Alejandra (Josselyne) Marroquín - a Controversial Guatemalan Woman challenging Status Quo.
“I think that a successful life is to live happy with the things that you have and don't focus on the things that you don't have. Because that's why you get frustrated. ” - Josselyne
Click here to hear Josselyne Marroquín story,
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Born and raised in Guatemala, Josselyne is currently living in the small town of San Pedro, La Laguna, Guatemala working at a Spanish teacher at Orbita Spanish School. Currently, 26 years old she has three beautiful girls. She is wise beyond her years, incredibly generous and always laughing, smiling or joking.
Josselyne is a “controversial” woman in San Pedro Guatemala because she is an independent thinker. She questioned and pushed back against cultural norms that woman need to follow in Guatemala.
Key Insights from Alejandra’s Experiences
Here were my key insights from the conversation with Alejandra.
The “Olla de Crangeros” (Pot of Crabs) mindset in Guatemala - when someone else is successful the others get jealous and drag them back down.
Be happy with what you have. Always.
Guatemala has a culture of a dependent mindsets vs. independent mindsets. This limits people.
Foreigners preconceived notions and about places and people in Guatemala.
The role the church played in controlling the woman.
Quotes from Alejandra.
*Being a Woman in San Pedro Guatemala.
“So it is part of the culture. So a woman has to clean has to wash the dishes, wash the clothes, cook…. Basically, women can go out [of the] home, because they have to be at home.”
Living with a Controlling Spouse
“But I realized that while I was living with my ex boyfriend, basically, I was dying inside. See, I just realized that I was dying. I didn't laugh. I didn't talk to anybody. I didn't. I didn't do anything, just things at home.”
The “Olla de Crangejos” {Pot of Crabs} Mindset in Guatemala
“When you want to be more, improve yourself, improve your job, your personality, whatever you’re improving, for example, you got a very, very good job and you earned like 10,000 quetzales {Guatemalan currency}. In these situations, people don't like it… So that's why we say that we are like crabs in a pot. Because when you try to climb and go out, the other Crabs take you and bring you back down…. The saying in Spanish is ‘Olla de Crangejos.’”
Why the “Olla de Crangejos” {Pot of Crabs} Mindset in Guatemala?
“I think they just get angry because because if you have the opportunity to to get better, in a better situation economically or anything else they just get mad because they don't have the same opportunity. So it's like, ‘if I don't have that opportunity, you shouldn’t either.’ I think is because of that.”
Foreigner’s Preconceived Notions
So one day, I got a girl that just study with me for one week. And one day she saw me in the street with my daughter. And the next day, she asked me,
‘Oh, does she is your daughter?’
And I was like, ‘Yes. She's my oldest girl.’
And she was like, ‘What you’re oldest? You have another?’
And I said, ‘Yes, I have another two. I have three…. I have three girls.’
And she was like, ‘Oh, girl you need to know about condoms.’
So when when we finished the last day. She left me a package of condoms and like you weren't going to need it be smart. And I was like, ‘thank you’.
It was it was hard for me. And it really hurt me because maybe they were not planned, but I love them and they are my kids. You cannot just say things like that to me…. That’s why I don’t prefer to say anything about me to other people.”
On Independence in the Culture
“ ‘I think the only difference is the system. Let's say, Canada or America allows for opportunities, whereas here, I feel like the system just doesn't really allow for opportunities.’- {Katie}
Yeah. But it is it is hard because a lot of things. Because of news about poverty, because of people. It is not part of our culture to be in independent. I am independent with my girls, and I never asked for money to my parents. And I give money to my mother. And whenever I need to, I try to help always. So that's why I am controversial, because I am very independent.
When people ask me, where I live, and I was like, ‘Oh, I live there.’
‘With your mom?’
‘No, my mom on the other side’
‘What? Why are you Why are you are not living with her?’
And you know, I am an adult and I have three girls and they are mine not my mom. But culture here is not like that. So I think that because of that situation young people don't look for opportunities out of the country. Because we have opportunities to study in Canada, Spain, Ireland, the United States and you just have to apply for the scholarships… but they just don’t do it. It is not part of our culture to live alone.. ‘What am I going to do?’
So that is what I want to teach my girls {to be independent}.”
Definition of a Successful Life.
“I think that a successful life is to live happy with the things that you have and don't focus on the things that you don't have. Because that's why you get frustrated. You cannot live happy because you just focus in what your neighbour has, and what you don't have. So it is better to say {focus on} what I {do} have.
So you have to be happy with all the things that life gives you. And that's it.”
On Gratefulness
“It is beautiful, because they get happy with everything. For example, yesterday we went to San Juan… and I bought a juice for each one. A cookie for each one. And one piece of pizza, not two pieces, for each one. And they were so happy. It was so beautiful. Because they are happy with so little things for a day. And they're lucky for having that {the ability to always be grateful.}”
On life in San Pedro Guatemala
“We live a good life here. You don't get to meet a lot of money to go to the market. And you can find fresh food every day… And just so that's why life here is easy going. Because you don't need to work so hard, so hard, to get a lot of money to have a good life.”
On Being Wise
“My really close mentor from university… this man probably like helped me think for myself. He like taught me so much.
And one time I asked him, ‘What is your definition of wisdom?’
He said, ‘Probably being grateful and thankful.’
So it's just funny because I told you before, ‘Oh, you're so wise’. But maybe that’s why, because you are very grateful and thankful.” - Katie
Additionally, you can learn Spanish from Josselyne or take Spanish lessons as Orbita Spanish School.