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The most important aspect of my time here in Colombia has been to connect with local people and learn more about their lives and stories. Over winter break, I will spend two weeks with my friend Gabriela in her hometown of Chinacota. It'll be a 15-hour bus ride from Medellín, but I know it will be worth it for the chance to meet her family and experience their holiday traditions. Befriending locals is one of the best parts of traveling. Imagine: you could make friends all over the world, and in the process, learn about ways of life that you didn't know existed before!