From Where to Here

E10 How One Colombian Woman Built Two Lives Across 2 Countries

• Alexandra Lloyd • Season 1 • Episode 10

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Join us for an intimate conversation with Juliana Madrid, a Colombian business operations director who transformed a simple dream of perfecting her English into a beautiful cross-cultural love story. Discover how she navigated building relationships, career success, and family traditions while bridging two very different worlds. Her honest insights about cultural stereotypes, the reality of immigrant life, and creating "home" in multiple countries will inspire anyone considering a major life change or curious about Latin American culture.

Key takeaways from this episode:

  • The "No Dar Papaya" mindset is essential for success - Juliana reveals how this Colombian expression (don't give opportunities to be taken advantage of) guided her from choosing Birmingham over Miami to sitting front row in every class.

  • Colombian family closeness creates a practical support system that makes American independence shocking - Living with parents until marriage and having affordable household help means learning to cook and do laundry at 30 was a real culture shock.

  • Breaking the Colombian expectation of having children requires channeling nurturing energy elsewhere - Juliana shows how she became "Mama Juli" at work while her family's unconditional support made this choice possible without cultural judgment.

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🔗 How to Connect with Juliana Madrid
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📍 Get in Touch with Juliana: https://www.instagram.com/julmadrid/

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Sponsor Spotlight: Red Cat Coffee House
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This episode is brought to you by Red Cat Coffee House and their Landmark Series Coffees. You can find the coffee blends online at https://theredcatcoffeehouse.com/shop/ at your Red Cat locations, or at your local Piggly Wiggly.

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Hi I'm Alexandro Lloyd a French Canadian who's called Birmingham Alabama home since 2,017 Welcome to from where to here the podcast that celebrates the rich diversity of languages cultures in the stories that connect us all Each month I'll sit down with inspiring guests from differing backgrounds to explore their cultures languages and tacklesome fun in our truth there or debunk segment Whether you're a language enthusiast a culture lover or just curious about the world you're in the right place Let's dive into your next favorite cultural adventure Today on the podcast I'm join by Juliana Madrape Originally from Colombia she's been living in Birmingham Alabama for the past 9 years What started as a move to the US for school turned into a full life a career a home and a cross cultural love story Hojana is now a director of operations in healthcare leading a team that handles mergers and acquisitions She's passionate about learning connecting with others in sharing her journey of building a life in a new country She's married to an American she's got one dog two cats and a heart big enough to hold both Columbia in Birmingham And she's here to share what it's really been like to make a new life in a new country and to do it all with purpose and joy Juliana I am so glad you are here with me today Thank you so much I love that introduction It is very generous And I'm excited to be here and telling a little bit about my story and hopefully can shed some lying to others that wanna come or like or people we feel related to it And I'm excited And thank you for having me here of course And people often ask me how do you find all these amazing guests that you have on the podcast Fun fact about us is that my husband works at the same company that you work and your husband well work at a company that I used to work until kind of recently if you will So both couples and the same company's corporate life how we know it then Yeah yeah it was just kind of interesting that when we found out about this yeah I was so excited I was looking to your husband in a team event and I don't know why he mentioned you work at that company And I was like my husband worked there and you guys were actually planning a trip to Colombia Yes and I was so excited And yeah so we say we have to meet I have to give you some tips and things and so that's exciting to find each other Absolutely So before moving to Birmingham I'd like us to kind of walk us through a little bit You spend a lot of time with your family and medijean which is the city that you're from What did closeness look like then and what does it look like for you now And I'm diving right in with this question cause I know that was one of the first things you mentioned to me talking about Colombian and how the quote the aspect of closeness is very different than what Americans let's say my look at it from an outside perspective or just in their relationship but even with family yes very different So Colombian culture has a lot of differences with American culture and one is like the kids live with the parents for the most part until they get married So that is changing lately But you know here American kids go to school go to college when they are I don't know around 18 and they move out of the house We don't do that right So we we go to college while we stay home unless you go to another city to study which is wasn't my case So the city that I come from has great universities so I stay there and I live with my parents right before moving to the US So we live a little bit on top of each other We're very close There's no a lot of life personal space or and I love it living with them and and it's not uncommon So when you mention that you were in your 30s and you live with your parents here everyone was like oh really Why And but this is just the way it is So it was when I moved here of course I miss them it was hard to me I didn't know how to cook I didn't know how to make a soup and I wish I would have Learned when I was living with my parents They did everything for me I just work and all went to school or did my thing And so I had to learn the basic home skills and it was hard It was really hard And and then you learn to appreciate all the things that you have at home and you don't sometimes take for granted right And now I have a big appreciation with for like food in the table clean clothes right cause now I have to do all of that and I didn't have to do that at that time I was still very close with my parents especially with my mom My dad passed away three years ago We were very close all of us And I talk to my mom everyday I visit her she be it's me we spend we try to see each other at least twice a year at a minimum And in our relationship evolved for good Like I think that having some space between us was good allow me to grow to be a little bit more independent to value the things and to enjoy time with her So when I go there when she comes here I really treasure those moments I really very intentional to know let me bother for like buy the small things and enjoy the time that I have with her cause I know scars right like is no I don't have that opportunity always So that makes our encounters more meaningful and yeah so the independence is also good and help me I'm still bad at cooking I'm in TikTok No it is I'm not and I was never interested in cooking or learning I know basics right Just move something that I enjoy or I'm good at Fair enough Tell me I'm curious about how did your mom react to thinking You said you were early 30s when you left home end up getting married How was it like Was your mom ready to let go