Mistakes expats make in Colombia

Priscilla wrote:

Did you make any mistakes when you first moved to Colombia? What were they?

Are there any tips you could give future expats in Colombia to help them avoid these kinds of mistakes?

Don't drive on intercity roads in southern Colombia and any other questionable areas at night.

Due to heavy rains, slow truck traffic and other delays .. I was still on the road on my first day of driving in Colombia (last December) late at night, south of Popayán, headed north on the Panamericana.

Moto-bandits attacked from behind, throwing rocks at my Chevy Sail during a rainstorm.  The rocks destroyed the rear windshield and the delincuentes screamed at me unintelligibly, possibly trying to get me to pull over.  Fortunately, they fled on their moto when my car spun out on the slick roadway as I tried to escape by accelerating.  I was fortunate only my car was damaged.

Do intercity night-travel outside the Coffee Zone and certain coastal roads .. only during daylight when possible.  Or better yet, do air travel. 

See the U.S. State Department's short list of safe intercity roads at the Colombia travel-warnings page of travel.state.gov ....

cccmedia in Medellín

Priscilla wrote:

Hello everyone,

Did you make any mistakes when you first moved to Colombia? What were they?

How did you address your mistakes? Did you learn anything from them?

With hindsight, what would you do differently?

Some Expats think they're supposed to blend in.

To try to speak in a way that attempts to perfectly mimmick local speakers.

To know the locally-observed holidays.

To live only in ungated places where they're the only Gringo around....

I don't buy it.

What happened to 'be yourself'?

A.  You're never gonna talk like a local -- too many idioms, too much Gringo accent.

B.  You won't remember the holidays until one hits you.  If it's an important holiday, you'll know because the store you wanted to go into .. was closed.

C.  If you want a good night's sleep, the best place in town will probably be in a gated community.  The dogs will be barred or under control.  Three-day parties with unimpeded loud music will not be tolerated.  You may be able to get an interior unit away from the buses, the barkers, the panhandlers.

Embrace your Gringo-ness!

FYI, this is not license to skip learning Spanish.  If you live in a country where Spanish is the main language, learning is highly recommended and will enrich your life (even if you can point out the fruit you want to buy and hold up three fingers).

cccmedia in Medellín

Pretty funny ccc! And true. My spanish sucks but even the gringos i know whove got a good handle on it are NOT mistaken for a Colombian by  a Colombian. I dont live in a gated community but still a nice neighborhood i can walk around day or night by myself. medellin? Ive never felt all that safe there even in Poblado. When my espanol improves maybe. But id rather live here in San Antonio a barrio of rionegro and not worry...well i watch my back but hell i did that in the usa.