🌍 Traveler Spotlight #6: Yesica Castrillón Part 1

A talk with my wife about working in the US from Colombia, American summer camps, the Au Pair program, and overcoming culture shock

Hey friend!

Welcome back to Itchy Feet, a Travel-Inspired Newsletter.

If this is you’re first time here, I’m excited to have you. If it’s not your first rodeo, yeehaw and welcome back! 🏇🏻

This week’s post is extra special. 🌟

It’s a brand new edition of Traveler Spotlight.

This is where I talk with fellow travelers to learn their story, gain some unique travel wisdom, and share it with you!

We can learn something from everyone, so I’m thrilled to share this interview with you.

Even more special: My wife Yesi is this edition’s guest!

Yesi is from a small town in Colombia 🇨🇴 and has an interesting travel background:

She spent multiple summers in the United States working as a camp counselor. Yesi also worked as an Au Pair in the US. 🇺🇸

I wanted to learn more about these experiences, so she was nice enough to talk with me about working in the US.

Ok, let’s get to it! ✈️

Reading time: 8 minutes

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Can you share a little more about yourself?

Sure, I’m Yesica Fernanda Castrillón Pascuas.

I have a bachelor’s degree in foreign languages and am an English teacher here in Colombia. I’ve been a teacher for about 19 years so far.

I’ve had some interesting experiences in the United States while learning English. First, I worked in three different summer camps.

Then for two years, I had an experience as an au pair.

Yesi with other international camp staff.

What inspired you to leave Colombia to work in the US?

While at the university, I met some friends who'd worked in summer camps in the US. It seemed like an opportunity to meet people and improve your language skills.

My university had a partnership with the YMCA, so they visited campus offering different kinds of summer camps.

I wanted to work for a summer camp that involved music.

Also, I wanted to participate in a Christian summer camp because I’m Catholic. That's how I ended up at the YMCA. My first two summer camps were Christian ones.

I made friends from different countries. I also had the chance to develop my relationship with God. It didn't feel like I was working.

The second one was a music summer camp for teens. The third one was the biggest and I got to teach salsa dancing.

The three summer camps gave me everything that I wanted from the US. I was able to improve my English and visit new places.

Two camps were in Ohio and the third was in New Jersey. I tried American food and got exposed to the culture. It was an amazing experience.

The best part was I was making money to pay for my flights and even have savings. 

Group picture with the campers.

Did you experience culture shock when you came?

Oh, yeah. (laughs)

Even though it was a memorable experience, I felt culture shock and almost had to end my contract. All the food tasted too spicy to me, so at first I hardly ate.

Even pizza tasted spicy. Everybody was so happy every time they served pizza, but for me, it used to be a nightmare.

The camp director got worried, so they helped me to have a balance between my Latin food and their food.

Also, my English level wasn’t the best when I traveled to the US for the first time.

It was hard. I didn't understand a lot of the instructions. But I also realized that there were other people with a lower level than me, so that motivated me.

This was the first time leaving my country. I’m from a small town in Colombia, so it was a huge difference going from my first US city in New York.

I was like being on a different planet. Back then, cell phones were not that common. I got lost in New York, then again going from the summer camp in Ohio to New Jersey.

Feeling far away from home, with no one to call, without a phone, this was a cultural shock.

Also, in my Latin culture, we take showers early. People at the summer camp thought that I was sick because I was taking a shower every day when most people didn't. So different things made me look different.

I was also the only brown girl when everyone else was white, so everything was different: language, food, the culture.

I think that when you focus on having the best experience, you can overcome culture shock.

Yesi during the summer camp in Ohio.

How did living with an American family as an au pair shape your understanding of US culture?

My experience as an au pair was fantastic.

It’s a different experience living 24 hours with Americans who aren’t going to speak Spanish and learning their daily routines.

This gave me a real idea of American culture.

Of course, every family is different. For example, my family was African American. They lived in Maryland and were a very united family.

I loved how they treated each other. I had the chance to travel with them to other states.

So, I also learned the way they spoke, too.

Every state has different sayings and dialects, so I got to learn directly from them. They helped me improve my English a lot. They’d correct me and help me.

When you work as an au pair, you think you’re just going to work as a nanny. For me, I got to become part of the family.

I even started to call my host parents Mom and Dad. I feel like I have an American family (besides ours) now.

I think participating in exchange programs is the best experience.

What did you teach your host family and what did they teach you? 

I learned a lot about American culture, their lifestyles, and how my family communicated.

They also learned a lot about Colombia. I love cooking, so I’d make them some recipes. They got used to Colombian food. I used to take care of triplets, and I’d teach them some Spanish.

It was good because we respected each other.

In Colombia, I never had a dad at home. Living with them I not only had an experience with an American family, but a real family (with a mom, dad, and children).

That was fantastic.

I learned how they used to care for each other and celebrate things together. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and birthdays were important.

Family used to travel to be together, so that was meaningful for me.

The triplets taught me so much because they were in their own process of learning things like reading and writing.

So, I also learned to read and write in English with them.

Children are the best teachers. You learn patience, how to be merciful, and how to let things go. If you’re willing to learn, you can get the best out of people.

Was it hard going back to Colombia?

I experienced reverse culture shock coming back to Colombia. After two years, I was used to being independent thanks to American culture.

Colombia is a beautiful country, but we have some important security problems. I was used to not worrying about that in the US.

The landscapes in Colombia are beautiful, but the United States has its own magic too.

I think that no matter what, you always are going to experience cultural shock. We need to adjust so it takes some time.

Yesi with the triplets when she was an au pair.

What do you think is the best way to adjust?

The best way to adjust is to be patient. Be merciful with yourself. Know that it's a transition, and you need to give your body and your mind some time. Focus on the goals and why you’re in the place you’re at. 

What would you say are the biggest differences between Colombia in the US?

Colombians are picky about their food and we love our own food.

In Colombia, we have a holiday almost every week or month. We have around 18 or 20 holidays during the year.

In the US, everything is about working. You don't have so many days off. Colombians in the US often miss being able to have some days off to enjoy with family and friends.

In the Colombian culture, everybody is close to each other. We love giving hugs and kissing on the cheek. American culture is generally colder. There are fewer hugs.

The weather was also really different. My first ever snow experience was in Maryland.

To be continued…

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Thank you to my wife Yesi for your time and for sharing your interesting story!

I learned a lot and hope you all did too. The second half of our conversation continues next week for Part 2!

Thank you for reading this newsletter. Your support means a lot!

Much love,

-Daniel 

🗺 More ways we can connect:
Instagram / Bluesky / Travel Coaching / LinkedIn

P.S. If you enjoyed this post, do me a favor and like 👍, share ♻️, or subscribe 📨 . Have a great one!

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Previous Traveler Spotlight posts:

• 🌍 Traveler Spotlight: Jeanine Kitchel
• 🌍 Traveler Spotlight: Ashleigh Bugg Part 1
• 🌍 Traveler Spotlight: Lieven Artels

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