“Here were these poor people, living on the edge of a mountain with a million-dollar view,’’ she says. “But they needed the basics, food, shelter. It was such a moving experience.’’ The Peace Corps’ decision to leave Honduras, she notes, is “heartwrenching.’’ “I thought about t[...]
Archive for the ‘Honduras’ Category
Let’s Talk About the War on Drugs in Honduras
The international aid community has struggled with this question for years: When a country is in dire straights in almost every aspect, what is the responsibility of the international community? But wait: let’s backtrack for a moment here. Many a U.S. citizen has heard about the so-called “[...]
So you’re thinking about the Peace Corps?
My journey into the field of international development was bred from a mix of wanting to be like Indiana Jones and a champion for world peace. I also really liked the idea of getting paid to travel around the world and interact with local people. That being said, I didn’t always want to be a P[...]
La Vida Idealist.org is Seeking New Writers!
If you are reading this now, chances are you’re interested in nonprofit or development work in Latin America. You may actually already be teaching English in Colombia, or working in a national park in Costa Rica, or completing your first year of the Peace Corps in Chile. And if that’s th[...]
Do as the Central Americans Do
When in Central America, do as the Central Americans do: slow down, make it count, and when in doubt, wing it. Things such as internet connections, water pressure, food service, bus travel, etc. run much more slowly here than in the U.S. In the communities I’ve visited, I’ve witnessed h[...]
High Definition
Idealistic adventurers (whether in Latin America or elsewhere) inevitably find themselves in a world of contrasts. Some contrasts are devastating, others empowering, and then there are the contrasts that are neither here-nor-there. The last of these, whether they make us chuckle or swear, add uniq[...]




