My name is Marie and I am a young professional having recently graduated from a MSc in Environment and Development at the London School of Economics and Political Science. My research dissertation was about the relationship between fatalism and poverty in Cali, Colombia, and involved in-depth interviews with disadvantaged groups. I also have an undergraduate degree in Geography and Spanish and, as part of the third year, I spent some time teaching English at a university in Cali. Since finishing my Masters, I made the decision to move back to Colombia to find a position ideally in research related to the linkages between poverty and the environment, with my preferred area being food security. I currently work at CIAT, an international research centre for climate change and food security which analyses social and environmental problems in the tropics to help reduce poverty.
This blog is a mixture of how I set up a life as an expat in Colombia and the challenges I have encountered with regards to job hunting, but mostly it will be used to raise awareness of socialeconomic issues here which I find are under-reported at the international level. I do, however, intend to also intertwine this with posts about life here with more light-hearted topics such as food and cultural facts about Cali, as there are few blogs about this city.
I personally feel that much of the information on the internet and on blogs sugarcoat life in Colombia and, from young traveller's perspectives, it can seem like 24/7 sun, salsa, parties and attractive women. So I want to go beyond the hedonistic images of Colombia. Life here can be hard and it is for many people, and being a social scientist, I think it is important to also offer a different perspective on daily life, culture and politics.
I can't wait to get stuck in and integrate more into this vibrant and beautiful country. I hope you enjoy reading and please do get in touch or comment and follow me on Twitter at the top of the page!
Marie
This blog is a mixture of how I set up a life as an expat in Colombia and the challenges I have encountered with regards to job hunting, but mostly it will be used to raise awareness of socialeconomic issues here which I find are under-reported at the international level. I do, however, intend to also intertwine this with posts about life here with more light-hearted topics such as food and cultural facts about Cali, as there are few blogs about this city.
I personally feel that much of the information on the internet and on blogs sugarcoat life in Colombia and, from young traveller's perspectives, it can seem like 24/7 sun, salsa, parties and attractive women. So I want to go beyond the hedonistic images of Colombia. Life here can be hard and it is for many people, and being a social scientist, I think it is important to also offer a different perspective on daily life, culture and politics.
I can't wait to get stuck in and integrate more into this vibrant and beautiful country. I hope you enjoy reading and please do get in touch or comment and follow me on Twitter at the top of the page!
Marie