14 Days in Colombia: Things We’ve Learned So Far

Getting interviewed at Gimnasio La Montaña

14 Days in Colombia: Things We’ve Learned So Far

•    Never look out the front window when riding in a Colombian taxi: terrifying, nauseating, ignorance is bliss.
•    Colombia has way more amazing fruits than the U.S., like the Granadilla, which is fascinating and delicious--orange-like on the outside, passion fruit (maracuya) on the inside.
•    Corn in scrambled eggs is not delicious.
•    ¨Morcilla (blood sausage) is delicious¨- Micah
•    A typical meal in the interior is made up mostly of some type of meat, usually beef and lots of starches = potatoes, yucca, rice. We’ve even had a beef and potato soup for breakfast. There are innumerable ways to prepare platanos and rice and all are delicious.
•    Empanadas and sweet, cheesy arepas are our favorite foods so far.
•    Festivos, or holidays, and their frequency in the Colombia calendar are awesome! Practically every month there is at least one long weekend. Last week was Reyes Magos, which celebrates The Three Wisemen.
•    Never take for granted your hot shower!
•    The Colombian interior has far exceeded our expectations. The landscape is beautiful and lush. The weather is perfectly warm when the sun is shining and the rain is frequent but short-lived. The people are also beautiful, kind and helpful. Everyone we have encountered so far has been happy to see Gringos and excited to learn that we are here to teach English.

Sunday we finish our orientation and will fly to our placement sites on the coast, about 30km South of Cartagena. We have had a great time meeting both the coastal and interior volunteers as well as the locals in Cota and Bogotá but we are excited to see Santa Ana!

Hiking up to Laguna de Guatavita last Sunday

Coastal Volunteers at Laguna de Guatavita (1/2 the group)