Sometimes I feel lost in trying to make Guatemala a better place, focusing on problems that need fixing and how incapable I am of doing so. I had in mind to write a blog about alcoholism today, but why so sour? The most refreshing people in my life are jovial and constantly see the excitement and wonder in life's smallest, normalest, everydayest things. And the big things too. It takes a little to much to make my day sometimes, ya know? I'd like to be more easily impressed, more habitually joyful, more perceptive of beauty. So, what makes Guatemala awesome?
1. Kisses on the Cheek and Slide n' Bumps
Kinda strange coming from me, but there's something proper about acknowledging a lady by bumping cheeks and making a kiss noise. Mind you, there are some who will lay one on your cheek but hey, it could be worse. Note: It does take some bending effort to greet ladies who stand all of 4'6", but it makes it interesting. Bros-to-bros...the proverbial slide + fist bump is universally accepted and its kosher to deliver one to, well, everyone in the area before you (or they) leave. It's like a rhythm when you've got 10 in a row to do: slap-slide-bump (rest), slap-slide-bump (rest), slap-slide-bump...
2. Mercados and Comedors
Markets: a pound of strawberries for $0.60, a mango for $0.25, monster carrots for $0.25, a pineapple for a dollar. The sellers aren't afraid to holler you down into their stand, and always make suggestions on what else you should buy..."Algo mas, joven?" Anyway, it makes coming home with heavy armfuls of plastic, fruit-laden bags so satisfying when it only cost $8 for everything. And its easier to eat healthy that way. Sure you gotta scout for bugs and smushed berries and whip flies away and whatnot, but come on, lets not be petty here.
Comedors: choose wisely, but a full lunch- soup, rice, tortilla, salad, chicken and drink- can only run you $2 here. Comedors usually seat 4-15 people, have 3-4 things on the menu, and you just better like one of 'em. And then there's the "street food," probly just a littler greasier, tastier, riskier...but sometimes Alaina's stomach doesn't handle that too well...
1. Kisses on the Cheek and Slide n' Bumps
Kinda strange coming from me, but there's something proper about acknowledging a lady by bumping cheeks and making a kiss noise. Mind you, there are some who will lay one on your cheek but hey, it could be worse. Note: It does take some bending effort to greet ladies who stand all of 4'6", but it makes it interesting. Bros-to-bros...the proverbial slide + fist bump is universally accepted and its kosher to deliver one to, well, everyone in the area before you (or they) leave. It's like a rhythm when you've got 10 in a row to do: slap-slide-bump (rest), slap-slide-bump (rest), slap-slide-bump...
2. Mercados and Comedors
Markets: a pound of strawberries for $0.60, a mango for $0.25, monster carrots for $0.25, a pineapple for a dollar. The sellers aren't afraid to holler you down into their stand, and always make suggestions on what else you should buy..."Algo mas, joven?" Anyway, it makes coming home with heavy armfuls of plastic, fruit-laden bags so satisfying when it only cost $8 for everything. And its easier to eat healthy that way. Sure you gotta scout for bugs and smushed berries and whip flies away and whatnot, but come on, lets not be petty here.
Comedors: choose wisely, but a full lunch- soup, rice, tortilla, salad, chicken and drink- can only run you $2 here. Comedors usually seat 4-15 people, have 3-4 things on the menu, and you just better like one of 'em. And then there's the "street food," probly just a littler greasier, tastier, riskier...but sometimes Alaina's stomach doesn't handle that too well...
3. Driving
That's right. In the States, I knew it was always going to take 5 minutes to get to Mom's house, and 16 minutes to get to Momma A's house. Where's the fun in that? The roads are straight, there's never more than 5 cars stopped at a light. We've got it ALL in Guatemala: curves, hills, traffic, cars with no lights, honking buses, motorcycles weaving into your blind spot, and you never know if it's a 15 or 45 or 70 minute drive. But it's not less than 15 that's for sure. Threre's always something new, be it a pothole, a street performer juggling torches or knives, someone selling roses, or an overly brave jaywalker. Mind you, driving late night in the city can feel like a Need4Speed video game sometimes. Really fun. Driving late night out of the city you can't see those curves or the edge of the road, so we don't do much of that. The best part though? Blinking green lights! It's like like your 8-second warning that we're turning red, then the yellow light is your 4-second warning...it really helps you anticipate better. WHERE YOU AT AMERICA? (especially icy Michigan!?)
And then there's rural driving...up, down, around, off to the side to let the bus pass, pothole, washed-out, stone, gravel, you never know, it's just not going be normal, but you'll probly catch a pretty neat view in there.
4. Not High Maintenance People
In America, I stood out for biking somewhere not for leisure, or walking to a destination. It's a crisis if the Wi-fi goes out, and people just seem to require a lot more things for their daily living. Guatemalans have less, and for the most part, just have always lived with less than your typical American and that's OK. I guess what's refreshing about this is you just don't hear that much complaining here. "Ughhh are you serious I neeeeed to take the bus??" "I don't like frijol, can I have pizza?" "The water pressure sucks in the shower, and its cold." "I need some new clothes, I've had these for too long." "This place is a mess, it's musty, it's dark, the colors on the walls don't complement the floor well, we need to replace this couch." You don't hear these sorts of things as regularly as in the states. Cause well, there's not the option and accessibility to all the things in the world. You got what you got, and you live with it. There's some simple and refreshing things about that.
5. People Are Outside
You don't go through too many places where people aren't out walking to or from work or school or errands, or sitting around talking. Most businesses are open to the air (even if they're protected by steel gates, haha). Americans live inside too much. Like me sitting inside typing on my computer.
