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
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[...]



