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This black dude is a breath of fresh air.... the opposite of the typical pookies that visit colombia

As a Colombian is so refreshing to hear a guy like Elliot speak when we are used to all of these “pookie ray ray” type tourist, he has the right mindset, Colombia is not some type of lawless third world country, be a good tourist and you’ll have a wonderful time

What a lovely man Elliot is! His intelligence, integrity and deep gratitude for all that is good in his life are qualities that many people this day in age don't embody. Thanks for a great interview, Joel. This gave me a big smile today! 💖🙏💖

45 , retired, and living in Medellin , my guy is living the dream. Salute 💯

I''m so glad this brotha is representing us African-American men in an positive, intelligent light. I get so tired and upset that when I travel and I see the "Pookies" and "Ray-Ray's" acting foul and undoing all of the "good work" myself and people like Eliott do around the world LOL

Elliot hit the nail on the head!! I and my brother, moved from the United States from two different states to come here and live in Medellin, Colombia. We’ve only been here a few months and everything that Elliot said is true. He explained it so well- there is a peacefulness(in spite of the crazy traffic at times) and a slower pace of life. The family unit is very strong. People gather in each neighborhood at a local store or outdoor café and talk about the day’s or the week’s events or the upcoming game. Old couples still hold hands when they walk and I don’t even see that in the US anymore. Public displays of affection are common and very endearing. Younger women are not afraid to go out with older men and most of them are genuine. Elliot said do not meet girls on dating sites and he is correct! Look for genuine women in their workplace, or in the gym, or in the University or in the mall. The mall and gym are often highly populated with the most beautiful girls and women.💃🏽Even older women take such good care of themselves that they remain absolutely stunning in many cases. And I have never been to a place where the sheer number of women are so beautiful. 😵‍💫 They walk a lot and take care of themselves, and they like to look good.😳😀 Medellin itself is a gorgeous city, built in a valley surrounded by mountains and also built within a jungle so the plant life is exotic. 🌴 There are beautiful, colorful birds. 🦜The zoo aviary actually has no top so the birds may fly out during the day and then come back at night so there’s a chance you will see a very colorful tropical bird when you’re out walking. Colombia is the country with the most fruit varieties in the entire world. Tropical and exotic plants are everywhere. The weather ranges between 60° and the lower 80s throughout the year. There have been times in the sun that I have been hot but I have never been cold; and this is December through February. ☀️ Colombians are passionate about their music 🎶 and dancing, and I’ve never seen so many different ways to dance-as here. 🎉The culture is very rich and the people enjoy life. On the negative side, the government does not seem to care too much about safety for pedestrians. For some reason there are lots of utility covers missing from the sidewalks and there are holes you have to watch for everywhere. Sidewalks also get pushed up by the roots of trees due to their close proximity, so just watch your step And cars often do not stop at red lights or stop signs so just be careful as a pedestrian. There are slower times for certain government and company services like getting packages delivered or getting a response from the phone company but this is normal here. Only the US has instant gratification in services. I could easily settle down here for the rest of my life, and I’m not even a city man. Sorry for the long commentary.😂

This guy defines EXACTLY where i an in life. I'm a Marine Corps veteran, 52, no kids and have been longing to visit Colombia for 10 plus years. Now that I'm at a place where i can travel freely with no spouse or children, I will be doing that in the coming months. I don't party, i do not drink, I prefer to meet women the traditional way in stores, at the grocery store or at a place i know i could see her when i go there to establish familiarity and consistency before any serious happens. Peace is what I'm in need of at this juncture of life and I will pursue it.

Great video! I agree 100% with what Elliot said. I've traveled to (and lived in) Medellín and beyond, Solo, so I know. Sad thing now is that Medellín and other major cities are attracting too many of the wrong types of tourists, which is starting F it up for everyone else.

Best guest I've listened to. I hope you have him back again. Stoic & very intelligent conversation. Gave us the best visual & strategy while there

Excellent video! Thanks for interviewing him and getting his perspective on Medellín. Hopefully you'll bring him back for future videos.

Damn good interview. Sharp brother

Great interview. It’s good to hear of great experiences from black men. That was my experience as well. Can’t wait to move there in May

Great interview! I'm a Black American, retired Air Force. I'm 64. This is my 2nd year living in Colombia. I lived in Cartagena my first year and now in Medellin. My man was spot on everything he stated. I have a Cedula retirement visa until 2025 and plan on renewing to stay. 🇨🇴

Great interview! This guy is solid and when you live this type of life the results living in Colombia can be as positive as he speaks about! Big ups to that guy! Peace

Much needed Amazing insite, and an Ispiration. On this one Elliott you summed it up Thoroughly. You summed it up Good on this topic, really. I think you hit it on the nail. Bringing awarness for those who want to travel there to Medellin Colombia, and beyond Medellin

very informative video , elliot sounds very grounded & centered with life-experience wisdom

For you foreigners here in Medellin, I can recommend two places to meet women. The first is a co-working like WeWork. Go work there and you will meet very interesting and intelligent women. Second, a language exchange, we have many here in town and we use them to practice English and other languages, but, mm don't trust a woman who doesn't speak or study English hehe. Usually the people who go there are because they are studying English and they want to practice, or they have a good level of English and they want to improve it for their job.

