Living Conditions in Colombia

Communications

Mail

Mail from the U.S. to Colombia can take up to three weeks. Please note that Colombian Customs will levy import tariffs on most all packages sent into the country. Any customs fees must be paid by the Trainee/Volunteer before the package will be released by customs. The mailing addresses are:

For Barranquilla office:

Volunteer/Trainee Name
Cuerpo de Paz
Centro Empresarial Las Américas, Calle 77B No. 57-141, Piso 5, Oficina No. 518
Barranquilla, Colombia

For Tunja office:

Volunteer/Trainee Name
Cuerpo de Paz
Edificio Marca
Cra. 1F No. 40 – 149, Oficina 501
Tunja, Boyacá

Telephones

For security purposes Peace Corps Colombia will require you to possess a working cell phone at all times. Peace Corps will provide a working cellphone to Trainees during the arrival retreat.

Internet

Internet access is widespread across major cities in the Caribbean and Andean regions. In addition to Internet cafes, there may be the option for a personal internet connection in your host family home as some host families may have internet access. The Peace Corps offices have some computers in the Volunteer lounge as well as a wireless hotspot. If you do bring your laptop or other expensive electronics, you are encouraged to purchase personal property insurance prior to leaving for Colombia. You should also bring a USB or external hard drive to back up your laptop.

Housing and site location

All work sites are in small and medium-sized rural communities, usually no more than six hours from a major city in the Caribbean or Andean regions. In the Caribbean region, communities are hot and humid throughout the year with frequent electricity outages and water shortages. Seasons are divided into dry months with no rainfall and months of frequent rain and high humidity. The Andean climate is cooler, especially at night with rainfall throughout the year and fluctuating temperatures (45 -75 degrees Fahrenheit) depending upon the time of year.

Volunteers commute by public bus to attend training/working activities. Some Volunteers also use bicycles. Significant walking may be required when implementing projects in nearby rural communities.

Volunteers live with Colombian host families for the entire 27-month service to promote community integration and effectiveness. The host family stay is often one of the more rewarding components of Peace Corps service and an important means of cultural integration. As such, we ask Volunteers to be flexible and committed to building strong relationships with host families. Volunteers serving as a couple will be placed with separate host families during training but will live together in independent housing during service.

Volunteers are expected to spend most of their time in the communities where they live and work. Because of this commitment to integrating into their communities, Volunteer travel and vacations are limited to when local schools are closed and/or organizations are not functioning.

Food and diet

Social activities primarily consists of rice, corn, potatoes, yucca and other carbohydrates in addition to meat. There is a wide variety of fruits and vegetables available. It is not very common to find vegetarians or vegans in rural communities. Vegetarian/veagan volunteers will need to be flexible and explain to their host family any dietary restrictions or preferences.

Transportation

Transportation within the approved service areas, North Atlantic Coast and Boyacá-Cundinamarca, are fairly reliable and safe. There are several options available, from vans that provide nonstop travel between the major cities, which in some cases, for a higher fee, will pick you up at your door and drop you off at your exact destination in the neighboring city. Travel by buses that make frequent stops to drop off and pick up passengers is limited to a few trusted companies. In your communities there are inter-city buses and taxis that can take you where you want to go. Volunteers may also travel in private cars when traveling with colleagues or host family. Volunteers are also prohibited from driving cars, motorcycles or riding as a passenger on the back of a motorcycle. Volunteers are required to receive prior approval from the country director to ride bicycles in Colombia and, if approved, must wear helmets. Being in Colombia, there are several travel restrictions in place. It is prohibited to travel by bus or car after dark.

Social activities

In the Caribbean region, loud music and celebrations are common aspects of the culture. In contrast, the Andean region values big celebrations but tends to be quieter and more tranquil. Both regions highly value dance, music, and the arts. Colombians also often gather to play sports or do exercise. Soccer is highly popular in both regions, but other popular sports include basketball, running, and cycling. Tejo is a traditional game in the Andean region that involves throwing small targets and is often a social event in and of itself. Colombians highly value relationships and a sense of strong social connection between families, neighbors, and friends.

Professionalism, appearance, dress, and behavior

Professionalism in the Peace Corps requires an awareness of the host community workplace culture, community values, and your self-presentation. To maintain a positive, culturally appropriate professional standing within a host community or workplace, Volunteers may need to adjust their style of dress, hair style, facial hair, make-up, piercings, manner of greeting others, etc. to demonstrate respect for local culture and customs. How you present yourself, in both informal and professional settings, is a reflection of you as an individual and of you as a representative of Peace Corps and the United States. In the U.S., dress (and other elements of personal appearance) may be seen as an expression of personal freedom and identity. In many host countries where Peace Corps Volunteers serve, the way you dress and present yourself may be interpreted as an expression of regard—or disregard—for those host community members around you.

Volunteers are encouraged to spend time in their communities, develop their language skills, and get to know the individual members of their community in order to better understand their traditions, culture, and local norms. As mutual trust is established over time, there may be opportunities for Volunteers to adjust their personal appearance and dress outside of the more rigid local standards. Volunteers are encouraged to discuss these potential adjustments with staff and other cultural mentors.

Colombians are generally well dressed, especially in the workplace. Volunteers are expected to dress in business casual attire and pay close attention to personal hygiene. Ironed, clean clothes and polished shoes are standard. Flip-flops, shorts, holes in clothing, and sleeveless tops are inappropriate in the workplace. During pre-service training and the first few months in their community, we recommend that men remove earrings, and that both women and men remove facial piercings and cover tattoos until they can establish themselves as professionals and better understand local norms. For men, it's recommended that facial hair be kept trimmed.