This passage stood out to me in the "El Salvador at a Glance" by Quique Aviles because it honestly struck me silent. I didn't exactly know how to react to this saying because others go through sufferings not many of us even know even know about. It's very true of the troubles some had to go through to get to where they are now. Many individuals have their stories on how they got to where they are, we, as a community, should be open to these stories. Helping those feel more comfortable talking about where they're from.

How can you give them a sense of a place, a feeling-

a memory, really

-that even you barely know? “

I chose this section of the poem “Where is Guatemala” because I have felt this way for a long time. What I know of Guatemala isn’t from firsthand experiences but rather hearing three different generations worth of stories. From those stories I learned about what life was like from three different generations and how they grew to love the country they came from and that love they had became the love I have. The pride and love I feel for Guatemala I feel is the one that has been crafted from three different generations worth of perspectives. That's why I can't really explain where Guatemala is or better yet what it really is 

name, a discarded number, 

a bunch of rotten fruit 

thrown on the garbage heap" (Neruda 1). I feel as if the imagery and meaning here is so powerful, because a corpse is considered a number in statistics which is usually what everyone looks at rather than the individual who has actually become a corpse. What makes it more powerful is the second part where the corpses are referred to as "rotten fruit thrown on the garbage heap", which makes it so much darker and accurately symbolizes what happened. All in all, it is a sad but powerful poem and these lines sold me on it.

a memory, really

-that even you barely know? "

I chose this section of the poem because it really does convey not the message but the feeling of the poem. I can in my own idea of what is Guatemala and where its at but I can only explain it at a surface level. I am viewing its history and present through a window. I can not explain what it really is without actually seeing through the window but living past it. Which is what I get from all the stories I read about for Guatemala. I would have labeled it as any other place out there in the world but beneath that its so much more.

The question hangs in the air, waiting,

For an answer that lies beyond our grasp.

How do you tell them where Guatemala is?

I chose this quote because of my interpretation of it. What I interpret is that people don't know the difference between these countries since they same language, however one is classified as country in North America while the other one is in South America. This can be overlooked since people interpret as Mexico to be part of South America, but that is definitely not the case of different cultures they both have.

It's mixtas, it's rellenitos, it's shecas. 

It’s tiendas selling típica and 

Hastily-painted souvenirs

That you'll treasure for the next decade."

This quote highlights the complexities of Guatemala's true nature and what it represents as a culture. Guatemala is more than just a place to describe; it's something you must experience to be a part of its culture. It shows that Guatemala is known for its foods, stores, and souvenirs, which people have cherished for a long time. Guatemala is not an easy place to describe, as it is made up of so many different elements—and the quote that I chose only scratches the surface.

"El Salvador

there are questions in the air about your character

they say you’ve dared to do the impossible

you’ve challenged the tiger to a wrestling match

you’ve decided that bullets hold the answers"

The reason why I chose this passage is that they fought back, and did the impossible, and many question how and why they did it. Thats why I chose my imagine of David vs Goliath to show them fighting back the giant the tiger EL Salvador.

I chose this passage because it really portrays these corrupt leaders and how they thrive on the misery of their innocent people. “Ubico flies” connects to real life leaders who, like many today, focus first on their own power and interests over the well-being being of their people. The imagery of the “drunken flies” buzzing over the tombs of people shows how corruption exploits and thrives off of the suffering and death of ordinary people. It is important for us to understand how these leaders work in order to know what to do to have a better future.

a memory, really

-that even you barely know? (where is Guatemala? by Patrick coyoy)

I chose this stanza because it gives some idea what first generation Guatemala immigrants must feel like when their parents tell them of Guatemala. how can those children call a place homeland that they never visited or seen, just heard of in family stories? It must seem just like a memory to them

given in the English language

not go to the garden and write a song

It has been said that pain has the ability to travel

El Salvador’s major cities:

San Salvador, San Miguel, Santa Ana, Los Angeles, Washington, DC

I chose this passage because it seems the Salvadorans are breaking away from what they are being told. They chose to go a different path because the one they were on was full of pain. In the passage, it said that pain can travel and I think that means that people are hurt because of what the world thinks. That's why they list places that are in El Salvador, it would be because they all chose to leave either a harmful situation or break away from the norm.

It 's mixtas, it' s rellenitos, it 's shecas. 

It’s tiendas selling típica and 

Hastily-painted souvenirs

That you´ll treasure for the next decade"

This quote stood out to me because you'll feel a sense of familiarity of your country in other locations and it feels almost nostalgic sense because you grow older with these places.

I choose this quote from Where is Guatemala?¨ by Patrick Mullen Coyoy because it stood out to me the fact where she says “how can you give them a sense of a place, a feeling memory, really- that even you barely know” this reminds me of how being Mexican American will have people ask you about how is Mexico, when obviously I didn't grow up there. Although i have visited mexico how am I supposed to give them a sense of a place i barely know.

- Janeth.J