Una Semana Viviendo en Colombia (One Week living in Colombia)

View of Medellin from Church near Universidad Metro station

One week of life in Colombia has proven my initial pre-conception that no amount of preparation would brace me for the lived experience of la vida en Colombia. Two weeks ago, while still in Canada, I was asked about a thousand times: “are you excited to be moving to Colombia?” And, while I said “yes of course”, the reality was that I was in fact indifferent, or even apprehensive, with many unanswered questions and still having little knowledge about the country itself aside from its checkered past, now glorified by Narcos.

How quickly things can change. Exactly seven days in, I could see myself having a long future in Colombia!

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Lecciones de español en café abrosia con Katherina y Jason

​So much has happened in just one week it will be impossible to reflect on everything at once, the attention span of the media over-saturated humanoid in the 21st century would likely not last to the end of the post anyway. So here are a few casual observations from life in Envigado Colombia.

1. The people: Are friendlier than eastern Canadians. In my new neighbourhood there is little to no English, which has been a challenge with my ten words to no Spanish. The people here are called Paisa, which in Canada might be equivalent to Quebecois (though I have not seen any snobbish holier than thou attitude as of yet). These people go out of their way to figure out wtf it is I want or, where I am trying to go. They always say buenas dias/tardes/noches as the case may dictate, and conclude with con mucho gusto (you’re very welcome). I have not yet felt unsafe or threatened, despite the fact that my inattentiveness, and comparative largeness for this country has knocked people off of sidewalks because I am an inept tourist in my new home country. Colombians have a vibrant culture, and they always seem to be celebrating something.
2. The pace: There is no rush, for anything. Ever. Waiting in line at the grocery store items are rung through in a melodic rhythm that could lull you to sleep. At first this drove me mental, but then when I looked around and noted that everyone was remaining calm, shit fully intact I somehow relaxed and thought, “what really is the rush anyway? I don’t know anyone here, I have nowhere to be, why get bent out of shape about it?” Walking too, everywhere at a slow Sunday stroll through the park pace. It’s a wonder Colombians ever arrive at their destination, they are pushing maybe two clicks an hour. On this point, the go-go obnoxious westerner in me does get a little vexed when stuck behind slow moving traffic, especially since they seem blissfully unaware of the 6’2 giant on their heels in a rush to get…nowhere. Tranquile…
3. The life: Envigado is a suburb to Medellin, and has some dark recent history, that was the cause of many a raised eyebrow and disdaining judgement from family friends and acquaintances back home “You are going where? It was nice knowing you! Are you crazy? What about your children?” It is home to a misshapen grid of restaurants, cafes, salsa clubs and tiny specialist stores (including a dollar food store!) Everything is walk-able, and we are already on a first name basis with Katherina and Marcella at the Abrosia coffee shop, the latter of whom has graciously offered to give Jason (my new temporary roommate) and by proxy me (since we are inseparable at the mo) free Spanish lessons, though we are of course paying (or so far Jason is). Big box stores and the prêt a porter everything now mentality of western culture are reserved to the tourist zones of El Poblado, and the outer arterial roads, which we seldom frequent as everything needed is within walking distance, and within the “real” Colombia in which we live. One block from my house is one of “the strips” of Envigado. Here dancing and drinking occurs every night, and though it is only a block away it does not disturb me in my fifth floor walk-up with the most amazing view of the Andes foothills that would easily be a seven figure view back home. It is nice to be living in a community that is alive and interacting with each other, and not just filing through drive-thrus and pushing carts through the aisles of big box stores. People are not glued to their phones in the same way we are back home, and as our neighbourhood café owner Katherina noted, Colombians always need to be with people. She envies the independent nature of the western traveller, but I, in turn, envy a culture that still knows how to talk to one another without digitally bred social awkwardness that is an increasing reality in western culture.
4. Bugs: There are none. Seriously. And it is awesome!
5. The Weather: It rained today for about an hour, maybe two at most, and that was the first I had seen all week. It is not humid. It is not dry. It is not too hot. It is not too cold. It is perhaps the most ideal climate I have experienced anywhere in the world.

There is more to say, but that is enough for now. To friends and family. I’m going to be ok. I feel like I am one of the lucky few who gets to see this place before it becomes a fully exploited tourist trap, here’s hoping if that does happen, it retains its current charm.

Church near Universidad Metro station