important migrant destination since the 1960s and has remained a popular destination throughout

the decades.

 When the first Maya migrants arrived in Boston, they often lived with fellow Pinultecos,

which meant that Mayas and Ladinos would inhabit the same residence. Accordingly, Ladino

and Maya friendships that would not occur in Pinula do take place in Boston. For example,

Mario, a Ladino, and Osvaldo, a Maya, lived in an apartment full of Pinultecos on the top floor

of a three-story apartment building. Mario says he does not see a problem with his friendship

with Osvaldo. Although he remembers Osvaldo from school, he never associated with him back

in the pueblo: "I don't think we would have been friends back in Pinula but it's okay here

because no hay Indios en los estados (there are no Indians in the United States); here we are all

the same." Foxen (2002) noted a similar sentiment while working among Quiche Maya in

Providence, Rhode Island: "no hay Ladinos en los Estados Unidos" (there are no Ladinos in the

United States). She argues that the statement suggests that living in the United States is so

difficult that no Ladino would survive the harsh working conditions; hence, the United States

effaces (to a degree) the social stratifications between Ladinos and Mayas.

 The white Americans in the United States see only one undifferentiated Hispanic (or

Latino) population so that homeland ethnic distinctions are lost. Among the Pinultecos in

Boston, this creates an equalizing effect that raises the status of the Indian, and, in Providence,

the Ladino is forced to endure the heavy work conditions of the life of the non-privileged Indian.

Mario says he sometimes feels awkward in front of Osvaldo when other Ladinos refer to the

Indios tontos (stupid Indians): "it's not like we forget who Osvaldo is, it's just we talk and say

things and then realize what we're saying. I sometimes look over to see his reaction if someone