gdp's Comments

Guate Living : I Love Antigua, Reason #112

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 05:20:50 +0000

I could tell you 100 stories about mechanics, but I am shocked that it takes a week to weld the oil pan. Any regular oil change place can have a welder out there to do it in an hour. I've never had to wait on a weld (either on my radiator or exhaust or muffler) longer than a half day at a mechanics. Gunther may do good work, and that is most important as we have gone to the mechanic much more often to fix what the last guy did wrong than to fix a new wear and tear problem, but if there is somebody else who comes recommended in Antigua, I would check them out.

Guate Living : Paying the Maid

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 05:05:28 +0000

I think the contract is a good idea if you were in the States, but I think this would be a a cultural thing that would not translate into Guatemala. There are too many things in their mindset and upbringing. I'm not saying that they can't understand a contract, but when La Economica comes out with an add telling them to spend their bono 14 on a new stereo, or they are thinking about buying Christmas presents that of course they haven't budgeted for because they've been trying to eat all year, they are going to forget really quickly. It will build resentment towards you for having "tricked" them into not getting a bonus. They will forget that their wage is higher than everybody else's doing the same job. Also, their family members won't understand either. The whole family will know how much they make per month, tell all of their friends how much Marco is paying maids (10% higher than everybody else) and you will have the unintentional consequence of not only setting yourself up to get taken by everybody else, but of raising the accepted monthly salary of all maids in Antigua. I think the best route would be to pay the fair, accepted amount and make your budget to include those extra expenses. I do think a contract would be good for other aspects of home life, ie a gardener that comes once a week to chop your grass or an albanil renovating a new bathroom, but for a maid that comes every day and knows how much she is supposed to get, you would be better off just paying like everybody else does.

Guate Living : English Language Library in Antigua

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:48:22 +0000

I don't think Guatemalans are lazy. In fact, most of my friends are some of the hardest working people I have ever met. I think their lives could be better if they could be taught to work just as hard, but smarter or with better tools, but their work ethic is not in question for most of the people I know. I DO think that Guatemalans in Gringo heavy areas have an unhealthy dependency on the rich white man. Instead of thinking how they personally could divert their energy towards helping the community, they expect things to be given to them. This has been caused by too many white people giving things away and creating that expectation, but many caught in that train of thought are more than happy to stay there (especially the "middle class.) Your comments reflected that dependency, rather than an independent spirit. More would get done and the country would be better if those chapines would take some initiative and personal responsibility to do things for themselves by themselves.

Guate Living : Wanted in Guate

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:20:39 +0000

Oh and we have been on a three year search for pie crusts as well, but have had no luck so far. Our first Thanksgiving in Guatemala we were living in Xela and the Mennonite bakery had pumpkin pies for sale. If somebody is coming back from there, it would be worth asking them to bring you some.

Guate Living : Wanted in Guate

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:18:13 +0000

Mark- We have found nutmeg, creamed corn, yellow corn, canned pumpkin, brown sugar, pecans, cornstarch and a meat thermometer at the Hiper Paiz in Guate. Actually, we have everything except the pumpkin and pecans in Petén at the Maxi Bodega. Cornstarch is in a yellow box next to the oatmeal, but it's name escapes me. I'm pretty sure it starts with Ma (some derivative of Maiz.) Cornbread mixes are one thing that we have brought to us when people come. Happy hunting.

Guate Living : Unidentified Crawling Object

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:43:27 +0000

This is the caterpillar for the huge big brown moths that like to fly in your face and scare you into thinking they are birds in the house. They are only poisonous to the point of causing a rash if you touch them. And after doing a quick google image search they are the leopard caterpillar for the Holomelina opella moth.

Guate Living : What's Up With the Belly Rubbin'?

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:16:10 +0000

Normally it is used during breaks and when guys get hot. Apparently it cools you off nice. Of course, that could just be the reasoning given in Petén. How's the weather been lately?

