5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Moving To Rural Colombia

I knew I wanted to live in Colombia from the moment I set foot in Colombia 3 years ago. So, three years later, I, as a single female traveler, moved to rural Colombia.

In 2018, I quit my job to travel the world. I was a Digital Nomad, the dream. I started and ended in Colombia.

Three years later, we are back to where it all started.

Except for this time, I officially moved here and don’t have a job. I lost my job during COVID and was not rehired.

I decided to not let that stop me from living in my favorite country.

So here I am recreating my life, new country, new career, new hopes, and dreams, and now I have a boyfriend.

But I digress.

Wifi and electricity are not guaranteed to work every day in rural Colombia

It’s kind of crazy to think that in this day and age, you might be without electricity for longer than 6 hours, let alone no Wi-Fi or phone signal for three days.

The entire town went without internet for three days, and we all survived. It was stressful for me. I am a full-time content creator, and this definitely hit me hard.

To be honest, it wasn’t that bad. I read a book and listened to a book I had downloaded. I started running again- FINALLY!

I worked in my garden and hung out with my boyfriend. We made it work.

When I asked my boyfriend what would happen to the company that had the town off-grid for three days, his response was “shoulder shrug.”

Basically, nothing, once the internet is resumed, will be a distant memory.

This leads me to point #2.

When something doesn’t go as YOU expect. You have to roll with the punches.

Nothing will come of frustration except more frustration.

You are the outsider. Getting angry about how things work will do nothing. Don’t move to a new country if you want immediate fixes and answers.

I have met so many ex-pats that all they do is complain. They complain that the new country does not have XYZ.

Maybe their native country works differently, more organized, more goods, more services.

Well, to be honest, if your native country is so great, then go home.

This is harsh but true. When you are an ex-pat or have relocated to a new country, you can not expect the new country to accommodate your expectations. In fact, it is the opposite.

If you do not accept how things are in the new country, you will go absolutely insane. When we relocate, we are left with the option to adapt or leave.

We are the outsiders.

In the country, the stores are not the same, and the availability of products are less available.

I have traveled to many small towns. When traveling, you usually bring everything you need with you.

This time, I am living in this small town. This is a game-changer.

For example, I love spicy food. I understand that maybe I will have to make my own spicy food; however, I did not mentally prepare that the stores will not carry spicy spices!

I learned this when I moved here: If I want certain spices, I must travel to the big cities to buy them, which comes along with #2 and rolling with the punches.

I also just started growing my own spices, but I had to travel to the big city to buy the seeds. I am lucky that I live only 4 hours by bus from Medellin.

You will stand out in rural Colombia, especially if you are blonde and have light eyes.

I always say to my boyfriend that if I do not talk, will they know I am a foreigner? He just laughs.

He calls me blonde even though my hair is brown in the US. I have green/blue eyes; he calls them “claros.”

It is just in a small town. When I travel to the big city, no one stares at me and tries to talk to me in English. Even the little kids approach me, asking me where I am from.

They do not see many tourists here, especially from the US or Europe. I have gotten used to it; everyone knows me and recognizes me now.

Nobody speaks English.

This one for me was not a surprise after I had traveled all over.

I included it for you, the one person that needs to know this.

The big cities with more tourists will speak more English than small towns. Especially in small towns that do not have many foreign tourists.

My town is a popular destination for Colombian tourists, but not for foreigners. So, most people here do not speak English, nor do they need to.

I live in their city, and I speak to them in their language. Colombians love to talk, so if they think you can understand them, expect rapid Spanish to come your way.

It is their way of showing hospitality and being genuinely curious. Feel free to say, “mas lento, porfavor”. Manners will get you everywhere in Colombia.

Speak a little of their language and be kind; you will find a home forever.

Bienvenidos a Colombia!