5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Moving To Rural Colombia
I moved to rural Colombia, as a solo female.
I knew I wanted to live in Colombia from the moment I set foot in Colombia 3 years ago.
In 2018 I quit my job to travel the world. I was a Digital Nomad, the dream. I started in Colombia and ended in Colombia.
3 years later, back to where it all started.
Except for this time around I officially moved here, and I don’t have a job. I lost my job during COVID and was not rehired.
I decided to not let that stop me from living in my favorite country.
So here I am recreating my life, new country, new career, new hopes, and dreams, oh and now I have a boyfriend.
But I digress.
5 Things I Wish I Would Of Knew Before Moving To Rural Colombia
1. Wifi and electricity are not guaranteed to work every day.
This is kind of crazy to think that in this day and age that you might be without electricity for longer than 6 hours. Let alone no wifi or phone signal for 3 days.
Yes, the entire town went without internet for 3 days, and we all survived. It was stressful, for me. I am a full-time content creator and this definitely hit me hard.
To be honest, it wasn’t that bad. I read a book, listened to a book I had downloaded. I started running again-FINALLY!
Worked in my garden, hanging out with my boyfriend. We made it work.
When I asked my boyfriend what will happen to the company that had the town off-grid for 3 days, his response was “shoulder shrug”.
Basically, nothing once the internet is resumed, will be a distant memory.
This leads me to point #2.
2. When something doesn’t go as YOU expect. You have to roll with the punches.
Nothing will come of frustration except more frustration.
You are the outsider. Getting angry about how things work will do nothing. If you want immediate fixes and answers, don’t move to a new country.
I have met so many ex-pats that all they do is complain. They complain that the new country does not have XYZ.
Maybe their native country works differently, more organized, more goods, more services.
Well to be honest if your native country is so great then go home.
This is harsh but true. When you are an ex-pat or relocate to a new country you can not expect the new country to bend to your expectations. It is the opposite actually.
If you do not accept how things are in the new country you will go absolutely insane. Adapt or leave, that is the options we are left with when we relocate.
We are the outsider.
3. In the country, the stores are not the same, and the availability of products is decreased.
I have traveled to many small towns. When you are traveling most of the time everything you need to bring with you.
This time I am living in this small town. This is a game-changer.
For example, I love spicy food. I understand that maybe I will have to make my own spicy food, however, I did not mentally prepare that the stores will not carry spicy spices!
So this was something I learned when I moved here. If I want certain spices I will have to travel to the big cities to buy them. Which comes along with #2 and rolling with the punches.
I also just started to grow my own spices, but I did have to travel to the big city to buy the seeds. I am lucky that I only live 4 hours by bus from Medellin.
4. You will stand out, especially if you are blonde, with light eyes.
I always say to my boyfriend, that if I do not talk will they know I am a foreigner. He just laughs.
He calls me blonde even though in the US, my hair is brown. I have green/blue eyes, he calls them “claros”.
It is just in a small town. When I travel to the big city, no one stares at me and tries to talk to me in English. Even the little kids come up to me asking me where I am from.
They do not see a lot of tourists here, especially from the US or Europe. I have gotten used to it, everyone knows me and recognizes me now.
5. Nobody speaks English.
This one for me was not a surprise after I have traveled all over.
I included it for you, the one person that needs to know this.
The big cities with more tourists will speak more English, than small towns. Especially small towns that do not see many foreign tourists.
However, my town is a popular destination for Colombian tourists and is not for foreigners. So most people here do not speak English, nor do they need to.
I am living in their city, and I speak to them in their language. Colombians love to talk so if they think you can understand them, expect rapid Spanish to come your way.
It is their way of showing hospitality and being genuinely curious. Feel free to say, “mas lento, porfavor”. Manners will get you everywhere in Colombia.
Speak a little of their language and be kind, you will find a home forever.
Bienvenidos a Colombia!
XOXO
S.
Oh Sarah! I lived in Thailand for years and this takes me back!
Can we upload pics to comments?