A brief overview of the Guatemalan culture and the music. Plus some pictures of some really cute kids!

1. Guatemala
The Culture, The Food, and The Music
(Plus some of the most adorable children EVER!)

3. I have been to Guatemala
twice and went to
Antigua and Santa
Cruz del Quiche. My
heart is definitely still
in Quiche with the kids
at Casa de Mi Padre.

4. Santa Cruz del Quiche is a modern city, not a village, so it is
normal to see Burger King and McDonald’s there, but it isn’t like
it is here, with a fast food place on every corner.

5. Santa Cruz del Quiche is known locally as “El
Quiche” and is the capital city of the “state” of
Quiche, Guatemala.
Quiche is rich in Mayan heritage and you can
even accidentally stumble upon a Mayan
temple and/or worship service.
The language of most Quiche people is K’iche’
(pronounced Key-chAY), but Spanish is also a
strong influence.

6. Traditionally, children dress like their parents,
unless clothing cannot be bought. Women
(girls) wear traditional skirts and tops and men
(boys) tend to wear dress shirts and pants. The
orphans we worked with wore “American”
clothing – T-shirts, Pants, and Jackets.

7. Quiche men and women work. Women will work
in and out of the home, whether they are
making and selling tortillas or they run the
family market stand.

8. As previously stated, Quiche is a modern city and
has plenty of fast food options. I’ve eaten at
Taco Bell, McDonald’s, and Burger King in
Guatemala, and really, it tastes WAY better
than it does here.
My mission team ate at a place called “Pollo
Campero” basically twice a day. It literally
means “Chicken Camp” and is the Guatemalan
version of Chick-fil-A. I have eaten every item
on the menu at least once, and can order for
myself in Spanish.

9. In Guatemala, it is a huge honor to have dinner
guests, so one night, the Pastor’s wife made
dinner for us and we had Pollo Encebollado
and Carnes Encebollado. (Chicken/Beef in an
onion-based sauce)

10. Guatemala was one of the first regions in the New
World to be introduced to European music.
The traditional style was Merengue, and most
music was made by playing the Marimba.
Nowadays, Guatemalan music is very
contemporary and includes (but is not limited
to): Caribbean, Salsa, Merengue, Latin Pop,
Mariachi, and ‘Rock in Español’ (Spanish rock).

11. Marimba
(an Idiophone)
Guiro
(an Idiophone)
Tzu (6-hole
flute)
(an Aerophone)

12. Guatemalan Marimba
Mayan Music