Guatemala is a kaleidoscope of colors. It is a country where the indigenous peoples not only still exist, but are thriving. Amidst the colonization of the Spanish and the slow infiltration of Western tourists, the Mayan people have adapted and persisted. They´ve somehow figured out how to balance their traditional values with those of the modern world. Seeing women in traditional indigenous clothing talking on a cell phone is not an unusual sight. Market women know market English and Mayan rituals have been incorporated into Catholicism. Overall, we´ve found the ¨Guates¨ to be humble and reserved, but very kind people. The following are some things that have stood out during our time here.

1) Chicken Buses

The most common form of transportation in Guatemala is via old American school buses. A law in the US prohibits school buses from being used for more than 10 years. Since the old tin cans last practically forever, they are shipped to Central America, where they are painted in bright colors, given crazy names like ¨Gift from God¨(never thought of a school bus as that, but I guess it´s all up to personal opinion), and crammed with as many people as possible. If you thought they were uncomfortable in 5th grade, try taking a five hour ride as an adult, with sixty of your closest friends, over roads that would make the strongest of stomachs a bit uneasy. The aisle is often considered a seat, bridging two seats together to form a row. This long row often accommodates six adults and at least two or three kids.

2) Market Days

The markets in Guatemala are loud, bustling and chaotic. Vendors selling anything from handcrafts, cashews to chickens compete for your attention. We learned quickly from the locals that there is a very specific culture to the market scene. It is customary that if one sees an item that they are interested in they first ask the price. No matter how low or high the price is, a customer MUST step back and feign shock at the price that they were given. The seller often states a price that is four or five times higher than they are willing to accept, knowing bartering will likely occur. The customer then states a much lower price, stating that it is absolutely the highest amount they are willing to pay. The bartering goes back and forth four around five minutes until an agreed upon price is accepted by both parties. The customer may even pretend to walk away to aid in obtaining a lower price.

3) ¨Tourist Tours¨

Tour is a word that means very different things to different people. A ¨Dangerous¨ tour may involve a simple walk through the jungle, whereas a ¨Safe¨ tour could potentially be life threatening. On top of that, the term ¨liability¨ simply does not exist in third world countries. In the US, you sign up for a tour and assume that your guide will return you to your hostel safely. Not true around here. A ¨Safe¨ tour we went on in Semuc Champey, Guatemala, involved swimming through class III rapids, climbing up a waterfall and jumping off a 36ft rock wall (luckily, we were all good swimmers). On this particular tour, our guide, Toto, had a hard time swimming the rapids and almost needed rescuing himself. We´ve learned to take safety into our own hands.

4) Mayan Rituals

In order for your family to be blessed and looked favorably upon by the Mayan gods, one must hire a Mayan priest to do an offering on the tallest hill. Once there, candles are lit and a small fire is constructed. Chickens may be rubbed on children to bless them or Coca Cola may be drunk to usurp the evil spirits. At one particular ceremony we observed, the head of a live chicken was ripped off and it´s juices were tapped and squeezed over the fire. Perhaps this brings the family extra luck and blessings? One can only hope.