Your new local habits in Guatemala

Member since 30 May 2013

PriscillaViP14 July 2016 09:42:49

42358

Hello everyone,

Living in Guatemala is a great way to immerse in a new culture and lifestyle.

Have you embraced local customs since you've lived in Guatemala? If so, which one(s)?

Did local customs change the way you see things, appreciate life or organize your daily routines? As far as the language is concerned, did you learn new expressions or words and do you use them?

What do you like most about the lifestyle in your host country? Are there any local specificities you are still struggling with?

Thanks in advance,

Priscilla

MIssTrudy Active member

Member since 18 March 2009

MIssTrudyActive member18 July 2016 16:25:00

I had to change my expectations about punctuality and am still working on not getting unduly irritated by the fact that most people here--from traders and providers, to my own students--do not have the same sense of punctuality that I have.聽 In fact, people here are constantly surprised when I actually turn in things by deadline or when I say I will.聽聽

I think a word we all learn here is "Fijese", the word that starts a sentence in which a long, long explanation will be given to explain why the person is failing to do what he or she is supposed to do. "F铆jese que...".聽

It's not all bad of course, just that we tend to focus on the negative rather than the positive when asked about our experiences, but I eat much better, much fresher and natural, and I also walk much more when I am in Guatemala than when I am in the US.聽聽I love going to the market.聽 I have had to learn not to buy more than I can realistically consume, being just my husband and me here.聽 I go crazy on the fruit.聽 Hence I learned to can and pickle, just so I can preserve a lot of the stuff rather than have to ditch it.