The Happiest Place in the World

Well guys, I'm back at the grind (haha) and I'm here to let you in on my experience!
 
On December 29th, I left my family with tears in my eyes. This time leaving was so much harder. I spent the last few weeks with my friends and family. When I went to Ecuador the first time, I was so excited to start my new journey - and in the end it was incredible. This time was different. Not only was I sad to leave my family knowing that my brother would possibly be moving back home (and therefor I'd miss out on seeing my nephew grow), I was also nervous about how little I really knew about where I would be living.
 
I'll be honest, Colombia wasn't my first option. First, I didn't know anything about the country. Second, I didn't have much contact with the school I will be completing the practicum at and relied on my amazing profesora and friend. I figured, if she thinks it's a great idea, then I should too. But you know, all the negativity about Colombia made my decision even harder. Having family disagree with my decision and literally everyone's worried face when I told them where I was going made me doubt myself a little. So yeah, I shed a few tears when I had to leave.
 
Now that I am here? Man, I am so glad I didn't second guess myself (completely).
 
Life is here is quite a bit different. Aside from the +20 to +30 weather and enormity of the city (I think I've got the metro down now), the way people go about seems so much more tranquil. For example, tomorrow, teachers start school. Kids come the 19th. Do I know what I am teaching? Not yet. So that gives me 5 days to complete all my planning. Doesn't seem bad right? 5 days to plan. Well, it's a little different when back at home my friend have been planning for the last month.
 
I think one of the biggest lessons I'll learn here is how to be relaxed, to be patient, trust that things will work out. What is worrying going to do anyway? Maybe that's why they say Colombians are the happiest people.
 
I read an article the other day in the paper about this. It mentioned that happiness isn't necessarily related to the quality of life - I think I can see why. I've met now a few Colombians who have lived in the United States for years. Now they are back in Colombia. Why? Because there, everything is work, work, work. They mentioned that they missed out on time with their family and doing the things they enjoy. So they moved back. Back to a place that allows them more of a life outside of work. The article also mentioned that the majority of Colombians would stay here but if they could go anywhere else they would first choose Canada (go us!)
 
So why are Colombians so happy and what are they doing to improve?
 
Please read this with the knowledge that this is one local's story and that facts are explained in a very simplistic manner. Anyway, this is what I learnt on my Real City Tour from our guide Hernan.
 
Firstly, Colombians have selective memory. The country has a complicated history of violence. Instead of focusing on such traumatic events, they prefer to reminisce on the positive and look optimistically into the future.
 
A (very) Quick History Lesson (even quicker than Hernan's already quick version):
In the 1800's the land is settled by the Spaniards and their geography leaves them isolated for many years. In the 1850's the coffee industry explodes. In the 1980's the drug cartel appears.   The liberals elected a new president but he was assassinated. Liberals thought the Conservatives killed him so the liberals retaliated by murdering the Conservatives. The conflict went on between the two sides for ten years. Many people were affected by the violence and frustrated that they government wasn't doing anything to stop the attacks. The people banded together to create an illegal army - the guerilla (we will call this the left). The ones in danger from the guerilla also banded together (we will call this the right). Then comes in the drug cartel. So, now we have 4 parties involved; the government, the right, the left, and the drugs. Now, money will be the cause for the escalation of violence. Before it was politics and now it's business (the left and right continue to fight over the money). I find it quite interesting how Hernan explained that Colombia is the country at fault for the drugs. Yes, it's a country with the resources to produce such drugs, however, society runs on supply and demand. Colombia is blamed because they have the supply.In this time, the city was a lot more dangerous than it is now. There have recently been so many more developments throughout the city that makes it a more hopeful place. This is one of the reasons I like it so much.

 Parque de las Luces

As Hernan remembers from his childhood, this park usted to be a park of fear where you could not walk. Now, this square is filled with pillars that light up at night. What once was bad, has been turned into something good.

Democratic architecture has been built throughout the city to change the previous negative connotations.

One of my favorite places was San Anthony Square. Not because of its charm, or amazing views, but because of what it represents. This park is a symbol of the city's past and future.  Below, on the left, you can see one of famous artist Boltero's sculptures destroyed from a bombing. After the bombing, Boltero decided to leave the sculpture in place to show what people could do. Beside it, however, he created a replica sculpture. Hernan explained the one on the left is a symbol of his youth. The one on the right is a symbol of the new city.

Since Medellin is so mountainous, they have also built outdoor escalators to help people arrive quickly to their homes (rather than walking up the mountain). It is a way to connect all people to the city; "it makes the poorer people feel like they belong."

 

The metro is also another way of connecting the city. It's actually the nicest for of public transport that I have ever been on. Everything is so clean. Hernan says, "it's our way to connect to happiness, this is why you will never see vandalism." They also have cable cars that run up the mountain. For us tourists its a nice view - but I talked to the locals and they described how much easier it makes their life. It is quick and efficient unlike the buses they used to take, if not walking, through the winding steep hills.
 
A huge public library was also built up on the mountain. They provide not only books, but classes and music as well. (The big black shapes in the background of the photo below)
 








 





















What I like most about all of this, is that the people have remained positive and happy through all of this and that they are still trying to improve the quality of life for everyone. I think we can all learn from that.