South Central

A dynamic collection of essays and reportage, The Green Season illustrates daily life in Costa Rica, a tiny Central American nation dedicated to peace and teeming with tropical life. With his trademark humor and observation, Robert Isenberg describes the people, culture, and biodiversity that make Costa Rica so unique, from a centuries-old indigenous ceremony to a remote jungle crisscrossed by crocodile-filled canals.

The astounding true story of a young woman’s courage and persistence despite threats, extortion and her own kidnapping, to save lives during Guatemala’s brutal civil war and postwar, to establish a thriving help organization fueling the rural Maya’s struggle for self-reliance. If you’ve ever despaired at the state of the world or doubted the power we each have to profoundly change lives for the better, you must listen to the story of how Leslie Baer Dinkel and a handful of like-minded friends changed the course of tens of thousands of lives in Guatemala.

ಪೆರು ಕಣಿವೆಗೆಂದು ಹೊರಟು, ಪರವಾನಗಿ ಇಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರೂ ಅಕ್ಕಪಕ್ಕದ ದೇಶಗಳಲ್ಲೂ ಸುಳಿದಾಡಿದ ರೋಮಾಂಚನಕಾರಿ ಚಿತ್ರಣ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಎದುರಾಗುವ ಭಾಷೆಯ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಯನ್ನು ತಮ್ಮದೇ ಕೈ ಬಾಯಿ ಸನ್ನೆಗಳ ಮೂಲಕ ನಿಭಾಯಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು, ಅದೇ ರೀತಿ ಆಹಾರದ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಯನ್ನು ಬಗೆಹರಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು, ನಮ್ಮ ಜನರಂತೆಯೇ ಆದರಿಸುವ, ಪ್ರೀತಿಸುವ, ಸ್ನೇಹಭಾವ ತೋರಿಸುವ ಜನರನ್ನು ಭೇಟಿ ಮಾಡಿದ ಅನುಭವಗಳನ್ನು ಲೇಖಕಿ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ವಾರಸ್ಯಕರವಾಗಿ ವರ್ಣಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಗೆಳತಿಯ ಜೊತೆಗೂಡಿ ಬೆಟ್ಟವೇರಿ, ಕಣಿವೆ ಇಳಿದು, ಅಮೆಜಾನ್ ನದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ರಾತ್ರಿ ದೋಣಿ ಪಯಣ ಮಾಡಿದ ರೋಮಾಂಚಕ ಸನ್ನಿವೇಶಗಳನ್ನು, ಮಹಿಳೆಯರ ಅಪೂರ್ವ ಸಾಧನೆಯನ್ನು ನೇಮಿಚಂದ್ರ ಅವರು ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಕುತೂಹಲಭರಿತವಾಗಿ ದಾಖಲಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

Greater Than a Tourist - Atitlán Guatemala, by Renee Schräder, offers the inside scoop on the towns surrounding Lake Atitlán.

The shake-shake of maracas vibrates down to my toes. Ti Gran’s feet tap-tap to the rhythm. Every year, Haitians all over the world ring in the new year by eating a special soup, a tradition dating back to the Haitian Revolution. This year, Ti Gran is teaching Belle how to make the soup - Freedom Soup - just like she was taught when she was a little girl. Together, they dance and clap as they prepare the holiday feast, and Ti Gran tells Belle about the history of the soup, the history of Belle’s family, and the history of Haiti, where Belle’s family is from.

Secret agents Jack and Max Stalwart are sent to the Amazon jungle to investigate the disappearance of an important Global Protection Force scientist. Soon, they discover that the scientist's disappearance is no accident. A greedy outlaw is illegally mining for gold and he'll stop and nothing to keep his secret safe. Can Jack and Max save themselves and the scientist from almost certain death?

Mississippi Central Josephine Findley, almost 18, had the poison selected and handy in the event she couldn’t handle another day, or even another minute. Rat poison was easy to get. The thing was, she had seven strong chains tying her to old terra firma, and they were called “siblings.” And there was another thing. If she solved the problem this way, there was no way back, and whatever way her life turned out to be, it was the only one she had. Something to think on while washing overalls and digging potatoes. Thistles in the Wind Is it possible for the wind to blow a couple of seeds ...

What would it be like to live in Peru? How is Peru's culture unique? Explore the sights, traditions, and daily lives of Peruvians!

Angélica has spent the summer in the Dominican Republic with her tías and primas, her grandparents, and their parrot, but soon she’ll have to say goodbye. The end of summer means returning home to start school on another shore. Before she leaves, her grandfather gives her the perfect gift. It's something with the power to make people dance as fast as the wings of a hummingbird: a güira. Angélica falls in love with this musical instrument, though nobody shares her enthusiasm at first. “What is that sound,” they say, “pennies inside a tin cup?”

