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I've been living abroad for 5 years, mainly in Medellin, but also in Mexico, Brazil, and the Philippines. Living in Colombia is great for your mental health.
by MrPowers 6y ago
I've been living abroad for 5 years, mainly in Medellin, but also in Mexico, Brazil, and the Philippines. Living in Colombia is great for your mental health. People don't talk about Bitcoin, IPOs, or political turmoil.
Great neighborhood vibe. Folks are really friendly. Have a lot of friends that make the Colombian minimum wage ($300 a month) and they're generally happier than my rich friends back home. Took me a few years to understand the culture, but worth it cause it taught me a whole new way to look at life.
- boolean 6y agoI've also spent 3-4 months in Medellin and my experience fully aligns with yours in regards to happiness of locals vs people back home.
- maroonblazer 6y agoThanks for sharing. Do you speak the language? Or are you able to get by in English? That's one of my concern with working abroad when it comes to non-work-related interactions.
- MrPowers 6y agoI came to Medellin with no Spanish and learned. Took longer and was harder than I expected. The locals don't speak English and most of the magical stuff happens in Spanish. My Spanish speaking personality is quite different from English speaking me. I say things to my Colombian girlfriend in Spanish that I would never say in English. My Spanish speaking interactions don't have an English equivalent. Come for a few months, speak English, and you can have a great time. If you come for a few years and learn the language / culture, you'll have a new worldview. Sidenote: there's a misconception that you can learn a language by being in a country for a few years. I've known lots of expats that have been here for years and still don't know the language. Even fewer have truly understood the culture.
- Donald 6y agoWhat's notable about the culture?
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- toomuchtodo 6y agoAny recommendations on neighborhoods for someone bringing a family with younger children (was thinking Poblado)?
- MrPowers 6y agoI have friends with 4 kids under 10 and they live up in the Tesoro section of Poblado. Lots of gated house / apartment communities. Colombia is family oriented, so it's easy to find great housing and fit into the culture with a family.
- toomuchtodo 6y agoThank you!
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]