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Autor: Mauricio Aristizábal Giraldo
I lived in Austin, Texas in the U.S; for 7 years. The most important thing that I learned by living away from this beautiful country, is that family is the only company that you need in life. I was working as an Assistant Coach for the Soccer Team at Houston Tillotson University (the oldest private institution in the capital city of the state of Texas).
Colombia was in my heart the whole time, also my mother was a big reason for me to come back, so I quit my job and returned to Medellín 5 years ago. Now I´m an English teacher at a software company that opened up my mind to change my outlook toward my future. At the same time, this company has taught me that technology is an outstanding way to improve my life style and it’s inspired me to get closer to programming, in order to make come true a dream I had about a sport app being made by myself.
In Medellín there are almost 6 thousand foreigners who love the city and have become full time visitors, and now call Medellín “home”. They talk Spanish in a funny way and at every cortner they´ll find someone that will be grateful to help them find a specific location, such as, a store or just to simply say hi to them. The language barrier is overcome when “paisa” people give a warm welcome to everyone that comes to the city. At first, when I returned to the city from the U.S my accent was also kind of "chistoso," because I'm a paisa guy with a Texas accent that made them think that I was a gringo visiting the city.
Now I'm blessed by my life experience, which I want to share with everyone, and inspire people to learn english not only for tourism, bussines or entertaiment but for life! These days, I'm spending time among English classes where my students learn not only grammar but a way to enjoy the learning of a new language and culture. Moreover, I can visit my mother every weekend to have “sancocho" my favorite soup which I missed so much when I lived away.
#englishforlife is not only to learn the language, but to share the experience of a life-time and to open the boundries of #aburravalley for those who want to learn about our culture.
Fuente: Original