Yeah so that was interesting So when I started with this idea of going abroad again cause this is not the first time that I was internationally student my mom was like at some point she was like yes go I never go anywhere I'm like she thought about herself like I never went away I always live in the same place even had the opportunity to study abroad And so she was very like encouraging And then the next day she would be oh my gosh but he relieve everything I had a job at that time I had a condo I was painful I had a car like I have a I had a very stable life I had a job that I love people that I love And so she was like oh but are you going to leave all of that sell everything and go And so yeah she was between like yes do it Life is now life is short and also like no but you have a stable life And I was pretty I mean I kind of like made my mind at that time and I was like look if it's not now it's never I mean it's now or never Yeah I'm single I don't have kids nothing is holding you Yes yes and I wasn't planning to live here Like the plan was I'm going to go study get some work experience and then go home and get another job and move on right Cause I was thinking I'm going to have a very good English I will have experience in the corporate world in the US and then I'm going to go back and I will find a job and everything is going to be perfect That was my plan So that's how you ended up coming to Barrink Yes As you wanted to see something else you wanted to study abroad and I think perfect your English Yes that was my purpose So I work at that time in at telecommunications company Colombia and we were acquired by multinational and English became a very important thing in the company So this holding company that bought us had alert executives overseas English was the I mean if you got the big projects you in order for you to get the big projects you had to speak English and so that became a big thing for careers So I got some projects involved with the holding in my English was okay I mean kind of like I could understand or could say some words but I couldn't have like an articulated presentation or maybe I had a thought or something to add to a meeting but I didn't feel confident enough to say it because I didn't know the correct way I mean it's it's a different challenge exactly speak to someone industry that your order in a second language but then in the professional world there's a certain yes behavior but even also the way you present certain things There's a certain framework that I think you need to follow or at least be aware of so that you can be professional and they can explain what you wanna explain There might be some industry terms exactly you have to learn Yeah it's a completely whole different game right so so you hold back on expressing or same things because you know how to convey those things So that was kind of like the purpose the impulse that gave me to look up his dreams So when I started thinking about I went to look in see an education counselor imaging So there are different agencies that help you the guide you They have like agreements or partnerships with different universities and such And they gave me different options So I didn't have a scholarship Scholarships are no a thing for masters they are for like doctoral programs that kind of thing I wasn't interested in research I was more interested in the corporate world I didn't wanna go correct English course I did that in the past I had the basics I wanted to do something different So I knew that I had to do masters of something more in that line So I was still funded I put all my savings in this dream and I work with this agency and they narrowed it down to two options So the one option was the South Florida University in Tampa and university of Alabama at Birmingham Can you share what were your criterion Yeah I think that budget was a big part of it right Like I wanted to be I had to have my tuition cover before I went I didn't have I didn't wanna be a stress thinking how I'm going to cover for tuition all that stuff I didn't wanna be in a super high cause live a city right Like I didn't look at like Washington New York California That was no right Like I needed to be like something that I can afford right Comfortably And when they narrow it down to those options I was like Tampa sounds amazing but then it's Florida and I will be with all my fellow Latin people which I adore And but that wasn't the purpose right So I wanted to perfect your English yes that was the whole point Yes And we I mean Latin people were very warm would connect instantly So I know I'm going to make friends and I want I don't wanna be with any other person and that's not the purpose of this adventure So you know what I'm going to go to the Birmingham place that I don't know anything about but I'm sure that there I will have to speak English yes or yes And that's how I choose that And here I am nine years after What are the odds Did you ever had a thought that oh yeah I might end up staying Or did you know you wanted to come back to managing where where were you in your in your headspace at that time I mean everything was a possibility Like that wasn't the first thought right Like that wasn't no I'm going because I wanna stay No I'm going because I but I did have like a very soon three year three year plan which was like I'm going to do the program that was like around two years Then when you're an international student you have visa that allows you to work a year after you program So I knew I will have that So two years of program one year of work visa will be like three years in the night and then we see what happens Like probably going home or who knows right And yeah so I end up staying here for good You have been very courageous and taking a leave getting out of your comfort zone And I think that's a common theme of when I hear stories or I mean if I tie that back to my story it's like hey I want to explore more or there's something that I'm wanting in my life In your case it was to perfect your English to get in that corporate world to get more opportunities carrier wise And you and you really went for it like you went all in Yes I did And yeah so I say it is very important to me So when I started with this dream I prayed a lot about it I asked god like if this is not for me please stop me that I don't get the visa cause you have to get a different visa And I had like a tourist visa about this is a different game so you have to go and apply for different visa I was like you stop me and everything when I did this in 4 months like I start thinking about it like March 2,016 in August 2,016 I was on a plane to come here So everything happened on that student visa like four in four months everything happened really fast And when I got here I was like oh my god why did I do tell tell us about yes like was it like it hit me like right away No right away but I had super weird dreams when like when I left first month I dream like super weird things I mean I wasn't the corporate world already for about nine years when I came here so and I quit my job right for like nine years how you have nine years already working in a company right Okay another nine years before the nine years here Yes yes nine years are Yeah yeah so no like when I will establish in the vision and I was worshipping work with the community with your family I mean whatever yeah that's her life there very well established exactly So when when I went back to I mean when I came to Birmingham and was like oh my God I don't have a job right I mean I quit it like I quit my job but that like hit me and I'm still in again So I came back to I went back to the sneakers again to like jeans everyday a backpack student things I was like oh my