As A Little Girl Growing Up In Colombia [exclusive] Jun 2026

I learned to read the air. A motorcycle with two men on it? Look away. A car with tinted windows? Cross the street. A knock on the door after dinner? Hide in the closet behind my father’s wool coats. Press my hand over my own mouth so even my breath disappears.

The most powerful force in the Colombian household, however, is the matriarch. your abuela (grandmother) was a healer, a judge, and a historian. She knew which herb ( matica ) cured a stomach ache and which remedio chased away the evil eye ( mal de ojo ). as a little girl growing up in colombia

Perhaps the most defining characteristic of a Colombian childhood is resilience. Colombia is a country of immense beauty but also complex history. Girls are taught to be tough. They are taught to find joy despite difficulties, to laugh loudly, and to dance even when times are hard. I learned to read the air

Growing up in Colombia meant my world was painted in the brightest colors and soundtracked by the constant hum of life. A car with tinted windows

I remember waking up to the smell of arepas on the grill and the rhythmic clack-clack of my grandmother’s dominoes on the patio. My childhood was a blur of chasing the raspado cart on humid afternoons, the icy blackberry syrup staining my tongue purple, and learning to dance salsa in the living room before I could even properly tie my shoes.

Cultural differences: what is a typical Colombian family like?