This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Alyssa Bolaños, a 35-year-old creative freelancer living in Medellín, Colombia. It’s been edited for length and clarity.
My husband, two sons —who were four and five at the time — and I moved from Orlando to Medellín, Colombia, in August 2025.
My husband is from Colombia, and he always said he never wanted to move back, but when the Trump administration took office a second time, we started having serious conversations about it.
We also had safety concerns about our children’s school and decided we absolutely did not want to raise our kids in a place with a threat of school shootings. That’s what really clicked with my husband and made him think, “We can’t stay here.”
Since moving, we’re spending more time as a family, enjoying the affordable lifestyle, and integrating into Colombia’s vibrant culture. I’m still adjusting to some of the differences in work culture, and I miss my family, but I have no plans of moving back.
Our families were concerned about us leaving
Once we made the decision to move, I really didn’t have any fears. The only problem was that our immigrant families questioned why we would move back after they sacrificed so much to move to the States — my parents are from Cuba.
We weren’t going to let anyone’s perspective hold us back because, at the end of the day, we have to focus on the lives of our children and ourselves. It was really only six months from that point that we actually moved.
The emotional aspect of moving, saying goodbye to friends and family, was the hardest. Family is a big part of Latino culture, so it was hard being the first of our family to leave.
The whole process of selling and donating our belongings was also exhausting. We shipped two big boxes of our belongings, but we had to be really discerning about only taking the most sentimental things with us.
I’m able to be present in my kids’ lives here
Colombian culture is so family-oriented. When people finish work, they spend time with their families and enjoy life. Every day is a reason to celebrate, and I love that about Colombia.
My husband is a stay-at-home dad, and I do a little bit of everything as a freelancer, like social media strategy and marketing for brands and small businesses. We’re currently homeschooling our kids while we wait for them to be accepted into a school in the area.
Actually being present with your kids is a blessing that you don’t always get as a parent in the States. In Colombia, we spend lunchtime from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. playing with them or exploring. It’s tiring to be with your kids all the time, but it’s a luxury.
The food and the walkability are also amazing. We don’t have a car, so we walk most places or take public transit. Our kids also scooter around. Worst case, we take an Uber.
The lack of urgency here is good and bad
People work to live here, not live to work. It’s an amazing change of pace, but it’s still taking some getting used to. I used to sit at my desk job all day and work the entire time. Here, there are lots of holidays and a strong emphasis on getting outside and spending time with loved ones.
One thing I didn’t expect was the overall lack of urgency. In the States, we’re so used to the “go go go” hustle culture. I got so accustomed to constantly moving and feeling like I was doing something wrong if I wasn’t being productive.
In Colombia, there aren’t as many strict timelines, and people are more focused on enjoying little moments in their day. If I’m being honest, the lack of urgency stresses me out sometimes, but I’m really trying to be chill with it and remember that not everything is an emergency.
This change of pace is good for me, but it’s hard.
I miss my family, but I prefer the Colombian version of things
There’s not much I really miss about the United States other than family and friends. We’re lucky to have some family and friends here who have introduced us to others, and we’ve attended some events for other immigrants, but building new connections is taking time.
Other than that, we have all of the same comforts like public transportation, air conditioning, and stores. People have this misconception that Colombia is a backward place, and it’s absolutely not like that.
Medellín is innovative and full of life, culture, and community. There are even some Colombian versions of things I prefer, like the Colombian Frisby instead of KFC. I miss IHOP a little bit, though.
Our lifestyle is affordable, but there’s a caveat
Our groceries are less than they used to be for our family of four, and my personal cellphone bill is $30 a month. Everything here has been much more affordable and accessible for us.
That being said, I always want to be careful saying that our lifestyle is affordable because Colombia is experiencing a big problem with gentrification. If you move here, my advice is to support local Colombian stores and really integrate with the culture. Colombia is a beautiful place, and we have no plans to leave.
Do you have a story to share about leaving the United States? If so, please reach out to the reporter at tmartinelli@businessinsider.com.
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