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 highly influenced my ability to adapt and to weather great storms, allowing me to thrive and find happiness.

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 wife of the franchise owner. But it was Bob Bernstein, who developed the concept for the packaged kids' meal and its signature toy in Texas. 

Other interesting facts are that Guatemala has an estimated 43 volcanoes, we are the largest exporter of cardamom worldwide, Guatemala’s Zacapa Centenario is so superb that it was the first rum to be placed in 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 a pound. 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, when I spent three months with an Anglo-American family in Minnesota. When I went to high school, the students would ask me if we lived in trees and if jeans were available to us ( I was wearing them). It took me by surprise that they knew so little about us, because 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 tend to be the head of the family. We are mindful of our relatives, co-workers, and even communities when we make decisions. Probably what we excel at is 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 have 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, it felt the same way as it did thirty years ago (I hadn’t seen them in 8 years). We joke, debate, gossip, and share our concerns and milestones with pure joy. I missed them because they are my support system, and my kids see them as their aunts. We have genuine love, respect, and gratitude for each other. 

During my visit, I also visited Antigua Guatemala, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO 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, Antigua was where we would escape to whenever we skipped school! Hahaha, our parents never caught us! This city is so close to our hearts 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 Coletta 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). It’s a must-see; click here for more information.

Basically, we are proud, brave, loving, fun, hardworking, supportive, and honest people. Most of the work we do in Abella Valencia is rooted in our beautiful culture and heritage.

If you would like to learn more about our country, please see these other two documentaries that show how incredible Guatemalans are: Guatemala Auténtica on Amazon Prime, and COMPARSA in theatres. I beg you to see them.

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 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?