Guatemala

Guatemala surprised me for many reasons. It was refreshingly cold, to the point where you could see your breath at night and had to sleep with 2 heavy blankets. There were rich, vibrant colors splashed throughout every city, on the women’s traditional clothing, in the markets, and in the hotels and restaurants. The thing that struck me the most were the women, almost all of whom were dressed in the traditional Mayan dress, a brightly colored skirt and traditional shirt. Many of them held a bundle on their backs, in a brightly colored piece of cloth called a “rebolsa”. It took me a while to realize that inside these bundles were mostly babies, tightly slung to the mother’s back. In the markets, the materials sold were brought to the table from their houses in these brightly colored rebolsas. It is a mode of transporting goods and babies. I bought one but it was very difficult to find because they aren’t usually sold, what they carry is sold.
*See picture of brightly colored rebolsas

Before entering Guatemala, we stopped at a banana plantation in Honduras. We saw the process of how a banana is cut down from a tree, transported to the production line, washed, inspected for bruises, and packaged to go to the US. Here are a few thoughts from the process:
-The US has a very high standard for bananas, we are extremely picky
-When a banana doesn’t pass this standard, it is left to be sold in Honduras
-Only bananas that don’t meet the mark are sold in Honduras (75% are exported and 25% don’t meet the mark and stay in Honduras)
-The workers work long hours every day (10 hrs) and their workers rights are manipulated and abused
-There is an organization in Honduras that gives space for these workers to unite and plan strikes to fight for their rights
-If the US could lower their standard and be willing to buy bananas that aren’t “perfect”, Honduras and many other countries could export more and keep better bananas in their own country
-Part of the system involves a man pulling a rope line attached to about 6 stalks of bananas (about 7 times his weight). Having this job for 10 hours every day causes hernia as well as many other health damages (I almost cried when I saw this man as he was doubled over in a harness like a pack mule pulling a rope attached to many bananas)
-We were not allowed to take photos of the process because of fear that we would show them in the US and people would be angered of the inhumane processes
-When we asked the organization fighting for workers rights what they wanted us to do when we got back to the US, they said “Eat more bananas, be less picky about which ones you eat, and fight to get a motor put in the banana process to eliminate the job of pulling the banana stalks”
*See the banana picture to better picture the the chain of banana stalks that are attached to a pulley system that a man pulls

We then entered Guatemala and spent a lot of time in the markets buying gifts for family members. We also went to many cathedrals, churches, and museums. We had an amazing opportunity to go to a Mayan alter and watch a ceremony of offering to their gods, which involved a fire, chanting, and spitting alcohol on the backs of those who wanted the prayer. We learned a lot about the Mayan religion and history, both of which are very evident in Guatemala’s culture today. Interestingly, many Mayans also practice Catholicism, which brings in the discussion about religious syncretism and whether Christians are obligated to evangelize to these people or if we should respect their religion and preserve their culture.
*See second picture of the Shaman (like a priest) spitting alcohol on those asking for prayer

Another interesting thing is that we got to see the black Jesus, a statue in a Catholic church that supposedly has power to do miracles that many people travel from all over the world to see. Also, we saw the real San Simón, or Maximón (prounced “Ma shimón) a man who died but his spirit lives on and has healing power. His shrine is very hard to find and we found it through an alley, another thing that people from all over the world look for. (see below for a great article with more information)

We also went to the Copan Mayan ruins on our way back into Honduras and although I was sick I was still able to enjoy them by just sitting down and looking at the beautiful ruins. I skipped the bird park and horse back riding to sleep off being a bit sick, and then we ended the trip in a hot springs pool with hot water that comes from a river

I fell in love with Guatemala, but I felt like I was going “home” to Honduras when we came back.

*A great article to read about religious syncretism in Guatemala is:
“Chac and Maximon: Perspectives on Religious Syncretism” Marilyn Bierling, Calvin College
*Pictures stolen from facebook