Surprise! He is Colombian

Word of the day: Cachaco.

So trying to find some links to include in this blog and I came across Wikipedia’s list of Colombian-American Actors. A couple of names jump out at me. The first name to catch my eye is John Leguizamo. But I knew he was Colombian before he was willing to admit to it. He tried passing for Puertoriqueño for the longest time, all his press releases highlighting his “roots”. As always I have an advantage. My mother’s gay friend ex-boyfriend is John’s Mother’s hairdresser. Three snaps to hairdressers who always get the scoop! As a result I also know he speaks fluent Spanglish; he is a bit on the short side, funny, and genial.

Adriana Cataño? That is a bit of a surprise I thought she was Cuban. She is a second string Novela actress that Univision has occasionally in their afternoon Novelas. Her latest work is staring in a reggeaton video. If anybody knows the artist let me know.

Further down the list, Mo Rocca. Mr. Daily Show Correspondent, Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, and VH1 commentator!? He is that sexy classic nerd, glasses, close cropped hair, and always well attired. That man loves a good bowtie. Since John Stewart has said jokingly that he only hires Jews, I assumed that Mo was maybe Sephardim. Maybe Mo is a Colombian Jew? We do have a rather important Jewish community. Well no. It turns out he has Colombian mother, and Italian father. His real name is Maurice Alberto Rocca.

Then in a flash it all makes sense:

• The outfits
• The form of speech
• The intense but polite manner
• His quiet way of getting to the punch line

Add a ruana (a poncho) on that boy and you have an old-school Cachaco. Translating Cachaco is not so easy. So let me start with the old-school part first since it is easier to explain. It is hard to find today on the streets one of those dignified old men. Their son’s have adapted to the warmer climate (if you don’t believe in climate change come and spend a winter in Bogota, no more frost here), free trade, and cell phones. To make things worse jeans have become Colombia’s new uniform. These changes have made high-class Cachaco men a dying breed. A prime example: ex- president Alfonso Lopez Michelsen. He still is still alive and kicking in his well-tailored suits. He wouldn’t miss tea at four-o’clock in his library, or his whiskey at the club at six-o’clock. Su merced.

So now to translate the Cachaco part, cultural translations always miss a bit. So be patient with me here. To some it is just a word to describe people from the interior of the country mainly those from the Cundiboyancense region. Which includes Bogotá, Tunja and Zipaquira. To others a slightly derogatory word, a regional denominator they would prefer not is used. They dislike this moniker, and Mo Rocca persona is the perfect example of why. It implies a certain type of nerdyness, a bookish lisping man, with a British inflection to his Spanish. One who prefers bow ties, with his custom made tailored worsted wool suit. He is the guy who would prefer classical music with a dash of a Porro to dancing a Vallenato and a Cumbia. He is in one sense a stuffed shirt. To others a Bogotano, with good education, and manners is the archetype of what all men should be.

If you had told me that you could use this archetype/stereotype to your advantage. Create a whole persona around and launch a successful media career. I would have answered no. You got to applaud Mo for using the archetype/stereotype to his advantage while not giving away its’ proper cultural context. He does it in a way that is funny, entertaining as well as informative.His Harvard degree shines in his work the way Lopez Michelsen Georgetown degree shines in his storied career. Considering how often Colombian’s are vilified it is nice to see one our own use his culture to his advantage. To American eyes he is an eccentric nerd, with strange speech patterns to this gringa-Colombiana he is upholding a fine tradition. As a result I have decided to give El Doctor Rocca, my first ever Colombian Spirit award.