Boquete

I got out of Parita for a couple days this weekend and went to the mountain town of Boquete. It is a popular place for retired gringos to move to and popular for tourists as well. However, right now is the off season so I still stuck out like a sore thumb.

I had some issues getting there unfortunately. The second bus I got on (I had to take three to get there) was stopped at an immigration check point. Since I didnt have my passport with me, I had to get off the bus and wait til they figured out something to do with me. I didnt bring because I didnt want to lose it, but I also didnt have a copy. So I had to call my host mom so at least I would have the number. After about 30 minutes I was released, but with a note to go to the immigration office in David the next morning at 9. Overall it turned out ok, the office let me off without paying a fine, partly because I had my license and partly because Im a gringa. I met a Mexican guy in Boquete later who didnt have his passport and he spent the night in jail. Dont worry, next time Ill carry a copy.

Boquete itself was beautiful, so much biodiversity. The trees and flowers were gorgeous, so many different colors. Ill put up photos on facebook.

Now I need to go, im going to help some student in here with their english homework. Haha they saw me writing in English.

New Work

It seems like a long time since I got here, probably because I havent been doing much. I told myself the first couple weeks I would just adjust to life here and let people get used to my presence. It seemed like a good plan, except that I get restless very quickly. So yesterday I brought all my cameras out and gave one to Berta and one to Ana. They of course have already gone through two rolls of film. Ana, who is 9 years old, loves my big digital SLR camera. I have been letting her take photos with it as long as the neck strap is on. I will post some of the photos later, I forgot my USB drive today.

You'd think by going to a small rural town in Panama you would get away from things like Facebook and texting, but that is not the case. The majority of kids in the study center are on Facebook right now. Even little Ana and I are friends on Facebook now. And my other host sisters, Emmyline and Carmen, are constantly texting their boyfriends.

I went this morning to the local preschool and asked if they could use my help. She asked what the conditions were, I said there aren't any. Im excited to start helping on Monday!

My time on the computer is up!

Arrival

I flew into Panama City yesterday around 11am Panamanian time. As you get closer all you see is the blue ocean and green islands. Closer to the city you can see the canal with huge boats waiting to go through the locks. They look so small from the air, but I know their shipments are huge. The Panamanian governement, I'm sure backed by China or another Asian country, is expanding the canal. And another Asian country is threatening to build another in Nicaragua, where the canal was supposed to be originally.

After going through customs and the lack of security, I went outside into the humidity. I read in Lonely Planet that the buses bound for the central bus terminal pass by across the street. The bus costs a little more than a dollar, while a taxi would cost around $20, probably more for a gringa like me. Apparently though I was waiting in the wrong place, so two men (taxi drivers) took me to the right place. Right then the metrobus came and someone else helped me drag my huge suitcase inside. I am always amazed at how helpful people are here, with nothing in return expected. You may call me naive for being so trusting, but I truly believe that they mean me no harm.

After about an hour bus ride, we made it to the bus terminal. I had been there before, so thankfully I knew where to find the bus to Parita. I paid $9 and got on a very crowded medium sized bus. My suitcase and backpack were put up top and I shared a bench with an overweight woman. She turned out to be very friendly, but my butt definitely hurt after four hours with one butt cheek hanging off the side.

At 6:30pm I finally arrived in Parita and dragged my bags to Maritza's house. She was so happy to see me, as were her two daughters (Dania and Celia) and their kids (Emmylyne, Carmen, Jennifer, and Celia). I was so tired I had a lot of difficulty speaking Spanish. But I took a shower, wrote in my journal, and talked to Dania for a while. I hadn't seen her in 6 years, since the first time I came. Then I tried to sleep, but it was hard with all the noise from people chatting and the television. The house is also on the highway, so the cars can be very loud.

This morning I woke up and had an orange and some bread. The oranges here are yellow and green and white inside. Apparently you are supposed to cut the top off to see if it is sweet, but I peeled mine. I hung out for awhile as everyone was waking up and finally decided to go visit my other host family. They weren't there when I got there, but Carmen walked around the town with me and brought me to this internet cafe. It is more of a study center, I'm not sure if I am supposed to use it because I am not a student, but no one has said anything.

I am excited to start taking photos and speak with local non-profits to see how I can help out. I think I will wait a few days for the photos, everyone needs to get used to me being here first. I have told everyone that I will be here for a few months, they don't understand why I love it here so much. But they say I am welcome to stay as long as I want.

I hope everyone in the US is doing well, I know I will miss all of you.

Four weeks til take off

        In less than a month I will be returning to Parita after 3 long years. A lot has happened to keep me away, but the ultimate goal of returning never changed. Today I bought 75 rolls of film and 6 point and shoot cameras. I will give the cameras to the children I know, like Berta Maria pictured above. I am so excited to see the photos they produce and to help them improve their skills. It will be a kind of Born into Brothels scenario, except of course without the brothels.
         I would describe Parita as a mainly middle class society, in Panamanian standards. Houses have running water, electricity, and television. They live simply and many rely on their local farm for money. But the town is also near the city of Chitre, which although not a large thriving place does have a decent amount of stores, restaurants, and I'm assuming jobs.
        I will begin my time there living with my host mom Maritza Montenegro, who I stayed with for a month after I graduate high school. She is an older woman who lives alone, but is surrounded by her kids and grandkids much of the time. Although our phone conversations have been short and infrequent over the years, she still calls me her daughter. I would like to get my own place at some point so I can come and go as I please and have some place for visitors to stay. Maritza has told me that I will only need to pay for food, so all my expenses will be travel and photography.
        I am not planning on working while I am there, but am hoping to volunteer with a local environmental non-profit and take some early childhood development classes in Chitre. The more activities I plan, the more I will network and the greater my understanding of the Panamanian culture will be. Wish me luck!