7 Weeks of Living in Medellin, Colombia

It was totally a conscious decision when I decided to travel to Colombia. I was in my cramped student accommodation room, getting bored of doing assignments when I made my mind that I should travel to South America, just because it was the only continent I have not been to apart from Africa. So then I googled the best cities in South America and among the popular ones was Medellin. And the more I read blogs about Medellin, the more I am curios about the city.

"Medellin, the second largest city of Colombia, used to be the murder capital of the world but now turns into the model city by UN Habitat. In just two decades, The city has successfully transformed a massive unplanned urban growth and informal settlements that were completely neglected by the state into a medical and business centre city with new public buildings and squares, and efficient metro and cable car system"

So then I decided to go to Medellin and here I am in this city and has been more than 7 weeks now. So what do I do here, this pretty much sum my activities:

1. Working

I did a volunteer work through AIESEC, which is a student based organisation that provides young people with leadership development and cross-cultural global internship across the globe. Under AIESEC Global Community Development Programme (GCDP), I participated Lets Do It Project with a bunch of youngsters from across Latin America, Mexican, Peruvian, Brazilian and Panama. What we did was to raise awareness of various environmental issues in the city by street campaign social media campaign, plant trees, teach children and give recommendation to the government. Under this project, we visited zoos, visited parks, and talked to the government officials how they improve the city.

Street campaign for Ecocity Medellin with my team

Check our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Eco-City-Medellin-1658175717796552/ 

2. Party

Yes that is correct, I party more than ever here in Medellin. I mean I am in Latin America, party is one of the important parts of their culture. So it is of no surprise that I get dragged to party almost every single night. The good thing is I love party too, so its a perfect match. The main party area here is called Publado, a really touristy place but it has tons of places for dancing, drinking or even just chill. It is a great nightlife here in Medellin that I never really feel bored as there is always something new. It is not always that I party outside, many people in my project do house party and they always welcome dozens of people including other AIESEC projects in Medellin.

Muse Le Aqua area, but heading to a party soon!!

3. Co-Working Space

I also have things I need to do back in Australia and Indonesia so after the project finish, I ended up be in the co-working space to do my assignments and paper and presentation and so on. Named Cafe Ondas,  the co-working space  is located only 5 minutes walking from the place where I live now (La America, Carrera 80). It is owned by an young Australian man. I met a bunch of global nomads in the place who open my perspective on non mainstream 9-5 work. Also, the place is so cozy. It feels so homy. The owner knows how to put random things together and turn it into a creative space for work.

Cafe Ondas in Laureless, where I rent the space weekly.

3rd floor of the Cafe Ondas co-working space, lovely environment

4. Socialising

Yes that is correct, I am a social butterfly. I like to interact with people, making conversation about random things. I am not a text person but if you meet me in person, you will realise immediately how bubbly I am. So here in Colombia, a Colombian friend that I met in Indonesia introduced me to her friends and so on and another Colombian friend that I met in Australia also did the same and so on and so on, not to mention those that I met through internet. So almost every day I met a new people. It is fun because I am bubbly and curious on other people's opinion at the same time.

One of my fav spot in the city, rooftop of Charlie Hotel

5. Travel

There are literally so many places in Medellin that worth visiting. Many of the museums are free to enter, the parks are amazingly beautiful, food are yummy and cheap and it is convenient and very affordable to travel around by taxi.  Also, there are so many tourist attraction and beautiful places that could be visited across the country. So there is no reason not to travel around while in Medellin or Colombia. Outside Medellin, I myself went to Santa Fe, Guatape, Bogota and Santa Marta only. But it is enough to agree that the country is so beautiful and amusing with its beautiful landscape and friendly people.

 

Guatape, Antioqia 

Parque Tayrona, Santa Marta

Jardin Park, Communa 13, Medellin.

It is totally worth the stay being here in Medellin, beautiful city, beautiful people, unique culture and tasty foods. Too bad I will need to wave good bye in a week or so. 

I will definitely miss this lovely city.

Ps. Just in case you are curious, no I did not advance my Spanish, but yeah I think a bit process with my dancing skill ;)


Love,

Olivia

My 2015 Reflection

Just like previous year, I like to write reflection of my 365 days journey in one writing prior to embracing another year with full joy, expectation, worry and hope at the same time. I have to admit 2015 was not the best year of my life but I learn a lot from it. Here are some highlights:

1. Travel

If you know me (even not so) long enough, you will know that my biggest passion is traveling. I travelled a lot in 2015. I lived in 3 different countries, visited my home country Indonesia few times and mostly spend my time in Australia.

