I’m an American writer and long-term foreign resident who has lived in Colombia since 2013. Through OpenMindedTraveler, I share candid observations about dating, cultural expectations, travel, and the realities of building a life abroad. My eBook, Passport to Passion, draws on those years of firsthand experience to help readers better understand love, relationships, red flags, and cross-cultural misunderstandings in Colombia—without the fantasy, stereotypes, or pickup advice.

Have a question about Passport to Passion, dating and cultural expectations in Colombia, or my experience building a life abroad? You can reach me at openmindedtravel@gmail.com. I welcome thoughtful reader questions, media inquiries, and relevant collaboration opportunities.

My Mission

The mission of OpenMindedTraveler is to tell candid, unconventional stories for women who are curious about the world and unwilling to settle for surface-level travel.

Through firsthand experiences in Colombia, I write about relationships, culture, independence, and the realities of building a life abroad. The goal is not to romanticize foreign living, but to help readers approach it with confidence, curiosity, and a willingness to question what “normal” is supposed to look like.

• Vacation ideas, Destination guides and Hotel/Tour/Restaurant Reviews.
• Travel Experiences and stories about my life in the Coffee Region.
• Tips, tricks & Insights for expats and savvy travelers.

Together we will explore enchantingly exotic places in Colombia. Come with me as I tell the story of my life and travels in the Coffee Axis, with a little bit of creativity, and some open minded philosophies.

A Message to My Readers

OpenMindedTraveler gave me the space to find my voice and experience the satisfaction of publishing on a platform I built myself. Starting from zero, I learned how to manage a website, develop its supporting social-media presence, and turn a personal project into a professional digital publication.

Along the way, I learned how to build niche authority, understand what readers respond to, and create content that earns sustained attention rather than chasing short-lived trends. Most importantly, the site taught me how to combine personal experience, useful information, and a clear point of view to build an engaged audience.

OpenMindedTraveler explores dating, culture, travel, and long-term life in Colombia—and tells the stories that emerge along the way.

What began as a personal travel blog has grown into something larger than I expected. Over time, the site developed meaningful search authority and an engaged audience, particularly around a subject I never originally planned to specialize in: dating and relationships in Colombia.

Going forward, I am building on that foundation with clearer guidance, stronger reporting, updated resources, and candid stories grounded in more than a decade of firsthand experience.

There is still plenty of Colombia, and my immigrant life, to learn from and understand.

Erin Donaldson
Founder, Writer and Editor | OpenMindedTraveler.com
Author of Passport to Passion
Founder of Coffee Axis Living on Substack

Real stories about dating, travel, and building a life in Colombia.