This is a creation of my favorite pictures and memories from my time in Colombia. I will never forget this amazing country with its wonderful people. Enjoy! - Powered by Slidely - Create & experience your photo collections as beautiful slideshows
I can’t believe how quickly a year has passed by. It seems only yesterday that I arrived to Colombia, and here I am only a few days from departure. When I came here, I was a bit terrified and concerned as to how the semester would go. It was my first long-term experience living abroad. Amazingly, I loved my first semester in Colombia so much that I decided to extend for another. There have been many challenges along the way, but I will never forget the amazingly beautiful country of Colombia with its cheerful students, friendly people, and awe-inspiring landscapes. Here are the top five things I’ll miss the most when I leave Colombia.
1. Empanadas and Fruit
As far as Colombian food goes, I really will not miss it. Overall, I found it to be bland and in serious need of hot sauce with way too many potatoes, but two things that I will miss are empanadas and the fruit. First off empanadas are delicious, especially when fresh out of the oil. Secondly, Colombia has the most delicious fruit I have ever tasted. It is so fresh and there are many varieties I had never heard of like guanabana. I will miss just being able to walk down the street for easily accessible fruit and juices.
2. Weekend Adventures
One of my favorite parts about Colombia was discovering the country. Almost every weekend, friends and I would hop on a bus and go. I hated the long bus rides, but the destination was always worth it. From seeing the coast, coffee region, and the region of Boyaca. I have seen so many amazing things during my time here, and I will miss just being able to jump on a bus and go wherever I want to.
3. The Culture
When I first arrived in Colombia, the culture kinda boggled me. It was so laid back. Now I have learned to embrace the culture most of the time, and I enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere I lived in. It was the direct opposite of my American culture where everyone is always on the go. It taught me to savor the little moments, and to take time out of everyday just to chill. Some things that annoyed me at first, like the incredibly loud music and the smell of potent onions, has since grown on me. I’m not saying I’m going to go out of my way to look for these things in the future, but I will look back upon them fondly.
4. The Students
The students have made this experience worthwhile. Many of them had no interest in learning English, but the still enjoyed talking with me, asking me about my culture, and demanding to know what different song lyrics and slang meant. One thing I’ll never forget is my 8th graders chanting and cheering for active games in the classroom. Their enthusiasm always brought a smile to my face. My after school English club will always hold a special place in my heart too. It was basically half of one of my 8th grade classes, and we had a great time goofing around, practicing English, and learning.
5. The Teachers and Community Members
Finally, at the end of my list are the people I worked with every day. They were always there for me whenever I needed help or a friend. I remember once when I got sick and had to go to the doctor, multiple teachers called me to see if I needed anything. Another time when I was locked out of my room, community members dropped what they were doing to come help me get the door open. The generosity and kindness of Colombians astounds me even to this day. I will never forget how they made my time here memorable.















