Was I really ready to live and work as a French woman in Bogotá? That’s what I thought. I had studied Spanish, knew a bit about the culture, and was excited to get started. But ever since I arrived in Bogotá, everything has been a surprise. The pace of the city, the customs, the way people speak. And at the translation agency, I learn something new every single day. The experience has been far richer and more special than I ever imagined.

Speaking Colombian Spanish… with “usted”

One of the things that surprised me the most as a French woman in Bogotá was the constant use of usted. In Spain, people use vosotros with friends, colleagues, or even strangers they’ve just met, and reserve usted for formal situations. In Colombia, however, usted is present in almost every interaction, between friends, couples, coworkers…

At first, it felt very cold to me. How can two people who love each other speak that way? But I soon realized that in Colombia, usted isn’t a sign of distance, but of respect, affection, even closeness. Learning to use it naturally has been part of my adaptation.

And it wasn’t just a matter of pronouns. I quickly noticed that Colombian Spanish is full of expressions I had never heard before. “Ya le caigo” doesn’t mean someone is about to fall, but rather that they’re on their way. “¡De una!” means “of course” or “right away.” Little by little, I left behind textbook Spanish and discovered a way of speaking that’s more lively, more human… and way more interesting!

University in France and Colombia: Two Different Worlds?

Although the French and Colombian university systems share the same goal (Ministry of National Education), training qualified professionals, their structure and approach differ significantly. The table below summarizes the main differences:

Aspect	France	Colombia
Study structure	Licence (3 years) + Master (2 years)	Undergraduate degree (usually 5 years)
Bachelor’s/Master’s split	Clear separation	Master’s-level content often included
Total duration	~5 years for a Master’s degree	~5 years for undergraduate completion
Internships	Mainly during the Master’s	Often from early semesters
Master’s focus	Specialized programs (e.g. legal, literary translation)	More general, often research or management-oriented
Internship importance	Important, varies by program	Highly valued, often mandatory
Final degree	National diploma (Licence or Master)	Professional undergraduate title, sometimes with postgraduate studies

The visa challenge (and the cédula too!)

A less shiny part of my experience: the immigration process. My visa application was rejected the first time, with no clear explanation. After several corrections, and thanks to support from my supervisor Ángela, it was finally approved. But that wasn’t the end: I’ve now been waiting over two months for my cédula de extranjería (foreigner ID), which makes basic tasks complicated, like opening a bank account or signing up for certain services.

Bureaucracy has its own language in every country… and here I’ve had to learn to be very patient, unfortunately.

Translation agencies: two differenty approaches

Another difference I noticed right away was how translation agencies operate.

In France, many agencies focus on technical, literary, or corporate translation, and machine translation or AI tools are widely used. In Colombia, by contrast, many agencies specialize in official translations and immigration-related services: apostilles, translations for embassies, consulates, and universities.

It makes perfect sense, considering the high level of mobility in Latin America and the country’s strong ties to the U.S. This experience has allowed me to develop new skills, attention to detail, time management, and to truly appreciate the importance of official translation, which is often underestimated.

Life Lessons as a French Woman in Bogotá

I’m discovering the world of official translation… and also a city as unique as Bogotá, which is teaching me as much as the agency itself.

At iLingo Traducciones, I work with all kinds of documents: certificates, legal procedures, and sometimes unexpeceted things, even love letters that need to be apostilled! This internship is changing how I see translation. Professionally, I’m learning so much. And on a personal level, I’m gaining new habits, meaningful lessons… and, for now, also the never-ending wait for my cédula.