As a gringo in Colombia, more often than not, you will be asked, “So what did you think of Colombia before you decided to visit?” Being objective, before you make the trip, cocaine cartels and violence will pop into your head to some extent. You may not mention this and opt for a more pl[...]
Author Archive
2009 Wrap-Up
I’ve spent a total of five months in Colombia so far. In that time I have worked with two organizations. Since the 1st of December, I have been on break. My remaining thoughts for 2009: Holiday Festivities End of year holiday events, like fundraisers and luncheons, are a great way to make cont[...]
Accidental Discovery: Weight Loss at High Altitudes
While not directly related to volunteering, I felt this post could inspire someone feeling a bit overweight to make the trip to Bogotá, volunteer, and lose a few pounds in the process. The other day I weighed in at the doctor and I was surprised: I lost 9 kilograms, or 20 pounds? I have a thin [...[...]
Paying It Forward: Helping Locals Volunteer Abroad
So you come to Latin America to volunteer and you tell locals about what you are doing. In my case, when I tell Colombians I’ve met about what I’m giving my time to, a lot of them say, “Hey, I want to leave Colombia and help in a different country!” I try to help out as [..[...]
Is Bogotá Safe?
I have been asked by quite a few people regarding safety in Bogotá. Some of the common questions are: “Is it a safe city?” “Will you be kidnapped and made a drug mule?” “Are you crazy?” That answer to the second question is a definitive “no.” The answ[...]
Volunteering at a Religious Organization When You´re Not Religious
While I respect peaceful religion, I’m not religious. Not at all. It wasn’t until my third visit that I came to realize Futuro Juvenil is a devoutly Christian organization. Sure, I had seen the chapel in the estate. But I wasn’t aware that the foundation is centered around Christia[...]
Be Careful, Self-Deception Can Cover Its Tracks…
An honest look at my progress at one of the organizations where I volunteer has revealed that I have been deceiving myself into thinking that just showing up is enough. My task is to raise donations via the Internet. I have been unable to setup the website to receive online donations. Currently, we [...]
September 8th, 2009 - 11:29 am § in Colombia, Good Ideas
Ciclovía: A Car-Free Revolution
Bogotá gets a lot of bad press. While some of it is deserving, a whole lot of it is based on the past conditions of the city 10 years ago. As a consequence, few people outside of Colombia are aware of the progressive, positive things going on inside the country. Every Sunday and public holiday (the[...]
Teaching English with a Fake Degree I Bought off the Internet
A week or so ago, I realized that at least for now, my volunteer gig at Futuro Juvenil would not occupy a full schedule. I could show up and pretend to be busy every day (I have a lot of practice at this), but my duties only require 10-15 hours a week. Conveniently, I received a [...][...]
