Goofy Gringos & Machismo Men

If you ever visit Guatemala you will likely notice 3 things about the people:
1. Machismo Men
I have heard this exact story on at least twenty different occasions from women: "I've got to work so hard because my husband drinks too much and can't find work. Also, I can't care for my 7 kids alone since my husband left me for another woman." Stereotypes aside, it's clear that machismo is alive and well in Guatemala. Machismo is basically when men act like they're better than women and entitled to do whatever they wish, including sleeping around once they're married and drinking away the family's income. It's really despicable to see - fortunately not many men leer at Carey since she's usually with me (we've found that the Mayan men exhibit less machismo than the Ladino's - Mayan/Spanish mix).
2. Wonderful Women
When you've got so many men dropping the ball on their responsibilities - you've also got a lot of women really stepping up and impressing. I have met some of the most incredible, strong-willed, family-focused, hard-working women of my life in Guatemala. It's really something to see a woman walking with one infant strapped to the front of her body and probably 30 pounds of wood or goods for sale balancing on her head as she heads to the market each day. It's almost sad that many of them don't complain more - I guess they know what they've got to do and they do it. The real heads of the household.
3. Goofy Gringos
It's official, any white person who lives in Guatemala for several years loses all of their social skills and becomes like one of those people who've watched too many Star-Trek episodes. This country seems to be a magnet for second-generation hippies and social misfits. It's difficult to say whether they were like this when they moved here or if they became this way after too much time here. At first I thought we were the only ones noticing it, but then a few Guatemalans confirmed it for us.
So, if Carey and I come back goofy and socially awkward, please smack us. Just in case we were already infected though...I'm working on an antidote ; )

Hook 'em Horns!
Jay