god this is crazy What did I do But then I mean of course cause it's a new place and new but I was very as you say like I was into it So I took it very seriously I was the business student and I will see it in the front row and every class I will ask questions even if professors couldn't understand me at first Like when I say I have to this has to work I don't have any job now I quit I left everything I like I packed my life in three suitcases this has to work And I had to make it work And then I along the way I found like amazing people got send me amazing angels and things started to work out And in the plan when I mean it did happen as I thought it would it wasn't as easy as I thought it would right Like everything had a lot of work and then you have to put yourself out there you have to they look for things and you have to things are not going to plan in your lap right Like so I was the busy student I was in the front row I went and talk to professors I start looking for volunteer opportunities at the university And so I start making connections because for me the master was important but the connections that I needed to build were even more important And I wanted that this will land on a job at some point up so I could have experience that's very smart of you for already going out and doing the things that I mean it's uncomfortable because you don't tell anyone And yes and you have to say did work out those volunteer opportunities or how did you then get connected for the next step in your life Yeah they did I mean their UAB had an innovation depot type of place when they did like innovation stuff So I volunteered there I was doing like some social media management and I met people there that turned out in an in a smallest scholarship that I had for one semester So that paid off And yeah so people knew me and professors they knew that I wanted jobs and things like that So that helped then the program that I came true So there is an into UAB partnership and I came through that program that gave me opportunities too So the first semester I say I'm not going to work I need to study It was really hard the first I mean I mean I came to those statistics the first semester after like I don't know six years of not touching a notebook or anything or a book So my it's hard Yeah My first classes were here accounting on finance for Managers Economy Economics for managers and Quantitative Analyses which was I satixis course really hard in English I took a semester of English where they taught me how to write There's some things the Academy writing that you need for your New York City So hey oh my gosh It was hard Like I had to study a lot Like I was up I remember that was a Friday night My friends make me like a Facetime call and they were like having fun and like partying And I was like here with my accounting when I'm fine as book Friday night midnight But you know like I needed to make it work First semester I didn't I say I wasn't interested in jobs or anything but I did start the volunteer Like probably after like midterms my brain start getting quicker and I was like going to the chapters easier and I say okay now I can do something on the side So that's when I started volunteer and by the second semester I say I think that I'm ready to have a part time job I think that now I you know that your brain gets used to the reading and the word load and all the stuff So I started as a student assistant with this program that I came with So I was doing some like a student assistant jobs I was like orientation for new international students and all that stuff And through all those people that I met there I landed an internship in BBBA so I work with them It's supposed to be for a summer but it turned out to be for two semesters And and that was great I mean I got to work in a bank I work in marketing and I used to I I mean I did more like project management for the marketing people and content creation and all of that stuff So I helped them and that was great cause I got some exposure to the work environment and I got money that I needed for like friend and and I got a car It wasn't in my okay in my here without a car Yes and that's something that I didn't realize at that time Right One thing yeah where were you were you living close to campus I live in campus for the first 2 semesters which I love and I never had the experience to live in campus when cause every time that you live in campus you have to show your ID and everything One time that I show my ID person so my driver's license and ask me like you're 30 and you live in a dove And I was like yes and I love it I wouldn't change it for the world I walk everywhere it was just so easy and convenient but I knew that at some point I need to go to the real world and work and all that stuff So I mean there are a lot of things that the agency tells you but there are these little things that you learn when you land here right And one of those is like you need a car right and so when the time came I was able to afford one and and then I was able to move out of the campus and do that and that was a stepping stone to get to the to what you really wanted Yes it's unmarable I have too many jobs and then I work with the university for a year and then I work with the program that I came with for like another year And anyway so I had a lot of jobs but I love every bit of it And then how long have you been in your current what's your current company So I've been there with I've been with them for three and a/2 years already yeah has been I love it I can't say that is my dream job Uh yes I love it and what do you like so much about it It's really challenging work right but you love a good challenge Yes but yes I I is really challenging work Sometimes I joke with my bosses that we won't get alzheimer's or the main check cause we have to think all the time and like solve problems And I love the people that I work with I was very lucky to find such a amazing people smart people that challenge me everyday makes me better and you know like and they care about you as a person too And I love that So it's a little bit of the warm of Colombia I know everything that I really value that embrace me and my Colombian staff and cause I I like to joke and and I like to laugh and I I say I mean this projects are hard so we don't laugh it's hard there right so and they embrace everything and so I I I love it like they embrace everything about you yes they accept you how you are yes hundred percent Yeah so I love it and when I was looking I mean I wasn't looking I got recruited but when I started in the interview process every person that I interview was like so nice so relax so lay back right And and it was also like in the younger side and I'm very social and when you come to another country it is hard to make connections at least deep connections right So I was looking also to get some of those connections at work right like cause I found my husband and his family and I love him and I love his family but you cannot put everything on your husband right Your husband cannot be the answer for all your needs right So you need to have your community you need to have your people as well And I remember that when I had all the interviews of the last interview my current boss asked me like okay you have seen a lot of things you have talked to a lot of people why do you wanna work here And and I was very honest and very transparent I was like I everyone seems so nice and so smart I would just wanna work with you guys And and really like I didn't have to say I've already answered I just wanted to work with in that environment and I'm so glad I did Guardian And I always been grateful for my boss that opened the door for me And he has been amazing I