Similarities and Differences…Guatemala
In the US – You flush your used toilet paper
In Guat. – you throw it in a trash can beside the toilet to be thrown away later
In the US – we use the lines on the road when driving to direct us when we can pass the car in front of us
In Guat. – They pass the cars in front of them whenever they want even if there is a huge oncoming bus.
In the US – water that is drinkable comes straight from the tap
In Guat. – water that is drinkable ONLY comes from a bottle
In the US – People that are from the same area talk to each other
In Guat. – When you pass someone else from the United States it is sort of unwritten that you don’t talk to each other
In the US – Children go to orphanages because they have had problems in the past and for some reason cannot live at home or do not have parents.
In Guat. – it is the same.
In the US – we are able to worship Jesus
In Guat. – they are able to worship Jesus
In the US – sometimes people are kind to strangers
In Guat. – The people are super freindly
In the US – regular milk, chocalate, orange juice, non-instant coffee, and Dr. Pepper are easy to come by.
In Guat. – All of the above things are available but are super expensive.
In the US – The minimum wage (before taxes) is 7.50/hr * 40hrs/week * 4 weeks * 7.8 (exchange rate) = 9,360 Guatemalan dollars (Quetzales) per month
OR 7.50/hr * 7.9 (exchange rate) = 59.25 per hour
In Guat. – 2000 Quetzales per month / 4 weeks / 44 hours/week = 11.36 per hour
In the US – a twelve passenger van holds 12 people
In Guat – a twelve passenger van holds 28 people
In the US – flying a kite takes usually one or two people
In Guat. – on the kite flying holiday they fly 15 person kites
In the US – taking cold showers is unheard of
In Guat. – they only have warm water 3 days a week or when the propane tank is full
In the US – washing machines and dryers are in most homes
In Guat – they have public wash fountains and drying takes place in the sun on a clothesline (although we are blessed to have a washing machine at the orphanage we are in)
In the US – natural disasters are scary things that rarely exist
In Guat – I have experienced both a volcano erupting and an earthquake beneath me
These are just some interesting facts about Guatemala and I will try to do this in every country.
Love you all,
In HIm,
Cody
