Amigos Mario y Juan

Mario's Life and Aspirations

• Mario is a 20-year-old, cheerful, and friendly young man studying English at a university in Bogotá.
• He enjoys playing music, especially Latin American rock, like the Colombian band Aterciopelados.
• He also appreciates traditional Colombian music like cumbia, salsa, and reggaeton.
• He plays guitar and has a close friendship with Juan, who plays the drums.
• Mario is highly motivated and wants to become an English teacher.
• He envisions traveling to the US to improve his English skills.

Mario and Juan's Friendship

• Mario and Juan have been friends since childhood and now study together.
• They have contrasting personalities and ambitions.
• Mario prioritizes his studies and reaching his goal of teaching English.
• Juan's academic performance is lacking and he has unfortunately become associated with drug use.
• Mario is deeply concerned about Juan's choices, highlighting the difficulty of drug use amongst university students.
• The friendship is strained due to Juan's involvement with drugs, and their interests have diverged.

Mario's Family and Background

• Mario comes from a well-off, upper-class family in Bogotá.
• He lives with his parents, two sisters, and grandmother in a large house.
• His father, Alfredo, owns a successful shoe store.
• His family supports his aspirations, though navigating the complexities of a career path different from his father's expectations is challenging.

Social Issues in Colombia

• Mario is aware of the social and political issues in Colombia.
• He recognizes the high levels of poverty, violence, and conflicts involving armed groups (specifically the FARC).
• Despite these challenges, Mario feels a strong connection to Colombia and wants to contribute to its betterment positively.
• He desires to be a positive force in Colombian society and improve the situation.