I feel I know Barranquilla reasonably well: I’m finding my way around the city, making friends and—at last—working out how to use the bus network, without needing to get off the bus because I misread where it was going. But for all I think I know Barranquilla, there’s another side that I’v[...]
Archive for the ‘Colombia’ Category
February 2nd, 2010 - 4:06 pm § in Around Town, Colombia
Living in Two Worlds at Once
One side of volunteering sometimes not spoken about is the desire to see the country you’re in—it makes you sound like a tourist and you came to Latin America to do something more. I personally think that it’s fine to see the country in your time off: you’ve chosen Latin America over another[...]
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[...]
