Moon Living Abroad in Guatemala [Paperback]

Al Argueta (Author)

Book Description

Series: Living Abroad | Publication Date: September 1, 2009

Al Argueta first traveled to Guatemala at the age of three—and has been hooked ever since. He has spent much of his life traveling and relocating, and has lived for a year in Guatemala. This experience, along with numerous other month-long stays in Guatemala, has provided Al with the insight and know-how on making the move to this increasingly-popular Central America locale. In Moon Living Abroad in Guatemala, he provides his tips and advice in an accessible and straightforward manner—making the moving and transition process easy for businesspeople, students, teachers, retirees, and professionals.

Moon Living Abroad in Guatemala is packed with essential information and must-have details on setting up daily life, including obtaining visas, arranging finances, gaining employment, choosing schools, and finding health care. This relocation guide also includes practical advice on how to rent or buy a home for a variety of needs and budgets. With extensive color and black and white photos, illustrations, and maps, Moon Living Abroad in Guatemala will help you find your bearings as you settle into your new home and life abroad.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Argueta gives thorough background information on the country's history, social climate, economy, people, culture, customs and etiquette. The book is divided into two long chapters: daily living and prime living locations. It describes types of residency (temporary, pensioner, permanent), housing considerations, health and safety, employment and finances, travel and transportation, and the best places to live. The resource section, which includes listings of governmental organizations and primary and secondary schools, is also quite thorough. --Chicago Tribune, February, 21, 2010

Did you ever think of just picking up and moving to another country? The travel book publisher Moon has expanded its "Living Abroad" series. New volumes describe living in Panama, South Korea, Guatemala, China and Spain. More than 5.25 million nongovernmental U.S. citizens live abroad, according to the Association of Americans Resident Overseas. While meant for expats, the books also come in handy for tourists who might be spending a few weeks or months in a country as part of study abroad or extended tour. You never know when you'll be back. --Detroit Free Press, February 28, 2010

The content of "Moon Living Abroad in Guatemala" is presented in an easily readable format and covers all the important aspects of daily life in Guatemala. In the introductory chapters, the author goes into detail about Guatemala's unique culture, history and social dynamics, and writes that "those seeking an extension of Costa Rica or even Mexico will most likely be disappointed." Guatemala has a unique culture and history that is very different from other countries in the region. Al Argueta explains that many of Guatemala's contemporary problems--such as rising violence and social inequalities--are rooted in the 30-year civil war that devastated the small nation. He also covers important issues that need to be addressed before settling abroad, such as "Planning Your Fact-finding Trip" and "Making the Move," which provide important information about the logistics of relocating to Guatemala. The author also pays close attentions to important facts and laws regarding residency in Guatemala, as well as the practical details relating to buying property, opening a business, and retiring in Guatemala. The section on "Daily Life" also covers the details of moving to Guatemala, such as housing, language and education, health and safety, employment, finances, and communications. The section on "Prime Living Locations" provides an introduction to the culture, infrastructure, climate, etc. of the most popular destinations for expatriates, such as Guatemala City, Antigua, Quetzaltenango, Lake Atitlán, and several attractive rural regions. The "Resources" section includes useful contact information for banks, government offices and embassies, education, housing, health, communications, employment resources, transportation, prime living locations, etc. "Moon Living Abroad in Guatemala" is one of the latest titles in a series of guidebooks about living abroad in countries worldwide. For anyone interested in relocating to Guatemala, the book serves as a well-researched and practical companion that provides all the information and resources you need to make a successful move. --Transitions Abroad, July 2010

Product Details

• Paperback: 440 pages
• Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1598802070
• ISBN-13: 978-1598802078
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #973,353 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #52 in Books > Travel > Latin America > Central America > Guatemala

More About the Author

At the age of three, Al Argueta first traveled to Guatemala with his father. He was utterly captivated by the country's landscape and its Mayan inhabitants. He would later live in Guatemala for two years, allowing him to formally learn Spanish and to experience Guatemala's culture firsthand. During summers in high school and college, Al would take a month off and travel to Guatemala to explore its jungles, Mayan ruins, and villages.

In college, Al majored in Journalism and Latin American Studies, managing to squeeze in two study-abroad programs in Manchester and Maastricht. He also traveled through much of Europe. After college, he interned with Costa Rica's Tico Times, getting his first exposure to travel writing and photography, in addition to covering then-President Bill Clinton's visit to Guatemala. Al worked briefly for a newspaper in the Virgin Islands before moving on to photography school in Hawaii. He also taught English to college students in Thailand for a time, continuing to satiate the travel bug that bit him years back.

Al now lives in Austin, Texas, where he's managed to stay put in one place for an unprecedented five years. In addition to writing, he does freelance travel photography for clients that have included National Geographic Adventure, US Airways, Caribbean Travel & Life, Condé Nast Traveler, Outside's GO, and Continental. Guatemala is still his favorite place to photograph. His website is www.alargueta.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Very superficial unless you've never been there., July 9, 2010

By 

Erich Dieter Groebe (Springfield, Missouri United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Moon Living Abroad in Guatemala (Paperback)

I was hoping, when I bought this book, to find it full of specific information and very real inside secrets and advice. Instead, I found the book to contain very little that you can't get from a couple of travel guides. I say this as someone who has not only thought about moving to Guatemala but who also went there in 2009 to check it out. I did more research and brought home far more specific info from my 10 day trip than this book contains. The author goes to great pain to avoid prices. How can you write a book advising people about moving to a foreign country without sharing extensive information about prices and the cost of living??? The other really serious failing of the book is that it has nothng related to "budget" living options. Guatemala is a very poor and subsequently very cheap place to visit and live. This book makes the assumption that the reader is moving to Guatemala to enjoy a private pool, luxury home and house servants. Some of us think it would be nice to live simply and economically. If you are such a person I am afraid I have to say don't buy this book unless it's used and cheap. If on the other hand, if your motives for moving to one of the most amazing countries in our hemisphere is to live the life of The Ugly American....buy it! Buy "Lonely Planet" & "Rough Guide" for Guatemala instead to get a much better idea of both the country and the local economy/cost of living.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars comprehensive and helpful, January 22, 2011

By 

Bucky - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Moon Living Abroad in Guatemala (Paperback)

We relied extensively on this book in planning our move to Guatemala a year ago. It's packed with details on the country's history, culture, food, housing, security situation, etc., and also explains how to get done the "paperwork" you'll need in a country known for its often complicated bureaucratic procedures. It really helped us orient ourselves to Guatemala and figure out our options for living here. Since settling in here, we've also used the book as a handy travel guide. Argueta's done an admirable job of providing a comprehensive overview of places to go, things to do, and recommendations for accommodations and restaurants while you're exploring this gorgeous country and its widely varied geography.