Guatemala is a small country in Central America south of Mexico with a population of 17.11 million people (as of 2021). The native language is Spanish, and the capital of Guatemala is known as Guatemala City, the largest city. Beyond the capital city, volcanoes, rainforests, and many ancient Mayan sites surround the beautiful land. Throughout the country are many small towns and villages surrounded by fields. Coffee fields abound in the mountainous areas and are a significant source of the economy. Although it might look idyllic in pictures, Guatemala is a very poor country and being able to break through poverty is a seemingly insurmountable challenge. Life in Guatemala isn’t what it seems.
Guatemala is known to be one of the economically poorest countries in the world. However, you may come across some nice houses and places. The average home of a family can range from a small brick house to a shack supported by wood pieces and blankets. Many homes sustain damage due to the harsh weather conditions that strike the country such as heavy rains and devastating flash floods. Since there isn’t a lot of money to go around, the damages that result are fixed by bare hands. It is common for livestock to be kept alongside your home. Many families, such as my own, have cows and chickens alongside the house and many other animals are kept near the homes. This is to provide dairy and meat products as well as sell their animal products to others to make an extra bit of money.
Life for kids growing up isn’t easy. Children aren’t born into wealth and have to make do with what they have growing up. Many don’t have the toys that we had growing up in the United States and had to entertain themselves with what they had. The sibling bond, especially in my family, is very strong because growing up most of the time they were all one had. My mom told me that her experience growing up revolved around taking care of her younger siblings. Being the first daughter born, she had to learn how to manage a home at a very early age. She took care of my aunts and uncles the best she could when my grandparents were out working. Now for some, they are fortunate to go to school. It is a lot more common for young kids and teenagers to attend school. The only problem is that schools aren’t built on every corner. Some kids have to walk many hours back and forth every day just to receive an education. They have to wake up very early to catch multiple buses, spend some time on a motorcycle, or start their long walk to school. The big problem with these trips is the danger and crimes along the way.
Guatemala has one of the highest crime rates in Latin America. Life is very dangerous as there are a lot of robberies, murders, and gang activity. It doesn’t help that there is a lot of corruption within the government.
Despite all of this, Guatemala is not the worst place to live. Just like many other countries, it has its flaws. Guatemala is still a beautiful country with many beautiful sites to see. Although life can be hard, the people don’t complain. They work with what they have and keep one another close. That is the most beautiful thing. Everyone is united.
