My Colombian Parents Visited India - S4E2 Podcast

Can you imagine a couple in their fifties from a small Colombian town with zero English skills traveling the globe to see their daughter?

That’s what my parents did to attend our Hindu wedding in India!

Watch it on YouTube:

Listen on Spotify:

As you can imagine, the whole adventure was filled with cultural and logistical challenges. However, our family demonstrated an admirable open-mindedness and willingness to embrace the unknown.

Travel Mishaps

• My parents had almost zero English skills, and the long journey with multiple layovers (Pereira—Bogotá —Spain—Qatar—Chennai) made it a tiring experience.

• The colossal mistake: Despite receiving multiple confirmation emails, my parents didn’t have the printed version of their e-visa with the necessary watermark and photo.  

• Other inconveniences: They didn’t have international charging adapters, which caused their phones to die during the visa crisis. Our best tip: keep your phones charged.

Life Savers

• Offline dictionaries, good people’s hearts, and even video calls made the trip possible. 

• My parents' open-mindedness to remain respectful despite their discomfort.

• Thanks to their self-change, they accepted differences rather than imposing their views.

Key Takeaways

• Prepare thoroughly (visas, adapters).

• Adapt with respect and patience.

• Stay open-minded despite cultural differences.