Learning Spanish is one thing. Learning Spanish in Barranquilla is quite another. The Power of Code-Switching Shakespeare had a knack for demonstrating the power of language through his characters. Whether it was Richard III smooth talking his way into power, or Mark Antony persuading a giant Roman mob to turn against Cassius and Brutus, Shakespeare’s characters emphasize…
Despite my last post, there are many honest and good-hearted taxistas in Barranquilla. There are drivers who will give you back 1000 pesos when they believe you have given them too much, and those who will complement you on your Spanish, knowing you are from out of town but you are at least trying to…
The taxi service in Barranquilla is a culture in itself. I come from a suburban neighborhood where public transportation is not very convenient, so I wasn’t familiar with taxis in general, let alone Barranquilla cabs. Upon arriving, my school gave me a tiny slip of paper with my address, kind of like what mothers…
I am not married, so I have never been on a honeymoon. I imagine it feels something like the first few months after moving to a new country. When I arrived in Barranquilla and was shown my new life, especially my apartment, I felt like I was in an episode of Extreme Home Makeover.…
I was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and I grew up in the surrounding suburbs. I even went to college in the small, southern-Minnesotan town, St. Peter, and I attended Gustavus Adolphus College, a private school at the top of a big, windy hill. I majored in Communication Arts and…
Me: Hey, I just got a job in Colombia. I am moving to Barranquilla for at least 2 years. Friends: Wow, congrats. You gonna be a drug lord? (I chuckle/sigh) Me: Nope, teacher… As I walked with my girlfriend to the bus stop, there was a man sleeping in the…
Oye, Gringo! 