Top 10 Things People Ask Me About Living in Colombia

For the last year, in Colombia, many of my conversations with fellow Brits or people from the States have, at some point, turned to what people’s expectations were or what their friends and family think of their trip to Colombia. Having returned for the UK for Christmas, I’ve dealt with this once again, but first-hand. Now, with a bit more knowledge of what life is like in Colombia, much of it makes me laugh.

Here’s a run-down of some of the best questions and statements I get when I tell people I’m living in Bogota, Colombia:

“Oh, I just bought a banana from there.”

– Did you? …Nice

“Wow, is there mafia everywhere on the streets?”

– I’m in Colombia, not the 1920s New York

“Why aren’t you tanned?”

– Go look up Bogota on Wikipedia.

“What are the women like in Colombia?”

– See here.

“Do you see any kidnappings?”

– Err… No.

“Is it like all the films you see?”

– Definitely, definitively, absolutely not.

“Where’s that?”

– Sigh.

“I was told there are tanks on every corner.”

– You need new friends.

“I have a friend who has a friend who went and…”

– I’m going to stop you there and tell you it’s probably false.

“Are drugs legal there?”

– Funny you should ask… No.

Once these questions are out the way, the conversation usually moves towards more insightful questions, which I’m grateful for. Inevitably, I tell them about the beaches of Tayrona, the parties in Bogota, the streets of Cartagena and everything else that makes travel to Colombia absolutely essential for anyone with a love of travel.

I head back to Colombia this weekend and I look forward to receiving several guests throughout the year. Family, close friends and even acquaintances are becoming interested in venturing to a country they knew little about 10 years ago, but are frequently hearing in the media or through word of mouth that it’s the place to be. They’ll come, they’ll see Colombia, and they too will return to the same barrage of questions. Let’s hope it starts a chain.

Paul