Since I came to Medellin, I have been able to find notable differences between my life in Paris and my new life here.

I will say that these two lives are completely different, if not completely opposite! Basically, they have nothing to do with each other. And it's not so bad after all, although a little surprising from time to time.

First scare: the inhabitants of Medellín are super welcoming, very polite and warm. That just makes you feel like you've landed on another planet. We wonder if we are alive and if we are not dreaming. People greet you when they pass you on the street, they ask you "Hello friend, how are you?" “. In Paris….
It's easy to see, you just have to ask a Colombian on the street for directions, he will do his best to help you find it and won't let you go until he has solved the problem. If he doesn't know, he will ask his neighbors, who in turn will ask his neighbors. A whole neighborhood chat to help you find your way! I must admit that this is a bit strange, but in the end very appreciable. If I dared to compare with my dear and tender city of Paris… no, in fact I would not dare.

Second shock: the weather. Because it is known that Medellín is the city of eternal spring and it is not a myth. Temperatures range between 22 and 29 degrees throughout the year! Say goodbye to thick parkas, down jackets, scarves and hats and hello to skirts, t-shirts and bare feet! A real pleasure to walk through this city and never feel the polar cold that Paris can experience at certain times of the year. I would even say more, a rebirth for me!

On the other hand, be careful, because if Medellín offers this possibility of never feeling the cold of Paris, it can be fierce with its rainy season between the months of October and December. It's not just rain, it's real torrents of water that soak you from head to toe and make you regret forgetting your raincoat. Not to mention the electrical storms in Medellín that make you jump, about to give a heart attack with each detonation. But the advantage of all this rain is that it makes the city very green, with impressive vegetation.

Certainly there are palm trees, bamboos, flowers, in every corner! As for its fauna, it is easy to come across beautiful hummingbirds or squirrels along the way. This changes slightly from the gray pigeons of Paris. Here at least the pigeons are colored.

What also caught my attention was the food. The good French baguettes do not exist and less the cheese that we are used to eating at home. So I had to put an end to my little indulgence, which was to try a good red wine with a good cheese. Therefore, I advise you to stock up and bring something in your bags! (advice I applied to myself). Also, something strange and I say very strange, is that Colombians eat their cheese by dipping it in hot chocolate…. Yes, yes, I said hot chocolate.

Another strange thing, the water on the table does not exist. You will only find fruit juices and never, ever, a bottle of water. One day I dared to ask a Colombian why there was never water on the table. The latter replied that the water is not drinkable and that we only use it to water the plants… Large blank space at the end of this conversation.

Other than that, the local food is good, but it will never beat good French food. As a French, I still have to highlight the advantages of our country.

Finally, I would like to mention that Colombians are big party people. There are no days to party, be it Monday, Tuesday or Saturday, it's the same! And there is always a good reason to go out for a beer with friends. This doesn't change Paris too much, which for me is still a party city where I also love to party and have a drink after work. What changes, however, are the headaches with the bouncers trying in vain to get into the club, something I can't find here (thank God!!!). In Medellin, you can arrive in a t-shirt, tennis shoes and ripped jeans, don't worry, you'll still get in! In conclusion, I will end my article with this quote that I think sums up the situation well:

"To love a country, you have to eat it, drink it and listen to it sing"...

This article was originally written in French