American Students in Colombia

Abstract

S OUTH of Panama and just north of the equator lies the country known as This was the extent of our knowledge of Colombia, when suddenly Pan American policies, South American neighbors, South America, became watchwords of the day. Courses in school, trips to the San Francisco World's Fair, and books, aroused our curiosity to see as well as hear. So, on the third of March, 1942, armed with a healthy curiosity, no Spanish, and hopes, we sailed for Colombia. Within sixteen days we were transplanted from one continent to another, from an English-speaking to a Spanish-speaking world, from Anglo-Saxon to Latin American customs and ways of life. In other words, in this short space of time, all things that had been an integral part of our lives at home became unusual, strange, and fascinating. The things we did were much the same; yet the process and often, to our sorrow, the results, were not as they had always been. As a simple example, who could imagine that eating could be somewhat like a guessing game? Each course was a novelty, from the papaya to the extreme sweet for dessert. Of course, such novelties soon wore off, but there were continually others to take their places, and from this were derived the real charm and adventure of our trip. If one were to travel east of San Francisco for three thousand miles, changes would be seen, yes, but not to any outstanding degree; yet travel south for approximately the same distance and you are surrounded by things totally new and different. It is not so surprising, however, if one considers history and background, but at the moment of arrival these things are forgotten in the dazzling new. Steaming into Buenaventura, the west-coast seaport of Colombia, marked the beginning of a new life, the life of an American student in Colombia. This little seaport is similar to those of Mexico, and very different from those at home. Buenaventura is surprisingly small to be Colombia's largest port on the west coast; five minutes spent there in the humid, tropical heat are proof enough why it does not grow beyond the size necessary to take care of the import and export business. Sitting on the terrace of our hotel, the coolest place in town, and having to gasp for air, is evidence of conditions that are not conducive to expansion. When we arrived there had