Colombia is a beautiful country with a troubled past and a stale reputation. This is what we outsiders get wrong about the country.

A Kiwi in a fancy dinghy rode up to me on a dock at a remote hotel in Rio Dulce, Guatemala. What ensued was one of the most insufferable conversations I’ve ever been party to. Here’s what happened.

I’ve been in countless uncomfortable situations to better my language comprehension, from which I've learned a lot, and I’m sure I’ll be in many more. So I want to offer some advice from my experience learning languages abroad.

Unfortunately, this is a group project. And if you’re not pulling your weight, the rest of the group will not like you much.

Here’s what I consider when deciding where to go (and what I’d recommend anyone who wants to travel internationally take into consideration).