Case Study – Latin America, the love of my life – Phoebe Coleman
Spending a year in Colombia was never going to be simply a year abroad. I arrived expecting to develop my Spanish, gain professional experience and explore a new country, but I left with a completely different perspective on work, relationships, culture and who I am. What began as a university placement became one of the most transformative years of my life.
Professionally, my year was divided between working with the British Colombian Chamber of Commerce, supporting the work of the British Embassy, and then coming into the Executive position of a new company. I gained first-hand experience of international trade, diplomacy and British-Colombian relations, while working on events, business development and projects connecting organisations from both countries. Having to adapt to a new working environment, not just in another language but their style of teamwork, was incredibly hard at first, and was a daily struggle. However, once it all finally clicked, being trusted with real responsibilities challenged me every day and gave me a much clearer understanding of the career I want to pursue. I also learned that working across cultures requires flexibility, confidence and, above all, the ability to listen.
Outside of work, salsa became one of the defining parts of my Colombian experience. Everyone was so open in sharing their culture, welcoming me into their worlds and making sure I loved every second of it. What began as something I enjoyed quickly became a huge part of my identity. I trained, performed and competed, met some of my closest friends through dance and experienced Colombia through its music and rhythms. Salsa has taught me confidence, discipline, connection and how to communicate without words. It gave me a community that made Colombia feel like home.
Perhaps the most unexpected part of my year was meeting Jorge, my partner. Meeting a Venezuelan in Colombia completely changed the direction of my experience. Through him, I discovered yet another culture, another family and another country that is so incredibly important to me. His Venezuelan identity and experiences opened my eyes to the beauty of Latin America, its diversity and its complexity. His family welcomed me into their lives, and Venezuela has become something I now hugely identify with, and I am so happy that I get to spend the rest of my life with such a wonderful man.
With the amazing support of John Speak, I was very privileged to travel around Colombia and Latin America to immerse myself fully in the uniqueness of the country. Cali, Medellín, Santa Marta, Villa de Leyva… each place brought something completely new and indescribable. Travelling with Jorge also made these experiences that much more beautiful and unforgettable.
Living in Colombia also forced me to become comfortable with uncertainty. Navigating a different culture, speaking Spanish every day, building relationships far from home and adapting to situations I could not always control made me much more independent. There were difficult, uncomfortable, and what seemed impossible moments, but those challenges ultimately taught me resilience and showed me that growth does not happen without challenge.
To me, my year was not just Bogotá, work and university. It was family celebrations, Colombian food, dancing until late, travelling, friendships, spontaneous adventures and the countless small moments that I could never have planned for. Even my return to England felt different because I was leaving behind a life rather than simply finishing a placement.
Looking back, my favourite memory of Colombia is not one particular achievement. It is the person I became while I was there. Spanish is now part of who I am. I arrived hoping to understand Colombia and left carrying pieces of Colombia, Venezuela and Latin America with me. I cannot express how important these kinds of experiences are to a person, and how valuable these immersions are. You are an entirely different person in another language, it is an incredible thing to experience yourself grow. I am currently writing an essay on the personality switch between bilingual individuals.
This year taught me that home does not have to be one place. It is the people you meet, the language you learn, the music you dance to and the memories you create – and Colombia will always be a part of my story.