“This Feeling is Unmatched”- Kendrick Lamar
Today is Sunday, the 19th of January 2020, and I have been in Cali, Colombia for five (5) days. Within this time I have seen, learned, and shared so much that could only be described by the local Spanish word “chevere”.
- Chevere- A word used to describe something super cool. Think of it like “dope” in the U.S. “Me encanta reggaeton. Este musica es chevere. “/ I love reggaeton. This (type of) music is dope.
Each of my days here so far have been incredibly impactful adventure, full of unforgettable experiences in culture, cuisine, and conversation. Cali has a lot to offer, and the small taste I’ve had makes me even more excited to keep exploring. Everything from the murals found all across Univalle’s campus to the architecture between Cali’s “barrios” (neighborhoods) show me a different piece to the grand puzzle of Caleño culture.
I couldn’t possibly have imagined how much I’m learning, how much I’ve seen, and how much fun I’m having. In fact, I don’t think you will either. Below, you’ll find a short summary of some of my favorite adventures so far.
Day 1: Tuesday January 14
- After I arrived in Cali at approximately 9:30AM, I was greeted by the warm air and even warmer sunshine. As other students trickled in, we all traveled to our new home in Barrio San Joaquin on the south side of the city. The ride from the airport in Palmera took about 45 minutes, but that was just enough time to get to know each other, and the city, a little better.
- We met our roommates and started settling in before going out for lunch, where we ate at an open-air cafe. Let me tell you, I couldn’t have asked for a better first meal. I had a traditional Latin American plate of rice, beans, chicken and salad that was so deliciously rich.
- The highlight of the day, however, came in an incredible conversation with my roommates about everything from social media to different facets of the Black experience. The conversation lasted for around an hour, and I had surprised even myself with how easy it was for me to understand and formulate ideas in Spanish.
Day 4: Friday January 17
- The morning was calm and relaxing, it was nice to sleep in after so many long days in a row. My roommates and I used this time to get to know each other a little better, and we asked questions to our local roommate Mauricio about his home in Cali. Mauricio is pretty young, yet incredibly wise for his age(18). He knows a lot about his cultural roots, and is very involved with the Afro-Colombian student group at Univalle. Talking to him gave us a lot of context for what we would see in the city tour we took later that day.
- At around 2, we left Barrio San Joaquin and headed toward “El Cristo Rey”, a large statue representing Jesus with outstretched arms overlooking the city. The views we got driving up the mountainside incredible enough, but the lookout from the top was absolutely breathtaking.
- Afterwards, we visited other points of interest in Cali, like “El parque de los Gatos,”(The Park of Cats) y “La Iglesia Ermita” en “El Centro”(the Downtown Area). Each of these sites were unique and beautiful, but my favorite parts of the tour would be Barrio San Antonio.
- San Antonio is one of the oldest parts of Cali, and still maintains its colonial buildings, roads, and street structure. The walls are painted with lovely murals and bright graffiti, each piece with its own story.
At the top of San Antonio’s central hill is La Iglesia de-you guessed it- San Antonio. From this point you can see scenic views of the city, and in the evening it is truly spectacular.
I can’t wait to see what more Cali has to offer, I just hope my classes won’t get in the way when they start.
Nos Vemos!
Donovan's Adventures Abroad 