My New Life in Colombia

Five years ago, when I first entered college, if somebody were to tell me I was going to be a television news reporter in Bogotá, Colombia, I would say, “What the hell are you talking about?” It’s absolutely amazing where life takes you. All of the changes that have occurred this year have been so dramatic. I’m going to nickname 2008 the “year of surprises,” because I have literally received a surprise (both good and bad) every single week of the year.

And, wow! What a dramatic turn of events it’s already been in Colombia! I honestly wish I could write everything that has occurred since I’ve arrived in Colombia two and a half weeks ago, but everyday has been such an adventure that I cannot possibly write everything down. If anything, I’ll have to reserve those memories for my pictures.

The reason why I haven’t been able to write anything is because I am now working as a contributor for RCN News in English. For those who aren’t familiar with Colombia, RCN is Colombia’s largest television network. Thanks to the efforts of top Miami television journalist Brian Andrews, RCN now has its own newscast in English, and I am happy to say that I now work with Brian as a contributing reporter, anchor and producer for the news in English.

Because this opportunity worked out so quickly for me, this radically my original plans (in a good way, of course!). I have to now remain in Bogotá to work at my dream job, while Jorge had to leave for Medellín to pursue his own plans, meaning that Jorge will no longer be writing in this blog.

The first city we saw in Colombia from our flight from Miami was Barranquilla. From no sleep, I was feeling very exhausted, so my excitement at arriving to Colombia wasn’t as strong as I thought it would be. It had me reflect, however, as to how much work I had spent on preparing this trip. All the research, all the learning, all the emotional distress of telling your family that you’re going to a foreign country, not sure when you’ll return; when you want to follow your heart, you have to prepare yourself for the critical beatings that are to come. Even your own head will call yourself crazy. But instead of fighting with yourself, you need to have your head work with your heart to find a way to make your heart’s desire possible.

I stared at the lush landscape for a few minutes more, so happy I finally was able to see Colombia again. Even though my outside excitement was contained by my exhaustion, I was, however, so content and so relieved I was finally in this country. Colombia was a long-lost love I never thought I would see again. I had done so much to plan my trip, and now here I was, in this beautiful country that has treated me so well.

After my opportunity worked out at RCN, it was a somewhat difficult decision to stay in Bogotá. For one, I had no idea RCN would work out so quickly, so rapidly. Second, I had been dying to return to Medellín, the city that had me fall in love with Colombia so passionately. I did, however, come here to start a new life, and a new career, and the moment Brian Andrews put me on his newscast, I stayed, doing the one thing I love in the one country I love so dearly. Medellín can most definitely wait.

Bogotá, of course, is very beautiful in itself. I already love the city and am already proud to call this place my home. And, just like Medellín, I have already met several genuinely nice people you can only meet in Colombia. I’ve made several friends already and right here, in Colombia, I feel like I’m becoming somebody… I feel like I can accomplish a lot, and now my life, along with my job now has a lot of meaning. I also have a feeling that I can meet the love of my life here because it is only here in Colombia where you can meet a woman who is not only beautiful on the outside but beautiful on the inside as well.

Yes, when you see the beautiful women that Colombia has to offer, you get into a very romantic mindset. But like every other human being, I’ve had my heart broken several times, so this time I’m going to be very careful in my choosing. My father always told me that you know when you meet your soul mate. The feeling is so strong and so obvious. I suppose then, it will be a very similar feeling to the one that told me to go to Colombia. It was so strong that I knew it was God’s calling for me.

Like I said before, follow your heart, but let your head guide you in the most difficult of decisions. Your heart knows what’s best for you but your head can help you survive the most difficult of situations.

I'm not expecting myself to be famous nor to have a lot of money. In fact, I really don't want any of those because those are only added bonuses. I learned that best through meeting some poor people last year in Medellín; they were the happiest people I had ever met –– and that’s exactly what I want. The only thing I want to be in my life right now is happy, and I feel that now by living in the beautiful country that is Colombia.

In the meantime, I’ve been enjoying everything that Bogotá has to offer. I did all the “tourist” things my first couple weeks here. I visited La Candelaria, a gorgeous historic section of the city, and I took a peak at the gorgeous landscape from Torre Colpatria –– the tallest building in Colombia –– and, of course climbed Monserrate. Ok, maybe I didn’t climb it, but I did walk down, which was tiring enough with the steep stairs and thin air.

The air of Colombia has a very unique smell. Every morning, when I walk out the door, I always take a deep breath of air, and a sudden surge of satisfaction rushes through my veins and my heart. I go into a taxi, and listen to vallenato play from the driver’s radio, and I then smile as I look at the beautiful yellow, blue and red flag of Colombia, and peek at the giant green mountains in the distance. I relax and feel so happy and so satisfied to be here.