This is my Nana. Her name is Elena Sinay and she's been in my family ever since my mom was in high school. She's seen my mother build her own family, she's known my brothers, sister and me since we were firstborns. She works and lives at my grandparents. Before Coki passed away, almost three years ago, he asked Nana to take care of Tita-- and she has. It hasn't been an easy task and it certainly isn't getting any easier. But she does it, as well as it can possibly be done.
She's amazing. She can't read or write, never went to school. She always worked, worked, worked...until she fell in love. She got married, got pregnant and 3 months after, her husband was ran over and passed away. She's lived and worked chez Coki and Tita ever since. She's an amazing cook, a wonderful mother, a devoted woman who's suffered much and still manages to laugh at practically anything you say. Her strength never seems to run out.
For those reasons, and many, many more, I was so sad and upset when last week I went to my grandma's and found her a bit off. She had been mugged by a man right in the middle of the street. He didn't only take her money but also her dignity and self-confidence. She's over fifty and has been alone for most of her life, and a man in the street not only insulted her but also touched her in a very disrespectful way. Why? For not much over a 100 quetzales (about 10 euros).
No, that can't really be the reason. Of course not! The real reason anything like this happens in Guatemala is because it can happen. We are so helpless. But not for long, not for long. Things will eventually change. We will make them change. Us, Guatemalans.
In the mean time, being as cleaver as we are, we try to make things work. The picture below shows old women's underwear with pockets (so that they can put their money somewhere "safe"). It is both funny and sad. But no one can deny, Guatemalans are creative!
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