Yel Kaye – Travel Blog, Writing and Photography

The other day, I was leaving my salsa class around 7PM (a perfectly safe time to be walking around Xela.) As I was saying goodbye to my classmates, one Guatemalan friend told me: “Cuidate.” This meant, I thought “be careful.”

Today, I was leaving Infinito, my favourite cafe in Xela, and the waiter mumbled something as I walked out the door.

“Que?” I asked.

“Cuidate,” he repeated himself, laughing.

This was the middle of a beautiful sunny afternoon, so again I found the warning sort of odd. Is Guatemala really so dangerous that people need to constantly remind each other to be careful?

A few hours later, I realized that “cuidate” really means something like “take care.” It does make sense, then, as a way of saying goodbye.

Regardless, though, safety is a valid concern in this country. It’s something that seems to be on many Guatemalan minds. Most of my female Spanish teachers frequently offer advice on safety, stating that they apply the same rules to their own children. The overwhelming concern with safety is evident on the iron bars separating customer from staff in most convenient stores. In other businesses (such as my hotel or the chocolate-banana lady) staff initially greet customers through tiny windows in heavy metal doors.

It amazes me, considering how much Guatemalans seem to care about their personal safety, how many foreigners seem to take theirs for granted.

I know lots of girls in Xela (lots!) who insist on walking home alone from the bar late at night. Sure, there is a only a small chance that anything would happen. But considering it would cost about $2.50 to take a reputable taxi home, or how easy it would be to arrange a big group to walk with, wouldn’t it be better to reduce the risk to a very, very, very small chance?

I knew a girl once who wanted to walk home from the bar alone. Like many other girls, her safety was not worth two and a half dollars to her. However, one day when I offered her some delicious sliced mango that I bought from a vendor, she said she wouldn’t eat it because she didn’t know if the knife that cut it was clean.

Talk about priorities! Dude, I’d take a risk of diarrhea over attack any day.

It’s important not to paint a negative picture of Guatemala – despite the slightly heightened risk of crime, there is so much more about this country that is wonderful. I’m still able to walk through Central Park on a sunny day, feeling carefree and eating a sweet 6Q cone of coconut Sarita ice cream. I go out at night – in a big group, and have a great time.

Life here makes me happy – because I take the simple steps required to mitigate the risks that do exist. One I take these steps, I move on with my life and enjoy myself.

I think it’s important not to let unrealistic fear keep you from discovering different parts of the world and living your life. However, it’s important to be realistic when in a different country, and unfortunately, I get frustrated that so many travelers don’t do this. I don’t want to say “I told you so,” though, so I hope none get themselves into any trouble.