Guatemala - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

The largest and most populous Central American country, Guatemala is a land of contrasts and contradictions. It offers great physical beauty alongside ancient Mayan ruins and a conglomeration of diverse peoples and cultures. It is also unique in Central America in that more than half its population is of Mayan Indian origin. Today the country reflects a combination of ancient Mayan heritage, Spanish colonialism, and modern Western influences, mainly from the United States. Culture Smart! Guatemala introduces you to the complexities of Guatemalan society and shows how history has shaped the values and attitudes you will encounter. It describes different aspects of Guatemalan life, from festivals and cuisine to socializing and doing business. This new and updated edition provides key insights into the minds and hearts of Guatemalans today and offers practical advice on how to make the most of your time while being a savvy and considerate guest.

Lisa Vaughn is an American social psychologist. While gaining her Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati, she trained in group interaction and relationships, organizational development, teacher-learning processes, and women’s studies. Applying these disciplines to cultural studies- especially with Latin American populations- she developed and led university study abroad programs to Guatemala, where she has also traveled and lived for extended periods.