New article by Zach Weisberg on living abroad in Nicaragua:

A Retiring Life on the Beach in Nicaragua, Despite Risks

"Some might see an element of financial risk in the Schmidts’ purchase of the sort of property that one segment of buyers view as an investment, but Mr. Schmidt said that he and his wife were not driven by the profit motive. 'We came down here really not as an investment per se,' he said. 'It was more of a lifestyle change.”

Those are the kind of people we hope are buying our book, Moon Living Abroad in Nicaragua, i.e. those who are NOT looking to cut up their lot, turn a quick profit, and leave -- but foreigners who want to adapt to the tranquilo Nica lifestyle, learn Spanish, and have a positive impact on their new communities.

My compañero (and fellow Returned Peace Corps Volunteer) Rodney McDonald would like to tell you about a worthy campaign in northern Nicaragua, administered by the organization he helped found, Emergency Response Services for Latin America (ERSLA). He writes: "...give the gift of health and life to one family in one of the most impoverished countries in the world. Your gift donation can help save lives. Local firefighters are teaming up with ERSLA to help identify the families most at risk and provide them with a simple water filtration system that will keep them safe and healthy. Simple, yet effective."

They have to sell 84 more filters to meet the needs of the community and their goal. Learn more about these low-tech, low-cost, colloidal silver-enhanced ceramic water purifiers from Potters for Peace, who helped develop them.

From ERSLA: "The water filtration systems can eliminate up to 99.88% of water-born disease agents, and can filter enough water for the daily use of a typical family  Helping the local economy, the filter is produced in Nicaragua under the highest standards of quality controls to ensure their effectiveness and the filters can last for more than 5 years. Each $50.00 donation will purchase a water filter system for a needy family. The filters will be delivered to the families by local firefighters. www.ersla.org

Silvio Sirias’s first novel, Bernardo and the Virgin (Northwestern University Press, 2007), takes the reader on a phenomenal journey to the village of Cuapa in Chontales, Nicaragua. The book fictionalizes the story of a campesino to whom the Holy Virgin appeared in 1980. Sirias’s new book, MEET ME UNDER THE CEIBA, from Arte Publico Press, which won the Chicano/Latino Literary Prize, is also a work of fiction, but based on a true crime that occurred in 1999 and on the very real intolerance of Nicaraguan culture to homosexuality: “Everyone knew that wealthy land owner Don Roque Ramírez wanted Adela Rugama dead. And on Christmas Day, Adela disappeared. It was two months before her murdered body was found.”

Sirias has a way of bringing everyday Nicaraguan life to Englishs-speaking readers in an easy, accurate way, which is enjoyable—and nostalgic for those of us who have lived there (In fact, CEIBA takes place in and near my Peace Corps training village of Pio XII).

Here is an extended (45 minutes!) radio interview with Silvio Sirias on KUHF about his background, about Nicaraguan life, about gay rights (and lack thereof) in Latin America, and about the characters and story of MEET ME UNDER THE CEIBA. Stay tuned for more about this wonderful book. In the meantime, view the book trailer for CEIBA here, and find it on Amazon.com here.

The description of the video is simple: "Carthage College professors lead a group of students on a trip to Nicaragua to learn about physical geography and health care." But its message is more far-reaching. The short film, "Explore Nicaragua," was directed and edited by Heather Croix and produced and directed by Paul Chilsen.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2009, 5:00-8:30 pm: Fundraiser for Nicaraguan children and Empowerment International. Josh will sing a few Carlos Mejia Godoy songs and raffle off some MOON NICARAGUA books next Sunday at The Empire Lounge and Restaurant, Louisville, CO. Great cause, please join us. Tickets $30: buy on PayPal.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9 , 2009, 7:30–8:15 p.m.: I haven’t performed on Pearl Street since Sean G and I used to play music on the sidewalk for beer money (circa 1997). Times have changed—come check out my Belize slide show, songs, and MOON BELIZE book-signing at the venerable BOULDER BOOKSTORE, Pearl Street, downtown Boulder, CO.