We are so glad you’re coming to Guatemala! We know that you have made many different sacrifices to come here to serve the people of Guatemala, and we hope and pray that your experience is all that you are hoping for and far more. Being in a foreign country, whether you have traveled thousands of times or it is your first trip, can be a little intimidating and overwhelming when you first arrive. Therefore, we have put together this small packet of important information to give you a brief introduction to this country that you are in and a few helpful hints to put you in the right direction.
Food & Water
You should never drink the water out of the tap, regardless of where you are. “Agua pura” is the magic phrase that will get you purified water that is safe to drink. Most restaurants and hotels that cater to tourists are very aware of the fact that tourists cannot drink the water. We also recommend brushing your teeth with bottled water instead of tap water. Coffee and tea are normally safe, because the water is boiled. Your team is responsible for buying your water supply to use at the work site.
Food is another thing to be careful about. Raw fruits and vegetables need to be eaten with caution. Peeling them is the safest way to eat them. Always beware of lettuce, which is the vegetable that most easily carries bacteria. The food in most of your hotels and nicer restaurants will be safe to eat, but it never hurts to ask if the vegetables are disinfected. We definitely do not recommend eating food from street vendors that is not packaged. Everyone’s stomach is different.
With a little caution and awareness, it is quite possible to spend your time in Guatemala without being sick. Try not to worry or obsess about it, and enjoy eating new things.
Alcohol, Cigarettes and Drugs
The Iglesia Metodista (Methodist Church) of Guatemala and the UMVIM organization in the U.S.A. hold fast to the policy that no drugs, smoking or alcohol should be used while you are participating on an UMVIM trip. The policy of the Iglesia Metodista strictly prohibits the use of drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. As representatives of the United Methodist Church and the Iglesia Metodista of Guatemala, you are being seen by the people of your host country as well as other team members and what you do can have either positive or negative effects. There are severe penalties to tourists buying and using drugs, and obviously would cause the entire team serious problems.
Sickness
If you do get sick, please let someone know, and take it easy. Drink a lot of water as well to stay hydrated!
Bathrooms
You should never put toilet paper into any toilet. Use the trashcan next to the toilet to deposit toilet paper or any other things that you need to dispose of.
Phone/Email
We have a cell phone that is for team use. You need to buy a prepaid card from local stores. It costs about 15 cents per minute, including your calls back to family in the U.S. Leave the phone with your interpreter or driver when leaving Guatemala. There are a number of internet cafes that you can also use, depending on where you are.
Money
The Guatemalan form of currency is the Quetzal (pronounced ket-zal), which is named after the national bird. The exchange rate is typically about Q7.50 per U.S. dollar, but always check as the rate does vary. It is possible to obtain money at a bank, either by exchanging U.S. dollars, using traveler’s checks, or getting a cash advance on a credit card. There are also ATM machines that you can use, but beware that some ATMs accept only specific cards, and there may be a daily limit of around $100/day.
Change is often hard to come by, so beware. If you are planning to purchase a Coke for 3 Quetzales and all you have is a 100 Quetzales bill, they might not be able to get change for you. Try to break your bigger bills in big stores, restaurants, or hotels.
Safety
Presently, Guatemala is a relatively safe place to be. The best rule to remember is simply to always be aware of your surroundings. Common sense is your best defense. You will stick out, by virtue of looking different, dressing different, and speaking a different language. Of course, you can try to blend in a little better by observing the people around you.
An important thing to remember is to take care of your own belongings and avoid leaving them unattended. The few troubles that we have with teams almost always involve team members who leave a purse, bag, or camera unattended, and then are incredibly surprised that it is not there when they return. Surely you would not leave your things unattended in many places in the U.S.; you should not expect that Guatemala is any different. Nor should your team leader have to make sure that you have all of you things.
In crowded places such as markets, where there are a lot of people and tight walking spaces, it is a good idea to be especially aware of your bags and money. In these cases, it is recommended to wear a money belt of some kind that you can keep close to your person. If you do carry a wallet, put it in one of your side pockets instead of your back pocket, and try to keep a hand on it. Stay in small groups as there is more safety in numbers. Groups should never travel on the roads at night. This is the time bad incidents may happen.
Photography
Photography is a very sensitive issue here in Guatemala. It is hard for most groups to be sensitive with their picture taking, because there are so many opportune and unique moments that you will want to capture on film. Before snapping the photo though, it is always a good idea to ask permission from the person. This is especially important when taking pictures of children. You may give them a few Quetzales or buy something from them in return. Use the same respect for the Guatemalan people that you would desire from a stranger.
Gifts
In Guatemala, one will see children everywhere, asking for a quetzal or a jugete (toy). Whether you give them something or not is a personal decision, however, there are a few things to consider before you start handing out money and candy on the street. Always make sure that you have enough to give to everyone. Not only that, but know that once you start giving, children will come out of the woodwork to ask you for some of whatever you are giving. They will not leave once you have given them things, but often will follow you around for a long time, asking for more. A good alternative to giving on the street is to give to one of the church programs. These are run by church leaders who try to make sure that the aid is distributed fairly amongst those who need it most, instead of those who have the most children working the market. If you want to bring gifts for the people you are working with, please consider that there are good and bad aspects of this. It is generally not appropriate to give expensive gifts to individuals. However, on occasion, you get to know someone who becomes very special to you. It is NEVER appropriate for anyone you are working with to ask you to help them personally, no matter if they are pastors, lay people or interpreters. For example, a church member at the site where you’re working may ask you to pay for a new home or land for them. You should politely decline and inform the VIM Office. The VIM Office can help you find appropriate channels to give gifts that will benefit entire communities rather than just individuals. If you feel the urge to give a special gift, ALWAYS check first with a VIM representative to discuss its appropriateness.
Guatemalan Time
Another thing that many people from the U.S. have a hard time adjusting to is Guatemalan time. This has nothing to do with what time zone you are in, but has everything to do with the pace of life in this country. Schedules are often not overly important, and things frequently do not go according to plan (aka. We arrive at a construction site to find the supplies has not arrived). Our advice is to relax and do the best work that you can with the time you have.
Group Time
If you plan to have “group time” or Bible studies daily, we have seen it enrich the experiences of many groups. Just as you want to share your life with the people of this country, you can also share with your group. Keeping a personal journal is also a good way for individuals to record their thoughts, experiences, and prayers.
In General
Remember that you have a very short time here and are experiencing only a piece of Guatemala. Avoid making general statements about people or life in Guatemala. There is so much to learn and always more than you may see on the surface.
Above all, take advantage of every moment that you have in this beautiful country. Talk to the people and get to know those around you, including those you work alongside, and those you meet in the churches. Try to leave behind your preconceptions, judgments and stereotypes, and experience what God has in store for you. We hope you leave enriched and with a new appreciation for more of God’s people!
