Category Archives: Field Diary

Calming troubled waters My brief stint in Colombia has come to an end and it’s with a mixture of relief and nostalgia that I try to slip back into European life. I miss Amanecer – the late afternoon sun on … Continue reading →

Going Cuban At 10am last Wednesday I called Juliet, the person responsable for the Early Childhood Programme in the Quindio at the Education Secretariat in Armenia, as I needed some help with the first monthly report I had to send … Continue reading →

The real stuff After 20 minutes walk, Dora says we’re nearly there. It is 1pm, the sun has come out and we are tramping uphill. The scenery is spectacular but our progress is sweaty. Thirty minutes later, Dora tells us … Continue reading →

Labour The bank manager has jet black hair and is good -looking and well-groomed, very Colombian. She is also very pleasant. But she is not going to give me any money. “The papers are all in order and the accounts … Continue reading →

Getting to grips Last Saturday morning, Andrés tried to sell me a duck. Andrés is one of our neighbours, aged 12, and my son’s friend. I met him on the path outside my house. “Do you want this duck? Only … Continue reading →

Episode 1 – How it all began In a moment of madness, I decided to come and live with my family in Colombia to work at a social project in the coffee-growing area of the Andes. To be fair, when … Continue reading →