I've befriended quite a range of Colombians, from a 19-year-old university student to a 31-year-old mother of two. I've met activists, journalists, dancers and teachers. Since I'm living in a city, where Colombians from all regions move to find work or live in a more urban environment, I've been able to gain a better sense of the country's cultural diversity. Hearing the thoughts and aspirations of so many different Colombians has shown me many perspectives on the country beyond what I might have assumed as a foreigner.
The relationships I have made in Colombia have been especially helpful for learning more about the Venezuelan refugee crisis and its impact in Colombia. From the time I arrived to Medellín in August, I noticed Venezuelans selling Venezuelan currency on buses for only a few Colombian pesos, proof that their own national currency values almost nothing. Other Venezuelans would stop me on the street asking if I would buy a lollipop from them in exchange for any donation I could give. "Soy Venezolano" ("I'm a Venezuelan") would be written on cardboard signs held up at a traffic light, an effort to raise people's awareness to the needs of Venezuelan refugees seeking help in a new country.
These early encounters with the Venezuela crisis in Colombia demonstrated to me the dire circumstances of many Venezuelans escaping from their homeland in search of a better life. Yet talking with actual individuals here, both Colombian and Venezuelan, has given me even deeper perspectives on the issue. Many Colombians I meet are sympathetic to the Venezuelan refugees here and want to offer them assistance.
