It’s something simple, yet it makes a huge difference. In the United States, we often get caught up in work, school, and life in general, and sometimes we forget to just live. When I say there’s a lot of life in Cali, I mean you’ll see people walking down the street and greeting you, neighbors chatting outside, or strangers dancing salsa together and enjoying each other’s company. It’s one of my favorite things about Cali—and Colombia in general.
Living outside of the United States has taught me to be more grateful for the opportunities our country offers. While Cali is an amazing place, I can’t ignore the struggles the locals face daily. Post-COVID, inflation has caused prices to skyrocket, making even basic necessities, like food, unaffordable. There's a lack of job availability, and if you’re fortunate enough to have a job, your salary is often just enough to get by.
One day, I asked one of my students (30 years old) what memory he was most thankful for, and he said, "The day I enrolled in this university because studying is something I’ve always dreamed of." His response made me stop and think. In the United States, we often take things like higher education for granted. While college isn’t accessible to everyone, it’s a common expectation, something we don’t always recognize as a privilege.
The United States is not a perfect country—no country is—but I’m incredibly grateful to have been born in a place that has offered me so many opportunities and will continue to do so in the future. Cheers to exploring new countries and being thankful for your own!
