It sounds like you're starting to share a personal story or experience. Growing up in Colombia must have been a unique and enriching experience, with the country's rich culture, diverse landscapes, and vibrant cities. What was it like for you growing up there? Did you have a favorite childhood memory or experience that stands out to you?
Christmas was a special time in our household. We'd decorate our home with colorful lights, flowers, and a giant nativity scene. My siblings and I would help my mom prepare traditional Colombian dishes like lechona (roasted pork stuffed with rice, peas, and spices) and natilla (a creamy dessert made with milk, sugar, and cinnamon). On Christmas Eve, we'd attend midnight mass, followed by a festive dinner with our extended family.
Breakfast was a ritual of efficiency and love. My mother would slice a arepa —crunchy on the outside, soft and buttery on the inside—and top it with hogao (a slow-cooked tomato and onion sauce) or a crumble of suero costeño . you learned quickly that food is the love language. A bandeja paisa wasn't just a plate; it was a declaration of abundance: beans, rice, chicharrón, avocado, fried egg, and plantain all fighting for space on a single platter. as a little girl growing up in colombia
I am a little girl no longer. But when I close my eyes, I am still there, looking up.
: For girls growing up in cities like Bogotá or Medellín, life involves cool mountain air, brick architecture, and weekend trips to nearby pueblos (small towns) where plazas are filled with flowers and cobblestone streets. It sounds like you're starting to share a
Every morning , I learned that comfort is not a temperature. It is a ritual.
: December is a magical month for a child. It kicks off on December 7th with Día de las Velitas (Day of the Little Candles), where girls and their families line the streets with thousands of glowing candles to honor the Virgin Mary, followed by nine nights of Novenas filled with carols and sweet natilla and buñuelos . Navigating Challenges and Embracing Resilience Did you have a favorite childhood memory or
But I learned things that no textbook could teach. I learned that joy is a radical act. I learned that family is not blood; it is the neighbor who lends you an egg and the friend who walks you home because the streetlight is broken. I learned that dancing cumbia badly with your aunts in the living room is a form of medicine.
One of my favorite childhood memories was spending Sundays with my abuela (grandmother) in the town of Guatapé, a picturesque village nestled in the mountains. She would make the most delicious arepas, empanadas, and tamales, which I would devour in seconds. We'd spend hours playing games, listening to traditional Colombian music, and dancing to the rhythm of vallenato and cumbia.
Growing up as a girl in is a journey shaped by deep-rooted family traditions, a vibrant culture of celebration, and a resilient spirit often called "realismo mágico"
Play is boisterous, analog, and often street-based. La lleva (tag), escondidas (hide-and-seek), and jumping el elástico (jump rope) dominate afternoons.