Colombia, peace loving people.

It seems that all I've written about Colombia makes it sound like the kind of place you would never return from, the kind of place where only danger awaits, the kind of place your mother would never let you go. I am here to try to redeem the image people have of Colombia. I hear a lot of jokes about drugs; yes, even at Union, especially at Union. Side note:I laugh a lot and its usually very loud, and the later it gets in the night, the less I make sense, the more stupid things I say and do (ehem.. "woooaaaah.. look at my arms, guys!!). My friends like to suggest that I've been resorting to my "special Colombian stuff" whenever I act like this, and it just adds to what people think about Colombia.

Yes, Colombia has been in a civil war for the last 50+ years. Yes, Colombia is one of the main coca producers (Coca is the plant they make crack cocaine from, not what you make hot chocolate with). Yes, there are rebel armies fighting against the national military for power and control. Yes, there are parts of the country that we can't access because of the war. Yes, people get kidnapped. Yes, it is a 3rd world country and overwhelming poverty hinders at the edges of society. Yes, my family has been robbed, personal or house, about 8 times in the 6 years we've been in Bogota. Yes, I have to be aware of my surroundings when I'm riding the bus alone or walking down the street.

And now you've really made up your mind: "It is even worse than I thought, no way will I ever go to Colombia." I've laid out most of what people think about Colombia, the hard truths and the stereotypes that are unfortunately rooted in history and reality, but here is my attempt to help you see that, in all reality, its not that bad.

1. Have you ever been to a 3rd world country? If you're white, you've always had to watch your back. If you haven't, others have been watching out for you. You just haven't been aware of all the security measures people went through to make you feel safe, oblivious to any danger. There were so many more risks that surrounded you that you had no idea about. We don't keep secrets in Colombia; we tell you straight up what the risks are when you come to a 3rd world country. In some ways, that makes it a better place to go to, am I right? Honesty is the best policy!

2. Yes, there is a civil war going on. There are rebel armies fighting, but all of that fighting goes on in places where you will not be going. I have never felt that part of the war affect my life in most of the places I've been to in Colombia. Its in parts of the jungles and in far-off states. And besides, its not like they're about to take over; the national army is whooping the rebels, taking the head honchos out one by one. Colombia's got your back, just don't be stupid going where you shouldn't!

3. You don't even have to go to a 3rd world country to have to watch out for robbers, pick-pockets, and other shady types. Just go to New York City or some other big fast-moving city where need hides at the mouth of every alley. People steal because people are not perfect, whether they resort to it because of material need or laziness. America has thieves and rapists to the same sinful extent as 3rd world countries.

4. Now for the drug part, my faaavorite (totally joking!). We all know what "crack cocaine" is because its the people in America that consume it, mostly at least. And may I add, all that Colombian crack bought in America is funding the rebel armies in the civil war. So we only grow it because you buy it. "We" being the indigenous (i.e. indians, natives, tribal people) who are pretty much forced by the rebels to cultivate the coca plants. So, yes, Colombia grows it, but you sniff it ;)

5. Colombia is kind of amazing. Andes Mountains, beaches on both the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans, the freaking Amazon river and the whole jungle around it, "los llanos"-the plains. The culture, the people, the heritage, the poverty--these have all taken over my heart and made me call it home. Of course I'm biased, but it really is the most beautiful country I have ever been to, but don't trust my word for it, go see for yourself :)

And with that I hope to maybe help you all think not only of drugs and violence when you hear "Colombia." Its far from perfect, from its still great.

p.s. Colombia is spelled with two o's, no u's.