Amazing summary!

Well done and most informative. So much brought together.

Just one quick comment. I too was surprised by the list of 'happiest...' the Latin world. I think I can say why.

Yes, it was the researchers questions which led the participants on. Perhaps most importantly are the people from these countries. I'm from Guatemala, but have spent many years in El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua.

The citizens, the lower income group, have an incredible resilience in the face of often mind boggling difficulties. As an example: Mitch the cat- 5 hurricane that came through Honduras, basically putting us back some twenty years. . A group of us went all over the north coast country side handing out hundreds 'rescue pàcks'.

What amazed us above all else was the cheer, the joy we saw in peoples who lost everything. Everything means house swept away and no insurance, all gone.

Mind boggling. Did we all cry, yes of course. But it was the citizens ability to seemingly take it in stride. Its no wonder then for me that this survey labeled these countries as happiest.

But more needs to be said. It goes far deeper than just people laughing and smiling. There's sayings here in this part of the world that summarized say: I laugh so not to cry, or to feel the pain.

Tom