I am usually able to find a bottle of water at a small tienda (store) for four or five quetzales, which is equivalent to about 50 cents. It is pretty affordable to stay hydrated, though I try to carry my pachón (word for water bottle specific to Guatemala) with me to reduce plastic waste, and I can often fill it in restaurants or cafes!
I absolutely love food. I especially love trying new foods and sharing meals with friends and family. This week, I had a pupusa, which is an El Salvadorean dish that is kind of like a thick tortilla made from cornmeal from a street vendor in Xela. Xela is the closest city to where I live, and it takes me about an hour by bus to get there from Palestina. The pupusa was filled with cheese and chicharrón (fried pork belly or pork rinds) and topped with salsa, curtido, (an El Salvadorean cabbage cole slaw) and picante (spicy salsa or often pickled vegetables that add a spicy flavor to your food), of course! Do you like spicy food? Have you tried pupusas before? Fun fact: the southeastern side of Guatemala borders El Salvador.
I like to listen to Spanish music when I’m in the office. Some songs I have been really enjoying include "Lejos de Ti" ("Far from You)", by The Marías, and "Si una Vez" ("If Once"), by Selena, who was and remains an extremely popular Tejano (Tex-Mex) musician. Selena is extremely popular here in Guatemala!
