Greenheart, our valued sending partner OFIT Colombia and dedicated Host Organizations travelled to beautiful Colombia to interview and hire enthusiastic participants for seasonal positions. Every hiring season, Greenheart organizes international job fairs in locations around the world where our hosts can travel to meet candidates in-person and get to experience their culture, as well. As a result, our Host Organizations gain unforgettable experiences as well as complete their seasonal hiring in just four days.
Taylor Kay, Senior Director, Work and Travel Program at Greenheart shared his reflections on the event with us.
What do you picture when I say Colombia? Maybe the Amazon rainforest or Caribbean beaches? Or possibly a darker image from Colombia’s difficult past? Fresh in my mind are the 15 different kinds of tropical fruit at the breakfast buffet of the Sonesta Hotel Bogota and the wonder of the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, but most treasured is my experience at the Greenheart Exchange Work and Travel job fair held this week in booming Bogota with our partner OFIT Colombia. My second favorite activity at Greenheart is participating in the hiring events we offer U.S. host employers – particularly seeing program applicants walk away from their successful job interviews, holding it in, holding it in, holding it in and then once safely out of view, a huge smile erupts on their face (My favorite activity you may ask? Definitely interacting with on-program participants working hard and having fun!).
A Delicious Cultural Immersion!
First, let’s cover how we got here. Fresh off the plane from the Dominican Republic, we stopped at the trendy Crepes and Waffles restaurant for our first taste of Colombian food. No, crepes are not of Colombian origin, but they can be infused with local flavors! I enjoyed a Sombrero Vueltiao crepe, which is named for its similarity in appearance to the brimmed hats made of plaited palm leaves on the Pacific coast. OFIT introduced us to lots of different flavors over these three days, from Japanese Peruvian cuisine to a dessert designed for J-Lo at Storia d’Amore to the tipico comida of Colombia – frijaladores and bandeja paisa – each a mix of plantains, beans, chicharrónes, rice and avocado. Everything: delicious!
Of course, it wasn’t only about the eating. I had to remind myself that we were also here for the important business of a job fair, one of the ways that Greenheart arranges for host employers to engage with Work and Travel applicants. But first let me talk more about Colombian culture and our volunteer outing, which is an essential part of any Greenheart hiring trip.
Volunteering at Bogota Nursing Home
The day before the fair, we visited a small Bogota nursing home with about a dozen residents. I think we were there to brighten some spirits, but it certainly worked both ways. The facility on a quiet urban street had a bright community space and it is here we gathered to offer gifts of chocolates and comforting necessities. We conversed with several residents in English and Spanish, and then youthful Mario led the entire group through his daily exercise and stretching regimen. Next, we staged a little dance party to some “December music”. I personally am more of a four-beat dancer, so I let my very experienced partner lead in a three-step salsa.
Lunch and Visiting Salt Cathedral
We parted ways in good cheer and made our way to Chia for lunch at a barbecue restaurant. We then visited the amazing Salt Cathedral in the foothills. This immense cathedral is carved out of salt rock about 650 feet below the surface in a still-active salt mine. The most recent cathedral, finished in 1995, includes a winding path through the 14 stages of the cross, each vibrantly lit and with backdrops up to 100 meters long across the main space of the cathedral. Photos do not adequate convey the size of this underground space. Yet the care of the carving of the altar, nativity and the crosses from salt rock reminded me of the careful decades-long work that went into shaping Mount Rushmore. The miners’ reverence was indeed on display.
The Job Fair and Conducting Successful Interviews
The next day, OFIT arranged everything perfectly for the job fair in their office building. The auditorium was brightly lit. University students, who had traveled as many as eight hours to attend, were well dressed and ready. I took the opportunity to introduce Greenheart’s mission of connecting people and planet. That included ways to volunteer in the U.S. – possibly attending the Greenheart Global Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C. next July. Each host employer addressed the group and answered questions. Small group and individual interviews followed in private offices. I was impressed with applicants’ English ability and prior experience. It showed in the final result: only one attendee failed to receive a job offer. Well-done OFIT!
Heading Home – Final Thoughts
With the job fair complete, we enjoyed another great Colombian meal. We took the opportunity to rest. We also did some holiday shopping before a farewell dinner in the popular Zona T district. On the flight in the morning, I savored the green landscapes below. I caught a glimpse of the snowy Andes mountains, a harbinger of what I will find back home in Maine. Thankfully, I had stashed some tender avocados in my carry on. I wanted to save a final taste of Colombia for the flight to Miami.
A big gracias to OFIT, our wonderful hosts in Bogota, and to the Greenheart host employers for their adventuresome spirits. It was a pleasure to share this experience with you.
Are you a U.S.-based business and would like to host international seasonal staff for a cultural exchange? Please visit HirewithGreenheart.org to learn more.