As A Little Girl Growing Up In - Colombia
Colombia is the second most biodiverse country in the world, and this ecological wealth serves as a massive backyard for a growing child. Depending on the region, a Colombian childhood can look vastly different, yet it remains deeply connected to the earth.
Growing up as a little girl in Colombia was a magical experience filled with vibrant colors, rich traditions, and warm loving people. My name is Sofía, and I was born and raised in the beautiful city of Medellín, surrounded by the majestic Andes mountains.
Whether it is the Barranquilla Carnival, the Flower Festival in Medellín, or a local town pageant, girls are dressed in elaborate, ruffled traditional skirts from a young age, learning the precise hip movements of cumbia before they even know how to write.
The backyard held a guayabo (guava) tree that sagged under the weight of fruit. My cousins and I would climb it to spy on the neighbor’s rooster, whispering about which one of us would move to “the city” first. We believed Medellín was a fairy tale kingdom and Cartagena was underwater. We weren’t far off.
Family is the cornerstone of Colombian life. A little girl typically grows up in an extended, close-knit family where grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins play active daily roles. Respect for elders ( respeto ) and affectionate physical contact—such as hugs, cheek kisses, and holding hands—are normalized from an early age. Godparents ( padrinos ) also hold significant emotional and ceremonial importance. as a little girl growing up in colombia
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So if you meet a Colombian woman today—if she offers you coffee even if you said no, if she talks about her mom like she’s a saint, if she tears up at the sound of a tiple —now you know why. She was that little girl once.
Childhood in Colombia is filled with specific sensory experiences and games:
Colombia has a complicated history, but growing up there, you learn that joy is an act of resistance. You see it in the way entire neighborhoods shut down streets to play soccer or how every holiday—no matter how small—is an excuse for a parade. Colombia is the second most biodiverse country in
At thirteen, I discovered the third altitude: desire.
Growing up in Colombia means your earliest memories are tied to nature and flavor. Depending on where you are born, your backdrop might be the majestic, chilly peaks of the Andes, the humid embrace of the Amazon rainforest, or the sun-drenched beaches of the Caribbean coast.
On December 7th, the holiday season officially begins. A little girl stays up late, her face illuminated by the glow of dozens of candles lined up on the sidewalk, making silent wishes for her family and her future.
They don’t see what I see. From the floor, I see the ants—the hormigas culonas —marching in a military procession toward a fallen mango. I see the dust motes dancing in the slice of Andean sun. And I see the grown-ups’ feet: the scuffed leather of my father’s boots, the cracked heels of my aunt after she comes back from the finca, the chipped coral nail polish on my older cousin, who is fifteen and already knows how to dance salsa like a knife. My name is Sofía, and I was born
Family is the fundamental unit of Colombian society, and girls are typically raised with a focus on three pillars: (respect), educación (education), and cohesión familiar (family cohesion).
Growing up as a little girl in Colombia shapes you in ways that last a lifetime. It instills in you a deep love for community, an appreciation for the simple joys of a shared meal, a rhythm in your step, and an unbreakable spirit.
: While Colombian society has traditional roots, the household is frequently anchored by strong, resilient women. Grandmothers (abuelas) and mothers pass down oral histories, life lessons, and ancestral wisdom through daily routines.