My name is Mimi and I live in Andes mountains of Colombia. Our village is outside Bogota. I’m glad we live way out in the country – some people say the Colombian cities are dangerous.

We live a simple life, working on the coffee plantation and going to school. My favorite pastime it to listen to cumbia, bambuco, llanera, and other Colombian music. The music never fails to remind me that I live in a country full of rhythm and high spirit.

I also like to explore the mountains, rivers, and forests with my brother Miguel. I guess I’m a bit of a tomboy! There are many caves in the mountains near us, and I often see bats hanging upside down in the caves.

Miguel says the bats are important because they eat mosquitoes and other insects. Bats also help by spreading seeds.  For example, they pollinate Kapok trees and scatter the seeds of the breadnut tree.

Bats are nocturnal, meaning they fly and hunt at night. It's not that they can see in the dark. They have the ability to send out sound waves (like radar). The sound waves bounce back letting the bats know where things like trees and insects are located.

Once I asked Miguel, “Why do bats hang upside down?” You know what he said? He said that although have strong wings, they have weak legs.

Map of Colombia. Bogota is the capital.