My First Week in Medellín: Lessons, Surprises, and Good Food

It’s crazy—my first night in Medellín, and the second I stepped off the plane it hit me: this is real. I actually did it. I’m in another country, and not just visiting—I’m going to be living here for a while.

And right on cue, I got my first lesson.

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The Taxi Situation

I already had a driver lined up to pick me up from the airport. He was supposed to be waiting outside. I thought I saw him, but then another taxi driver walked up and said, “I’m with him.”

I looked over, saw the guy I thought was my driver give me a thumbs-up, and figured it was all good. So, I got in the car.

Not even a few minutes later, as we’re driving away, I get a WhatsApp from my actual driver:

“Where are you? I’m waiting across the street.”

…Bruh. WHAT?!

So yeah, that was the start of my first night.

Another lesson I learned was Always—ALWAYS—carry cash. Some restaurants don’t have card machines, and the last thing you want is to be stuck without a way to pay. Luckily I had Cash on me just in case or it would have been a issue.

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Walking the City

I went for a long walk through the central area, and honestly, it’s so peaceful here. I get why so many Americans choose to live in Medellín. I have already met tons of Americans from veterans to everyday people who have lived here for years with the biggest smile one their faces. And they all say the same thing: They’re never going back to the states..

And the food? Amazing. I had chicken and waffles the other day that tasted like something my family would’ve cooked—comfort food away from home. Throughout this first week, I haven’t had a single complaint about the food.

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A Holiday Surprise

Apparently, this past weekend was a holiday kind of like Valentine’s Day in the U.S.—two days of celebrating love and friendship. I thought that was pretty cool.

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Wrapping Up

One week in, and I already know this journey is going to be full of lessons, surprises, and stories worth sharing.

I also got an interesting introduction to Afro-Colombian culture and how deeply it has shaped Colombian identity—from the food, to the music, to the traditions. I was amazed, because I’m sure not a lot of people outside the country really know about that.