well there's a fine line between research and stalking. I look forward to hearing everybody's comments and feedback from this episode for it so from us here at the Australians Teach English Institute, the Australian Teaching English podcast the podcast by language learners with language learners for language learners, it's us saying goodbye, nos vemos, chau.
For more information about the Australians Teach English Institute, go to AustraliansTeachEnglish.com or follow us on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube at Australians Teach English