Amazing interview: Elliot is so wise. It is so refreshing to listen to such a balanced and nuanced fellow black man. Great job also interviewing also AK !

Absolutely captivating interview! I appreciate how he eloquently shared positive insights about Medellin as a whole. As someone residing in Medellin from the US, this conversation has truly been inspirational for me. This aligns perfectly with what I've been conveying to others who worry about the negative information they've received about the country.

Nice interview!

Brothers finding their arc..and living it! Great interview AK Joel.

Great interview!

Great interview! It's refreshing to hear such insight and perspective from a black man living abroad. MDE is a wonderful place to live (and visit). This definitely helps to give a more accurate and realistic narrative about life here, or anywhere abroad, as an expat.

What a lucky man! Retired at 45 and retired and living in Medellin! He paid his dues and is young enough to really enjoy retirement and his free life. I said lucky but he made his luck! 🍀👍

That was a good interview. I'm considering moving to Medellin when I retire. I learned a lot

One of your best interviews, he broke things down exactly how things should be. Love it!

God bless y’all Joel, this was a great interview

Great interview

Awesome dude !

this was a really great interview

Excellent interview Elliot.

Very good interview and Elliot seems like a very respectable person

I appreciate this black man sharing the value of living in Colombia.

As an expat living in Bogotá, I appreciate this interview gentlemen.

Thank you for this video

All single men that enjoy traveling can be called passport bro's. Cudos to all of us for having the guts to seek adventure. Elliot is a relatable representative. The label originated in the female American black community. Whatever, I agree with Elliot. I am a US citizen. I choose to live in Medellin with my Colombian wife, and son. AK seems more objective in this video. Congratulations, dude.

Wow, what a wonderful interview. Elliot knows more about Colombia than I do, and I was born there. I've been thinking about moving there, and ironically I feel like a foreigner when I am there visiting.... But this has changed my pov tremendously. Thank you Elliot and AK.

Awesome conversation!

This is a very romanticized view. Medellin can be hood too. BUT I’m glad he’s safe and having a good time.

Thank you. I am not a Passport Bro nor a high value man. Just a man who travels while making over six figures. Traveling is an experience and not focus around traveling for women.

One of the BEST YT videos/interviews that I've seen on MDE and thanks for "debunking" the misinterpretation of "passport bros!"😂

A great interview with a cool dude. Really makes me consider.

This video showed up randomly on my list of recommended videos....had no intention of watching the entire video....but as a black American who has recently moved to Medellin (or at least staying for 6 months initially), I decided to look at it for a couple minutes..and was instantly hooked...Elliot is articulate, intelligent, positive, insightful, honest..Joel's list of questions was thoughtful and provided the basis for Elliot's replies...at the end, I watched all 25:49 minutes of the interview and am happy it crossed my path. Best of luck to both guys...very well done!

Nice interview! I'm from Bogotá, living in Bogotá. I've never visited Medellín. But Medellím has always visited me here in Bogotá. LOL Anyway, I ended up moving to Long Island, New York, back in 1985. I was 15 years old then. I lived there for 8 + years straight and finally in 1993 I came back to Bogotá for the first time in almost a decade. I was just coming to briefly visit Bogotá and immediately go back to The States again. However, on my very first day back in Bogotá, I seriously started thinking about staying here for good. By the third day, I had already made up my mind. So I stayed and never looked back. What made me stay? The soothing freedom you feel as you breathe in the spiritual energy here versus the up tight attitude or feeling of a never ending materialistic quest ever prersent in the American culture. Thus I can certainly relate to Elliot. Cheers!

Great interview gents! Marine Corps values are evident 🫡

I like this guy and his attitude! I am white, from Michigan, and I have been living part time in Medellin since 2018 and I agree with him 100%. Great interview!

