Notes from Colombia—Part I

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By David Harvey
President and CEO of ProLiteracy

Greetings from Colombia, a country that in important ways has transformed itself from a politically violent era dominated by guerilla warfare, assassinations, and drug cartel violence. I’ve traveled through what Colombians describe as the "jewel" and "heart" of Colombia—Cartegena—to the old coastal city of Santa Marta, and on to the sophisticated, modern city in a huge valley, Medellin. I am awed by the openness, overwhelming hospitality, passion, history, and love of country that is represented by Colombians everywhere.

No where have I seen such fierce pride in their city as the Colombians I got to know in Medellin. Perhaps this is because of how the city roared back after an era of terrible violence orchestrated by the infamous drug cartel baron, Pablo Escobar, killed in 1993 in an infamous raid in the Los Olivos section of Medellin. Or, more likely, it’s the unique history of the people from Medellin who pride themselves on innovation, passion for art (this is the home of Botero, after all!), architecture, food and love of family. Paisa, the nickname of people from Medellin, are fiercely proud of the fact that they talk louder than anyone else from Colombia and have the country's first and only metro system. Medellin has an annual Christmas light display that is bigger and grander than anything I have ever seen anywhere in the world—it’s a true art form! And the lights are usually bigger and better than the year before, since a year-round staff of designers and technicians specialize in designing a changing display every year, paid for by a tax on every family household in Medellin!tant ways has transformed itself from a politically violent era dominated by guerilla warfare, assassinations, and drug cartel violence. I’ve traveled through what Colombians describe as the "jewel" and "heart" of Colombia—Cartegena—to the old coastal city of Santa Marta, and on to the sophisticated, modern city in a huge valley, Medellin. I am awed by the openness, overwhelming hospitality, passion, history, and love of country that is represented by Colombians everywhere.

A Library in Colombia

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