The People of Antigua

The people - the people in Guatamala are hard working. Whether they rely on selling things in the park or on the street, working in their homes or hold a regular job in service or construction, they work many hours, don't make a lot of pay, and seem very content. And they are very proud of their country. There is little to no litter, they sing their national anthem, Mayans dress in their native dress, and they are very friendly and helpful.

While Spanish is the main language here, the natives here appreciate visitors attempting to speak it and are accepting and nonjudgmental of Spanglish. They will speak slower and gently correct wrong pronunciations. It is a great place to practice speaking Spanish.

Means of transportation - people get around by tuk-tuk, chicken bus, shuttles, lots of motorcycles - including families riding on one, Uber, and back of pickup trucks. The sidewalks and roads are cobblestone. As rocks become loose, they are moved aside until the road is repaired and then they are cemented back in place. The cobblestone make for interesting rides on the roads and careful walking on the sidewalks. The sidewalks are slowly being replaced with cement.

Vendors - selling in the streets and the parks, all ages. Mothers often have their children with them while they sell their goods until late at night. People carry their wares to and from their house everyday. Some carry things throughout the park, some set up a place on a corner, some push a wheelbarrow, some push carts with ice cream or hot food.

Children only need to attend school for 6 years through the elementary level, four hours a day. Many schools in the outlying areas do not have the necessary materials and teachers are usually high school graduates. About half of those students attending elementary go on to middle and high school where they can train in a trade. About 1 in 5 of those students go on to university. Many children end up in the work force as vendors or farmers at a very young age.Read more