In the middle of it all

It's odd to know that I've been in this country for as long as I have. It feels as though I just arrived in Colombia a couple weeks ago. My subconscious keeps telling me that I still haven’t fully adjusted to my new life in Barranquilla. Maybe my constant traveling during free time has prevented me from being able to visualize a home here, but I cannot say I regret any of those decisions.

Each week flies by faster than the last, so much that I barely realized that I'm closer to home than to the date I arrived. Sometimes when I go home to relax after school, it feels as though time is dragging. It is the moments that lack activity and exploration, that make me question whether or not I enjoy this life. But once I leave the house and embark on a new and exciting adventure, I remember the reason I came to Colombia was to experience a life that was unfamiliar to me.

When reflecting on the challenges I've overcome abroad, I'm able to recognize how much I've adapted mentally and physically. There are major differences I've had to face such as adjusting to a year round average 94 degree Fahrenheit temperature. Back in July I had a horrible cough for an entire month and couldn’t leave the house without contemplating whether or not I would pass out from severe dehydration. Now the luxury of air conditioning doesn't even cross my mind anymore. But the most interesting adjustments to reflect on are the little things, like not being able to listen to music while walking down the street. This tiny change has taught me to pay more attention to my surroundings and take in the raw street vibe in full.

During my time here I have made new friends while not forgetting the old. The people who I've met here are kind, adventurous, and full of serenity and laughter. I would not choose to be in Barranquilla with any other group. Sometimes my mind lingers to those I've left behind. Social media is a gift that comes with many lasting consequences. My heart gets filled with joy to read about friends back home in their humble setting. But that joy always turns to longing to settle with them, and remain happy alongside the faces that have become so familiar to me over the years. Whenever this feeling engulfs me, I am reminded why I had to take this leap in the first place. I barely know who I've become after I lost myself in a small town trap for the past four years. Never wanting to leave, and never wanting to explore the side of me that craved adventure before college. The decision to depart this humble life was a terrifying one, but something that clearly had to be done to ease my curiosity.

I wanted to know what a typical day was for people from outside of the United States. I wanted to understand why my routine is so different from someone else's. How far does geographic location and history tie into modern day life? Many people have lost their sense to travel for these answers because of advancements in technology making it easy to ask the same thing online. But how accurate can an article reflecting someone else's opinion or understanding be? In a world of bias, anger, and judgement, no one can accurately interpret a culture or lifestyle without actually immersing themselves in it.

I've seen first-hand how much influence the media has over the entire world. This is not just from my experience in Colombia but also from my travels to around 20 different countries in the last four years. The argument that news outlets control our opinions is not as far fetched as what people think. I've seen the same news story get told in many different ways, based on the population of viewers. With advancements in technology growing rapidly, it's hard to believe that this issue could eventually subside. It's going to take people who have the will to question what they are told, but most importantly to value independence. The independence that motivates you to move outside of your comfort zone and interpret things for yourself. 

Today I am halfway home and have cracked more myths of the misconceptions I've heard about Colombia than I thought I could throughout the duration of my entire trip. Easy to say I've also encountered many judgements of Americans and our intentions as a population. Some of the things I've heard are so far out of reality I have to question the root of the theory. But the irony is that I've heard Americans say the same level of fallacies about Colombians. When both are at fault who is to blame?

My hopes for friends, family, and people I don't even know, is that one day they will take time to travel. Go somewhere unfamiliar, with different standards and expectations. Put yourselves out there to experience something new. Maybe when you return home you'll realize you absolutely hated it all. Even so, in your reflections you will grow to appreciate your home more than you ever did in the past. You will learn to never take for granted the things handed to you. In this life, no one chooses where they are born, or what country they are naturalized citizens of. Making the decision to explore a world outside of your own makes you a wild card. Once your wild card is played, all the negative judgements and influences are put in jeopardy, making you the bearer of reality.