All About Guatemala By: Jake Burgess

      The unit of currency in Guatemala is the quetzal.  It is named after Guatemala's bird.  About six quetzals equals one U.S. dollar.  Mayan Indians were the first people in Guatemala but today Mayan people make up 53 percent of Guatemala.  About 75 percent of Guatemalan children go to school.  Children attend school from age 7 to 14.  Rural schools stay open from January to October.  The main religion in Guatemala is Roman Catholic. 
        Guatemala is the third largest country in Central America.  Mountains cover three fourths of all Guatemala.  There are 34 volcanoes in Guatemala.  Guatemala's warm weather keeps trees and flowers growing all year.  People in Guatemala call their country the place were it is always spring. 
        Most all Guatemalan people speak Spanish.  The main foods are maize and corn in Guatemala.  The population in Guatemala is over eleven million people.  One of my main reasons I think it will be cool to go to Guatemala is I want to know how the culture is and how it makes me feel to be there.