love that It's important You gotta find your people Yes And starting to make new friendships at an age that it's hard as easy because you don't get to be in situation where you will make friends Like if you go to school okay you have school you have friends from school that just makes sense because okay you get along but also you have the same classes or you happen to be at the same place at the same time So you had to insert myself right in those spaces because there's some similarities between me in Birmingham They're very different cities Hey I was here Hey Leah So they're very different series but there is an aspect of very family oriented So in Mary Jean for example when we have this acquisation we had a lot of people coming from Bogota to live in Mary Jean And the people that was already established with a family and moved to Mary Jean they loved it But the ones that were single they loved it until they didn't because was hard I mean everyone was very nice and sweet on the weeks but on the weekends everyone had a really like his circle Here's in Birmingham is something similar right Like everyone is really with their lifelong friends and right Like everyone is already established with their circle and so you have to create a circle later in life right So I wanted a place where I can start slowly beginning my circle And I think that that's because bit of it I get a lot of like social interaction at work I mean I have neighbors now that I also had a little interaction So it's great I still have UAB people that I connect Amazing Yes What place does friendship occupy in your life It is very important I would say my mom is my best friend That is we're really close She's my confident But I my friends are very important So I keep my connection with my Colombian friends still every time that I go home I see them I miss them We still keeping contact There's a group of those that I we do like a yearly trip together and it's fun And but I do also find important here to help someone to go and like talk and laugh get a coffee go for dinner and do some like walk or exercise So that is important and you have to relationships are also work investment right Like you have to work right Like you have to and that was something we had a lot of worships when we were students and I love those that the program put for us And they say that right like you have to be consistent you know like reach out the way for people to reach out to you Be proactive go on friends You have to work for those relationships And in that I found that to be true And I think that I feel that I have good connections and I love and and it still have part of my love that I have in Colombia It is a saying I don't know that is the lot of like knowing and loving people in one in more than one place What is this saying he says like that you will never feel complete right You're there You miss here you're here you miss there but that is they also will I mean that is kind of like the fortune of knowing and loving people in one and more than one place I don't remember who say that is a quote I have to look at it And that's how I feel Yeah You're always gonna miss someone Or is there someone baby also that's always gonna miss you but you're always gonna It's a little bit it reminds me about the view that we have about home Like what it's home to you after going through moving to another country Do you feel more home here Do you feel more home there There's that new connection with people that you love people that you care about but also memories that you've made and that you're still making So what is home That is a great question And I still when I say I'm going to Colombia sometimes I feel I'm going homes Right And if it is yeah I mean you think about it I've been here 39 I've been here nine years but I was there like 30 years It is a lot of like deep connections still in Colombia I mean there is something so strange that I feel when I land in Colombia And then when the pilot says welcome to my Eugene this is something I cannot explain It makes me emotional happy cause she's still home that this is my home too here right Like I have I mean and I think that we talk of Mike the amazing people that I found here when I was looking for all this internships and work And I remember that that in the time that I didn't have a car when they knew that I was already they were like oh my god we're going to give you a ride back to campus Make sure that I mean who does that nobody right My mother in law I mean she Mother's Day she gives me this big hug because she knows that I'm pretty missing my mother and all my mom When my mom leaves she calls me and say hey I don't wanna take the place of your mother but I know that you have a mother in the United States right And and that's beautiful right And so Birmingham houses even though I still I mean home is really there I would say that I have two homes and this is I didn't like I always say that I have two homes but there is a lot of history connection And my parents are sacred to me and in see them age has been the hardest thing I have to face in life My dad went through cancer in that diagnoses like rogue our world Like it was hard And even though like we were very lucky cause we had a great years with him the last two years in him decline was just hard And so there is a special thing in connection with that I mean with Colombia with the country And I don't know I mean when I was working at you as BBA I remember that I had lunch so I was eating lunch at the cafeteria and then I hear someone speaking Spanish but with the Colombian accent And it's something that it goes into your body and you cannot ignore it And I turn around and see oh my god you're from Colombia And he was of course in Then we started like eating lunch every day and it's just something I see the flag and it's just I don't know is your roots is something I mean it gives you the goose bumps and it is I remember that I know that I saw long time ago I'm kind of crazy sometimes and I saw this lady driving here in Birmingham and she like a Colombian flagging her rear mirror and I saw it through the thing and my I have this urge and I didn't even think about it I just put my window down and say I'm Colombian too Oh shit She love it she love it but we I mean we were like driving so never say yeah bye Like yes yes never say it again I don't know if she see me right I mean it's just this thing where you come from stays with you no matter where you go And and I'm glad that it is like that because I feel very lucky and proud to be who I am as you should yeah all thanks for sharing that So now I'd like to understand a little bit about blending two families We talked about the different cultures one from middle ageing and one from Birmingham Blending these two does it sounds like its own cultural adventure What's that been like for you both meaning your husband and yourself any funny or surprising moments for family gatherings that really spend out yeah no has been is been a journey of course Jason is my husband and we even though come from different cultures we found that we shared a lot of the same values and we shared a lot in our bringings were very similar Like both come from like families very like stable families Parents married for a long time We had siblings we fall with the siblings everything And it was the same with very similar childhoods My laws I cannot describe how amazing they are Like they embrace me they want they love every bit about Columbia They've been there already And that was an amazing time I have two sister in law that I love And so they're very sweet not only to me but to my family So my parents came first time and I think it was for graduation I think that was the first time they came