RVLATION – BLOG

6/8/2026 – Christian Mierke

Hello Again! This is Christian back with another entry to the series and the most recent part of my story with RVLATION involves Culture.

I grew up in a very multi-ethnic family (my Dad is German and Italian and my Mom is Colombian and Palestinian), but we largely assimilated to a broader American Culture and that is how I grew up for the most part.

Even though I would consider my upbringing quintessentially American, I was still able to learn about and embrace my Colombian Heritage. But there was one problem, I couldn’t speak Spanish and I wasn’t able to interact with my extended family the way I would have preferred to.

I didn’t sit and complain, though. Throughout my years in High School I took Spanish every year with the goal of becoming proficient in the language.

My spring break during Junior Year we decided to visit Colombia and I was met with 2 incredible opportunities. the first was getting to talk to my cousins in Spanish and learn more about them as they learned about me. I spent years consciously preparing for that opportunity knowing it would come. Yet what I find funny is the next opportunity that arose in Colombia came totally unexpected despite preparing for it (through my venture).

In Colombia I was able to meet with a friend of my Grandpa’s in the town of Bolivar. He is a factory owner and upon learning this I decided to give a pitch to him about my first product idea (a 100% cotton knit hoodie). The challenge was this was entirely in Spanish so I had to make sure I was fully focused on making a great impression and a meaningful connection. He approved of the idea and said that while his factory does not produce the product I want, he may know someone in Bogota who can.