From Bucaramanga to Delft
Bucaramanga has several universities, including the Industrial University of Santander. This is where I studied my bachelor in chemical engineering and became interested in sustainable energies technologies, specifically solar energy. Since the energy sector in Colombia is focused on oil and gas, I knew I had to go abroad to study and work on this topic. And out of a fascination for art history from my high school days I knew I wanted to come to Europe. This is how a search on masters on sustainable energy technologies brought me to TU Delft in the Netherlands.
Bucaramanga’s residents are known for their distinctive accent and strong tone of voice, which has earned them a reputation across Colombia for being harsh.
In truth, they are warm, honest, and loyal people. There may be some truth to their perceived toughness, as history tells that many native indigenous people preferred to die rather than yield to the Spanish. In fact, Colombia’s independence movement began in this region and was led by many of its residents. Even common farmers in the region would intercept and fight the Spanish army to buy time and allow the independence forces of Bolívar to advance.
“I knew I wanted to come to Europe”
Roasted ants – a luxury
Its residents make it a pleasant city to live in, and for me, Bucaramanga was a wonderful place to grow up. I loved spending weekends with my dad and our dog, just ‘hiking’ through the city’s hills; sometimes to another neighborhood, other times up to the surrounding mountain peaks. At the top, we would stop at a small local hut to eat warm arepas (corn flour dough), cheese, and hot chocolate. (Incidentally, local delicacies from Bucaramanga include mute santandereano soup and the famous hormigas culonas (roasted ants), a regional specialty that dates back to pre-colonial times. I know many people (young and old) that absolutely loved them, for me they are not my favourite but I do enjoy them when they are freshly made and still warm, they taste like peanut with a weird texture. However this is a ‘luxury’ as they come out from the ground only once a year at around eastern and finding them fresh to roast at your house is very expensive.)
“Local delicacies from Bucaramanga include roasted ants”
Colombian Buñuelos
And of course, food is at the center of it all. Every gathering has plenty of dishes, but my favorite is the buñuelos: golden, round fritters made with cassava (tapioca) starch, cornstarch, and cheese. They are like the Colombian cousins of Dutch oliebollen, but while oliebollen are sweet, buñuelos are savory, crispy on the outside, soft and cheesy inside.
Ingredients (for about 12 buñuelos)
Instructions
“Colombian cousins of Dutch oliebollen”