Guatemalan Genes

O is for OCOTE

cynthia@guatemalangenes.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:32:00 +0000

O is for Ocote. Ocote is the word for pine in Nahuatl. Ocote is a type of pine high on rosins and very flammable. It is sold in little bunches and used to start a fire. The wood lights up easily with just a match and creates a big flame that can start a fire.

CH is for Chocobanano

cynthia@guatemalangenes.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:07:00 +0000

CH! Yes CH is a letter in the spanish dictionary with its own section of entries.

Chocobanano is a chocolate covered banana on a stick, totally worth breaking my diet...

In the picture @ my masters program eating the chocobananos Guillermo so kindly brought us!

Posts part of the series A, B, C, CH, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z.

GOT THE STORY

cynthia@guatemalangenes.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 03:42:00 +0000

Father, 80 years old, wife, two sons and 4 grandkids were waiting for older son whom they hadn´t seen for 7 years. He was coming from Washington through Miami. They were immediately driving back to Todos Santos an 8 hour drive, so they will arrive tomorrow at 5 am.

Wainting for loved ones

cynthia@guatemalangenes.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 02:52:00 +0000

Men, woman and children of Todos Santos, Huhuetenango @ gt city airport.
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PATOJO in fact PATOJO CHISPUDO

cynthia@guatemalangenes.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 23:11:00 +0000

Patojo is quite the colloquial word, the closest I can think of is "guy/dude". Patojo is a young male. Patoja a young female. If you ask someone how old are you, and you are still young, people might say "Oh, you are still patojo". A parent my refer to their kids as "his patojos". A woman going out with a young fellow has "her patojo". If you go somewhere to buy something and need help carrying something you might ask "Can you send me a patojo to help me".

At this place, in the picture, they are looking for a patojo, a young fellow, no academic background needed, to run errands, do cleaning, pick up stuff, make deliveries and do anything and everything required by the "patrono" (boss).

The added requirement for the hired patojo is that he is a patojo chispudo, chispudo meaning sharp. Other guatemalan colloquial words for chispudo: buzo, pilas!!!

TOWN FUNERAL

cynthia@guatemalangenes.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:04:00 +0000

In small towns you can still see funeral processions marching down the road. Below people are following the funeral car and a truck with the flower. In other cases the casket is carried by the men.

I SAW THE SIGN

cynthia@guatemalangenes.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:54:00 +0000

On the way to Xela past the turn to Atitlán we got pulled over at a police check point. As the police was checking our papers I took a picture of this sign. Apparently people that get pulled over or that are waiting for the bus feel they need to relieve themselves here....

The sign reads Prohivido (which really is spelled prohibido) orinar no sea.... [picture of a pig]. "Peeing Prohibited don´t be a pig"

ARTESIAN ROOF SHINGLES

cynthia@guatemalangenes.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 15:43:00 +0000

Two weeks ago I went to El Tejar, Chimaltenango. El Tejar is known for the bricks, tiles and shingles (teja) made by hand from clay and baked in primitive ovens. When one drives past El Tejar seems like every other house is a teja producer, the obvious guess why the town is called El Tejar.

Here is a video of a man making tejas. It takes him 1 minute and 9 second to make one, if he can keep the rhythm steady he will make about 400 tejas a day. After being made they sit under the sun, then they are transfered and piled up to dry more to finally be put in a wood fire oven. The will be sold at Q1.50 to Q2.00 each. My guess is the artesian will make tops 50 cents of a quetzales per shingles (8 US cents).

This is yet another story "spork" story. The sporks are those spoon and forks in one. You can scoop and you can stab! The same with these stories you are amazed by the labor but stabbed by the poverty and conditions of the people involved.

Another artesian making floor tiles:

The oven

FABIOLA

cynthia@guatemalangenes.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:55:00 +0000

Yesterday I met Fabiola. Here in the picture with an autograph she sent to my girls Nicole and Megan. She is as charming as can be, makes every Guatemalan proud!

VIEW FROM TERRACE

cynthia@guatemalangenes.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 01:25:00 +0000

Taken from the Terrace of Tartines restaurant by Jean Francois. @ Antigua, 4 calle oriente no 1C.
His former restaurant in GT city was described in the book The Investment Biker by financial guru Jim Rogers.
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SAYINGS: LA TIERRA LLAMA

cynthia@guatemalangenes.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:25:00 +0000

This is a saying I have found myself saying a lot lately. When people ask me why I came back to Guatemala I say LA TIERRA LLAMA. The land were you were born calls you. I am not sure that calling in the US is as strong in this age and time.

My in laws after living all over the world came back to live in Kansas because they felt that was their land, but Tom's siblings and other friends have found a new place and call it home I don´t they are wanting to go back to where they were born.

