It may appear odd to many when I acknowledge my residence in Colombia. The standard, mostly concealed, reaction is: “Why in the world?” This choice puzzles both my international comrades and Colombian counterparts equally.
They all ask incredulously whether I live there? Whether I really live here?
Indeed, I reside in Bogotá, Colombia.
Those of us inhabiting this place are aware of the impressions Colombia projects on a global scale. The image is rather harsh. For a prolonged time spanning the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s, Colombia was a synonym for terror for natives who are now my neighbours. Daily occurrences included abductions, airstrikes, and assassinations. Each day harboured a new terrifying secret, and trepidation was a perpetual mate.
How does a nation evolve from such mayhem? How does it transform into a less turbulent, less perilous place? The answer lies in the passage of time that enables leadership change, welcomes new generations, and fosters a mounting thirst for declaring ‘no more’.
This transformation was witnessed in Ireland in the recent past, and currently, it is being observed in Colombia.
I took leave of Ireland even before my UCG (then known as University College, Galway) results graced public attention. I didn’t attend my graduation ceremony. In the late summer of 1971, I was already engaged in an exploratory journey across the United States, unveiling the mysteries of the Grand Canyon, Berkeley, and the broad central plains of the Vietnam-era nation. I relish experiencing a place first-hand; immersing myself into it.
My American sojourn commenced the moment I bid Ireland goodbye, right up to around 2010.
Post my travels, I enrolled for photography courses at Ohio State University in Columbus. During this period, I also assumed the role of a guru of the Irish language for a linguistics class there. The syllabus revolved around the subtle aspects of my pronunciation of, “Dia dhuit”, “go hanna maith”, “amárach”, “inniu” and an array of other Irish words and phrases.
Initially, I embarked on a teaching journey in the United States, beginning in Boston and subsequently moving to New York and Florida. However, I craved a more challenging experience. Given the surprisingly low airfares – $149 for a return ticket from Fort Lauderdale to Bogotá via Spirit Airlines – exploring Colombia seemed like an invigorating opportunity.
Feeling adventurous, I decided to dive into the unknown and reside in Colombia for about a year. I packed my possessions, my pet cats, and relocated to a rented residence in Bogotá. Disregarding the puzzled faces of the U.S. customs officers questioning my safety against possible kidnapping in Bogotá, I hopped on the plane from Orlando with a determined mind.
As I began my Colombian journey, fear of kidnapping was never a concern. In addition to offering English lessons, I found the environment conducive for honing my creative skills in cartooning, art, and writing. I resided in complexes holding significant architectural value in Bogotá, the rent of which would seem amusing if compared to Dublin or New York. I fostered a warm community of friends and acquaintances, unlike anywhere else, fuelling an instinct to defend my newly found home in my literary works.
What was intended to be a year-long stint extended into nearly a decade and a half. A peculiar incident transpired shortly after I arrived in Colombia, during a lunch meeting with an architect – an ex-colleague with supposedly psychic abilities. She posed an unanticipated question, “Do you know why you’re in Colombia?”, and followed it up with the revelation that my Colombian journey was destined for learning patience. This revelation resonated deeply with me, switching on a metaphorical light bulb in my mind.
Presently, I’m attuned to the predictable routine of the local flower man making his rounds on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. His presence becomes evident from his audible call, still a couple of blocks away. As soon as I realise I require flowers, I fetch my wallet and proceed to unlatch my gate, often crossing paths with him in perfect synchrony.
The motorcycle belonging to the man who sells flowers overflows with an abundance of roses, sunflowers, and even the exotic Heliconia Pendula. Typically, I purchase a couple of bunches of Astromelias, at a cost of 10,000 Colombian pesos, roughly equivalent to €2.35.
Outside the window of my kitchen, the captivating lilac and yellow-hued daylilies germinate approximately every three weeks, all year round. Uniquely coloured fuchsia orchids grow amidst the trees in my backyard.
I initially believed I needed a change of pace and decided to dwell in Colombia for perhaps a year. However, I soon realised that all I required was to slow down and really observe life. Life was less complicated than I had ever envisaged, a revelation I made while in Colombia.
That is the reason I decided to remain here.
Hailing from the city of Galway, Christopher Burke made a life-changing decision to leave Ireland in 1971 and currently resides in Bogotá, Colombia.