After a grueling 23-hour flight, 🥦 I finally touched down in Colombia! And yes, motion sickness is very much my nemesis. I had thoughtfully packed my Switch for the journey, but as soon as we hit turbulence, I was overcome with dizziness and ended up sleeping through most of the trip until we landed. To top it all off, adjusting to the time difference over two days has been no picnic, making me feel like some kind of saint just for showing up to work [doge][doge].
The biggest hurdles here are undoubtedly the language barrier and the unfamiliar surroundings. Even though I’m in the capital, English isn’t widely spoken. My Spanish? Let’s just say it’s about as polished as someone who’s done 80 days on Duolingo—meaning I rely heavily on translation apps and exaggerated hand gestures to get by.
Then there’s the matter of safety. Walking around with my phone out still feels risky, so I keep it tucked away unless absolutely necessary. Last night, I had dinner at my boss’s house, where we talked long into the evening, wrapping up around half past eleven. Though my apartment is only a 12-minute walk away, everyone insisted I take a taxi home and reminded me not to cross the street or use the overpass alone after dark.
All in all, I have to admit, my knowledge of Latin America is pretty limited, so I’m proceeding with caution and focusing on adapting for now. Once my Spanish improves and I grow more comfortable with the neighborhood, I might let my guard down a little—hahaha. (By the way, I brought along a shiny new Z50ii specifically for this trip, but both others and my own instincts tell me it’s safer to leave the camera at home. For now, it’s just a beautiful piece of decor sitting unused in my room.)
