MIssTrudy
Active memberAmerican expat in Guatemala
Forum
38 posts
Contacts
5
About me
American
Lives in Guatemala City
Speaks English, Spanish, French
Registration: 18 March 2009
Activity
The jobs that are the most in-demand for expats in Guatemala by Priscilla
Hello, We invite you to share some information regarding the job market for expats in Guatemala. This information will be incredibly helpful to anyone considering moving there, so we're very grateful for your contribution. What are the types ...
Also, I forgot to add, if a person has a teaching certificate or experience, even, private schools here in the capital are always in great need of English teachers, especially if they are native speakers. Read More
The jobs that are the most in-demand for expats in Guatemala by Priscilla
Hello, We invite you to share some information regarding the job market for expats in Guatemala. This information will be incredibly helpful to anyone considering moving there, so we're very grateful for your contribution. What are the types ...
I have taught in two master programs here, one in Universidad Landivar and another in FLACSO, a research/think tank organization. I have my DPI and work permits, though. I also teach at the School of Professional Translation at IGA and am a ... Read More
Free and low-cost leisure activities in Guatemala by Priscilla
Hello, We invite you to share some information regarding leisure activities that are free or low-cost in Guatemala. This information will give future expats (or even current expats) an idea regarding some of leisure activities that they might not ...
I enjoy going to the markets, many different markets, rather than buying my produce at the supermarkets. I live in the city and sometimes I will drive to a market over an hour away, just to go see a new one. As per cultural entertainment, we go out ... Read More
Raising kids in Guatemala by Priscilla
Hello everyone, How is raising kids in Guatemala different from raising kids in your home country? What are the activities that your kids seem to enjoy the most in Guatemala? Do you feel that the country is "family-friendly"? Do you ...
I did not really raise my kids here except when they were very young, then we went back to the US and they grew up there and remain there. We returned to Guate decades later. But here they had a nanny and went to an American-style private school, ... Read More
Traffic in Guatemala by Priscilla
Hello everyone, Which city or area do you live in in Guatemala, and how do you find the traffic? How long does it take to commute to work or run errands? Is there a rush hour in your city? What times of the day would you recommend people to ...
I live in Guate City and traffic is horrendous. It can take over an hour to drive through 4 kilometers or less than 2 miles during peak hours. I live in zona 10 and can walk to most places, thank goodness, because I hate to drive in this traffic. ... Read More
What to expect when moving to Guatemala by Priscilla
Hello everyone, Is there anything you wish you had known before moving to Guatemala? For example, transportation, internet speeds, types of housing, aspects of the culture or social life. In your opinion, what's the most important thing to ...
In my case, and this was around 2008 when shipping rates were really very cheap because the government had not yet entered to clean up the corruption in Guatemalan customs, I shipped way too much furniture and books I should not have. Because I ... Read More
What are the dos and don'ts of finding a job in Guatemala? by Priscilla
Hello everyone, Where is the best place to start when looking for a job in Guatemala? Is it better to job-hunt by directly contacting the company of your interest, or should job-seekers rely on a recruitment agency, for example? Are there any ...
My experience may be a little different, because I have a DPI (legal residency) and it includes a work permit. I have met several foreigners who came with an English teaching job that they got through the websites of private schools and language ... Read More
Recognition of foreign qualifications in Guatemala by Priscilla
Hello everyone, Were your professional qualifications recognised in Guatemala? What country did you complete your qualifications in? What profession are you in? Did you have to go through any formalities to get your qualifications recognised, ...
All my degrees are from US universities (BA, 2 masters and a doctorate, among others). They were acknowledged by private universities but if one wants to teach at the State university or work for government projects, it is necessary to become ... Read More
Naturalisation and citizenship in Guatemala by Bhavna
Hello everyone, What are the requirements for acquiring citizenship in Guatemala? For example, length of residence, language requirements, employment etc.. What formalities are involved in the process? What is the policy on dual-citizenship ...
You do not have to give up your former nationality. That I know, even though I have a legal residence, not a naturalization. That is, I am legally allowed to work here, I do not have to travel out of the country to renew a visa, and so on. As far ... Read More
The holiday season in Guatemala by Priscilla
Hello everyone, Are you about to celebrate the holiday season in Guatemala? In many countries and cultures, the festive season is the time for happiness and reunions/gatherings. Is it so in Guatemala? How do Guatemalans celebrate this very ...
In Guatemala, there are so many parties! I am invited to Christmas parties and events practically every single night of each week, starting towards mid-November. Christmas "convivios" (gatherings or parties), friendly get-together, ... Read More
Are you happy in Guatemala? by Priscilla
Hello everyone! According to the 2016 UN World Happiness Survey, Denmark, Switzerland and Iceland are the happiest countries on earth. How about you? Are you happy in Guatemala? Do you feel happier today in your host country than before in ...
I agree with Armand, being able to go back to the US and spend a few months there with my children and their children makes a big difference. I don't know if I would be as happy if I could not go visit back home as frequently as I do. It makes ... Read More
Are you happy in Guatemala? by Priscilla
Hello everyone! According to the 2016 UN World Happiness Survey, Denmark, Switzerland and Iceland are the happiest countries on earth. How about you? Are you happy in Guatemala? Do you feel happier today in your host country than before in ...
I am very happy here. Very. However, it may also have much to do with this state in my life. The kids are grown and gone, have formed their own families and are happy themselves, and I am working in what I love to do. I have the time for personal ... Read More
New members of the Guatemala forum, introduce yourself here by Julien
Hi all, Newbie on the Guatemala forum? Dont know how to start? This thread is for you ;) We invite you to introduce yourself on this topic, to share with us your expat story if you are already living in the country, or to tell us more on ...
I shipped a lot of my furniture and books and the service was good, but if I had to do it again, I would just get most of the furniture here. There is everything one needs and you'll save yourself the hassle with customs. Bring those pieces ... Read More
Your new local habits in Guatemala by Priscilla
Hello everyone, Living in Guatemala is a great way to immerse in a new culture and lifestyle. Have you embraced local customs since you've lived in Guatemala? If so, which one(s)? Did local customs change the way you see things, appreciate ...
I had to change my expectations about punctuality and am still working on not getting unduly irritated by the fact that most people here--from traders and providers, to my own students--do not have the same sense of punctuality that I have. In ... Read More
Expand your social circle in Guatemala by Priscilla
Hello everyone, Moving to Guatemala means leaving one's family and friends behind. Creating a circle of friends or joining an existing one should therefore be paramount in order to fight loneliness in your host country. But how can one develop ...
For me it was not all that difficult, because I speak Spanish and because some of the circles I move in speak fluent English, either because they are expats or because they are Guatemalans educated in private schools with good enough English taught. ... Read More