After a few weeks in Bogota, it came time to finally break out of our routine of testing and going to the Instituto Caro y Cuervo. We set off for Medellin because our PIRE partner is located in Medellin at the University of Antioquia. However, our first night was quite eventful because I was forced to go to the ER for health problems I was experiencing. It was quite the test to speak solely in Spanish to the doctor about something as serious as the pain that I was in, but I managed to hold my own and overcome that obstacle. Luckily it was only a bacterial infection that was cured with prescriptions within a few days.
Medellin was a breath of fresh air, quite literally, from the hustle and bustle of Bogota. Our housing location was situated in the middle of the beautiful, thick forest canopy. Fortunately, there was another group of PIRE students in Medellin already that helped us to get acquainted with the area. Including providing us with the must-see and must-do locations during our free time in Medellin.
One of those places was Guatape. The rock is a huge attraction due to the incredible views that it provides. These views are a result of a long and dirty history that we were able to learn about during our time there. Another visit highlighted the dark history of Comuna 13. This trip has been incredibly eye-opening because many people have negative views of the country due to the violent past. Although it is important to learn about this to prevent it from ever happening again, the change that has occurred within the last 20 years is incredible. It goes to show the resilience of good human beings who ultimately work for a safe and beautiful community. I look forward to getting to experience the Palenquero culture this week!
