Publicidad YCC
When I told my family and friends that I was moving to Colombia, the responses I received fell into two categories. The first was a concern for my safety, accompanied by bewilderment over my motivations. The second, from my more adventurous companions, displayed a general excitement for my journey. All of them, however, shared one thing in common: a general lack of knowledge about modern Colombia.
I have to admit, it was not long ago that I, just as my companions in the United States, conjured images of drugs, kidnapping, and violence when I thought of Colombia. This is the story that the media loves; the sensation of billionaire drug barons practically sells itself, and there is more profit in selling stories of jungle warfare than in stories of biodiversity, of economic development, of passion for life, love, and laughter. Brazil takes the credit for being the model of Latin American development, and the media tends to forget that there are other countries that are no less inspirational. Colombia is one of those.
I did not choose to move to Colombia by spinning a globe and stopping it with a finger, nor did I come in search of an adrenaline rush. The truth is much less dramatic. I did my research, learned of all the wonderful assets that Colombia has to offer, and made a calculated decision. The information is out there, but it is not found on the front pages. Although I read the New York Times daily, I did not learn the truth about Colombia until I began a research project with professor William Rose, Ph. D.—an expert in antiterrorism and counterinsurgency—during my senior year in college. I became fascinated with the transformations that have occurred in the past decade, and the more I learned, the more I wanted to come.
When many people talk about emigrating, they talk about the “American Dream.” Now that I have deliberately chosen to leave the United States, I must examine what exactly that means. Of course, I could earn more money in the United States, but that is not my first priority. Yes, the United States is famous for upward mobility, but is that less so here in Colombia? Sure, everyone wants a safe life for their family, but is Bogotá any less safe than Baltimore? I considered all these questions carefully and, well, you already know my conclusion.
What I have found during my first couple weeks here is that Colombia’s greatest asset cannot be described by statistics, nor can it be found in books and articles. The magic of Colombia is the attitudes, the vibes, the passions, the hospitality, and the love radiated by the people. This is why Colombia is consistently rated one of the happiest countries in the world, and the United States consistently ranks far below. It does not take long for the visitor to discover how friendly and helpful Colombians are, and there can be no greater comfort to the lone traveler. The Colombian enthusiasm is contagious, and I have already noticed my attitudes changing for the better; I am more relaxed, more open and caring, and just generally happier.
It is not only the national spirit that endears Colombia. There is also the excitement of witnessing a dramatic transformation: the rebirth of modern Colombia. In the past decade security has improved dramatically, and this is pulling the rest of the country with it. The economy is strong and stable despite the global crisis, and with the current management it is easy to envision continued growth for decades to come. The country has been praised by newspapers such as The Economist for its economic management and its ability to handle the global recession. Tourism is expanding, and Colombia is finally being recognized for its immense natural wealth. For example, in 1999 5,000 U.S. citizens visited Colombia. In 2008, that number had inflated to 500,000. All of these things share a common link; Colombia, finally, is being noticed for all of its resources: natural, human, and otherwise.
Unfortunately, as the reactions I received from family and friends demonstrated, there is still considerable progress to be made informing the world about what Colombia is, and what it is not. We must stand up together and say “Enough!” to the labels of drugs and violence, to the stereotypes of the “Third World.” We must rebut the misperceptions with the truth, patiently and persistently. We must educate ourselves, and spread this knowledge to others. By reading this newsletter, you have already demonstrated an effort to learn more about the wonderful riches of this country. Now we must go forth and declare, in concert, “Yo Creo en Colombia!”
Columnista Invitado
