Overheard in Antigua, Guatemala

A family of tourists overheard at one of the many stalls of Antigua’s large artisan market:

Man (holding a football/soccer jersey up) asking vendor, “Do you have a jersey from America?”
Vendor (referring to the Latin American football teams that are called ‘America’) replies in Spanish, “No, that one is not from America.”
Man, “Do you have from America?”
Woman (clarifying on behalf of her husband), “From the United States?”
Vendor, “Are you trying to ask how much it costs?”

I did not have time to stop and help translate, but I would’ve enjoyed the opportunity to remind this family that, particularly in this part of the world, ‘America’ is all of us – North, South & Central America. Interestingly enough, Guatemalans often refer to the U.S. as ‘Los Estados.’

Share

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on email
Share on print

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts

Summary, summer 2010

Our last few days in Guatemala were so hectic we did not get around to blog and report back on all of the work we were able to accomplish. Now,

Read More »
Categories

Related Posts

Setting Goals

Although we were supposed to meet with the artisan women with whom we’ll be working, a last minute invitation to them from the central government postponed our meeting for Wednesday.

Read More »

Our student team

Every time I travel with a team of students for an international project, I truly believe that group could never be surpassed in their energy, skills, support for one another,

Read More »