The Passport

Welcome to The Passport

Because One Country Isn’t Enough.

Greg Sullivan · May 14, 2026

Rent first, buy later?

A lot of people dream about buying property abroad, but I keep hearing the same advice from experienced expats: rent first, learn the city, then decide.It makes sense. A neighborhood can feel very different after living there for a few months. Traffic, noise, weather, safety,...

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Posted in 💬Expat Wins & Fails

Ryan MacDonald · May 14, 2026

What everyday Colombia perk still makes you happy?

Not the big tourist stuff.The tiny everyday things.Fresh juice.Cheap flowers.Mountain views.Menu del día.Friendly greetings.Sunday ciclovía.Good coffee.Fruit stands.The fact that someone will probably call you “mi amor” before noon.What little perk still gets you?

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Posted in 💬Water Cooler

Ryan MacDonald · May 14, 2026

What’s a small cultural habit you picked up without realizing it?

One of the funniest parts of living abroad is when you suddenly realize the country has changed you in tiny ways.Maybe you greet people differently now.Maybe you eat dinner later.Maybe you’ve become more patient with paperwork.Maybe you now think walking three blocks is...

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Posted in 💬Medellín

Ryan MacDonald · May 14, 2026 🇨🇴 Colombia

Provenza is fun, but I wouldn’t want my whole Medellín life to happen there

Provenza is one of those places that makes Medellín feel very international very fast. Restaurants, bars, rooftops, cafés, tourists, digital nomads, music, people dressed like they’re about to be photographed, it’s a whole scene.And honestly, it can be fun. But I also think...

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Posted in 💰Cost of Living

Stephanie Mitchell · May 14, 2026

Most Colombia cost-of-living conversations seem to become Bogotá vs. Medellín im

Most Colombia cost-of-living conversations seem to become Bogotá vs. Medellín immediately.But I’m more curious about the people living in places like Bucaramanga, Pereira, Armenia, Manizales, Cali, Barranquilla, Santa Marta, Ibagué, or smaller towns around the Coffee...

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Posted in 💬Remote Work & Business

Stephanie Mitchell · May 14, 2026

Anyone else trying to build a business from another country?

Working remotely for a company is one thing. Trying to build something of your own while living abroad is a completely different emotional sport.One week you feel brilliant.The next week you wonder if you have made a terrible series of life choices.There are so many little...

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Posted in 💬Taxes & Banking

Brian Fisher · May 14, 2026

U.S. expats: filing vs. owing are not the same thing

A lot of Americans abroad hear “you still have to file U.S. taxes” and immediately think it means “you will definitely owe twice.” But filing and owing are not the same thing.U.S. citizens and resident aliens generally still file U.S. taxes while living abroad. Some may...

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Posted in 🇨🇴Bogotá

B Brian Fisher · May 14, 2026

What’s the most Bogotá thing you’ve learned so far?

6 votes View discussion →

Posted in 💬Healthcare

Brian Fisher · May 14, 2026

What’s your healthcare setup in Colombia?

One thing I’ve noticed is that “healthcare abroad” is not one single experience.Some people rely on local health insurance.Some keep international insurance.Some pay out of pocket for routine appointments.Some use private clinics for speed and local systems for bigger...

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Posted in 💬Expat Wins & Fails

Megan Lopez · May 14, 2026

FAIL: I accidentally dressed like I was going hiking… in Bogotá

Fail of the week: I went out in Bogotá dressed like I was about to climb a mountain because the weather app scared me. Rain jacket. Practical shoes. Layers. Serious backpack. Full “survival abroad” energy.Then I got to the restaurant and everyone looked stylish, put together,...

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Posted in 💬Remote Work & Business

Megan Lopez · May 14, 2026

What’s your “I can actually work from here” checklist?

I’ve stopped trusting listings that say “laptop-friendly workspace.”That can mean anything from a real desk and ergonomic chair to a tiny round table next to a bed with one outlet across the room.Now I have a mental checklist before I book or rent anywhere:Good WiFi.A real...

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Posted in 💬Housing & Real Estate

Megan Lopez · May 14, 2026

Before you sign: what did you wish you checked first?

Apartment photos can make a place look perfect… until you actually live there.One thing I’m learning is that the “boring” details matter more than the pretty furniture: water pressure, street noise, building rules, internet reliability, elevator wait times, humidity,...

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Posted in 🇨🇴Bogotá

Megan Lopez · May 14, 2026 🇨🇴 Colombia

Bogotá taught me to respect the weather app… but not trust it completely

I thought I understood weather before moving to Bogotá.Then Bogotá gave me sun, cold wind, rain, fog, and a dramatic mountain cloud situation all in the same afternoon.I now leave the house like I’m preparing for three different cities: light jacket, sunglasses, umbrella, and...

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Posted in 💬Remote Work & Business

Tyler Jansen · May 14, 2026

I thought working abroad would feel more glamorous than this

Before I started working remotely abroad, I had this image in my head: laptop open, beautiful view, perfect coffee, maybe a palm tree somewhere in the background.Reality has been… a little less cinematic.Some days are amazing. I can take a walk in the middle of the day, work...

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Posted in 💬Medellín

Tyler Jansen · May 14, 2026 🇨🇴 Colombia

Medellín feels easy at first, that can be misleading

Medellín is one of those cities that can feel easy fast. The weather is pleasant. The views are beautiful. There are cafés, coworking spaces, restaurants, gyms, tours, nightlife, and enough English in certain areas to help you land softly.But I think that ease can be...

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Posted in 💬Water Cooler

Tyler Jansen · May 14, 2026

What’s your current “I can’t believe this is normal here” moment?

Every country has those little daily-life surprises that locals don’t even notice anymore. What’s one thing that still makes you pause and think, “Wait… this is just normal here?”For me, it’s how much life happens through WhatsApp. Appointments, landlords, doctors,...

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Posted in 💬Cali

Pierre Gagnon · May 14, 2026 🇨🇴 Colombia

Cali made me realize salsa is not just “nightlife”

Before coming to Cali, I thought salsa was something you went out to dance. Now I understand it’s more like background electricity.It’s in taxis.It’s in family parties.It’s in little neighborhood bars.It’s in December.It’s in people’s posture somehow.It’s in the way Caleños...

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Posted in 💰Cost of Living

Pierre Gagnon · May 14, 2026

Where did your budget go wrong first?

Mine was “temporary spending.” You know, all those first-month things you tell yourself don’t count.Except they do count. Very much.Where did your budget go off track first?Airbnb before finding long-term rentFurniture/setup costsRestaurants/deliveryUbers/taxisWeekend...

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Posted in 💬Visas & Immigration

Pierre Gagnon · May 14, 2026

The document nobody told me I would need

One thing I’ve learned about immigration paperwork: the document you forget is always the one that suddenly becomes urgent.I had the obvious ones ready: passport, birth certificate, bank statements, background check, but nobody warned me how often you may need “backup”...

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Posted in 💬Water Cooler

Pierre Gagnon · May 14, 2026

What’s one tiny thing that made you feel at home abroad?

It’s funny how “feeling at home” abroad is not always one big dramatic moment.Sometimes it’s finding a bakery you actually like.Sometimes it’s recognizing the cashier at your local grocery store.Sometimes it’s realizing you no longer need Google Maps to get back home.For me,...

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