Gringo Guide Semana Santa in Medellin

March 30, 2016

As a Westerner I had come across this week about as well informed as a born again baptist at a buddhist temple. Being an agnostic of many years, I have trouble remembering when Easter is. You know that day as a child when you’re parents hid candy filled eggs around the house and you and your siblings were tasked with finding and eating them before they rot. The only time of year you see those pink and yellow marshmallow peeps, the ones you threw up after eating more than 5 of. Here in Medellin, I experienced none of that, except what in my point of view…

Travel

Exotic Fruit of Medellin and Where to Find

March 23, 2016 1 Comment

Gawwd, yet another post on the fruit of Colombia? Yea ’cause all the other ones are missing fruit! Both being a fruit obsessed gringo who’s lived in both Barranquilla and Medellín nearly 5 months I’ve search and come across some fruit that make you wonder what mother nature was thinking when it thought these up.

Language

Learning Estonian over Mandarin

March 22, 2016

How could a language spoken by a mere 1.1 million be useful compared to one spoken by ~1 billion? How does the internet define what is a useful language in the first place? Sites like Quartz and Mosalingua use criteria like the number of speakers throughout the world and relevance in economic and political contexts. I call bullshit. These sites leave out the human aspect. I argue that it doesn’t matter what language you learn, you will find a way to make it useful as long as you have a desire to learn it and I’m proof along with many others.

Narrative

Fools Guide: Medellín => Jardín by Bike

March 20, 2016 3 Comments

Unless you’re either in really good shape or you’re a fool, why would you bike to Jardín from Medellín… Me? I’m the latter. Considering my reasons for doing it were to burn of all the Chicharones and Chorizos that I had eaten the week before when my dad came to visit, I hadn’t really thought the trip through too well. I just knew I needed some exercise and some friends mentioned how gorgeous Jardín was and screw it, I made up my mind! First thing I did was invite my friend, then tell some people I’m doing it, then check how…

Culture & Immersion

Swimming at Estadio, Medellin – How to Reserve

March 18, 2016 2 Comments

For all you gringos out there that wondering how you can go swimming at Estadio for free, here’s how! Swimming at Estadio Requirements: A swim cap Synthetic material swimsuit (Under Armour material) Printed out reservation form Your physical document ID/Passport (they won’t accept a photo on your phone) The swimming cap (3.000 pesos) and swimsuit (20.000 pesos) you will be able to buy at the store at the swimming complex. Step 1: Create an account To get started creating an account so that you can reserve your pool spot go to https://www.inder.gov.co If you want to change your language, do so now from the homepage, then go…

Miscellaneoes

Don’t Follow the News, at Least I Don’t

March 15, 2016

There’s nothing more enjoyable then calling my mom up to exchange life updates only to have the conversation spiral into an argument over how the Syria conflict affects me and how I’m a stupid fool because I don’t follow the news. Call me señor ignoramus. But guess what? I’m happy for it. Disclaimer: some of what I write might make me sound like some cold, apathetic hater on everything that is happening to our global family. I assure you dear reader that I am not heartless. I donated my 23rd birthday to giving clean water, and am actively interested in making our planet less a trash site….

Miscellaneoes

I Hate Walls.

March 11, 2016

I’m not talking about those walls in the bathroom that give you privacy from peeking eyes or walls that keep your cows from wandering away but those walls people create to define what is theirs. Call me socialist but walls serve to separate people where meaningful connections could otherwise exist. I think they’re a paranoid device man has created to frantically retain control over something that they can’t prove belongs to them without creating some complex legal system that protects their interests.

Culture & Immersion, Travel

Explain Lithuania to Me

February 25, 2016

Ever feel like just saying “I’m from ______ (insert city)” doesn’t get across what that city means to you? Living in Medellín I get asked from which large piece of dirt I originate and I don’t know whether to answer them United States or Lithuania. There’s the country I originated from, and the country I would have came from if it weren’t for war and communism (I technically had to prove that to earn my Lithuanian citizenship). How do I explain Lithuania? Don’t get me wrong, I love the USA and the opportunities she’s given me for 25 years. Likewise, I’ve always had…

Culture & Immersion, Narrative

Ayahuasca Ceremony? Tripping on Wha?

February 22, 2016 2 Comments

They say the Ayahuasca ceremony is a medicinal one — “So we need a purpose and we need to wear all white and abstain from meat, sex, onions, garlic and what else!?” I asked my friend Flor, in surprise. The list of requirements for the ayahuasca ceremony was unique to say the least. Additionally spending the Saturday night before my 27th birthday in the jungle around a fire tripping on spiritual medicine instead of partying on a rooftop party is once in a lifetime chance. Right? “I’m doing it! It’s on my bucket list. I’ll just fast for 2 days straight so I don’t puke.” And that’s…

Travel

How to Cure Your Sweet Tooth in Medellin

February 16, 2016

I have an addiction… No it’s not the marijuana, but the sweets! Poor ole me living in a foreign country thought how terrible life must be for all of the other foreigners to be stranded without a Sweets Map. So here’s to you unprepared travelers journeying deep into the heart of sweet toothdom in Medellin! Arequipe (Ah-reh-key-pay) How do you explain it? Colombian caramel!