Objective of the accommodation program:

To offer CELAS MAYA’s Spanish students or volunteers the experience of living with a Guatemalan family.

Specific objectives:
• Experience the culture, food, customs, and traditions.
• Have the opportunity to practice Spanish in a real-life setting.
• Meet friendly people from Guatemala.

Local Social Context:
Guatemala is a country with 24 ethnic groups, of which 21 are of Mayan origin, one is Xinca, Garifuna, and the Ladino group.

The Mayans:
This group is subdivided into 21 ethno-linguistic groups with shared Proto-Mayan roots. The largest of them are K’iche’, Q’eqchi’, Mam, Kaqchikel, with others such as Zutujil, Ixil, and Aguacateco, being closer to Quetzaltenango city.

In Quetzaltenango’s indigenous society, the social and cultural aspects are very important. Weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries are celebrated with great pomp. It is very common for families to wear traditional clothing (the women) on Saturdays or Sundays for these social activities.

The Ladino group is also diverse. They come from the mestizaje (intermixing) of Spanish and indigenous people, and while they share many traits, they are diverse in dialects, habits, customs, and cuisine.

Undoubtedly, the Ladino culture experienced significant growth in the 19th century when they received land on the southern coast and began cultivating coffee and cotton. During weekends, they would visit here for leisure. They gave great momentum to marimba, stores, shops, and cultural presentations.

Attractions of Quetzaltenango:
Quetzaltenango is a city with many cafés, restaurants, banks, travel agencies, Spanish schools, and cultural centers. Iconic places to visit include the Puente de Los Chocoyos, the Barrio de la Cruz de Piedra, the San Antonio Plazuela, etc.

Cuisine:
Xela’s cuisine is varied. The most common dishes are: pepián, jocom, and kichom. The paches (potato dumplings) and rice tamales are also famous in this city.
For snacks, tostadas, rellenitos (sweet fried dough), chuchitos, and the classic cambrayes (dessert) are commonly eaten.

Daily Diet:
The diet of people from Quetzaltenango varies greatly, but the base consists of tamalitos (small tamales) and tortillas made from corn dough, typically accompanied by refried beans as part of a full meal.
Although Quetzaltenango produces a variety of vegetables and is only an hour away from the coastal area (from where tropical fruits come), vegetables and fruits are not a major part of the daily diet. It depends largely on the family’s customs.

Family Sizes:
Families in Quetzaltenango commonly consist of 2, 3, or 4 children. It is also common for grandparents to live in the same house. The role of grandparents is very important in the upbringing and care of children. In single-mother families, mothers play a significant role.

Food is not wasted:
Food holds great importance for Guatemalans, especially corn and beans, which have sacred origins. Therefore, it is highly disrespectful for someone to leave food on their plate or throw it away. We ask students to consider this and if they will not eat something, inform the family so that it can be returned to the pot rather than thrown away. Another understandable reason is that there are many people in Guatemala who rarely have enough to eat.

Customs at the Table:
Gracias

Sírvase

Sírvete

Sírvanse

Muchas gracias

Buen provecho

Con permiso

Es propio

Buenas

These phrases are commonly used in families. For example, after a meal, when someone gets up, it’s courteous to say “gracias,” and the others should respond with “buen provecho” (the equivalent of “Bon Appétit” but said at the end).
When someone leaves the group, it’s polite to say “con permiso,” and others respond with “propio.”
It’s also very important to greet upon arrival with “buenas noches,” “buenos días,” or “buenas tardes,” depending on the time of day.

Leaving:
Ya regreso,

Ahí vengo

Ya vengo
When leaving, you should say one of the above.

What to Expect When Staying with a Family:
Interaction; this is the most important aspect of receiving students in a family. The ability to establish a natural conversation with the family members is crucial. It should not just be small talk like “how are you,” “what did you do today,” or “what are you doing later?” It should be a conversation where the family members take an interest in the student’s hobbies, likes, etc., without prying into overly personal or private topics. The goal is to make the guest feel like part of the family, inviting them to family gatherings, weddings, or trips when possible.

A Basic Equipped Room:
Each host family must provide a room in good condition, painted yearly, with a single or double bed, clean sheets, towels, a table and chair, carpet, lamp, and a wardrobe for personal items. For the safety of both parties, the family must provide keys to the room and the front door. Room cleaning once a week and a change of bedding is expected when the student is present.

What You Won’t Find:

• A well-balanced diet or expensive foods such as skim milk, yogurt, or specialty teas.
• A luxury house. Most host families live in simple, old houses located in the city center, but they offer the basic services.
• Sharing a bathroom with the family is common.
  However, hot showers are available.

Accommodation Classification:
What is offered, how the houses are, their location, ethnic background, religion, etc., is classified.

• Houses with private bathrooms
• Houses without private bathrooms
• Houses with internet
• Houses without internet
• Families with good food but little interaction
• Families with modest homes but great interaction
• Small families but very interactive
• Families composed of just one person (e.g., mother), but offering excellent service.

To Avoid Misunderstandings:
The student must understand that the family will treat them as a family member, so mutual trust is essential. CELAS MAYA has a carefully selected family process and guarantees security and trust for both the families and the students.

Entering and Leaving the Host Family’s Home:
A student typically stays with a host family for one week, starting on Sunday (check-in) and ending the evening of Saturday (check-out).
However, the week can start any day if a new student requires check-in. The student has the right to stay seven nights and have three meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) during those seven days.

If the student leaves after lunch on check-in day, they must pay for a full day, as two meals were consumed. However, if leaving before 10 a.m., there are no extra charges, and the family may offer a courtesy breakfast, at their discretion.