Summary
Highlights
The creator introduces himself as a combat veteran who moved to Colombia with high hopes. He offers a disclaimer that his story is not meant to reflect on all Colombians, emphasizing that many were kind to him, but the overall reality was far from his expectations.
The speaker recounts his frequent run-ins with crime, including an early robbery in Santa Marta, being targeted with scopolamine (the 'devil's breath' drug) in a taxi and on dates, and being mugged at knife-point near a football stadium.
He discusses the difficulty of making true friends, noting that many interactions were transactional. He expresses frustration with a culture of 'fast money' and the victim-blaming mentality he faced whenever he reported being scammed or robbed.
By his third year, he describes feeling jaded and exhausted. While he highlights that he met some wonderful individuals, he concludes that the constant lack of safety and the inability to trust others made it impossible to stay. He advises others to be extremely cautious and suggests that there are safer alternatives for travelers.