Hola a todos!
Marcela here again after a busy week of working and promoting my beautiful Colombia. This week my interest has been piqued by a number of questions coming in from 1st and 2nd generation emigrants from Colombia. This is a topic that’s very close to my heart having spent years abroad and eventually being drawn back to my home country. The difference is that for me I left for adventure, whereas others that may have left 40 or 50 years ago have left to seek peace and refuge in countries like the United States and England.
It’s interesting also because part of my (self-appointed) job is to help change perceptions of Colombia. Typically we think of this as changing the minds of people that have watched too many films or believed too much of what they’ve read, but often it’s Colombians themselves who have left the country and not returned for decades. In their head the country remains dangerous and these attitudes are harder to counter since they know the country and its politics intimately.
However, I had the pleasure this week of speaking with a client that is the daughter of two emigrants from Colombia. She herself lived in Colombia for only a few months before the family sought to leave. Now, my dear client is looking to come back to Colombia to help her children rediscover their roots and see exactly where they came from. What a beautiful thought!!
When she announced this plan to her family there was two different responses: excitement from her family from the States who expressed a desire to join her, and trepidation from her parents; the ones that left Colombia in the first place. I think their caution is understandable, but I was so pleased to be able to talk with my client and, through her, her family, in order to reassure them. They knew about our wonderful destinations such asZipaquira and Villa de Leyva, but expressed concern about the security of traveling between other destinations, such as Bogotá to Colombia’s Coffee Triangle.
Travel was, I assured them, safe on all the trails that are popular with travelers. Sure, there’s activity in areas that must be avoided, but on their trip they’d be absolutely safe, and be able to enjoy trips through the beautiful Andes mountains. Again there was more doubts here; the (mis)perception is that guerillas are in the mountains in Colombia but Colombia’s mountains are some of the main draws of the country, surrounding as they do so many cities and towns in dramatic style. They should be enjoyed, not feared!!
After our conversation I believe the family is excited for their trip back home to Colombia. I just know they’ll be surprised, touched and so happy to see what giant strides our beloved country has made in so many good directions. I’m sure they’ll find, as so many do, that the only risk is wanting to stay.
As for me? As always, I’m just happy to help and spread the word!
Abrazos,
Marcela
