A new chapter is starting in my life... but I have no idea yet what it will be called, though perhaps this is always the case unless one is blessed with uncommon prescience or cursed with absolute predictability in life. I will be travelling to Latin America (via San Fran) and then back 'home' to Southeast Asia (via Dubai) over the course of 5-6 months. I hope to share (some of) my stories with you as they unfold.

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Some reflections on Guatemala now that I am in México... in both Spanish and English:

Los Guatemaltecos

No es dudoso que la vida en México es más cómodo que en Guatemala por lo general... mucho (incluso los caminos y los autobuses) parece funcionar mejor y hay un poco más organización. Pero yo echo de menos a Guatemala y a la gente extraordinario que conocí allá.

Las indígenas extraordinarias llevando el mundo sobre sus cabezas, sirviendo las comidas calientes completas y refrescos para los pasajeros mientras el autobús atestado bota por el camino.

Las niñas de pan vendiendo su pan en San Pedro que muestran mucho habilidad comercial impresionante y resolución, a pesar de estar jóvenes.

La familia extraordinaria Mendoza-Samul con su fascinación con el mundo más allá de Guatemala aunque por ahora ellos no pueden explorarlo por viajar. Su amabilidad y generosidad durante estos tiempos 'interesantes' -- siempre recuerdo su bienvenida cuando nosotros regresamos de San Marcos después de la inundación... como regresar a hogar después de una experiencia terrible.

La gente extraordinaria trabajando por el país para reconstruir y recuperar y ganar una vida mejor para ellos y sus niños, pero siempre está optimista y bastante alegre que es probablemente necesario después de tanta calamidad -- inundaciónes, derrumbes, terremotos, erupciones de volcán, guerras civiles, golpes de estado etc. Es un contraste fuerte con algunos extranjeros (quizas algunos americanos) que dicen que la área del lago era un desastre total, que todos moríamos, que lo peor no había pasado. Parece que ellos son incorectos, pero yo confieso que muchos de nosotros disfrutábamos un poco el drama en Guatemala, porque no tenemos este drama en nuestros países. Pero la gente en Guatemala no tiene esta necesidad -- para ellos, así es la vida, y los desafíos y las recompensas por vivir en su tierra natal bonita.


The Guatemaltecos

There is no doubt that life in general is a good deal more comfortable here on the Mexican side of the border... things seem to be in better nick (including the roads and the buses) and there just seems to be a tad more organisation about the place. But I do miss Guatemala and the amazing people I got to know there.

The amazing indigenous women carrying the world on their heads, dishing up complete hot meals and drinks for passengers as the crowded bus bounces its way down the mountain roads.

The amazing 'pan' girls selling their bread in San Pedro who display such impressive commercial ability and determination at such a young age.

The amazing Mendoza-Samul family with their great fascination with the world beyond Guatemala even though at present they lack the means to explore it by travelling themselves. Their kindness and generosity as we have been with them through these 'interesting' times -- I will always remember the way they welcomed us so warmly into their house upon our return from San Marcos after the floods... it was like returning home after a terrible ordeal.

The amazing people working hard across the country to rebuild and recover, and achieve a better life for themselves and their children, but always so sanguine as I think they probably need to be after so many calamities -- floods, landslides, earthquakes, volcano eruptions, civil wars, coups etc. A stark contrast to some foreigners (some would single out a certain segment of Americans) who kept saying how the lake area was a total disaster, that we would all die, that the worst was still ahead. It now looks like they are being proved wrong, but I have to admit that many of us foreigners rather enjoyed the drama, so starved of such drama back home, obviously relishing being at the centre of things in Guatemala. But the locals here have no such drive, no such need -- for them this is just life, and the challenges and rewards of living in the beautiful place they know as their home.

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