Final thoughts

We leave today to go to Chile and I don't know when we'll have internet again so here's one more post until... I don't know when!


Things I miss from the U.S.-
Family
Friends
MAX
Smooth Roads
Mac & Cheese


Things I will miss from Guatemala-
Family
Friends
Bistec
Real tortillas
Real refried beans
Champuradas
Coconut Candy
The History and culture

Guatemala City in the background. Adios!

Final thoughts about Guatemala and the time we spent here...

Women in native dress, and in the
back, women in modern dress.

Guatemala is a world between times. There are indigenous people steeped in their culture and firm in replicating the Mayan traditions. You see women dressed in typical Mayan fashion walking down the streets with baskets or other things balanced on their heads. Right behind them you see a woman walking wearing the latest fashion trends you would see in the U.S. carrying a purse, talking on a cell phone, and drinking out of a coffee cup.


The buildings are the same way. In some parts of Guatemala you see very old and run down buildings, sometimes looking like ruins, and right next to that dilapidated building is a McDonalds or a beautiful and large mall fancier than I've seen in the U.S! Guatemala is struggling to find its happy medium but while it does you can just breathe in the culture that thrives here.


We'll never get used to the driving here. No one uses their blinkers, red lights are optional, and most people do not stop at stop signs. However, if you learned to drive in Guatemala you could drive anywhere. They are very defensive drivers and because of the bad roads, potholes, and confusing street signs they do know how to drive. Also, in trucks and motorcycles the capacity limit is stretched passed the limit! In a typical truck the capacity is about 2 or 3 right? Well capacity in Guatemala is "As many as you can fit!" We've seen trucks with the back filled to 15 or 20 people! And they go passed cops with no problem. Motorcycles can barely fit 2 most of the time but here they fit up to 4 people and a dog! I wish we had gotten a picture of that but they passed by us to quickly. Just another thing that is unique to Guatemala. 

The people of Guatemala, more importantly, Luis's family, are amazing. They have such an ingrained sense of service. They want to make you happy and do anything they possibly can for you. One time, going to dinner with a member of Luis's family we tried very hard to pay for ourselves. The family member got momentarily frustrated and made a point to say, "You are here, let US take care of you." After that we didn't try as hard to pay our own way :). We definitely still tried and still offered but once someone said no we would usually drop it. Saying goodbye to another family member, they said thank you for everything. They thanked us! They fed us, took us places, let us sleep in their homes, bought us presents, invited us everywhere, and they THANKED us for everything we did. I'm still trying to figure out what exactly it is we did!


We are utterly grateful for Luis's family and in their debt. They made our time in Guatemala amazing. We saw things we never thought we would and did things we can't wait to brag about all because of Luis's family. We have learned so much and we both are surprised at how sad we are about leaving. Luis got closer to his family and heritage and I got new friends and a newfound respect for Spanish and Guatemalan history.


Guatemala has definitely left a big impression in our lives and we will be counting down the days til we get to return. Thank you so much to those who helped us and made this trip so amazing!


On to the next adventure! I wonder what new things Chile will bring?