One Must Have Roots To Bloom, Sprout, Grow, And Branch Out

Jeffrey G. Duarte’s quote perfectly captures our feelings about being Guatemalan. My culture has greatly influenced my ability to adapt and weather great storms, allowing me to thrive and find happiness wherever we go.

Did you know that McDonald’s Happy Meal was first created by a Guatemalan woman in 1977? Her name was Yolanda Fernández de Cofiño, and she was the franchise owner's wife. But it was Bob Bernstein, who developed the concept for the packaged kids' meal and its signature toy in Texas. 

Other interesting facts include that Guatemala has an estimated 234 structures of volcanic origin, of which 37 are officially recognised as volcanoes; we are the largest exporter of cardamom worldwide; Guatemala’s Zacapa Centenario is so exceptional that it was the first rum inducted into the Rum International Hall of Fame; and we grow the most awarded coffee. In 2023, one pound of our best coffee was auctioned for $500. Most people don't know because once it's exported, companies don't share where it truly comes from.

Many people are unfamiliar with the country’s greatness, but I am not surprised. The first time I lived in the United States was as an exchange student, spending three months with an Anglo-American family in Minnesota. When I was in high school, students would ask me if we lived in trees and if jeans were available to us (I was wearing them). It surprised me that they knew so little about us, since Guatemalans in school are taught about every country on the planet. I was proud to find out I had such a wonderful educational background, which I had taken for granted.

Our culture is also very family-oriented, and grandmothers often serve as the head of the family. We are mindful of our relatives, co-workers, and even communities when we make decisions. I think we excel at friendship, and in my case, my friends are paramount to who I am. Attending a school founded and operated by nuns was, ironically, liberating, since we didn’t face the pressures that come with having men around us.

It was in La Asunción that I made connections for life, and when I went back to Guatemala in 2024 (due to a sudden change of plans), it felt the same way as it did thirty years ago, even though I hadn’t seen them in 8 years. We joke, debate, gossip, and share our concerns and milestones with pure joy. I had been talking to my friends in the USA about how much I missed them because they were my support system, and when we met, we shared the genuine love, respect, and gratitude we felt for each other. They are my family.

During my travel, I also visited Antigua, Guatemala, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. A colonial-style city with a great Maya population (yes, they still exist), which is intrinsic to our economic growth. For my friends and me, the town was where we would escape to whenever we skipped school! Hahaha, our parents never caught us! This city is so close to my heart that I wanted my kids to experience it up close, and we lived there for 3 months before they went back to school in 2014. My daughter Coleta doesn’t remember much about her childhood, except for the time we lived in Antigua, Guatemala, and she would love to go back to experience it once more.

Most recently, it brought tears to my eyes that the Netflix show Somebody Feed Phil dedicated an episode to Guatemala, especially because you can feel the gratitude and love towards their Guatemalan friend, and adopted family member (also named Claudia).

Basically, most of us are proud, brave, loving, fun, hardworking, supportive, honest, and much of the work we do is rooted in our beautiful culture.

I have great hope now that the director of INGUAT, Harris Whitbeck, is determined to show the world how grand our country is. He worked as a correspondent and Latin America bureau chief for CNN, and now he is proving to the world that our marvellous land is worth visiting, investing in, and embracing. They created a beautiful documentary about Guatemala, and it is a must-see. You can find Guatemala Auténtica (True Guatemala) on Amazon Prime, or you can visit INGUAT's website.

Ok, time to get to the day we moved to Valencia!

Our purpose.

Talk to us.

My friends and I during the time I lived in Antigua Guatemala (2013).

Our way of showing love. A delicious meal when meeting at my place.

Peluche (Coletta) and her love for legos.

You can find this beautiful vine (originally from Philippines) at one of Antigua's cafes.

Some of Guatemala's indigenous artistry at a local market.

The first photo I save from Antigua's church candles.

In this 2024 photo are my closest friends, with a couple of them arriving later.

Impressive ruins in Antigua Guatemala.

Local flowers are always adding color to Antigua's streets.

This church became my refuge whenever I needed to lift my spirit. I would just come in an sit.

This is the view from the apartment we rented while staying in Guatemala City.

My friend Veronica took this photo of me and Jeff admiring the architecture of the ruins.

Typical dish we would have in Guatemala! We LOVE our meat.

We have a tradition to light a candle whenever you want to make a special request. Flames for wishes

I can't remember the name of this plant, but I would also find in Maui. Nice right?