Expat in Medellin

David Lee in Medellin, Colombia

Name: David Lee
Age: 32
Home City and Country: Arlington, Virginia, USA
Expat Location: Medellin, Colombia

RE - What is Your Family Situation?

David - I'm single.

RE - What motivated you to move offshore, and eventually to Colombia?

David - As I was wrapping up a 20-country, 5 continent, 14-month trip around the world, I arrived in Colombia. The first week in Bogota was a good introduction to the country, though it was only after arriving in Medellin that I really felt the draw to live here. The city is surrounded by beautiful green mountains, with Spring-like weather year round, a friendly population, beautiful women, and a great nightlife.

RE - What is your visa situation?

David - Extending a tourist visa for up to 6 months is fairly easy, however work permits require you find an employer first, who can then help you arrange the permit. Otherwise, if you take a minimum of 10 hours of classes a week, such as Spanish classes at a local university, you can get a student visa quite easily.

RE - How well do you speak Spanish?

David - I speak beginner Spanish, however the locals are very supportive and willing to help you practice. A lot of the younger people in Medellin speak English, even if they are a little shy about it at first.

RE - Do You have medical insurance?

I have global health insurance through IMG.

RE - How do you earn a living?

David - I have been living off of savings, and my online income from the travel site and blog I run. I also began a new blog about Medellin when I decided to live here, which has the potential to do well.

RE - What is your housing situation?

David - I rent a room from a Colombian student. It's a 1-year old apartment building in Envigado. I'm very happy with it.

RE - How much do you pay for rent?

David - In rent, I pay 400,000 pesos per month plus utilities (water, power, cable TV, internet).

RE - What are Colombians like?

David - The people are wonderful. I've had a great time getting to know Colombians through Couch surfing and friends of friends, and going out salsa dancing. They are very passionate people, especially about soccer, which I appreciate. On the downside, as part of the culture, it is not uncommon for punctuality to be an issue - in other words, it's safe to expect Colombians will be late, and events won't start exactly on time.

RE - How about homesickness?

David - After 18 months abroad, I haven't really gotten homesick, though my family misses me a lot. I'm returning home at the 20-month mark to get a job and make some money, before deciding what to do next. I am curious to see how much I will miss Medellin and Colombia.

RE - What do you like most about Medellin and Colombia

David - I love the culture around dancing - salsa especially, but tango is also popular, and meringue. A great Friday night for me is dinner and dancing in one of the great clubs that can be found in the city. The music surrounds you - besides the salsa, reggae ton, vallanato (Colombian folk), cumbia and other genres resonate wherever you go. The natural geography is stunning, and the weather is consistently wonderful. The metro system and taxis make getting around the city easy and affordable, even if you don't speak the language.

RE - What do you like least about Medellin and Colombia

David - I wish the metro ran later at night, though perhaps it doesn't for safety reasons. Taxis are easy to find at any time though. I wish there were more international restaurants - authentic ones such as Indian, Thai, Chinese, etc. And I get a bit frustrated with how aggressive the drivers can be - you have to be careful and not assume they'll slow down for you as they often do in the USA.

RE - What are your plans for the future?

David - I plan to continue building my online income so I can create the ability to earn a living regardless of geographic location. In two months I will return to the USA and take stock of my experiences. One thing is for sure, I will sing the praises of Colombia and its people. The world is all too familiar with the negative side of things, and the country's people deserve a better reputation.

About the Expat: David operates a blog called Medellin Living .com that he started when he decided to live in Colombia. His blog tells about his experiences there. He is hoping to gain some contributors to keep the blog going once he returns to the USA. Please check out David's blog