January
I started the year of 2015 in Kathmandu, Nepal doing my summer internship there, went back to Sumatra, Indonesia my home town for few days before heading back to Canberra, Australia by 29 January.

March
I travelled to Shanghai, China for a week to lead ANU delegation for HULT Prize Challenge 2015. We did not win but had a great experience and learnt a lot from other participants and the competition.

April
Summer break I travelled to Sydney and Wollongong with some of university peeps.

June
I went back to Indonesia for a week to visit my family.

June-July
I travelled with my then boyfriend across Queensland, Australia for 13 days by bus. Cairns-Townsville- Airlie Beach- Rainbow Beach-Brisbane-Gold Coast-Byron Bay. Finally visited Great Barrier Reef although I had a sea sick the whole trip.

July
I travelled to South Korea for a week for a MIKTA conference as I was nominated by my university to represent Australia. I went there directly from Byron Bay right after my winter trip finished so it was pretty odd that I brought my bikinis and all the beach clothes to the conference.

November
I started my globetrotter journey one day after my birthday (16 Nov). So I started from Sydney to pick my Schengen visa for Europe, went to Brisbane the same day and stayed there for 4 days, travelled to Fiji for a week (flight was from Gold Coast airport), back to Sydney for a day and went to Bali for 3 days.

December
I flu from Bali to Paris where I had a presentation in Sorbonne university in conjunction with COP21. It was a great highlight; I reunited with some lovely old folks there. After a week in Paris I went to Ghent, Belgium, to visit a friend and stayed there for four days. I went to Medellin, Colombia directly from Europe. The most direct and cheapest way was from Madrid, Spain. So I booked my ticket from Brussels to Madrid. And here I am now in Medellin and has been here for 3 weeks. So far so good. I met a bunch of cool people, visited many interesting places, eat a lot, socialize a lot and learn a lot from Colombian culture.

 

It feels weird to see my face in the university page.

2. To Let Go

I broke up with my boyfriend by middle of the year and will never turn my head back to see the past relationship. Forgiving him and me is the best deed of all. A quotation that I put as my phone wallpaper for long is strongly applied here “No matter what it is job, friendship, relationship, if it does not make you happy, just let it go.” I also learn from the relationship that there are people that you want to keep in touch forever and there are people who you just need to cut off from your life.

3. Achieve

I like to keep my self-busy. I involved in many organization this year including 180 degree consulting, Indonesia Student Association ACT and Australian wide, PARSA, and CSSA. The book that I co-write was published. I went to China, South Korea and France to represent my university for different conferences and all paid by the university or the organizer. I worked as a bartender and also did some volunteer works including for Canberra Multicultural festival and SEAT4ANU program, not to forget being an MC for environmental seminars and welcoming party. As I am blessed with many opportunities to go abroad, I had a seminar in my university where I spoke on my experience on how to seize the opportunity. 

Me giving presentation in Crawford School of Public Policy.

4.  Health

Most of all, I deal with my general anxiety problem and it seems that the external stressors compounded it. I used to think that my constant feeling of worry was not a big deal but I was not feeling so happy that year. So I started visiting counseling centre, practise meditation and yoga and also tried to regularly go to gym. By the end of the year, I feel way better. I am happy now and although sometimes I feel blue but it was not the same like when I was in Canberra. I learn that there are many people who deal the same thing with me and it is never too late to seek help because no matter what type of mental issues you are dealing with, it could happen to anyone, anywhere regardless of social status.

This helps me a lot through my hard time, really.

5. Friendship

I met some people that became good friends of mine. Some cool people who are not only there when I am happy but most importantly when I am sad. Help me dealing with self during my tough time. Those are people who I randomly met through random events, a new friend I met in my hostel during my trip in Fiji, old friends that I reunited in Paris and Belgium and also new friends in Colombia. So here you go, friendship is not about how long you know the person but how connected you are to each other. Thanks for being with me when I was dealing with my personal problems. You know who you are. ;)

Friends on my Birthday!

I hope the best for 2016 ahead. Happy New Year from Colombia everyone!

Lots of love,

Olivia