10 Things That Surprised Me About Guatemala (Culture Shocks)

When I moved to Guatemala, let’s just say I wasn’t prepared in any way. I don’t speak Spanish. I was not a traveler. I had never traveled internationally. I didn’t have a job, I had very little income and the move was sudden. You may be wondering at this point why would you pick up and move willy-nilly to another country? Well, that is an entirely different conversation. I’ll save that for another time. 

When I arrived, I’ll be honest, I guess I was expecting a not super civilized region. Hilarious right? Dirt hutches and old rusty trucks possibly? So needless to say, I was surprised to see nice cars, and a city with Walmart, McDonalds, and shopping malls. 

After my initial shock, I’ve come to feel right at home, loved by this gorgeous country, and downright grateful to be here. 

Here are the 10 most surprising things I learned about Guatemala besides how to kill bugs with my bare hands and shake La Cucarachas out of my undies every morning. 

You Can See an Actual Volcanic Eruption Every 20 Minutes with Lava Flow 

There are several active volcanos in Guatemala. The 4 most popular for seeing amazing natural fireworks displays are Pacaya, Santiaguito, Acatenago, and Fuego. I live in Antigua which is near Fuego. Fuego erupts every 20 minutes and the fireworks show is amazing. It also shakes our house just as often with every explosion. We are used to it by now. The volcanos are generally safe in most regions however Fuego did erupt on June, 3rd, 2018 killing thousands in villages on the slopes of the volcano.

Eggs, Yogurt, and Milk are not Refrigerated in Grocery Stores

This really freaked me out when I noticed this in the main grocery store in downtown Antigua, Guatemala. Even fresh cheese and fresh…(sort of)…..meat is not refrigerated in the local outdoor marketplace, which is honestly a must-visit. I didn’t consume these products for a good 6 months however now I’ll eat an old slice of pizza that’s been left out for days with no problem so Guatemala has taught me a lot about my boundaries.

You WILL Need to Deworm Every 6 Months and You WILL Get a Parasite

This goes hand in hand with number two, obviously right? I’ve never thrown up as much as in the 3 years that I’ve lived in Guatemala, except maybe when I was 21 and on spring break. I’ve had worms several times and I’ve had a parasite twice. They say to avoid street food and wash your produce however I am a nonbeliever that this method works since I’ve tried to be very very careful and still harbored my little friends. However, a doctor’s visit runs about $25 bucks. Once I ordered cheese soup from a prestigious downtown restaurant and a third scoop in (I know Ewww) I got a swimming cockroach. In their defense, those little guys get everywhere. I do think if you choose not to eat out at all you may very well avoid this problem. But that is not even realistic for me! Cook every meal…..yea right. (insert eye roll here)

The Gringo Tax is Real 

If you are a foreigner or white expect to pay more. Keep in mind, paying more is still generally very cheap. Let’s all remember that this country is one of poverty and the minimum wage is less than $10 US dollars a day for over 12 hours of work. People are just trying to get by and feed their children so don’t be too upset about paying the gringo tax, just consider it a tip.

Poverty, Street Dogs, and Trash

I genuinely love Guatemala and these things give the country a bad rap so I don’t want to spend a ton of time on this particular topic right now however it has to be mentioned because it is real and it is shocking. The majority of folks live in homes consisting of metal sheets and dirt floors without running water or electricity. (and that’s why we don’t mind the gringo tax) The street dogs in most areas are cared for and completely happy, occasionally in more remote areas, you will see diseased and starving animals. We help them when we see them. Trash is rampant in most areas. I like to host clean-up parties and things are slowly evolving when it comes to preserving the environment here.

The People are Warm and Social Outdoors

Life moves at a much slower pace here. I was used to saying hi to people when I was at work in the US and most people just ignored me, occasionally I’d get the mean glare that is saying “why are you talking to me, I don’t know you.” Here in Guate people are out and about socializing on the streets and in public parks. They are not glued to their video games or smartphones. They interact every day and evening outside their homes. They genuinely smile and ask you about your day. They have a signal when driving in their cars that means “hey, thanks for letting me into the line of traffic I appreciate you” or “hey friend, I know you, hi” and that is one quick small beep on the horn. I love doing that and I do the small beep every chance I get!

Fireworks & Bombas/Christmas = Fireworks on an Epic Proportion!

If you love playing your music loud and you are tired of your cranky old neighbor telling you to turn it down then move to Guatemala. Everything is loud all the time and no one particularly cares. Music is played louder than the club on every street corner in every shop. The church itself sets off loud explosions of smoke several times throughout the day called Bombas. Fireworks are the ultimate celebration of Christmas and annually a popular Guatemalan restaurant called Pollo Compero hosts a massive Christmas Fireworks Display in Guatemala City. I love fireworks so it’s amazing because it is like the fourth of July here every day.

McDonald’s is Not The Same as in The US

I wasn’t expecting an altogether different menu when going to a McDonald’s in Guatemala. Honestly, I wasn’t even really expecting to see a McDonald’s in Guatemala at all. They serve Guatemalan food on top of some basic classics. You can order your eggs, beans, and plantains here for breakfast. They are more expensive than McDonald’s in the US. They do not have a dollar menu. They are more of a fine dining restaurant in some regions outside of the city. Going into the McDonald’s in Antigua Guatemala you’ll see a stunning Spanish water fountain. with outdoor patio seating amongst a garden. It is very nice and the food isn’t cold stale fries it is served hot with a higher standard than the US. 

Men Will Pee Anywhere and Men and Children Carry Around Machetes

You’ll be cruising along and see a penis waving at you in the wind. It happens every time I leave my house. You can divert your eyes if you don’t want to see a lot of different man parts. I just laugh about it and giggle. Men and children carry around large machetes. If I were in the US and a man came around the corner lugging a huge machete I’d think I was in a horror film about to be murdered but here it is just a way of life. They use the machetes to cut down long grass, coconuts, fruits, and wood amongst other things. They use the wood to cook and they sell what they can.

The Gorgeous Weather

This is Guatemala it is very green. It is a jungle. It rains a lot. But I didn’t expect to see tropical palm trees, cactus trees, and pine trees along with bushes and flowers all living harmoniously together in the mountains of Guatemala. It is cool in the mountains and hot on the coast. It is a small country so everything is very close together. I love going to the mountains where it is 60 to 70 degrees all year round and then going to the ocean on the same day a couple of hours away, where it is 85 degrees with a coastal breeze. Amazing right?

If you LOVE Guatemala share this pin on Pinterest!

Have you ever visited Guatemala? Do these top 10 surprising things about Guatemala add up for you? Did I miss something? If you haven’t been to Guatemala you need to despite its faults I personally think it’s a better lifestyle than living in the US and I absolutely adore it here. It’s way better than Mexico too!