[azamboni]

I have read in different places that the dress is more formal in Guatemala than we're used to here. I have some dresses to pack, but just wondered what else you wore. Skirts? Capri pants? More casual for the hotel? Are sandals okay? Sleeveless tops and dresses? Thanks for your help!

[kvondera]

Hi, I wore skirts, long pants, short sleeve shirts, and 3/4 length sleeve shirts. I took only one pair of shoes for the trip and they were a pair of black slide/sandles. I did wear long shorts one day and I was THE ONLY PERSON as far as the eye could see wearing them. I stuck out and it is not really culturally acceptable to wear them. All of the locals wear jeans/long pants and a mix of tops. I saw many women wearing long skirts as well. Our facilitator said that the local people think wearing shorts is kinda trashy looking, and prefer to be more covered up, at least on the bottom. I think capri pants would be fine too. Hope this helps. Good luck!
Kathi

[LadyTink]

I wore a skirt to the embassy, but capris around the hotel. I tend to freeze (even in warmer areas), so I wore either three quarter length or short sleeved shirts.

[smmars]

I wore slacks and long sleeve tops (it was a bit chilly). DH wore nice jeans and a collared shirt at the hotel. No big deal. Just look nice but you don't have to dress up.

[bamagirl]

August visit trip:

Capris & short sleeve tops
Sandals
Tennis shoes

November P-up:

Lightweight jacket (was very windy)
Jeans, t-shirts, light sweaters, sweatshirts
Tennis shoes
Skirt/long sleeved t-shirt, flats for Embassy

I looked JUST like everyone else down there.

[mac308]

I wore my capris, short sleeved shirt and sandals in the hotel every day. When I met the foster mom I wore a long skirt, three quarter length shirt and sandals. We saw people in all different kinds of dress.

[kimberlyann68]

I wore crop pants with a nice shirt and sandals every day at the hotel. When we picked the baby up at the hogar and took him back, I wore Docker's with a nice shirt. My husband wore jeans and nice shirts each day.

[linda512]

I wore chinos and short sleeve shirts to meet the foster mother. She was in jeans. I wore chinos or jeans and sneakers in the hotel the rest of the time. It was cool in the hotel so I wore a sweatshirt or a sweater a lot also.

[kauai2k]

I wore only pants (I never wore jeans). Throughout the 7 days we were there visiting, we only saw 2 men wearing shorts (both American) ever. I don't usually wear skirts, so when we pick him up I'll do the same with pants and longer sleeved shirts. I personally was quite chilled most days and i will certainly dress for that next time.

diane

[lcpd]

We stayed at the Mariott and the adoptive families seemed to be dressed more casually than the Guatemalan's staying at the hotel. Around GC we seen a lot of people wearing jeans or pants. It was freezing in the hotel, so I ended up wearing a sweater. I also wore capris and a nice shirt. DH wore jeans and a nice shirt. Foster mother was dressed up the first time we met her and the second time she was dressed in jeans.

[Mamarama]

In Guatmala City, in any public place, skirts or slacks with semi-nice shoes (no flip flops or slappy shoes).

In Antigua, capris, skirts, walking shoes (nothing open toed or the cobblestones will eat your toes). Still no shorts or jeans, but overall a bit more relaxed look than in the City is fine.

I always tell my families, the question should really not be what "can" I wear, but what "should" I wear, keeping in mind that every single Guatemalan that sees us, from the cab driver, to the taco vender on the corner, to the sales clerk, to our attorneys and foster moms, will form an opinion about Americans in general and Americans adopting Guatemlan children based on their, even very brief, interaction with us.