Sand in my shoes

by Cervera Canto Julio Cesar (Mexico)

Making a local connection Colombia

People use to think they know everything but the true is we don't know everything until the day we travel abroad; Becoming a Tourism Guide had been one of my principal goals in life, so, when that day arrived I started to work hard. I faced (and still do) different people around the world, stealing in each trip a little bit of their culture, I was falling in love with Colombian Culture so I planned a trip to that country to discover a little more. In my culture working with tourism can be a little bit delicate, in particular when tourism expectations are different, so we have to work hard in the way to provide our service if we want to have tips from our customers. I heard many times how my workmates complained about Latinos and Europeans who never use to tip us after the services, they labeled these people as trash, I never share the same feeling but it was hard to me to understand the reason why they never tip. In another hand Americans, they have been considered as the perfect market because they know very well how tips work out in our country. For me, all groups were good, the money I couldn't make some days was got back days laters and in this way I could save money for my Colombian Trip. I wrote through Facebook to one of my closest friends from Colombia my friend Laura but she told me she was living in USA at that time so she probably won't be there (in Colombia) while my traveling time, she promised me to have everything done and ready for me about tours and local traveling with one of her best friends call Ana Maria. The day arrives and I flew from Cancun Mexico to Bogota, Colombia. My first experience in a plane was magical, I arrived by night so I saw the lights of the city from the sky, just like the Other Space! I spend some days in the Capital City before going to Medellin for meeting Ana Maria. I arrived in Medellin 3 days later and finally met Ana Maria and her Cousin, they took me to a town that has a church underground and it was one of the best experiences in my life, we visited a old town and all that was out of the city (Medellin); by the end of the day I began to feel hungry and we all decided that was time for lunch, she took me into a local restaurant where the food was insane and out of this planet, homemade and so delicious, we were attended by an old man who was or personal waiter and after an amazing lunch I thank him and all the staff for the services provided and when we were about to leave I call the man and I gave him a very nice tip and he refused it saying that the bill was already payed (I ask and pay the bill before give him the tip). I insisted but the man began to feel uncomfortable, at that moment Ana Maria asked me why I was doing that and I explained her that I wanted to be part of the good people who tip well and one of the things I really wanted was to show a good impression as a good and kind Mexican guy showing others we care about the services we received while tourism traveling; she took my hand and smiled at me saying "You don't have to show nothing to nobody, in our culture tips doesn't exist or they are not that important for us, what we really care is that the person who visit us or get a service from us, enjoy and have a great time, you made that old man felt uncomfortable with your tip because he is not used to it but for sure within him knows your intention is good". At that moment I understood EVERYTHING about that part in Colombian Culture and began to see people in a different way. So far I have visited 5 countries, my principal goal now, visit and learn more, always with different shoes.