I'm not sure Your graduation Yes Maybe yes or maybe that was 2,018 maybe early I don't remember if they came earlier So they made my in laws we were not married at that time And they made my in laws and they love each other So my mom or my parents they don't speak English my laws they don't speak Spanish so they cannot understand each other I didn't even think of that but yeah it's important Yes So they don't understand each other They just laugh all the time and they just laugh all the time they just pick up words and they laugh and they make it work and they have fun So you will see my mom and my mother in law laughing They can understand each other but they laugh and same with my dad So we have tried everything we try like Google Translator work until you put it on different language I mean if my parents sometimes they don't know how to work phones and all that stuff so oh my God this is not working All this is so slow So they try that They didn't work much There was a Mamo in law got like an old device that she took to Carthagena and that was hilarious cause she will say something they think will repeat in English and we would be all now fighting for that thing cause they way that it translate is funny And yeah so we try that route I remember my mom came here and want to know what time my husband and I went on a trip My mom stay at the house taking care of the cats and everything And my mom came like several days a week to check on her They got in the pool together they went for dinner they went for lunch they they got their nail done I mean they went to the nail appointment together they just laugh and they just have a good time My morning was driving fast my mom is like yeah like with the hands right or or they say happy they say beautiful and they say karamba which is a word that my mom uses a lot and they pick up and that Karamba is like gray or like doesn't have like any meaning but my mom uses like to say like to his praise like wow kind of thing right and so they say that and that's how that works Say my brother he knows a little bit more English I know a law and he live with my in laws for two weeks when helping them work in the late house that they bought and all that stuff And they had I mean my my fighting law and my brother became besties They again they don't know can no understand with language but they make it work and they love and they love each other Still the languages have have an improve any to the point but they love each other they had a good time and we take a trip every Thanksgiving together so it's like the two families the two families together it was like a tradition now like we so we go somewhere for Thanksgiving all of us we always have a great time Siblings or like your in laws are they also married and they join or is it just series 2 families Yes so my I have two sister in law they come and the boyfriends come along and my it has a girlfriend and the girlfriend comes and so we're all friends and get along and have a good time very nice That's it that's a great idea Does the location always change or is it always the same place It changes so we went to Cancun last year we're going to Punta Cana This year We went to Blue Ridge Georgia a couple of years ago to the mountains and things We went to Columbia once Okay So yes we always go somewhere that is try to be like in the middle we can meet and have a good time and yeah great I love that good So you just continuing on that topic you and your husband has you have built such a full life like career love your home you have a dog two cats and at some point you decided not to have kids What was that journey like for you especially coming from a culture where that can feel like a big deal What do people tend to get wrong about that choice And is there a question you wish they asked instead of so when are the kids coming I mean personally I love kids I love babies I think that they're beautiful I don't know why I I didn't have like the profound desire to be a mother Like maybe I didn't have that clarity right Like I knew I wanted to be married like that's something that I really knew I wanted a partner to share life with to go on trips to be life with always But I never knew or was hundred percent sure I wanna be a mother in Colombia And I talked to friends about it and we laughed I don't know like I grew up in a Catholic school so there is a lot of like pregnant when you were teenager right Like parents like be careful don't get pregnant And there is a lot of like and I think that that got into our brain like that would ruin your life because I mean when you were a teenager right like and by getting pregnant too early exactly that what that's what they mean Sure also I did had to see my mom working and being a mom at the same time and that was hard And I see her in conversations with her friends like oh my God yeah that raising kids is hard So I don't know I never had like that desire or that clarity that I have friends that they knew immediately yes I wanna have kids I did not have that clarity So when Jason and I were dating he felt the same way Kids were no priority And if you think about when we got married we were like in our mid 30s and so we were kind of like later in here in Birmingham especially peoples to get married young yeah very young in Colombia know that much for here young So and I was 33 when I got married Jason was 35 So it was kind of like it was strange for a 35 to be single very common in Colombia here know that much So when we got married we were in our mid 30s but we didn't wanna I mean we didn't know about I mean kids was like question Mark more like on the no side And I came from a lot of trying to find my place after all of these years of changing jobs finding my way So kids were not liking my first And so and then the clock sticking so in five years went so fast and we never felt like we like were missing it or there were a couple of moments when my dad died and when Mike like Jason's grandmother passed away we did ask ourselves the question are we going to be very lonely in our like when we're older Should we have a kid But those first those are another reasons why you have a kid right Second with those like motions that came and went really fast so it wasn't something that was very heavy in our minds And when we reach a point that say like I think that we like our life there is our annoying ways to also in my case to be influencing our people's life that not necessarily true more who when I do a lot of I see I in my teammates in the people that I lead I like to pour unto them And sometimes I even call me Mama Holy and they joke yeah right cause I pour into them I care about them I take my leadership role really seriously I do think that is more important that I mean I I think that yes I'm helping them on their projects but also I hope that I am making an impact on their lives And when they look back and they remember me they have a smile on their face and say oh my god that was a good time or she held me in this room That is so I think that I love my work I spend a lot of time at work and I think that's kids would know part of the question now I have my neighbors They have two beautiful I mean they have a 3 year old and like a 10 month old And every time that I'm there I wanna hug pet Patrick and and hold him and so cute But then I go home and I forget about it And I love I mean I see a baby and I was like oh my God it's so cute I want but then I go home and I forget about it So I'm it's such a personal choice and thank you for sharing your thought on it Because I think it's under look and I have never met a couple that by choice don't have kids and is unhappy never These are sometimes the happiest couples Yeah I think that I do think that