In the midst of the work of building the long-awaited Bogotá metro, Chinese engineers have found great qualities in the personality of Colombians, which has facilitated their adaptation and work in the capital. There are about 180 Chinese professionals who arrived in the city and the challenge is not only the development of the important work, but also achieving an adequate cultural exchange that guarantees the success of the project.
Bogota residents have been hearing about the subway for more than eight decades and now, thanks to Asian engineers, who are dedicated from dawn to dusk to this work, it will be a reality. The Informants accompanied these tireless workers who expressed deep gratitude for the hospitality in Colombia.
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Engineer Allen Li, general manager of the technical and quality department, says that, so far, his experience with Colombian workers has been very positive. “I never imagined that I would have a project here to participate in,” said Li, who highlights that communication has been fluid thanks to English and his interest in learning Spanish.
Like him, engineer Pengxiang Song, general manager of the CHEC unit, is also happy to be in Colombia. At first they were both afraid because of the prejudices about the country, but They agree that they were struck by the fact that strangers said good morning to them on the street and smiled at them all the time.
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Song confessed that his initial fears disappeared when he learned about the warmth and kindness of Colombians.. “I was very afraid of this country. When I arrived for the first time, the driver who picked me up was very kind and outgoing. It’s not the same as in China, they have an unfriendly face. In this country all the people are very kind and In a short time I made many friends,” says the engineer who, after four years in Bogotá, decided to bring his family. In fact, it seems that his daughter does not want to return.
The Chinese engineer worked for several years in Arab countries, where there are restrictions on drinking alcohol, parties and where women must cover their faces, so In Colombia he was surprised to find a more open and free culture.
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The first line of the Bogotá metro, which will extend from Bosa to 72nd Street and Caracas Avenue, will be delivered in 2028.
See Los Informantes’ full story on the Bogotá metro here:
