You know, sometimes life here in Guatemala feels like a beautiful, vibrant mystery – and recently, I encountered a particularly intriguing one!
There’s a man in town I’ve heard whispers about, a fellow named Wicho.
I originally thought it was just a unique name, but oh, the plot thickens!
First, I heard him referred to as some guy who works with cattle. Normal trade here.
But then, some church friend referred to him as Hermano Wicho at church, which made me think, “Wow, he’s a part of our church family too? How did I miss that?!” (Clearly, I’m still learning the ropes after a year here vs. a decade in my old stomping grounds! 😉)
Except…. later I heard of him again, and again.
Then, in conversation with close friends, even more layers began to unravel.
Apparently, this Wicho lives near the park, runs a car-parts side business, and even does some driving. My husband, it turns out, has a treasure trove of inside jokes and stories about him! Not the impression I got before about their friendship, but people are complicated.
But the real kicker?
My husband finally referred to this elusive, multi-talented man as “like a brother.”
You guys! I’ve been hearing about this infamous “Wicho.” I mean, the man sounds like a legend – everyone talks about him. And now… He’s like a brother??!!??
So, naturally, I asked Daniel, “Who is this Wicho? And what does he even do?”
He looks at me, completely serious, and asks, “Which one?”
My brain officially short-circuited. “WHICH ONE?!” I thought of the Wicho from church, the Wicho who’s a total enigma… The Wicho whose mysterious reputation had grown in my mind.
Which Wicho??!!
Then Daniel dropped the bombshell: “You know him! He was in our wedding!”
WHAT?! My jaw probably hit the floor. WICHO WAS IN OUR WEDDING?!
I swear, I mentally scrolled through every single person in our wedding photos. Who on earth could this be???
Daniel added, “You know, he came to supper with us!”
I was confused.
Daniel was confused.
The cat was confused and hungry.
And then it all clicked.
Not to me of corse, I remained very confused!
It clicked to Daniel that I did not know Guatemalan nicknames 101—
Turns out, “Wicho” is the common nickname here for anyone named Luis.
And let me tell you, Luis is a SUPER common name! We’re talking dozens, maybe even a hundred Luis’s (Wichos!) in our town and surrounding areas. They’re bankers, farmers, vendors, and yes, even faithful members of our church.
And yes, one of them was in our wedding!
Guy’s a friend!
I’ve lived here a year and had no idea how many Wicho’s I knew!
Just as “Hermano” doesn’t just mean “brother” in the literal sense here, but it’s also a title of respect, often used for fellow church members or close friends in the community.
Similarly, Wicho is a common Spanish, particularly Mexican and Guatemalan, nickname for the name Luis. It is used as a term of endearment, often to distinguish a son named Luis from his father of the same name.
To add to the fun, a woman named Luisa is often called “Whicha”! So there’s that too!
What a wonderful reminder that understanding a culture is a never-ending journey, and sometimes, the biggest mysteries are solved with a little bit of patience and a lot of good conversation!
Just another day of learning and loving life here in Guatemala. Never a dull moment!
