Mi Vida Guatemalteca

I was born in Guatemala, raised for some time there and then moved to California. I remember my life back in Guatemala and what my daily routine would be. As I became accustomed to life in the United States, I found my routine changing as I no longer had certain responsibilities. What I would go do at five in the morning I would never do here, but me waking up at ten is never acceptable back in guatemala. There are many differences between my life here and Guatemala but there are similarities.

I was raised in a little town name Santa Rosa, and it is customary that all children between the ages of eight to thirteen should go down to the pasture and milk the cows before eight in the morning. Also, once that was done you had to get ready for school and catch the bus to the city. Once school was over you had to rush back home so your mom could give you your errands and chores that had to be done before you could go out and play. A typical student would wear khaki pants, blue or white shirt, and black shoes because if you didn’t you would not be allowed into school. Lastly, before bed you would go down to the pasture again and move the cows to a different pasture for some fresh grass and water.

I moved to a city called Desert Hot Springs, where I no longer had to wake up early to go to the pasture, but still wake up early to help my mom make breakfast for the whole family. I would go to school for almost nine hours and come home to chores that did not involve moving cows or buying ingredients for dinner. My mom would drive everywhere, even though I was accustomed to ride a horse to school and back. In the city, I learned that you are not safe wandering the streets at night, but it was something I always did. I saw buildings that seemed that they touched the sky but were nowhere near that. Lastly, my entire way of eating changed from fruits and meats to meats and junk food which was available anywhere.

Both countries, United States and Guatemala, are based on democracy and are ruled by a president. Kids are told to go to school and get good grades so you can get a well paying job to support yourself and a family. We all care about the way we eat, dress, and show importance to the people around us. If you do not follow the rules and regulations set by the government, there are consequences that follow. I know that money rules both countries with an iron fist and does not let that grasp go for the sake of not paying higher taxes. Some people are greedy but are willing to pay or trade for the goods they desire. Lastly, both countries are modernizing to the new world of technology that is being created everyday.

I was born in a third world country where the rich had the most and the poor had the least. I came to California to get a better life and a better education to become what I always wanted to be. I no longer have to wake up early to milk cows but I do miss it from time to time. I will return soon and hopefully the differences will become similarities as time goes on. I am a Guatemalan that had to adapt to life in a whole new country with things that I have never seen before.