Ephemerratic Travelers Return Home to San Francisco, Settle into Post-Trip Anticlimactic Obscurity After Heroic Feats

June 24th, 2009 | By Joshua | 1 Comment »

The hardest part of any trip is coming home, in my humble opinion. Just ask recent round-the-worlders Todd and Lauren, back to their apartment after a year abroad:

“…we visited 15 foreign countries - not counting a day-long layover in Slovakia - often taking many weeks to explore each place (click to see our route). Moving mostly ever eastward, we’ve circumnavigated the Earth. We’re a little dizzy, but that’s probably due to all the gluten suddenly injected into our diet.” (more…)

“The Millionth Bead: How old magazines and glue built a village in Africa” by Joshua Berman

June 21st, 2009 | By Joshua | No Comments »

WorldView is “a 22-year-old quarterly magazine of news and commentary about the Peace Corps world.” Check out my article in the current issue about a small but far-reaching non-profit organization based in Kampala, Uganda and Boulder, Colorado:

“The Millionth Bead” How old magazines and glue built a village in Africa, by Joshua Berman:

More NicaRado! Comunidad Connect Event this Sunday in Denver

June 18th, 2009 | By Joshua | No Comments »

THIS SUNDAY IN DENVER: FUNDRAISER FOR SAN JUAN DEL SUR, NICARAGUA: CONNECTING CLEAN WATER AND RECYCLING

Please join us in raising money towards the purchase of a truck, which will enable two organizations to function more efficiently through positive collaboration.

First, Comunidad Connect will use the truck to facilitate a recycling program, by picking up recyclables from schools and other locations within the community and delivering them to a collection point. The second, Newton/San Juan Sister City Project will use the truck to deliver BioSand water filters to rural communities who otherwise have no access to clean drinking water. Comunidad Connect volunteers regularly help with the water filter project and the two organizations work together often.
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NicaRado Event this Friday at Buzz Coffee in Longmont — support Nicaraguan children artists and talk to them via Skype

June 16th, 2009 | By Joshua | No Comments »

Kathy Adams, Director and Founder of Empowerment International, a non-profit that supports high-risk children in Granada, Nicaragua, is spending a few weeks stateside to spread the word about and drum up support for her organization. Join her for a unique, fun, open-air, evening fund-raiser which will include a live video conference with some of the kids in the barrio in Granada.

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Obama appoints Coloradan Vinai Thummalapally as Ambassador to Belize

June 12th, 2009 | By Joshua | No Comments »

Perhaps its their predilection for the outdoors and active traveling, but people from Colorado seem to end up in Belize in disproportionate numbers than other travelers and expatriates. I myself bounce between Boulder and Belize and I’ve met many-a reformed mile-higher who has opened a bed-n-breakfast or dive shop in Placencia, Hopkins, and Ambergris Caye.

Well, get ready to add one more Coloradan-in-Belize to the list: As reported in the Times of India, “President Barack Obama has nominated on old Indian college classmate and buddy of his to be the American ambassador to the tiny Central American nation of Belize, in keeping with the American tradition of rewarding political contributors, personal friends, and party groupies with sinecures.” (more…)

Jubilate! Boulder Jalapa Friendship City Projects to Host Fundraiser Concert this Saturday in Boulder

June 10th, 2009 | By Joshua | No Comments »

“Jubilate,” prounounced “hu-bi-LA-tay”, means “Shout For Joy”! It’s an appropriate name for the next Nica-Rado event, coming up this Saturday in Boulder, CO. It’s also the name of the musical group which will be performing that night: the Jubilate Sacred Singers, a Boulder-based choral group. Jalapa is the official Nicaraguan sister city of Boulder, CO, located in the northern highlands, along a remote stretch of the border with Honduras. In addition to supporting various small-scale development projects, the Boulder-Jalapa Friendship City Projects also sends annual delegations to Nicaragua. Come this weekend to find out more and enjoy some music.
Here’s the info:

June 13, 2009
First Christian Church Disciples of Christ,
950 28th St. Boulder, CO  80302

Tickets: $15 (or $10 for students)

Two Tranquilo Thumbs Up for Putumayo Kids

June 5th, 2009 | By Joshua | No Comments »

As both a new father and a guitar-slingin’ elementary school teacher (Spanish, grades 1-7), I have taken up a new interest in childrens’ music this past year, especially los canciones infantiles, as the genre is known in Spanish.

My favorite Spanish-language artists (so far) are El Pro Musica De Rosario, Jose Luis Orozco, Judith Akoschky, and Mary Thienes-Schunemann (please let me know if you recommend any others).

Then, of course, in a class of its own, is any album by Putumayo Kids. This world-folk record label’s dedication to childrens’ music is amazing. Until recently, I thought all they did was make great multilingual compilations (for kids music, start with African Dreamland). Turns out the Putumayo people also make music videos (including Asheba’s “No More Monkeys”, linked above), just launched a blog (the title of the first post is “DJ Spooky, Lila Downs and Herbie Treehead Discuss Kids Music!”), and they even offer an educational program with downloadable teacher tools! (Can’t wait to try these out next fall).

Nicaragua featured on Travel Channel’s “Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern” tonight!

June 2nd, 2009 | By Joshua | No Comments »

Andrew Zimmern goes to Nicaragua. Check out the official Travel Channel page which features extra photos, highlights, and video clips that won’t appear on the show.

[Travel Channel LINKS]->

[YouTube preview]->

Earthquake shakes Belize and Honduras, maybe farther

May 28th, 2009 | By Joshua | No Comments »

Several major quakes, including a 2:30-a.m. whopper measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale, shook much of coastal Belize and Honduras last night. There was more damage in Honduras, where several people (maybe more) died from collapsed homes, but reports are still coming in. The ensuing tsunami threat was lifted today.

Central America is riddled with major geologic fault lines (Belize is one of the only countries in the region without any volcanoes); but earthquakes are rare in Belize.
Are you in Belize? Did you feel it? Any reports would be much appreciated in the comments below. In the meantime, here are some links to find out more about last night’s events:

BBC: “Major Quake….”

AmbergrisCaye.com message-board reports

USGS site for earthquake M7.1

(I originally posted this on the Chaa Creek Travel Blog)

Bizarre Nicaragua Event in North Boulder: Tuesday evening, June 2, at Namaste Solar!

May 24th, 2009 | By Joshua | No Comments »