Blog Dos

Peace Corps disclaimer: the contents of this website are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the US government or the Peace Corps.

Blog Numero Dos,

I have two followers! Alright! Thanks to my cousins and sister! In Mountains beyond mountains by Tracy Kidder written about a humanitarian named Paul Farmer, Farmer expresses his opinion about International development work, that “lives of service depend on lives of support.” I couldn’t agree more with Paul Farmers opinion. A family friend who served as a Peace Corps volunteer in El Salvador a couple years ago mentioned that during my two-year service I would learn a lot about friends and family. The amount of support that friends, family, and family friends have already demonstrated has been incredible. Within a week of mentioning to my dad how useful a projector would be in my site, the projector had already been funded by friends of the family. Movies have been sent and books have been donated. I am incredibly grateful for this support. Not only have I received support from home, I have also had four visitors within the last 9 months. Volunteers have complained that after nearly two years in Panama and they are still waiting for their families to visit. I did threaten my family that if they didn’t come I would never forgive them. The last visitor, Mama Esquibel, has plans to visit some time in May, June, or July and I cannot wait. One of the greatest things about Peace Corps Panama is traveling around Panama. One of the three Peace Corps goals is sharing Panama and Panamanian culture with other Americans. How best to accomplish this goal? By traveling around Panama! Aside from Costa Rica, Panama might be the second most affluent Peace Corps country. Elena visited early last month and we visited Panama City, my community, Boquete, and Bocas del Toro. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Boquete, it is gorgeous community in the mountains of Chiriqui. While Elena and I were there the city was hosting their annual coffee and flower festival. Although there wasn’t any coffee, the flowers were beautiful. Elena and I stayed at a very nice hotel and we enjoyed sipping strawberry wine and hiking around Boquete. Bocas del Toro is a province of Panama that also is home to an archipelago of some two hundred + islands. Elena and I visited Isla Colon, which in my opinion could be re-named “Dirty Back-packers Paradise.” The island is full of very good looking (some-what dirty) 20-35 year olds from New Zealand, The UK, Argentina, Germany, China, The US, etc. Also the island is a boat ride away from a number of tours including zip-lining, snorkeling, diving, surfing, dolphin-watching, among a list of many other activities. Elena and I had a fantastic time while she was here. I hope she will return soon. Shortly after Elena left another good friend of mine, Alex Ireland stopped by Panama. Alex and I studied in Spain together over two and a half years ago and the girl visited me in Panama! I was am so happy that she managed to make her way down here. We had a great time bike riding, tanning, snorkeling, kissing sea cucumbers for seven years of good luck, dolphin watching, and going out. If anyone reading this blog has the slightest inclination to plan a trip to Panama to visit me, I would be absolutely thrilled. Panama is such a fun country to host visitors.

Cliff Notes for January:

Back to Panama

Beth’s Birthday celebration

Elena’s visit

Traveling to Boquete

Traveling to Bocas del Toro

Taco Tuesdays

Alex Ireland’s visit

Recycling Project

Orange Festival

Hiking to waterfalls

Visiting volunteers/having volunteers visit

(I wish I could comment about all of these events and maybe gradually I will get better at blogging as I go. For the time being though the cliff-notes version will have to do.)

A day in the life: (Sunday Febuary 5th) This morning I woke up and rushed to greet a group of students visiting Membrillo from a Panamanian University in Chitre. The students are all in their fourth year at the University and are currently working on what I believe is the equivalent to a teaching certificate for environmental science. The reforestation group that I work with in La Mina hosted all of the students today. The environmental agency in Panama, ANAM, provided this group of students with transportation. My group led the students on a tour of la Mina and even carved some soap stone figurines for the visitors. After the tour we listened to a presentation that the students had prepared for community members and elementary kids. The group left shortly after 1 pm. I was so impressed by my group today. The “convenio” was a success.

At 2 pm I had to visit Senor Candido who had promised he would teach me how to sew a flower made of a fiber plant. Senor Candido shared with me today that he has 45 grandchildren! How crazy is that? They took a number of pictures that I will upload for this blog. I really wanted to take Senor Candido up on his offer because everyone in my community is an artist. It would be nice to be one of them. He taught me a little today and he told me to go back next Sunday for another lesson. Eventually I will make a mobile, something that resembles chimes back home. Maybe I will send it home when I finish it to add to my Dad’s collection. haha.

Quotes from A Path with Heart that made me smile this week:

“I am a twin, and sometimes I think I got my brother to come along so I could have some company.”

“What we need is a cup of understanding, a barrel or love, and an ocean of patience.”

“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.”

“This life is only a test--it is only a test. If it had been an actual life, you would have received further instructions on where to go and what to do. Remember, this life is only a test.”

A very funny reality here: I remember when I was in junior high and some kids excuses about not doing their homework was that the "dog had eaten their homework." the other day I found my CEC binder completely destroyed by termites! If one of the kids uses that excuse next semester, I will probably believe them because it is totally possible!

(update for today) I just visited the ANAM regional office just to ask for a couple environmental guides for the new school year. The Director in charge of the environmental office was there and gave me so much stuff! I walked out of the office smiling and giggling. I now have environmental guides for grades k-6th graders, recycling guides, environmental posters, puzzles, and coloring books. I also asked about the new floor the recycling area could use and she told me just to send a letter and she would manage to get the 8 concrete sacks that we need. I love how by just asking I now get to tow all of these amazing educational resources back to Membrillo!!!! Wooh!!!!!!! I seriously can’t stop smiling. Best morning ever!