Ancient Night is a twist on two Nahuatl traditions: the rabbit which the Feathered Serpent placed on the moon, and Yaushu, the Lord Opossum who ruled the earth before humans came, and who stole fire from the gods to create the sun.

This Highlights Listen & Learn! Audio Study, intended for those in grade four, introduces listeners to the rich culture and long history of El Salvador, a country in Central America. In addition to learning about El Salvador, listeners will be introduced to comprehension skills that will help them better understand the story. These skills include cause-and-effect, identifying sequence of events, and vocabulary-building.

For 12-year-old Diego and his family, home is a prison in Cochabamba, Bolivia. His parents farmed coca, a traditional Bolivian medicinal plant, until they got caught in the middle of the government's war on drugs and were mistakenly convicted of drug possession. Diego's parents are locked up, but he can come and go: to school, to the market to sell his mother's handknitted goods and to work as a "taxi", running errands for other prisoners. But then his little sister temporarily runs off while under his watch, earning his mother a heavy fine.

Discovеr colonial citiеs, anciеnt ruins, and vibrant markеts, whilе immеrsing yoursеlf in thе warm hospitality of Ecuadorian communitiеs. Advеnturе bеckons with thrilling hikеs, scеnic train ridеs, and a culinary еxploration of local flavors. Whеthеr you'rе a naturе еnthusiast, history buff, thrill-sееkеr, or culinary connoissеur, Ecuador awaits you.

Culture Smart! Peru introduces you to the changing realities of modern Peru. It describes contemporary values and attitudes, key customs and traditions, and reveals what people are like at home, in business, and in their social lives. Peruvians are outgoing, sociable, and laid-back; get to know them, and they will respond with warmth and generosity.

For many people, Brazil conjures up images of football, Carnaval, and fine coffee, but it's much more than beaches and bossa nova. If we had to choose one word to describe the country, it would probably be diversity. The variety of lifestyles, ethnic groups, landscapes, and climates Brazil encompasses is quite simply enormous. This guide provides you with a comprehensive introduction to everything you need to know.

Maria Leitner, sozialkritische Journalistin reist 1925 nach dem Kontinent Amerika. Sie taucht ein in die Welt der kleinen Leute, arbeitet in über 80 Stellen und bereist als Frau alleine die Strafkolonien. Sie schlägt sich in New York City durch, u.a. als Zigarrendreherin, schafft es nach Venezuela, versucht einen Polizisten zu überreden, sie über Nacht einzusperren, interviewt Diamantensucher und berichtet von grausamen Lynchmorden.

Oriol nació en Cuba, pero vive en Santa Bárbara, California, donde no logra encontrar su sitio. Sin embargo, pasa muchos buenos momentos cuando ayuda a sus padres en la clínica veterinaria de la familia, donde cuidan animales heridos. La primera ganadora latinoamericana de un Premio Nobel de Literatura, la poeta Gabriela Mistral, se muda entonces a Santa Bárbara, y Oriol se dscrube confesándole que aspira a ser escritora. Cuando la jovencita descubra que alguien está amenazando la vida de un pequeño elefante en la clínica de sus padres, decide tomar acción para protegerlo.

Embark on a captivating journey through the diverse landscapes, rich culture, and vibrant history of Argentina with our comprehensive travel guide. From the bustling streets of Buenos Aires to the breathtaking vistas of Patagonia, this guide offers an immersive experience into the heart of South America's second largest country.

L’immensità è un concetto familiare per chi nasce in Amazzonia, dove lo spazio sembra non avere confini. Un’inesauribile varietà di ambienti, la più alta concentrazione di forme di vita sul pianeta, corsi d’acqua così vasti da non scorgerne la sponda opposta. Emanuela Evangelista, biologa e attivista, vive da oltre dieci anni nel cuore della foresta amazzonica e precisamente nel villaggio di Xixuaú, una manciata di palafitte ignorate dalle mappe ufficiali, come la maggioranza degli insediamenti umani situati nelle zone più remote.

Meet Ellen Ochoa, once just a girl from Los Angeles, California. The granddaughter of Mexican immigrants, Ellen would pursue a career in physics at a young age, and go on to earn master’s and doctorate degrees in electrical engineering from Stanford University. In 1993, Ellen became the first Latina in space. As a retired astronaut, she’s served as director of the Johnson Space Center, become an advocate for women and minorities in STEM fields, and was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame.