"Strangers Become Friends" — A travel journal by Mia Delgado

When I told my parents I was going to backpack alone through Colombia for a month, they were terrified. They had many misconceptions about the country based on old news stories. But Colombia has changed enormously, and my journey completely transformed my perspective on solo travel.

I started in Cartagena, a colonial city on the Caribbean coast with colourful buildings and warm, welcoming people. From there, I took a bus to Medellín — a city once famous for violence but now transformed into one of Latin America's most innovative urban centres. The public transport system, called the Metro, is incredibly clean and efficient.

My favourite part of the trip was a week in the Coffee Region, or Eje Cafetero. I stayed on a working coffee farm and learned every step of the production process, from picking the ripe red cherries to tasting the final cup. The farm had been in the same family for four generations, and they shared their meals and stories with me every evening.

I met travellers from twelve different countries during my journey and am still in contact with several of them. My parents were waiting anxiously at the airport when I returned, but when they saw my smile, they admitted they had probably worried too much.

Mock Exam — Version 2: Travel