My Two Years in Colombia
by John A Leunissen

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John has loved traveling his whole life, and in the early 2000s it was the country of Colombia that captured his heart. Always ready for something new, he recounts his adventures to beautiful beaches, history-filled cities and everything the local gay community has to offer, even when it wasn’t safe. More than once he found himself in guerilla-controlled areas, and he was even rushed out of a funeral because a guerilla group was in attendance! But even as a gay foreigner, John shows that taking the risk—with a good helping of common sense—is always worth it when exploring a new country, especially one that isn’t always first on someone’s list. My Two Years in Colombia is a memoir about John finding life, love and happiness in a country far away from home. Although there are always risks involved in travelling, he wants nothing more than to show that it’s worth it to experience a new culture and to create connections with its peoples that stand the test of time.

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John A. Leunissen is a retired Ontarian teacher who has always enjoyed travelling. He lived and worked in Colombia for two years and would love for readers to explore the country through his memoirs. He has always encouraged people to read, to travel to less-visited countries and especially to expand their knowledge through books if travel isn’t feasible. In 2005, he published a book of poems titled Long to Remember. Other than writing, his hobbies include different visual art mediums such as drawing and watercolour painting, and he loves film and going to the theatre. Although he now has lung cancer, he still enjoys going on walks and getting coffee with friends. He currently lives in Toronto with his partner of twenty-five years—whom he met in Colombia and who has made many stories from this very memoir possible!

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