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Ian Zimmermann

Ian found his calling as a student leader. As Class President throughout his four-year high school career, he championed ethics, financial sustainability and equity. He rallied his peers around budget cuts that would affect teachers and course offerings as well as organized the most affordable and highest attended prom in over 20 years. Ian was later elected as Speaker of the House as part of New Hampshire’s YMCA Student Government where, in the words of his advisor, he “was an eloquent speaker who mesmerized his audience by the sheer volume of information he possessed.” Ian also channels his voice through his band, Modo Forte, which has won awards, released a CD, and performed numerous benefit shows.

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On things I will miss and things I won’t

Ian Zimmermann

2010-04-24

As my time in Nebaj quickly comes to an end – just 4 short days until I leave – I’m left forced to think about the upcoming transition back into my old life. Call it reverse culture-shock or what you will, many basic things will be substantially different that what I’ve grown accustomed to. So...

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Spanish Language Milestone

Ian Zimmermann

2010-03-09

Not a doubt in the world, my Spanish language abilities have improved dramatically since arriving in Guatemala a little over five months ago. But occasionally, I still think “god, I’ve been in this country for so long, yet there are so many words I simply don’t know.” Yesterday, though, I headed out with Ricardo, the...

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El café

Ian Zimmermann

2010-01-12

Of all the possible skills I thought I might be able to learn while living in Guatemala, using an espresso machine never ranked very high. But that is where expectations could be deceiving. Helen, another volunteer with Soluciones Comunitarias in Nebaj, brought a small espresso machine back from the States so that El Descanso, a small restaurant and favorite hangout place of gringos passing through town, could improve its coffee options (currently, they fill a big container of instant coffee).

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Coffee in Guatemala

Ian Zimmermann

2010-01-12

Of all the possible skills I thought I might be able to learn while living in Guatemala, using an espresso machine never ranked very high. But that is where expectations could be deceiving.Helen, another volunteer with Soluciones Comunitarias in Nebaj, brought a small espresso machine back from the States so that El Descanso, a small...

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Malnutrition and Education in Guatemala

Ian Zimmermann

2009-12-22

This post by Fellow, Ian Zimmermann has been cross-posted from the Current TV News Blog. Q: What are you first impressions? How does your new home compare to where you live in the US? What an amazing place! I grew up in a small New England town, so in terms of the number of people...

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Perroquia/Las Pacayas

Ian Zimmermann

2009-12-17

One of our major projects in Guatemala is to support Soluciones Comunitarias, an NGO which trains Guatemalans to sell health related products such as reading glasses, water purifiers, and vegetable seeds. This week, we spent two (long) days traveling around northern Quiche and I produced the following video to document our journey:

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Las Cataratas

Ian Zimmermann

2009-11-30

Complimenting Zuleika’s blog post from last week, we spent this Monday in a town passed Vi Chibala called Santa Averina doing publicity for a campaign for Soluciones Comunitarias (we do publicity a few days before returning for a campaign when we bring the water purifiers, reading glasses, and other health products for sale). Usually, we...

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Guat-icans

Ian Zimmermann

2009-11-13

Feeling the part of an expert, I’ve decided to make a simple guide explaining how to come in contact with Guatemalans that have lived and worked in the States. 1. Go to Guatemala 2. Be white

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El Instituto

Ian Zimmermann

2009-11-09

“Touch your head…head…touch your ears…ears…now jump…” About 30 minutes ago, I finished teaching my first ever foreign language class. Sure, teaching English isn’t as impressive as some other language, but the class was exhilarating nonetheless. School is on vacation this time of year in Guatemala, but “El Instituto” in Nebaj is the city’s first fully...

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Valhalla Farm

Ian Zimmermann

2009-10-26

s Were I to be handed a five hundred dollar disability pension check from my job as a paramedic, I might not immediately think to move to Guatemala and start planting macadamia trees. This is why I wasn’t the founder of the Valhalla Farm. The farm, tucked behind a small bridge and a jumble of...

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Journal Excerpt – 10/10/09 – Climbing Volcano Pacaya

Ian Zimmermann

2009-10-12

“…After passing through what appeared it must be the last bit of civilization before the volcano, we came across this covered, but open-air shelter filled with over 20 men — as well as a few children holding marshmallows up to the bus window trying to wordlessly convince us to purchase the colorful, gooey treat. We...

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A Day at the Market

Ian Zimmermann

2009-10-07

“Ask 6 tomato vendors how much a pound of tomatoes costs. What is the disparity in pricing?” This is one of over a dozen questions on a single sheet of paper we were handed in the main Antigua market. Beck, our Antigua contact with Social Entrepreneur Corps, gave us this survey as a means with...

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Day Recap: David Abernethy, Nathaniel Whittemore

Ian Zimmermann

2009-09-23

David Abernethy, Emeritus Professor of Political Science at Stanford, was introduced by Abby Falik as one of the single most important people in engaging her in global development. He described development in terms of different groups; personal development focuses on our capacity to handle problems while the development of human “groups” will focus more specifically...

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Guns Aren’t for Killing?

Ian Zimmermann

2009-08-20

When I keep seeing these videos of guns rights activists outside of Obama health care rallies my stomach twists into knots. Sure, Second Amendment activists at these events haven’t yet been acting criminally, but I can’t help but feel that we take for granted our ability to have legitimate, nonviolent, political dialogue in this country...

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Oh, The People We Meet…

Ian Zimmermann

2009-07-29

I think I’m probably not the only one who meets a new group of people and tries to create associations between individuals in this new group and people who I’m already familiar with. For example, I walk into a room where I don’t know anyone and – oh – I haven’t even learned this kid’s...

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