Oh Guatemala...

Here are some things you should know about Santo Tomas, Guatemala:

1. Motos are very common here and at least once a day you will see:

• multiple grown men on one moto
• whole families riding on one moto, often with two smaller kids and a baby
• someone carrying a fan or a pinata on the moto (my favorite is the fan because it spins while they drive)

2. Traffic in general is very crazy. 

• There are rarely any stop signs, and the only stoplight I've seen was in Guatemala City.
• It is acceptable to pass at any time and on either side of the road, even when there are cars coming at you
• There are no speed limits... just go with the flow...
• People honk for seemingly no reason accept they like to.
• Seat belts are not even an option most of the time. (one time i was riding up front in the band we travel around in and the first time I got in I tried to put my seat belt on but our driver wouldn't let me
• If you have pale skin and blond hair it increases the amount of honking/staring/whistling/hissing received while walking
• Taxis will honk persistently behind you while walking until they know you know they're there
• Taxis also only cost 5 quetzales to go to the next town over (though the towns just kinda meet together so you never really know when you leave one and get in the other) and so a taxi ride only costs $.71 in US dollars.

3. It is perfectly normal for people to stare/shout things in English/whistle/bark/hiss at us. I'm pretty sure their policy here is as long as it's not physical or threatening then it doesn't matter.

• I'm pretty sure we are the only Americans here, besides maybe a few, so we are a commodity.
• If you have blond hair the amount of staring and noise making goes up by at least 50%.

4. Water is precious. At anytime we can we try to get a bottle of water from somewhere.

5. McDonald's is a high class restaurant. The only people you see in there are well dressed people.

6. It's unusual to not see at least 3 geckos in the house every night.

• One day I was in the bathroom and I moved the shower curtain and a "Jesus Christ Lizard" (the ones that walk on water) fell out. I jumped across the floor and squealed a little, then quickly headed out the bathroom door. Luckily one of the native guys that lives with us (he is our contacts' "son") was just outside so I made him get it out... Though that consisted of him getting a broom and sweeping it out, only to have it come hurtling towards me again... and then CJ (one of the girls on my team) grabbed it eventually and all was well.

7. We are all in an almost constant state of sweat. 

8. The power can go out very easily, especially when the house across the street has their church service.

9. Air conditioning and flour tortillas are precious treats that we savor as much of as possible.

10. It is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen and I already know it will be very difficult to leave....Guatemala has a piece of my heart forever. (this is a video outside of our house we live in on a day that was very hot, and suddenly it started raining... enjoy!)