Colombia wasn’t BA Languages student Alpha Shaw’s first choice for his Year Abroad, but the diversity of the country drew him in. His blog reflects on the country, community and the challenge of living in a different language during his exchange year at Universidad de Los Andes.

Prior to relocating to Bogotá, Colombia, I experienced considerable nervousness and anxiety. However, upon reflection, I can assert with confidence that choosing to spend my year abroad in Colombia was an excellent decision for my personal growth and development. I have had numerous remarkable experiences and have also formed close connections with a group of individuals whom I now consider my family.   

Why I “chose” Colombia? 

Choosing a city was tough due to many factors. My top priority was finding a racially and culturally diverse destination, which proved challenging. Initially, I considered Spain for its proximity to home. Colombia wasn’t on my radar until I discovered @euniceeerbynn on TikTok, who shared her positive experiences there. Inspired by her videos, I applied.

Arriving in Colombia and Student Life  

After studying Spanish intermittently for a few years, I believed I had a basic understanding of the language until I arrived in Colombia. Learning a language autonomously or in a classroom differs significantly from experiencing the language firsthand and living in a country where it is the primary language. The first few months at Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, interacting with Colombians and studying like a native student, were overwhelming and stressful. Adapting to their lifestyle and educational system was challenging, particularly when I had to deliver several presentations in Spanish to a class of native speakers. However, with time and patience I started to understand more Spanish and became more confident in my skills.  

Colombia is more than Bogota 

With the support of the Turing bursary, I was able to visit more than 10 cities and departments in Colombia, including Nuqui, Choco. Traveling around Colombia offers a variety of experiences, from enjoying coffee in the mountains to dancing by the beach or exploring colourful towns. Cartagena features colonial streets and a Caribbean atmosphere, while Chocó is known for its dense jungle and unspoiled Pacific coast. 

Identity and the Importance of Community

Colombia is an incredibly diverse country, both racially and culturally. It has significant populations of Black, White, mixed, and Indigenous communities. As someone from a city as diverse as London and being Black, it was important for me to select a location where such diversity is reflected. Visiting the Afro-Colombian territories felt familiar to me because of the variety within that community and the strong emphasis on community and mutual support. 

However, Colombia remains quite segregated, with certain areas having higher concentrations of specific communities. As a Black person, visiting territories that are predominantly white or mixed sometimes led to experiences of racism and microaggressions.

Top Tips: 

Take the risk 

Try saving before going on the trip 

Do not sign any long-term accommodation contracts before actually seeing the space in person (cannot stress this enough) 

Speak, speak, speak 

Participate when you can  

Travel around the country when you can. 

Try and make friends with Colombians as well as your exchange student peers. 

A food place I would recommend is called Plaza de Mercado La Perseverancia in Bogota. It’s a huge food market, I would recommend visiting ‘La Esquina de Mary’. They specialise in Afro Colombian dishes.