First week in Medellín--

This week has been about getting to know the city and preparing for the month we will spend here.

I've been meeting the rest of my cohort, there are currently 7 of us, with the remaining 2 arriving this weekend. We've spent time together walking around the supermarkets practicing our Spanish, tasting limonada de coco, stressing when someone in our cohort's bag was unfortunately stolen, and comparing our countries' idioms and mannerisms. I am inspired and welcomed by the cohort and look forward to spending the rest of my time here with such an amazing group of people who are all also interested in community organizing.

One of the highlights of my week was attending the Copa América game between Colombia and Uruguay. Our Make Sense Medellín leaders David and Dani took us, the scholars, to a restaurant where we were able to immerse ourselves with Colombians watching the game. Everyone was excited once the Colombian team won, securing a spot in the final game against Argentina on Sunday. I took a picture of the moment when we all realized the victory, everyone with their mouths open and hands on their head in surprise and excitement.

Despite all of these amazing memories we've created just within our first week, I have to say that my favorite experience was visiting Comuna 13. The day before, we had visited the Museum of Memories commemorating the people and lives that were lost during Colombia's history of conflict. This visit was grounding, and enabled me as a foreigner to understand how much hurt and pain Colombia's people have endured. The day after, visiting Comuna 13, thanks to our incredible tour guide Stiven, I learned how Colombia's people have shown immense resilience in fighting for peace. It is inspiring how the community has come together to acknowledge their history, but then worked together to transform their communities and take care of one another, such as repurpose their exisitng culture of hip-hop to bring tourism and revenue, and advocate for escalators up the surrounding mountains to communities that have always had a harder time being connected to the main cities below. Comuna 13 was vibrant with local people sharing their artistic talent, often related to hip-hop, but at the end of each day, all of the tourists leave and the community maintains their sense of closeness void of genterfication.

I am truthfully moved by the small amount of time I've spent here in Medellín. I am from the United States, where our country's current political climate is divisive and detrimental. I often get afraid for my country and where we are headed. Being able to visit here and see what Colombia has done with their history is deeply inspiring to me and I am looking forward to learning more.