whatever if you have kids you will love them and I don't think they will regret them Right like and again if you don't have them I don't think they will regret them Maybe I don't I haven't right like who knows maybe in 20 years or so But again there is ways for you to help others or of course it's a different for all But I think yeah I think that if you if we went to have it and that we love them and do and be happy we don't have them and still happy and good So I think that either way also we have a lot of support from our families My parents never push that decision on us or or reacting and say my in laws like I remember my mother in law telling me like I don't need grandkid to like I would love on you and Jason and Irene Taylor and any if we were to have one day she will love the grandkids So I think yeah I don't know whenever happened to us we intentionally we're kind of more like no I think that would good There is a no or I mean in last on this one it takes a village really raising kids You need the support you need the M4 For me again like my mom is not here I don't have a little family around know that you're going to put your kids on but it is important right Like have your siblings family and also I that's something that stopped me right Like cause it takes a village and it's important and like okay I wonder about this like do you think having some of your family members will help keep your culture alive in your household Oh definitely absolutely because I live in Colombia for a long time I am who I am right Like there are some I have changed I know notice that right But there's so many things that I bring but you start like getting used to all things here So when my mom comes then I get more or when my brother is here when family visits I feel more motivated to do the Colombian things and cook the Colombian food and have the Colombian relations when I'm by myself sometimes but I'm like it's okay right So yes if I were to have more people of course that will be easier to deep And yeah definitely in going back to what you were sharing about how you they call you Mama Juliana at work sometimes or in you transpose to others your caring side Do you think what you described is a way for you to express motherhood in in the sense that motherhood is not necessarily having childs of your children of your home own that motherhood is not having children of your own but rather a presence that you offer to others whether it's at work whether it's through volunteering or other aspects of your life It kind of made me think of that is that how yeah situation how would you would describe it Yes some of it like you cannot say oh I can be a mom I mean being a mom is an amazing thing and I have so much respect and and admiration cause I think about my boss I think about my mom I think about my neighbor they work they have kids they do it All right so I will never compare like oh that's the same No but I still want I'm no a mom but doesn't mean that I can no care for others influence others be a person for others in another ways right So yeah so I think about my teammates at work and the people that I leave and so they are all remote with sometimes they trouble to Birmingham and I wanna let me know when you made it home right like have a safe life that kind of thing I strive to give them a good time in Birmingham and that kind of thing so that's why they like are you okay You know checking on them and that kind of thing and being cause I work yeah we work up on projects but we all life together right And things happen right Like things happen at the family label house and then you are ill there and you share your stories and you share perspective and sometimes you have to do tough love too right And in that's a way that I can put my care inside on others import on to others and make an influence no out to the level of a mom but be a good influence for others and without being a mom yes absolutely And I'm I was tying this simply because we were on the topic of motherhood and not having but I mean you can also I think experience all of these and the caring of others without tying that in into the motherhood But I think in that top on that topic it was just it seems to be your way of loving that caring aspect of you translating in other areas of life So yeah I have aunts that they were no mothers but they pour into my like into my cousins a lot right Like I have two aunts or three aunts that they did not have kids and I do have some cousins that are younger than I and they hold on to them and they are mothers to them So when we celebrate Mothers Day at home we celebrate them too Because they are like mothers And and yeah there's an aspect that I mean there's another example how you can do motherhood through others even when you don't have kids on your own Yeah I like that Do you get that question a lot earlier I asked you what would you rather people ask you instead of saying so or does it not I don't Cause everyone kind of knows that and respect that and honoring you and love you unconditionally Yeah and it just like hey yeah this is the choice we've made Yeah and I don't get that question a lot good No I don't cause you never know what people go through too Maybe yeah but if you've made it clear to your family this is not a priority this is not how we wanna move forward in our life then they know but I think of couples that try to have kids and they don't and they get asked all the time that would be everything Yes yes no but don't you I don't have that question a lot from my brother No yeah he's like I wanna have Yes yes but yeah he's like but no but and and I remember that was a time we were somewhere and they were like a bunch of kids and say no but you have to have one But it was more like in that was honey we laugh and I was like no maybe you have to have one and then I be and so we laugh but no I don't get that question a lot Yeah and I think that don't asking let's switch gears and let's do our fun game called Truth Dare or debunk For each round you'll choose either a truth where you share surprising cultural facts a dare like teaching us teaching me a phrase in your favorite language in this case Spanish or debunk where you clarify a common stereotype about your culture and about the Colombian culture So truth dare or depunk dare dare dare to teach yes what would you like to teach me Right We have a lot of expressions in in the Spanish and it is I think that's the most which is know that papaya no that papaya which is don't give chances for it to take advantage of you And I actually have a friend she's American and she's right in Colombia right now She's visiting And she texted me that like I don't know what happened and she said don't give papaya I was no that papaya which you know that papaya yes Which is like an example like don't go on your own late in the street right You putting yourself out there what would it sound like in Spanish with that context No papaya like no papaya or like you leave your wallet there yourself I don't know you just say no that papaya no that papaya audio papaya like oh I did this and this happened of course said your papaya you set yourself up for yeah exactly like you you did not help yourself and you gave the opportunity to be taken advantage of That's kind of like that mean okay I don't know that's really good I like that Do you like papaya eating papayas I do I do I do yes yes and my mom loves them Yeah okay let's do another round round 2 truth There are depot true truth what's one thing that is actually true about your culture maybe a surprising fact or something that people think is true It actually is true Colombians know how to party they know how to fart Yes that is we everything is a party we know how to throw a