Day 4: (Part 2) - Discovering we are not the center of the world after all.

MOTO v. AUTO

The traffic is crazy here and driving a car is really expensive, so there are loads of mopeds and motorcycles, including in use by delivery people.  We see car parts and pizza and other food and groceries all being delivered on mopeds.  There’s even DoorDash here!  Only it’s called PedidosYa, which roughly translates to OrdersNow.


TRAFFIC LAWS ARE OPTIONAL


Okay, so this one isn’t official, but we haven’t seen any speed limit signs and motorists and motorcyclists definitely drive as though traffic laws are optional.  I guess that’s not so different than our big cities…


DRESS IS LESS CASUAL


From what we’ve observed, the basic expectations for clothes in public is higher than it it in the U.S.  We haven’t seen any pajama bottoms and Crocs.  ðŸ˜‚ Even the casual clothes seem to be put together nicely.  This isn’t a raging generalization of Americans, but the first impression of dress is definitely different here.


LIMITED CELL PHONE USE


The pervasive use of cell phones in public spaces doesn’t seem to have reached Guatemala just yet.  People definitely have them; you just don’t see a family sitting at dinner in a restaurant with everyone on their phones.


LACK OF AMERICAN POLITICS


This is a pretty obvious one, as they have no reason to be obsessed with American politics.  I find it refreshing to step out of the U.S. and get perspective on how much we allow politics to impact our daily lives.  There are no Trump signs here.  There are no Biden signs here.  There are no Kennedy signs here.  They aren’t tearing each other apart over who to vote for.  Our highest allegiance is to Jesus.  Our second highest should be to those we love and are responsible for and to.  Politicians we’ve never met who don’t know our names and will never show up at 2am to help when our car breaks down do not deserve to drive a wedge in our families and relationships.  We have to decide we aren’t going to let that happen.


WHAT ISN’T DIFFERENT?


Four-year-old girls love pink sunglasses.  Little kids will forgive your quirks and bad Spanish.  A game of Chase the Gato (cat) is always welcome.  Let’s embrace what kids already know…strangers are just friends you haven’t spoken to yet.  All friendships begin with, “My name is XX; what’s your name?”  And a game is the quickest way to break the ice.


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