Guate Living : Hall of Shame

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 14:18:25 +0000

Hey Mark, I just recently had some things happen that I am not at liberty to tell anybody. There are people behind the scenes who have more at stake and regarding your safety have nothing to lose. Granted, Antigua is not Petén, but it is still Guatemala where you stand to lose much more than will gain. You can steer people in the right direction and if anybody asks you can tell them where not to go, but I would not put it out there on the blog for all to see.

Guate Living : Women Confirm: Size DOES Matter

Fri, 9 Oct 2009 21:15:27 +0000

Larry and Claire are why we are in Guatemala. We worked with them during our 10 month acclimation period (ha ha, like that is enough time...I'll let you know when we're fully acclimated.) Everybody should read her posts about the baby sacrifice.

Guate Living : Women Confirm: Size DOES Matter

Thu, 8 Oct 2009 23:24:45 +0000

http://www.examiner.com/x-24698-Wichita-Travel-Ex...

Guate Living : Please Recommend Your Favorite Gynecologist

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:49:19 +0000

It's far for us too (7 hours), but it is worth it to get the excellent care provided. My wife has an OB/GYN here in Petén who is good, but lacks the technology and access to other care. When we have an appointment, we just have to make a trip of it and get a lot of other things in the city while we are there. It may be a long trip just for a doctor's appointment, but when you also get driver's licenses, or visas, or stock up on groceries...etc., it's not quite a waste of time.

Guate Living : Ugh...Argentina Drifts Further Left

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:43:43 +0000

Trudy, I am a devout Limbaugh fan, yet still listen to everything with a grain of salt knowing that he is an entertainer. I would urge you to look at his comments in context. His comment on advocating segregation was sarcastic, actually advocating to protect blacks from racist white kids. Once again you can't believe everything you hear about somebody, especially when coming from their critics.

Guate Living : Mosquitos, Oh How I Detest Thee...

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:52:48 +0000

Go to an AgroVet and buy Butox. You mix two drops in a one liter spray bottle. It is used to kill flies on cattle and other animals, but it works really well. Spray in on all your windows, screens and around the base of the wall. Wear a mask if you want. After it dries it leaves no smell. An orphanage in Solola uses this every three months to keep out spiders, scorpions and other insects. It only affects cold-blooded animals, so it is not toxic to mammals. You will not see flies fall out of the air, but you will notice piles of dead ones on each window sill. We have used it with much success.

Guate Living : Two Pictures from the Bodegona

Thu, 3 Sep 2009 19:36:53 +0000

My guess is they're gummy worms...we need don marcos to confirm.

Guate Living : He's Barack Obama...Here to Save the Day

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 22:32:26 +0000

Israel, the fact is that there are many skeletons in Obama's closet that we can't get access to because he hasn't been open and honest about...anything. If we say something about Obama (ie. most liberal member of the Senate or pro-late-term-abortions or socialist in every sense of the word) at least it is not made up such as the fake skeletons people brought against Bush for the very purpose of distracting Americans from the real issues. We conservatives prefer to attack the issues with logic and reasoning instead of attacking the person.

Guate Living : Toughing It As a Missionary in Guate

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 04:09:29 +0000

Miguel, You could also claim that we need not be concerned about having a wall or guard dogs, because God will protect us, or that we shouldn't have to wear bug spray or use nets because God will heal us of our malaria or Dengue, or that we don't have to take medicine, or wash our vegetables for the same reason. It is true that in our lives God has intervened in times we were plainly ignorant, but when you know better, or have the resources to do better, God will still allow us to make stupid decisions and not necessarily intervene. That's the benefit and curse of free will. We can be stupid if we want to, but we must live with the consequences. God gives us brains which we must use, and if He provides resources we must use those in wisdom. The Bible clearly teaches MODERATION in all aspects of our lives and we should avoid excesses. Government agencies are notorious for excessive and unMODERATED spending, and unfortunately many missionaries are guilty of the same. There are far better examples of that than David and Regina for this, but those people don't have blogs because they do nothing that is worth writing about.