party and what makes a good party dancing music Okay now just for the visual listeners I need to show you still have the bottle on Oh yeah okay yes now we're talking yes yes now we're talking yes I don't like about it that much to be honest with you so strong for me but yes so I want to be into music dancing food Yes so we Columbians know how to party awesome Yeah that's true that what kind of music Everything salsa merengue reggaeton pop but you're not though more in the coast but you're not though yeah it's a little bit of everything Let's do another round round 3 truth there or debunk debunk what's a common stereotype about Colombia or Colombia as a country No every time but the majority of times they will think about Pablo Escobar or like the narco shows cause that is what Netflix is about or jokes Right So Columbia's more is more than that right Like is there food Is there people is there music there artists there landscape So this coffee more that is a warranty but it is no yeah it is no only that teach another truth there or debunk hundred truth or which one would you pick Truth truth Okay so what's a something that people say about Columbia that is true I will say people really warm I mean every time and work everywhere like every time that I talk to someone at work I know a Colombian or I know someone that is married to a Colombian or I know this or that and everyone has good things to say about Colombians We're very welcoming warm and we were really friendly never met stranger type of thing I found that to traveling to Columbia we went to Catahanna and that was with my Colombian friend They really did everything to make us feel comfortable And Sam was really happy that they were with us and having people come to him begging for things And that happened a little bit while we were standing on absolutely because we don't look like the majority of the people there And I remember her brother actually welcome us He waited for us at the airport in Kathahina waiting for our arrival to take the cab so that we don't get taken advantage of for the transportation into our hotel So and that was just super nice and they all welcome us with open arms and one of them sucked I'm glad but yeah that's how Colombians are and that's why we are very welcoming and warm and we want make I mean we want you to have fun and yes and we want that you don't get taken advantage of especially very touristy areas that that happens Let's do one more truth or debunk which one I don't know if I have another debunk maybe truth truth okay what's a a fact about Colombia but people think it's true and it is that we eat Mexican food all the time Oh so it's a debunk is okay debunk yes yes yeah so it's not true it's not true son don't eat Mexican food all the time Yeah there's a lot of misconception about on the countries inside of me eat tortillas and tacos that's Mexican food to us too right Like that's no So people will think like oh do you eat tacos and tortillas for breakfast lunch No we don't Like that's no A lot of people believe that Mexican food is the food that all South America eats and that's not true And for us that is no part of our diet We do have Mexican restaurants down there yes but it's not part of our diet And so that's yeah everyone thinks like so it's funny cause when we go to a Mexican return or something people may think that ask me about like what is this And I was like I don't know like what is this thing And I was like no idea Because I think that Mexican food or Colombians is Mexican food or everything is Mexican food in South America And it's true that tortillas are like widely consumed among Mexicans Or like that's something you can have for breakfast for lunch or as a snack right With different things in it I think different toppings and so on Is there a typical breakfast Yes at least in imagine What is it Arepas So we had our yes that is our thing Can you explain for people that might not be familiar with But then yeah so it is like a corn corn base it is no it is thicker than a tortilla right and is a little bit crunchier but is made from corn And you eat it with anything and so you can eat it like typically in breakfast you eat it with like cheese and butter and with eggs Ray and that's kind of like the typical breakfast like eggs and arapa and cheese and but you can put pretty much anything on top of APA and also you can have it for dinner Oh shoot is it an Amber Alert I think so today's episode is brought to you by REDCAT Coffee House and their landmark series coffees As I get lover I could not resist but introduce you specifically to this bland called light rails It features a cat on the label but not only that each bland features a landmark is inspired by a landmark of the city This one is inspired by our vibrant Rainbow Tunnel downtown and it has sweet fruits and mixed dipped berries You can find the landmark series including blends like Iron Works Fullsteam Ahead Alabama Ujuband and Johns Valley Trail either online at Redcap locations or your local Piggly Wiggly It's coffee with a story and even with a feline charm And that wraps up or truth there or deep on Thanks for playing along Jujuana Of course All right Jujuana we have a little something called from here to you where we bring in a question from one of our listeners it for you the answer This one comes from Joyce Oh nice How did you navigate the culture shuck when you first moved to the US And how do you still make sense of those cultural differences today especially through your Colombian roots I love that Yeah I think how I navigated control shock trying to be open we always tend to think that the way that we think something is the right way or the way that we do something is the right way right Because this is how we were taught or like we learn race of being a little bit open trying to remain positive and being willing to get out of yourself a little bit and seen I mean I think always looking the good in the situation and just having grow mindset or like open mindset for the things that are no familiar or maybe know the way that you respecting all the way that you will do it The second question was more about our such good advice Well how do you still make sense of those cultural differences today especially through your Colombian roots Okay So there is something about Colombians so we grew up in a very difficult and political and environment right All the story And so we we had to keep going and try hard And so we have such a resilience because we always live in the middle of or war or crime or violence right And we still have to go out and work and do life So we are we have we have this saying that my look what I mean is Bueno like then when is bad is always it's also good right like try to find the good and everything So I think elements are very resilient so when there's something that doesn't make sense in this thing that I think about or always try to like this is good too This is goodness always coming from X y Z situation right So I always try to just look at the at the goodness I I have so many things in my head right now is the way that you the perspective that you put right like or you make a big deal of it or you just like find a good and move on right so it depends on the activity that you take in life So you make a big deal or you make fun of the moment or it's your choice Like you cannot change a situation sometimes but you can change the attitude that you take to a person Oh I'm sorry no no no person Yeah like it's all about your perspective yes of the situation that attitude or all exactly So you only can do so much right Like you are only can control so much So when you cannot control a situation is the way that you're going to feel about it going to complain and