Wow that was probably the best interview from real "boots on the ground". It felt non-biased and factual. I'm interested in Cali myself but the things in this interview helped to clarify some concerns, in case I do end up in Medellín

Great interview this man is very smart and respectful and well spoken very insightful if you travel with morals and values you can avoid very stupid and dangerous situations

Bonjour and Hello to your guest from Jacksonville, Fl. What a lovely man!

all Facts!!!!!! this was on point. Medellin is BOMB!!!! love it

Great interview I agree with brother Elliott on how he felt when he first came to the country. I felt that way also. It's a whole different vibe. Feel like I'm at home. I have a same feelings and experiences that he has on the United States. Can you understand we have more but yet still unhappy and miserable. You leave the country. People have less, but they're much happier. I'm at great people and I love being there. I also agree with you on the women if they like you. They like you and they show it. Also, some guys come down there to party and end up in terrible situations. It is unfortunate when has happened to the people that have passed on. It's a bad look for the country also. You can't judge the country on some mistakes some people have made. I for one have not put myself in that position. Overall, I can't wait to be there permanently. I am working on that currently. But this was a great interview. I am glad to have called it.

it's an excellent conversation. accurate. full of insight and humility. I'm here too, since 2020. living very local. meet sometime. dale.

great man wish him all the best

Everything this wise man has said is true. A friend of mine and I went to visit colombia a couple of years ago and let me tell you ,we fell in love with this country. We didn't want to leave, in fact I'm wanting to retire there with my wife. Hopefully someday. Thanks for the words of wisdom.

Well done interview, very detailed and balanced approached. One of the best I have seen thus far online about these specific topics. Thanks for the outstanding work, I just subscribed and will be following your content, thanks again.

Joel will be interesting to see how your content develops .. There will be a lot of dont get drugged dont get robbed in Medellin videos to come in the next few months.. Hopefully you can overshadow that ...

Great job guys! I personally know and can vouch for Eliott and he is a man of his words and actions. Great questions, points and answers were given. Keep it up! We need positivity in our lives.

Thank you sir for having served our country. I hope one day you come back to your country, your country misses you. Please take good care of yourself in Colombia.

His closing statement 👌🏼

I'm a disabled combat veteran of the United States Marine Corps and I plan to move to the Dominican Republic and I'm fortunate enough to have met a beautiful Dominicana who wants me to move there and get married.

Great man great mindset

31 af am, went for a month to Cali/Bogota, loved every second! Wouldn't recommend it as a first country though, Spanish is not required but strongly suggested. DR would be better. Stayed in Oct '23 and can't wait to plan going back to stay! It was interesting to see afro colombians and different facets of black culture

"I'm a passport man" made me laugh. Lol. Great video.

Great interview. Good to see brothers like Elliot who have standards and morals living their lives on their terms and really looking to embrace new cultures… not just looking to trick off 24/7. He made a very good point about the “programming” that goes on in America. The media isn’t as pervasive in other countries as it is there. People aren’t as conditioned to hate one another. My one concern with Colombia when it comes to living there (other than the safety aspect) would be their response to C-19. The way that they treated their citizens was draconian to the extreme… and I think that the country has become less safe as a result of it. So many people lost their jobs and livelihoods when they shut the country down kept people inside for 5 or 6 days a week. I don’t think I could live somewhere that could suspend my freedom to such an extent.

This is an interesting guy, inteligent. I think the same way. I live in medellin and have a similar experience than he does. Good interview.

As a Colombian citizen from Medellin I appreciate the work that you are doing Joel and experiences like Elliot there, shows that Colombia is not the lawless land sold by all movies and series in every media including ours, that is already history, of course we still have our issues I cannot deny it, but we have much to offer for tourists and people who wants to settle here, as long as they come with good will and good intentions everyone is welcome here. I had a nice experience with a 72 years old man from Florida who came to Copacabana, a little town in the north of Medellin (Very odd to see a foreigner so far in the north), that man needed assistance with a bank transaction and he had his issues with the spanish pronunciation, I was the only english-speaking person there, I helped him to translate and after that he thanked me a lot, I know that learn and speak spanish is difficult, so he was very grateful.

Listening to this as a black man had gave me the confidence to change my trip and stay for 10 days vs spain in Aug! Too hot

Do more videos like these

I did not hear anything about the language. Does he speak Spanish and how does it affect his ability to date the women?

I'm happy that the average person who travels to Medellin was interviewed. Too many of the wrong type of men are highlighted and made to seem like they are the majority when they are not! FYI, there are so many pookies and ray rays who are delusional and call other people pookies and ray rays, when they are them. lol

Only five minutes into the video, and everything he says is 100 % true. I’m only 24 my goal is to travel all over the world, and be my OWN BOSS. I went to bogota in December, and Medellin in January and it completely changed my mentality. My goal is to move to Medellin by time im 30 and own a few properties!!!

Sounds like a place to check out. What is the name of that Tunnel please?

