As a Little Girl Growing Up in Colombia: A Tapestry of Coffee, Color, and Resilience

Today, as I look back on my childhood in Colombia, I am filled with a sense of gratitude and appreciation. Growing up in Colombia taught me the value of family, community, and perseverance. It showed me that even in the face of adversity, there is always hope for a better tomorrow. And it gave me a deep love for the land and its people, a love that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

At thirteen, I discovered the third altitude: desire.

Sundays were for the mountains—long drives through winding roads where the air turned crisp and the green of the hills felt deep enough to drown in. We’d stop for hot chocolate with melted cheese, a salty-sweet ritual that felt like home in a cup. There was a magic in the chaos: the neighbors shouting greetings across balconies, the sudden tropical downpours that turned the streets into rivers, and the fierce, unwavering pride of a people who find a reason to celebrate in every single day.

She grows up with a profound appreciation for her country’s biodiversity. She knows that her country holds the beauty of the Caño Cristales river and the wax palms of the Cocora Valley. She is taught that her homeland is not defined by its struggles, but by its immense capacity for joy and rebirth.