Marcelo continues to edify us on the benefits of amaranth and quinoa for various parts of our minds and bodies.

Fabricio Sandoval, a fire captain in Otavalo, Ecuador, teaches us how to prepare ourselves for an earthquake, including which items to include in our backpacks.

Outward Bound's Fabrizio Arguedas shares his personal philosophy regarding the necessity of going outside one's comfort zone to reach one's potential and more fully experience life.

Danny, an instructor at Outward Bound, an adventure school in Costa Rica, explains to us how experiencing an outdoor adventure may also constitute an internal journey which allows one to develop greater leadership skills and learn about oneself.

Karen gives us a quick tour of the Museum of Mexican History in Monterrey, Mexico, including exhibits spanning from the Pre-Hispanic Era to more modern times.

Karen gives us a tour of some of the many cultural highlights of Fundidora Park in Monterrey, Mexico.

In a time of pretty sharp political divide in Venezuela, Patricia, gives a frank middle-of-the-road explanation of the current political climate and her place in the country’s politics as apolitica.

Francisco’s little Taller Arte is guarded by the ever-vigilant Señor Coco, who never sleeps and sees all! Taller means “workshop,” and, as in English, this word can have a range of meanings, such as a place where artisans create, a place where things are fixed, or an event where people get together to work on ideas.

A little spot to build, to create, to listen to the sea, what more do any of us really need? Francisco takes a beautiful public space and makes it his own through conservation, beautification, and an open invitation to all to come, enjoy and treat nature’s work with care and respect.

Chober and his buddies are building a little club on the beach that is aiming to provide services to beach goers and visitors, while at the same time providing events and opportunites for community members, particularly young people. Like his friend Francisco, Chober is concerned with the environment, and finding uses for discarded materials.

Tour the Pyramids of Teotihuacán, a World Heritage Site within one of the most magical pre-Hispanic cities of Mesoamerica, near modern day Mexico City.

Wicoy: como una calabaza pequeña, tal vez 15 cm de diametro, verde y blanco y es mucho mas fino que la calabaza. Para comer es parecido a un zucchetthi/zucchini. Bastante rico. (Thank you to Guatesol for info!) Rafael relates facts and myths of the natural environment in his native land.

Our friend, Rafael, returns this week to talk to us about his homeland and its culture. As he explains, the Mayan culture continues to thrive in Guatemala via its language, clothing, and customs.

In Guatemala, people of Mayan descent not only retain various native forms of dress, but they also speak dialects of the Mayan language, a language many people wrongly presume to be long lost to history. Rafael treats us to some examples of words and phrases in this language, and also explains some of the particulars of traditional dress.

Marta and her friend Marisa are going to teach us the secrets of a timeless classic of Spanish cuisine: the tortilla española or Spanish omelette. What do we need? How do we make it? Let’s listen to them carefully. It sounds yummy!