Visits from Laidlaw and make_sense

This week, we had the pleasure of hosting @Amy Moore, who came to learn about our Laidlaw International Assignment (LIA) experience and Ana Karen from make_sense in Mexico. Their visit provided an excellent opportunity for reflection on our overall journey. It was heartening to see them getting involved in our projects and experiencing firsthand how make_sense operates. Huge thanks to them both and I hope they got to experience some of what Medellín has to offer! We also enjoyed a delightful Taco Tuesday gathering (minus the tacos, but the food was still great).

I was really blown away at the meal when my cohort got me a gift and gave a heartfelt (but embarrassing) toast for planning the trip to Guatapé. I will say it a lot but I am incredibly grateful to all the other scholars for making the LIA such an amazing experience, both inside and outside of the projects.

Going Back to the Start

Revisiting El Museo la Casa de la Memoria was an emotional experience. This museum, which we first visited during our initial week, holds deep significance. Now, after living in Colombia for five weeks and working on projects centred around peace and social resilience, returning to this place brought a new perspective. It made me reflect on my place in the city and the impact of our work.

Being in the same space again, sharing and opening up, made me ponder what I take away and what I leave behind. How have I changed from just learning about the conflict to understanding the lives torn apart by it? Perspective is crucial, especially in Colombia, where truth is presented as subjective. The Casa de la Memoria emphasizes that conflict is built on multiple truths from all sides. This realization is both refreshing and horrifying. How do you fight against a thought, belief, or idea when someone believes it to be unequivocally right?

Seeing the signatures of those lost, written in their own handwriting, was particularly poignant. Some were the scrawls of children, and others encompassed entire families. In the face of such loss, the city has come together to create something both beautiful and heart-wrenching.

Yet there was a greater sense now that this was a memorial to who was lost yes, but also having spent time here getting to know people from all over the city seeing how this violence has left deep scars or is continuing. It is best expressed in the words of the memoriam itself which was shown on one of the exhibits: “the places feel, they throb; they give shape to a larger body that has also been marked by the war… it is possible to reflect on how the violence and resistance have given form to spaces; how they are inhabited, how they are remembered, how their stories are told.”

Our Cohort

This week coincided with Feria de Flores and a national holiday in Medellín, giving us more time outside of make_sense projects. Oliver and I attended a drawing class in Picacho, which was also a fantastic opportunity to learn Spanish - and practice guitar. Everyone was so welcoming, eager to teach us Spanish words in exchange for learning English ones.

We also explored Prado this weekend, visiting Parque Norte and the planetarium. Although not related to our projects, learning about the history behind Colombian constellations was super interesting. The planetarium's dome installation was particularly impressive. One thing that I will always remember so distinctly about Medellín is the amount of artwork that is embedded everywhere you go, from street art, to music and dance, to art museums and even within the planetarium.

However, this week was also bittersweet as we became more conscious of how little time we had left together. The strength of this experience has been the other scholars. With only nine of us, it was easy to become a tight-knit group. After five weeks of building friendships through good and bad moments, it's hard to believe we only have one week left.

We've been making the most of our remaining time, trying out a nearby board game café, exploring the flower festival, and introducing my cohort to the cultural phenomenon of Twilight. One thing that stood out this week was the casual closeness of our group. It may not be glamorous, but the late-night trips to McDonald's, watching cheesy TV shows, and staying up to just talk have been the most significant parts of this week. These moments make the looming end of our experience feel so daunting. Although I have the privilege of staying in Colombia for an additional two weeks for vacation, we are all emotionally preparing to say goodbye (for now) to each other. I am walking into week 6 particularly thankful for the people I have come to Medellín with, they are largely what have made this an unforgettable experience!