As long as I have known Carlos, I knew that the naming system in Colombia is different. In planning to come here, I figured that since I took Carlos' name, I would fit in great since it is a Colombian surname. I haven't had too many issues. Just a lot of questioning why I don't have another last name. Not to mention the fact that no one can pronounce the name, "Katie". The ones who are really having an issue are the kids. Women here don't change their name. It is unheard of. It is a way to identify their roots, and families. The first last name they have is their dad's last name, and the second is their mom's last name. The "main" last name is their dad's but they use both of them. So at school, time after time, even though I have corrected them 3 times now, all of the kid's papers say "Prada Prada" since both of us have the last name Prada. I explained to them that Yes, we are both Prada, but it is because I changed my name when we got married, so just Prada. When I complained to Johana about it, she looked very confused. I explained that in the USA it is common for women to change their last name so it is the same as their husband. And the whole family has one last name. I told her that as far as the United States is concerned- my last name is Prada, and that's all. She was dumbfounded. She had no idea at all that American women did that. She said that she too had been wondering why the kids only had one last name. I thought that my saying that I changed my name was enough information for the teachers to gather our family only has one name, but after talking to Johana, I realize that the idea of one last name for the whole family is very foreign to them. On Monday I will have to explain it a little better :) It always surprises me when I find things that to me seem like common sense are not the same here. Some things are way beyond my sense of normal. Like cutting people off on the road without regret, or driving on the wrong side of the road, and honking at people going the right way.
Meanwhile, I am 42 days away from being here illegally. First step is getting the kids' documents done. Since their dad is Colombian, they are already Colombian citizens, we just need to take them to get their ID numbers. Once that is done, I will have the proof I need (that I am the mother of Colombian citizens) to get my Cedula. Which, for me, is like a green card. I need this in order to do anything here. I can't work, get a bank account, nothing without this. Whenever you use a credit card here, you give them the number. Sometimes when you pay for things with cash, they also ask you for it. Carlos said it is to prevent people from buying tons of merchandise and then selling it as a way to launder {drug} money. I always feel so sheepish when I have to explain that I don't have a Cedula. They look at me like I am an alien because I have a credit card and no Cedula. Carlos has every right to get me a credit card (like he did) but it isn't common. Another thing different here is that bank accounts and money are not pooled in a relationship. I used to think it was weird when Carlos would buy presents for the kids, and then make sure to clarify with them that the presents are from him. Growing up, my mom did the present shopping for both of them, and we knew it. But we also knew that the gifts were from both of them. Here, the parents each have their own money, so they often buy gifts separately, and therefore specify who each present is from. Also, even as a married couple, we cannot have joint accounts here. As far as I know, there is no such thing. As far as the bank is concerned, I have no right to what is in Carlos' bank account. Anyway, back to the Cedula... I don't know if I need to go to Bogota, or if we can do it in Bucaramanga... Either way, it needs to get done. I don't want to be an illegal alien and get deported :) Imagine that. How the tables have turned!!
Another thing that I would like to say: For some reason that I have not been able to find out, Johana thought that I didn't like patacones. Patacones are fried green plantains that are absolutely delicious. Then they are topped with meats and other items. We fry plantains in the US all the time, and I do in fact love them. Unfortunately, her thinking that I didn't like them deprived me of eating these for the past 5 months. The horror!!! Also, note the rice on the side. It is absolutely delicious. It is our Chipotle knock off cilantro lime rice, but it is so much better than Chipotle because it has a huge kick of lime, not just a splash. Johana is a master chef!!
It's the same here in Spain- we went to get a joint checking account right after we got married and a few weeks went by and Jorge got a debit card, but I didn't have one. I went into the bank to find out why and was told I am an authorized user on the account, but not the "owner" of the account and can only get money from the branch. While explaining this to Spanish friends, the reaction was " why would you want an account with your husband?!" Such a cultural difference!
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