That's right. In the States, I knew it was always going to take 5 minutes to get to Mom's house, and 16 minutes to get to Momma A's house. Where's the fun in that? The roads are straight, there's never more than 5 cars stopped at a light. We've got it ALL in Guatemala: curves, hills, traffic, cars with no lights, honking buses, motorcycles weaving into your blind spot, and you never know if it's a 15 or 45 or 70 minute drive. But it's not less than 15 that's for sure. Threre's always something new, be it a pothole, a street performer juggling torches or knives, someone selling roses, or an overly brave jaywalker. Mind you, driving late night in the city can feel like a Need4Speed video game sometimes. Really fun. Driving late night out of the city you can't see those curves or the edge of the road, so we don't do much of that. The best part though? Blinking green lights! It's like like your 8-second warning that we're turning red, then the yellow light is your 4-second warning...it really helps you anticipate better. WHERE YOU AT AMERICA? (especially icy Michigan!?)
And then there's rural driving...up, down, around, off to the side to let the bus pass, pothole, washed-out, stone, gravel, you never know, it's just not going be normal, but you'll probly catch a pretty neat view in there.
4. Not High Maintenance People
In America, I stood out for biking somewhere not for leisure, or walking to a destination. It's a crisis if the Wi-fi goes out, and people just seem to require a lot more things for their daily living. Guatemalans have less, and for the most part, just have always lived with less than your typical American and that's OK. I guess what's refreshing about this is you just don't hear that much complaining here. "Ughhh are you serious I neeeeed to take the bus??" "I don't like frijol, can I have pizza?" "The water pressure sucks in the shower, and its cold." "I need some new clothes, I've had these for too long." "This place is a mess, it's musty, it's dark, the colors on the walls don't complement the floor well, we need to replace this couch." You don't hear these sorts of things as regularly as in the states. Cause well, there's not the option and accessibility to all the things in the world. You got what you got, and you live with it. There's some simple and refreshing things about that.
5. People Are Outside
You don't go through too many places where people aren't out walking to or from work or school or errands, or sitting around talking. Most businesses are open to the air (even if they're protected by steel gates, haha). Americans live inside too much. Like me sitting inside typing on my computer.
6. The Huipil
The traditional dress for Guatemalan woman. We've seen them being made and its so intricate, it takes months to make them by hand. MONTHS. I don't have the patience to be in a store for more than 30 minutes when it involves clothes. The colors and designs are just beautiful and in the rural areas are specific to the places they live. Why? Spanish folks in power in the colonial era made them wear a certain color/design to be taxed appropriately, but women started weaving their own symbols of meaning and culture into the "required" designs of the Spaniards, and it became a symbol of pride instead of submission. Pretty neat. Even though there's a lot of discrimination, still today, against indigenous women who don't "modernize," there are still plenty of guipil's out there. Thanks for keeping Guatemala beautiful.
Sometimes I just think how hot it's gotta be under there though, on those sunny days...shoot man.
7. Mountains
It's not like Rocky Mountain stuff, but the views are gorgeous, the drives are always interesting, it makes for great outdoor hiking, biking and rock climbing activities. And some of the mountainsides people are growing corn and broccoli and flowers on, and building houses. Absolutely nuts. Little rabbit trails up the sides of everything. Gotta love a jaunt through the highlands here! The highlands are also the reason why Guatemala makes some dandy arabica coffee that is 25% more valuable on the global market than the other stuff.
8. Weather
Had to save this one for last. When it's cold (in January), its 50 degrees at night. When it's warm, it's mid-80's. Which means most days its 75 with a good chance of rain in the afternevening (one word there). Pleasant, but not boring. Check out that forecast there. Come on now. The storms are short and when it rains it can POUR baby! Its rare that places have a/c or heat, you just live with the weather. Yeah it's hot sometimes, walkin' in the sun and whatnot, but you can sweat, it's OK, everyone's doin' it. They call Guatemala the land of eternal spring...it doesn't disappoint.
The traditional dress for Guatemalan woman. We've seen them being made and its so intricate, it takes months to make them by hand. MONTHS. I don't have the patience to be in a store for more than 30 minutes when it involves clothes. The colors and designs are just beautiful and in the rural areas are specific to the places they live. Why? Spanish folks in power in the colonial era made them wear a certain color/design to be taxed appropriately, but women started weaving their own symbols of meaning and culture into the "required" designs of the Spaniards, and it became a symbol of pride instead of submission. Pretty neat. Even though there's a lot of discrimination, still today, against indigenous women who don't "modernize," there are still plenty of guipil's out there. Thanks for keeping Guatemala beautiful.
Sometimes I just think how hot it's gotta be under there though, on those sunny days...shoot man.
7. Mountains
It's not like Rocky Mountain stuff, but the views are gorgeous, the drives are always interesting, it makes for great outdoor hiking, biking and rock climbing activities. And some of the mountainsides people are growing corn and broccoli and flowers on, and building houses. Absolutely nuts. Little rabbit trails up the sides of everything. Gotta love a jaunt through the highlands here! The highlands are also the reason why Guatemala makes some dandy arabica coffee that is 25% more valuable on the global market than the other stuff.
8. Weather
Had to save this one for last. When it's cold (in January), its 50 degrees at night. When it's warm, it's mid-80's. Which means most days its 75 with a good chance of rain in the afternevening (one word there). Pleasant, but not boring. Check out that forecast there. Come on now. The storms are short and when it rains it can POUR baby! Its rare that places have a/c or heat, you just live with the weather. Yeah it's hot sometimes, walkin' in the sun and whatnot, but you can sweat, it's OK, everyone's doin' it. They call Guatemala the land of eternal spring...it doesn't disappoint.