cry forever or I'm just going to move on or make the best of it And my dad was very light and my mom both of them they are very wise And my dad was type of person that he liked everything he didn't have any problem with Of course he wasn't perfect or better there but he always like didn't dwell a lot in the negative He's just okay That's fine Move on And my mom is positive like really positive very wise And we have lived through a lot of things And I think that I mean you love someone when you see someone going through a disease like cancer when you just then get perspective on what is really important and what is really a big deal and what is just like I shouldn't make my life miserable just for this thing of that kind of thing I don't know that makes sense That's a perfect way to end the from here to you cycle Now what's one Colombian tradition or custom you think more people should know about or try So we we have a lot of traditions I will say New Years is a big thing right Like we always try to make of course everyone makes resolution but like New Years is a really special time to be full and grateful and reflect on the good things that you receive And in the past I mean in the year and then like prepare yourself So we'd like to dress up a little bit Israeli We wanted to look the New Year so the New Year is going to receive you in a good spirit And yeah so it's a big deal So we do have like we and again this is more like traditions and for at least for me for fun we have like the grapes for luck and the lentils for abundance Like we have a little bit look traditions or rituals or we write down the wishes for the next year And so it's a big deal and we spend that with people we love like with family is a very familiar day for example Here New Years is more like go and have fun with the friends There is more like no way you wanna be I mean you wanna be on that with the people you love And of course this party because everything is party in Colombia it has meaning of a year is a really long period A lot of things happen in a year right And your life can change a lot in a year Is a moment like to be together to hold on to the people you have in your life to be thankful and be hopeful for what is about to come in the New Year what do you do with the wishes you that you write No I mean you is it for yourself Yes share with others no for yourself or you make a toast And yeah it depends right Yeah So I had to bring a little bit that a little bit of that into my marriage because Alex more yes because Jason was more like oh New Years like no it's cold Wanna do a lot And I was like no no no I refuse to be in pajamas I don't know like no I love being lazy and I love pajamas But for New Years no because now lately my mom and sometimes family Last year we had family over and was great And when it's the two of us we try to make a special so we do something nice we go somewhere and but at home we we make our toes we say a prayer we say thanks for the things that we receive then we ask for the New Year It's kind of like a beautiful moment And I try to bring those things from my culture to our relationship I love that Yeah good for you for holding to that tradition of yours that you wanna keep doing because it's easier to let it go Yes it is hundred percent like it's you advocating for the Colombian culture to continue to be present in your life and that seems to be an important piece of it So I'm glad you're able to get into it and also share with others years There was a year that we made a party at home Like we were selling this do a party cause and we stay awake until midnight and we say Happy New Year I mean it's important it's a big thing in Colombia and I bring that to here too Very nice And is there a special food memory from home that always makes you feel nostalgic that is more dear to your heart I love food so everything is dear to my heart Yes yes but anything brave like okay so I don't have enough when you hello anything cheese and bread yeah thank God I mean I look plantain so too but I can't get it here So that's good It's easier to get the full It wasn't I mean I think that long time ago it wasn't that easy Maybe what I do is like my mom's cooking really When I try something that she made that gives me like soups yeah the vegetable recipe soup recipe you know like vegetable soup she cooks a very good vegetable soup and beans so when I have like my mom's cooking it's like oh my gosh I love it Vegetables and beans No like beans is another Yeah but like vegetables and that kind of thing I love soups and that's the things that I miss more about food Do you add some type of short pasta in your vegetables Yes yes yes Before we come to an end some would like to ask you if you could bring one thing from Colombia to Birmingham besides your people what would it be One thing that I come bring from Colombia fruits Which fruit I miss it I mean I miss the fruits like mangoes and I mean I can't get that here but then it's just something special about the fruits that we got down there And I don't know let's do they taste more authentic maybe yes thing in the taste or is it the action of going to the market and getting there and no that is different right Like I don't know I cannot think about something specific but what came to my mind was like the fruit the mango the mango Which are they Do they grow in Colombia Yes so I think that's what I think that I miss but I don't know I mean now it's pretty easy to get things but that's something that came come to my mind so mangoes and papayas No When are there any mangas Yeah yeah yeah large ones or the small ones they want that green No no the ones that are like ripe but green So they are more like tart they have like a tart flavor and you'll eat it with like salt and lemon that I mean is yeah yeah that's good Yes the ripe is sweeter This one the green is more tart has like more sour taste Those are the regular mangoes that are not yet yes ripe Oh interesting yeah I thought it was a completely different type of mango is it is just like green and it's not ready so it's hard there but is and when they they become ripe they're sweeter and softer but I really like they the ones that are not ripe mango with yes Berry yes and they sell it in the street with like lemon and in carthana they sell it a lot Yeah I've seen those Okay but I didn't realize it was a unripe mango Yes so salt and lemon juice lemon or well that's the thing for us Lemons are limes and limes are lemons like the lemon is the green yes for us right and the lime is the yellow here is the opposite So every time that I say okay one lemon I take a lime Jason like that's not lemon so for Americans what you said it's in reality lime juice but for you it is limited Yes yes yes very cool I love that And lastly working lessonaries connect with you Yeah I mean they can connect with me through Instagram and I'm happy to share my story Or if anyone is interested to come into the US and navigate work and study in life happy to share a little bit of my story Well that's very generous of you Juliana Which has Cass Yes that's worthy for sharing your journey I appreciate it And if you're inspired by today's guest make sure to follow from where to here pod everywhere you on all social and from where to here everywhere you listen to your podcast And in the meantime keep exploring thank you for tuning in to from where to hear If you enjoyed this episode be sure to hit subscribe leave a review and share it with someone who loves discovering new cultures Follow us on Instagram at from where to hear pod for exclusive updates behind the scenes moments and a peek at upcoming guests Until next time keep learning keep connecting and keep celebrating the beauty of languages and cultures