@theascendedtrader: English: This message is for those who live near Lake Atitlán, especially in San Marcos La Laguna and Tzununá. Division and tension appear to be growing. My name is Cody. I am a foreigner, a gringo. I have lived in San Marcos for two years, and before that I lived four years in Mexico. I have developed a deep love for Guatemala. Although I was not born here, I have never felt more at home. I have family here—not by blood, but people I am closer to than my own blood family. Where I come from, in the United States, money is treated like God. Here, God is God. You can feel that in daily life. It hurts me to hear many Maya people say that their greatest dream is to leave the country because they feel there is no future here. Betty, who is like a mother to me, left more than 30 years ago for that reason. At the same time, Guatemala—like many countries—continues to promote tourism. That means more foreigners will arrive. But the division between foreigners and Maya people does not have to grow. Division harms everyone. As an entrepreneur in Guatemala, with Guatemalan partners, I try to see all sides. And this is the reality: Sometimes I am charged four to six times more because of the color of my skin or my eyes. At the same time, I see foreigners talking about “colonialism” while only participating in spaces created for foreigners. The environment is also suffering. Trash and lack of care are affecting the lake. I do not have all the answers. But I have studied the history of this country, and one thing is clear: the Maya people remain strong and standing. This moment matters. If we do not create solutions now, the damage will grow. I love this land. I want to protect it. I believe in creating systems where everyone wins.

Zellar

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Region: US

Friday 02 January 2026 23:25:55 GMT