The Chapines

Well... this is blog one. I have succumbed to the temptations of having a blog, party because of boredom, partly because I thinks its about time people hear what I really have to say. "Sin pelos en la lengua" as we say in Guatemala, (it translates literally to "without hair on the toungue"... YEAH).

So, I am conflicted and have no clue what to write my first blog on. So I guess I will talk about Chapines.

For all my "gringo" friends out there... a chapin is what people call Guatemalans. Why, you may be asking yourself, call such a lovely group of people chapines? Well, the concept is quite simple, back in the day (and I do mean back in the day)... Guatemalan women wore this traditional shoe that had a cork sole. Not only was this style of shoe very elegant but it also made people look very tall (as the sole was large). Back in the good old days when Central America was one, women only used this in rich, and urbanized cities, the biggest of which was Guatemala. And therefore from that Guatemalans are called Chapines.

But Chapines and Chapinas are more than shoes...being a Chapin is being able to joke about your situation, regardless of how bad and crappy it may be. A chapin is happy with his reality, we sweat happiness. We are hard working, in the field, in the city, in school and in work... we dont run away from responsability, instead we say "whatever we can do to help" with a smile and go about doing it....we are simple and down to earth people. We dont use the "tu" form of spanish (its just gay).. we use sounds (psst psst), or the VOS and we use it proudly. We are the home of the mayan culture and so many other things that never cease to impress other (and ourselves). We never give up, we never back down ... NO NOS AHUEVAMOS Y QUE PISADOS!

I just thought I should rant about my country, the beautiful people that live in it, the wonders of the way we speak, the way we act, the way we work, the way we live...

I hate hearing what people have to say about my country...even within people within Guatemala. People everywhere have forgotten what it is to feel pride in their countries. They have forgotten what it is to sing your anthem and think about all the people who have lived before you and died fighting for your freedoms, for your identity. People have forgotten what it is to feel goosebumps down your spine everything you pledge allegiance. Is Guatemala perfect? Maybe not for you... but I would not live anywhere else, I would not call myself anything other than a Chapin!

In conclusion... SOY CHAPIN Y GUATE ME LLEGA...(I'm a Chapin, and I love Guatemala).