Outdoor markets are a very important part to Maya culture.  Vendors selling textiles, pottery, food, clothes, and jewelry line the streets.  Bustling crowds, beautiful colors, and loud noise fill the market.  Unlike in America, items do not have set prices.  It is customary to haggle.  In fact, it is considered rude if you don’t bargain with vendors for reduced prices.   

Ineffective governments have  persecuted Maya for years, especially during the civil war.  They have failed to provide adequate medical care, education, and land to the Maya people.  But the Maya are resilient.  Strong in the face of adversity, the Maya have maintained their identity and held onto their values.  They are even making some headway with the government, who have conceded that native languages should be legal and taught in schools.  

Despite minor victories for  the Maya, huge wealth disparities remain.  This is especially noticeable in the cities, where it is not uncommon to see orphans begging on the streets in front of mansions.