On the other hand I have several friends who have left Guatemala but they have either come back or are buying property to eventually return, they do feel the calling of the land. Like Ruben wrote in Nariz de Frijoles:

"Guatemala tiene algo de especial, es el pais del doble efecto: uno no ve la hora de irse, cansado de las noticias del día, de la intolerancia de mucha gente y de todos los problemas con que nos agobia esta sociedad tan peculiar. Pero así como uno no quiere dejarla, al pasar unos días lejos de ella, uno no ve la hora de regresar."

"Guatemala has something special, it is the country of the dual effect: one can't wait to live, tired of the daily news, de lack of tolerance from many people and all the problems that pound on this peculiar society. But the same way one want to leave her, after some days far from her, one cannot wait to get back"

The picture a top is the picture of a plant that was planted in a pot and tilted finding its way to the ground and took of from there to a 3 meter high tree. The pot is buried in with the plant. When we saw it my dad said "La tierra llama".

LOS APOSENTOS CHIMALTENANGO

cynthia@guatemalangenes.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:28:00 +0000

A public park, with swimming pools and a lake with pedaling boats.
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CASCARONES ON SALE AT PRICESMART

cynthia@guatemalangenes.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 04:49:00 +0000

Pricesmart, membership shopping sell a bag of cascarones plus a mask for Q21.95. Less than Q0.50, about $0.05 each!
It almost makes you want to buy them instead of making them, but of course we all now the fun is in the making.
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TIME TO DECORATE THE CASCARONES

cynthia@guatemalangenes.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 04:36:00 +0000

Ok, so after a cholesterol marathon we collected 52 egg shells!

The girls started painting them today with markers, stamps and temperas. There is no wrong way to decorate them.

Check back everyday for the pica pica, engrudo, tapadera and carnaval!
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CINDERELLA GUATEMALA

cynthia@guatemalangenes.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:41:00 +0000

This is a political adaptation of Cinderella. We did this recording at the Master Program I am participating. We were not allowed to use any prompts. The voices are from the members of my group (Gerardo, Giovanni, Luis, Carlos, Pablo and I)

It is in Spanish (sorry!)

LOS PROCERES -LA PRADERA-

cynthia@guatemalangenes.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:15:00 +0000

This is a view from the building Zona Pradera, you can see the main Boulevard Los Proceres. The building across is Transactel one of the fastest growing Guatemalan companies. Transactel is a Call Center servicing the US and Puerto Rico market. The Comercial Center next to it is La Pradera. Behind the mountain is where the suburbia growth is taken place.

GT CITY VIEW

cynthia@guatemalangenes.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:41:00 +0000

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DAIRY FARM FRAIJANES

cynthia@guatemalangenes.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 21:46:00 +0000

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CUAS

cynthia@guatemalangenes.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 15:24:00 +0000

Cuas means inseparable partner in KEKCHI. That is the term we are using at the rope course for the buddies who are behind and in the middle ready to catch the rope walkers.
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VOLCAN DE AGUA FROM A FARM IN FRAIJANES

cynthia@guatemalangenes.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 14:56:00 +0000

I am at a rope course with my Masters program.
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PICA PICA

cynthia@guatemalangenes.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 14:04:00 +0000

PICA PICA literally translated to itchy, itchy is the what you put inside the cascarones. You usually do it from scrap wrapping paper from past gifts. My favorite and most itchy paper to use is the metalic paper (not foil), not sure if you can get it in the US. For some reason this one brings out the most vivid memories of carnaval and it give the pica pica a sparkly look.

Some 'commercial' cascarones use the round scrap from the punch hole machines they buy from binding shops or offices. I don´t like this kind because this one does not itch!

Tonight we will do the home made glue to cover the cascarones. Get ready with you pica, pica.

CENTRAL NAVE CATHEDRAL QUETZALTENANGO

cynthia@guatemalangenes.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:49:00 +0000

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VIRGEN DEL ROSARIO PATRON OF XELA.

cynthia@guatemalangenes.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:47:00 +0000

At the Cathedral of Quetazaltenango.

VOLCAN SANTA MARIA XELA.jpg

cynthia@guatemalangenes.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:07:00 +0000

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SAYINGS: DONDE PONE EL OJO PONE LA BALA

cynthia@guatemalangenes.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 21:11:00 +0000

We are watching the semifinal Colt vs Jets and the expression Donde Pone el Ojo Pone la Bala came to our lips, it is personified by P. Manning!

The literal translation is where you put the eye you put the bullet. It can be used in conjunction with Ya le heche el ojo. I already set my eye on that.

It can be used as an expression that you always get what you had set your eye or mind on. I got this house I always wanted it took some patience and saving but I got it because you know me "donde pongo el ojo pongo la bala"