I Moved From the US to Colombia With My Family. We’re Staying Without end.

This as-told-to essay is predicated on a dialog with Alyssa Bolaños, a 35-year-old inventive freelancer residing in Medellín, Colombia. It’s been edited for size and readability.

My husband, two sons —who have been 4 and 5 on the time — and I moved from Orlando to Medellín, Colombia, in August 2025.

My husband is from Colombia, and he at all times mentioned he by no means needed to maneuver again, however when the Trump administration took workplace a second time, we began having critical conversations about it.

We additionally had security issues about our youngsters’s faculty and determined we completely didn’t wish to increase our children in a spot with a menace of faculty shootings. That’s what actually clicked with my husband and made him suppose, “We can’t stay here.”

Since shifting, we’re spending extra time as a household, having fun with the inexpensive life-style, and integrating into Colombia’s vibrant tradition. I’m nonetheless adjusting to among the variations in work tradition, and I miss my household, however I’ve no plans of shifting again.

Our households have been involved about us leaving

Once we made the choice to maneuver, I actually did not have any fears. The solely drawback was that our immigrant households questioned why we’d transfer again after they sacrificed a lot to maneuver to the States — my mother and father are from Cuba.

We weren’t going to let anybody’s perspective maintain us again as a result of, on the finish of the day, now we have to concentrate on the lives of our youngsters and ourselves. It was actually solely six months from that time that we truly moved.

The emotional side of shifting, saying goodbye to family and friends, was the toughest. Family is an enormous a part of Latino tradition, so it was exhausting being the primary of our household to go away.

The complete strategy of promoting and donating our belongings was additionally exhausting. We shipped two large bins of our belongings, however we needed to be actually discerning about solely taking probably the most sentimental issues with us.

I’m in a position to be current in my children’ lives right here

Colombian tradition is so family-oriented. When folks end work, they spend time with their households and luxuriate in life. Every day is a cause to have a good time, and I really like that about Colombia.

My husband is a stay-at-home dad, and I perform a little little bit of all the things as a freelancer, like social media technique and advertising for manufacturers and small companies. We’re presently homeschooling our children whereas we anticipate them to be accepted into a college within the space.

Actually being current along with your children is a blessing that you do not at all times get as a guardian within the States. In Colombia, we spend lunchtime from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. enjoying with them or exploring. It’s tiring to be along with your children on a regular basis, however it’s a luxurious.

The meals and the walkability are additionally superb. We haven’t got a automotive, so we stroll most locations or take public transit. Our children additionally scooter round. Worst case, we take an Uber.

The lack of urgency right here is nice and dangerous

People work to dwell right here, not dwell to work. It’s an incredible change of tempo, however it’s nonetheless taking some getting used to. I used to sit down at my desk job all day and work the whole time. Here, there are many holidays and a powerful emphasis on getting outdoors and spending time with family members.

One factor I did not anticipate was the general lack of urgency. In the States, we’re so used to the “go go go” hustle tradition. I acquired so accustomed to continually shifting and feeling like I used to be doing one thing flawed if I wasn’t being productive.

In Colombia, there aren’t as many strict timelines, and individuals are extra centered on having fun with little moments of their day. If I’m being sincere, the dearth of urgency stresses me out typically, however I’m actually making an attempt to be chill with it and do not forget that not all the things is an emergency.

This change of tempo is nice for me, however it’s exhausting.

I miss my household, however I want the Colombian model of issues

There’s not a lot I actually miss concerning the United States aside from household and associates. We’re fortunate to have some household and associates right here who’ve launched us to others, and we have attended some occasions for different immigrants, however constructing new connections is taking time.

Other than that, now we have the entire similar comforts like public transportation, air con, and shops. People have this false impression that Colombia is a backward place, and it is completely not like that.

Medellín is revolutionary and vigorous, tradition, and neighborhood. There are even some Colombian variations of issues I want, just like the Colombian Frisby as a substitute of KFC. I miss IHOP somewhat bit, although.

Our life-style is inexpensive, however there is a caveat

Our groceries are lower than they was once for our household of 4, and my private cellphone invoice is $30 a month. Everything right here has been way more inexpensive and accessible for us.

That being mentioned, I at all times wish to watch out saying that our life-style is inexpensive as a result of Colombia is experiencing an enormous drawback with gentrification. If you progress right here, my recommendation is to assist native Colombian shops and actually combine with the tradition. Colombia is a ravishing place, and now we have no plans to go away.

Do you have got a narrative to share about leaving the United States? If so, please attain out to the reporter at [email protected].