Where I Am Living in Cartagena

So I have mentioned that for almost four weeks I am staying with a Colombian family in Cartagena. They live in an apartment in a middle class barrio called Campestre. I stayed with them for two nights in their old place, but they have since moved to a bigger and better place a few blocks away. This post is about where I am living in Cartagena Colombia.

Overview of where I am living in Cartagena

This is by no means the lap of luxury. Part of my plan in coming here to volunteer was immersion, and living with a family was better for that than living with other foreigners or by myself. This is a simple home with enough amenities but not everything we are accustomed to having. I realize everyday here how spoiled we are at home and how little we actually do need to get by. I am not saying I am thriving in this environment because I’m having some internal struggles being a spoiled brat. But it’s going OK so far, and the people are so great it helps a lot! Still, there have been a few times I’ve dreamed of checking in to a hotel for a night – with AC of course, including a search I did on hotwire a few hours ago!

I took some photos of the common areas and my room so you can see where I am living in Cartagena.

BEDROOM

Without Brian, I don’t need a lot of space to sleep! Miss you Brian but there is no way this bed would fit both of us!

TERRAZZA

The front of the home has a nice “terrazza” and is on a courtyard, much improved from the old place directly on the street. The courtyard is where the barrio threw their party this past weekend.

COMMON ROOMS

Big common area, including a living room with TV, sitting area and kitchen.

KITCHEN

Marcela, my host mother, is a very good cook and this kitchen is a bit bigger than her old one.

The neighborhood is fine. There’s a lot of litter along the road everywhere here, including by the beach in the historic area. I’ve seen the same thing in China and Belize and even the U.S. where people just don’t respect nature or where they live. I have been warned to walk quickly and with a purpose – sounds familiar to any past or current New Yorkers. They also tell me not to take my phone out on the streets around here to attract unwanted attention. So I follow those directions to a T.

MY HOST FAMILY

My host family where I am living in Cartagena is very nice. I see Marcela the most and she’s great. I have breakfast in the morning with her before I need to go to the institution, and everybody casually has dinner around the table, TV, or on the terrazza.

Marcela keeps a clean house and is a very good cook. I just can’t sit in the common areas of the house for too long because not only is there no AC, they don’t even use fans. I have 2 fans in my room so I spend a lot of time there. Sometimes I feel anti-social, so I try to spend a couple of hours a night with them watching TV and chatting, but it is very hot for me! As they are used to volunteers from colder climates, I think they understand. They know I am from Canada and can’t handle the heat.

Usually when I write my blog posts, if I am not doing it while the kids nap at school from my phone, it’s on the bed or in the living room. Now you’ve seen where I am living in Cartagena! What do you think?