At 9 years old, Salomón Mesa packed up his entire childhood in Cali in a suitcase and started over in Medellín. What seemed like a simple move between two cities turned into one of the most defining transitions of his young life.
Salomón’s story isn’t only about changing addresses; it’s about how he had to leave behind his friends, adjust to new surroundings, and eventually find happiness in his new way of life. His experience reveals the bittersweet reality of moving during childhood: the pain of leaving behind what you know and needing to embrace a new home.
Moving from Cali to Medellín wasn’t easy for Salomón. More than just leaving a city, he had to let go of his routine and the people who had been part of his daily life. “The hardest part of leaving Cali was leaving my friends behind, because I wouldn’t see them that much anymore, and also leaving my family. Also, it was a really nice city, and I enjoyed living there a lot, so it was very sad moving.” [1:52] he recalled.
Back then, staying in touch wasn’t as simple for him as it is today. “Mostly not because I was very young, so I really didn’t have a phone back then, so I can’t really contact them anymore. So mostly no, but I sometimes see them when I travel there.” [1:06] he explained. Although sometimes he visits with his family when he travels, much of his old life remained in Cali because of the limited contact.
The move to Medellín brought both challenges and discoveries for Salomón. At first, he felt very alone in his new home. “When I came to Medellín, my house was in a very desolate place because I live in Lemont.” [2:20] Salomón remembers. The transition was overwhelming, but things began to change once he started making friends, as he started to feel much more comfortable. “In the place where I live, it was very nice because I got to make new friends, and I was very happy.” [2:50]
Adapting took time, but after a while, Salomón felt more comfortable in Medellín, and as of right now, he couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.
Salomón is just one of many children who, because of their parents’ jobs, are forced to move from one city to another. At school, there are many similar cases, and it’s because of that, that it’s so important for the TCS community to allow everyone to feel welcome in their new home. While the difficulty of saying goodbye is real, the process helps build resilience and fosters gratitude for the new opportunities.
For Salomón, Medellín is not only the place where he moved, but it’s also his home. And while Cali will always have a special place in his heart, his story shows how even the hardest goodbyes can lead to new beginnings.