Before I came to Guatemala, people cautioned me that the country was dangerous. FI was told, for example, that many thieves on motorcycles might steal from tourists or people wearing jewelry. I also heard that serious or violent crimes take place here, and often the police are ill-equipped to help all the people who have been affected. During my first few months in Guatemala, this stereotype made me afraid to ride the Guatemalan buses. What I have learned so far, however, is that the crime is concentrated mostly in certain pockets of Guatemala City, where there are a lot more people. However, I have met many people in the city who are very kind and who offer advice about how to stay safe. For example, taxi drivers often try to drop me off in a safe spot. This reminded me that driving on the road can be dangerous, too. But I found that Guatemalans are, as a result, very careful and skilled at driving in tight traffic. The drivers honk at each other and give hand gestures to let each other know when to pass or to caution each other.
Aside from physical dangers, there are also political dangers in Guatemala. Do you recall my mentioning of protests or roadblocks in Guatemala? Guatemalans protest often in order to demand that their government take care of its citizens. Although this is true, it is all too easy to assume that the government and politicians in Guatemala are corrupt, that they are not interested in helping the poor or indigenous people. Unfortunately, I think that corruption in politics is true in many instances. But there are also counterexamples to this stereotype.
