Yankee Sandinistas: Interviews with North Americans Living & Working in the New Nicaragua

A freelance journalist and peace activist, Ridenour here interviews in depth 11 Americans who live and work in Nicaragua as well as includes brief conversations with the American members of ""international'' work brigades. Politically the subjects range from dedicated Marxists and other leftists to a Baptist missionary, a nun and a registered Republican who says ``the U.S. ought to be sending help, trading. That's the only way to make friends.'' The Americans talk about their desire to raise the standard of living and their disagreements with U.S. foreign policy. One woman maintains that she is in Nicaragua because she has more ability to make changes than at home. (``The United States is a giant plate of jello. You can touch it, but you can't put a mark on it. It springs right back.'') A man's experiences running a tractor repair school illustrate the clash of cultures. ``One of our problems is how to transform something, writing down on paper what work we are gonna be doing, and then doing it. Like a check list for servicing a machine, keeping a record of work in progress. That whole concept is very alien to them.'' An illuminating, helpful look at day-to-day life in Nicaragua. (October)