During today’s visit to the San Juan La Laguna, we gained significant insight into the Mayan and Guatemalan cultures. After our bus pulled into the lot, we got on a small boat to cross the lake. The ride was very bouncy, and unlike most areas in the United States, this town was located below a volcano. While we toured various shops in San Juan La Laguna, I noticed how the buildings in particular are much more open to let air through, likely a result of less air conditioning in the country.
Specifically, I enjoyed tasting the cocoa beans and learning the process of how chocolate is made. Also, the traditional Mayan clothing was much more colorful and more full of patterns than what United States citizens typically wear. There were some men playing a traditional Mayan football game, and they wore no shirt and a cloth while playing their game. The women typically wore colorful blouses and skirts. The time which was put into these clothes was modeled in the clothing shop. We learned that, unlike in U.S. factories, clothes and other fabric items can take months to weave, and the fabrics must be made by hand. The dyes were created from various plants, which themselves were even influenced by the moon cycles, to create vibrant colors from organics.
Finally, I learned how, unlike much of the United States, dogs are treated more as wanderers of the streets than house pets. Most are seen walking on the busy pathways, hoping to receive scraps or a meal from people passing by. We also learned how many of them can have mange, rabies, or other diseases making them unsafe to pet. Overall, the architecture, clothing, and pets of the Mayan and Guatemalan peoples gave an insight into how the culture varies greatly here in Guatemala from the United States.
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