Nine more days until we go back to Portsmouth, NH. As I sit here at my kitchen table, and think about the past 5 months, this is what I think… It’s been difficult and amazing, challenging and wonderful and we’ve had many ups and downs. But, in general, we have experienced and learned a lot and I’m sure we will continue to learn and benefit from this experience for years to come!
In a recent presentation for Fulbright Colombia (you can watch it under videos on “Resources” page), I listed some things I’ve learned. Each of these has a story behind it, that I’m happy to share over a chai latte at my favorite cafe (see list below! 🙂).
- Colombia is an enormous and (humanly and ecologically) diverse country.
- Colombians are extremely friendly and proud of their country.
- Patience is key – accomplishing one task a day is an accomplishment.
- The effects of Spanish colonization still exist today.
- Adolescents are the same, no matter where they are from, what their economic status is, or what they look like. Not all the same, but there are more similarities than differences.
- If you give a microphone to a teen, they are happy to talk…an adult not so much.
- You can get a lot of useful information from an Uber driver…and some useless too.
- There are more good people in the world than bad. It’s better to be cautious than paranoid.
- Colombia is much more than Pablo Escobar and Narcos (I already know that, but now I can prove it!)
To continue my theme of “list-making” (I do love lists), here are my thoughts as I reflect…
| What will I miss about Colombia? | What am I looking forward to in the US? |
| Eating out because it’s so cheap (and my favorite restaurant, Crepes and Waffles) | Chai latte at Cafe VonSolln |
| Traveling easily and cheaply | Driving my car |
| Our apartment | Finding a new home |
| Housecleaning for $10 no matter how long it takes | Speaking English and not having to think so much before I am ordering something |
| Eustorgio – My favorite taxi driver and friend | Seeing friends and family |
| Ana – our amazing apartment manager | Feeling safe walking around at night |
| Iris – my friend from Spain who shares with me the “foreigner” perspective of Colombia | Cooking with a complete spice cabinet |
| Doctor’s house calls for $15 | Getting health insurance reimbursement (yes, still waiting since January 31) |