Elliott seems great lad

💯👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

Bro from Jacksonville!! No wonder he had no problem going to Medellín 😂

Que gran vision , esa es la clase de personas que queremos en colombia, no los locos que buscan drogas y protitutas.

A passport bro Joel is a man who is a foreigner usually from North America or Europe who loves to travel to foreign countries. Most of them are looking for a future wife. Some of them are just in these foreign countries for sex. Usually, passport bros have a good-paying job or a bit of wealth because they usually travel to many countries. So they have to have saved up for these trips or have a little bit of wealth because paying for hotel and airfares is quite costly. They also need to have extra cash to buy some things too or in the case of an emergency.

@AKJoelsColombia How are mental health services in Colombia compared to USA?

Good interview! However, it is not very comprehensive, since he has been only in Medellin. I feel like there would be value in inteviewing black men in OTHER parts of Colombia. I am 49 y/o (my bday was in November). I am a Nigerian-American, lived 31 years in the USA (3 different states/regions), and now living on a budget, in BARRANQUILLA. I am single, in good health, and I am socially conscious. I also blog about my travels, specifically LIVING in Barranquilla. I talk about the good AND the bad... I don't sugercoat things. Joel, if you ever want a different perspective, from a different region of Colombia, feel free to hit me up.

This guy is talking a lot of good sense and I would like to add that you should ideally be able to speak some Spanish before you go there, and travel around the country first.

Great interview but unless I missed it, you didn’t ask if he knew or learned Spanish along the way? That is a big one

Interesting

My experience as a mixed race but mostly caucasian-looking guy has been that although many Colombians are fairly liberal and open-minded about races and cultures there is indeed some strong and overt racism in Colombia. Perhaps it's not so strong in cities such as Medellín but in many areas I have heard people openly talking about how they dislike black people and assign many negative qualities to them as a group, although they are not hostile to them in person.

Bro we have no idea what happened to that guy that fell off the roof of the balcony so we got to be careful how we say these people are dying that s*** looks so sus to me

I’m considered one of these “passport bros” I went over seas to the Philippines and I have a girlfriend there. We are planning on being together again in the next 6 months to celebrate one year together. And then I am off to live in the Philippines with her. I hate this term “passport bros” I think it sounds like a lazy and pathetic term. People have to have their labels on something and to me this sounds like it was just discovered that men do this when in actuality men have been going overseas to meet their female counterparts for decades, there was no term for it then, so idk why it’s a thing now.

How can I link up Elliott ?

Those murder stats sound iffy. I suspect there's some serious under-reporting going on. Or at least homicides are classified as something else (e.g. somebody is never found again is not technically a homicide). Been in Medellin 6 weeks now and I love it. I am strongly considering making this place my second Latin American home (after Panama where I lived the last 4 years)

I agree with the title. Though I will go farther. Do not label me as WHATEVER-Noun Bro. If it is a known term it almost always has derogatory orgins if not always being derogatory.

I have to correct something. You’re saying that Medellin is the safest it has been in 40 years. Well, that may be true for Medellín (& that is sort of an unfair standard since 40 years ago it would’ve been obscenely unsafe, and one of the most unsafe places in the world…thus that comparison is a little misleading or skewed though good nonetheless). That is great news for the city on whole, no question, though it may also be fair to be aware that according to the U.S. Department of State, more American men were murdered or assaulted in the last 4 months of 2023 than all prior 10 years combined. I am an American citizen who learned this by attending a Townhall in Medellín with our State Department a few months back, right around the time that you’ve produced this video so while I am very glad to hear about this and I believe that is true, I think those visiting, especially men, need to clarify their reasons and true intent for visiting and come to the country respectfully. I would imagine that is just one of the several reasons this guest has had a great experience (and I am glad that he has). How you choose to engage the city and treat other people - it won’t account for everything but it can account for a lot and make a big difference.

Isn't Mexico and Columbia the same? Spanish. Colombian, Mexican, Dominican, Venezuela. All Spanish nations

🇨🇴❤🇨🇴❤🇨🇴❤

are you back in medellin or still in brazil?

Bienvenidos!

What are they looking at, at that angle? They're in different environments.

See if you can get an interview with Andre and Andrea love crossing borders. You can have someone make a guessimation of what they think something is. Apply a negative perspective then say but thats not me.

It's a brand and it's a vehicle that people use it for so they can sell their private consulting fees to the people who are going to these countries to from $75 to $300 so they're trying to make some money and that goes for Columbia ,Thailand people are selling private consulting take care and God bless

Hi.Joel.I live in Medellin two years now with my colombian wife.I would like to connect with you.

In other words you gotta leave a half hour before the Devil shows up and you gotta say no to those Diddy parties

15:50 my gf does that lol