Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
An expat living in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala talks about the culture shock she experienced when she moved to Guatemala. Her biggest challenges was getting used to cold showers! She advised newcomers to be friendly, interact with locals even if you only speak a little Spanish, speak more quietly and be gracious.
Quetzaltenango
No training and little Spanish.
I speak a little Espanol. I am a person who smiles easily and noticed my whole life that most communication is non verbal. So, I have never been afraid or unwilling to use my little Spanish to try.... to chat. It's a bit difficult but have had 80% success in getting what I need knowing & discerning the essential nouns I need!? Being a bit of an artist...I'm not tense or need perfection!
Nope
Sometimes it's good to be forced into being more patient. In Guatemala, NOTHING is easy or convenient. It takes hours to find things like a hot shower & it took months to realize you CAN get clean AND get used to tepid water!? This was my only real cultural shock....!
Initial annoyance for ME was accepting that everywhere in Guatemala.... is based upon the Al la Carte principal. Anything over basic you will PAY for.... Basics ARE affordable but anything above you WILL have to pay for. Hostels are cheap. Hotels are NOT. Market food is cheap....restaurants are not.
I notice my health & vigor have improved because I have to WALK a LOT more!?!
The people's willingness to SMILE. Old people who are still active and friendly. The busy cultural norm of walking. The noise of vehicles can be annoying to me as its constant... from morning until night....!
The chronic noise of vehicles... grinding gears, horns and just general loudness not of the people but the blaring speakers and vehicles....non stop chaos.....! Arrgh! The other challenge in Guatemala is finding a decent WIFI signal. Not common like up in USA or Canada...at all.
Blunders all humans commit wherever they are. No one else notices so get over it. I think the one blunder I personally notice a lot is how LOUD many Americans talk. Be aware of this and attempt to chat quietly. Whenever I saw 2 or more Americans I heard them first! Whatever you think you have to say.... remember to say it quietly.
Talk more quietly, observe and learn. People notice your non verbals. Remember to be gracious. Let the older lady carrying a big bundle board the bus ahead of you. She's working. You're on holiday. Politeness is appreciated and noticed even by the poorest Guatemalan.....
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