Expat Life, Guatemala

Patriotism: Good or Bad?

Patriotism by Alex Thomson “U-S-A!  U-S-A!  U-S-A!”  That’s what the crowd of Americans seated at the table next to mine were shouting.  My housemates and I were in a sports bar, eating cheeseburgers and buffalo wings and watching the World Cup football (soccer) match between England and the United States.  While this may have resembled… Read More Patriotism: Good or Bad?

Guatemala

Visa Run

Last Saturday I went to Mexico.  I ate some tacos, watched the World Cup in an air-conditioned restaurant, bought some toilet paper at Sams Club and then…went back to Guatemala.  The entire trip lasted six hours. My tourist visa was about to expire and I needed to get it extended for another three months.  And… Read More Visa Run

Guatemala, Uncategorized

Guatemalan Schools are Corrupt (I know. Duh, right?)

The Education system in this country is corrupt.   I know that this shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering that this is Guatemala, after all.  It’s by no accident that two percent of the population live in mansions while the rest of the country (read: the Mayan indigenous population) live under the International poverty line. … Read More Guatemalan Schools are Corrupt (I know. Duh, right?)

Guatemala

How’d you like to wake up to THIS on your birthday?

As far as places I’ve lived with weirdo customs, Japan definitely takes first prize (remember the Penis Festival?).  But you gotta give it to Guatemala for trying.  When it’s your birthday here, people have this interesting annoying tradition that involves lighting fire crackers outside the birthday boy or girl’s bedroom door.  At dawn.  Or sometimes… Read More How’d you like to wake up to THIS on your birthday?