People always tell me nasty things about not updating my blog. I just honestly don´t have too much to report in a public space like the internet
I have now been in my town for one year. Work goes slow, but the initial worries about people liking or hating me are long gone. I now have a small town full of family. We finished a lot of work related to community events for the provincial anniversary back in May. Now I´m spending most of my time working in a few different schools. My sister Jessica was just here visiting. No more visits are on the docket besides my own to the U.S. in September. Start making plans to visit me people! I know the economy is bad but a full dinner here costs $1.75!
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
update (the few and far between)
Sorry I don’t update the blog much. In the past month, I have had two groups of friends come to visit. So, I got to play hostess and travel around the country a little. The first trip was a total disaster, with one glaring lesson: never fly Delta. Listen to that advice people. I have two words for you. Come visit me, but don’t fly Delta when you do. The second trip went off wonderfully, until the last day when insane Easter traffic jams led to a missed return flight. Lesson on that one: everyone and their mother (literally) are traveling to Panama City on Easter to go home after Holy Week, do not travel that day.
We also had an All-Volunteer Conference, so I got to see some of my other volunteers.
I also realized that this blog is now one year old. On April 16th, I finished one year of being in Panama. Since service is 27 months, I’m still a little short of half way. But, I have to say, looking back on the past year. I’m not sure I’ve accomplished very much in terms of saving the world, but I’ve had a lot of fun, learned a lot of new things about the world, am immensely looking forward to the next year, and it will be hard to leave.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
pity, love, gringa hotness
Ok, as volunteers, we make very little money. But, I always have money left over. Partly, because I never really travel or stay in hotels. It’s that over integration/site rat aspect of me. The rest is mostly related to the fact that I get pretty much everything given to me. I attribute this to three factors: love, pity, and gringa hotness.
First, gringa hotness. It is a well known fact to any white girl to appear in Panama that Panamanian men love gringas. Any moment I walk down the street, I am greeted with hisses, “I love you”s, and “hellos.” I am pretty sure that most men I run into, whether 12 year old boys, or heads of government agencies, have hit on me. But, this gringa hotness has its advantages. For example, I went to Carnaval with two other volunteers. We got some free beers, and my friend even got her bus fare paid for. I get offered free rides pretty much anywhere I go. There’s nothing that pulls the heart strings of a Panamanian man like a gringa walking on the side of the road. He is obligated to try and offer her a lift. I have even been offered free rides from taxis and busses. This leads into the second.
Pity: That’s right, that poor girl was walking by herself under the sun on the side of the road. She needs a ride. Of course, I’m pretty sure when people in my town look at me, they just see this poor girl, who’s down here living by herself without her family. Most of the questions I get asked are just whether I miss my family and if I’m scared to live alone. Plus, they are pretty sure I can’t cook. So, I get so much food, or rides, or whatever help they can offer me. I know most male volunteers don’t even have to wash their clothes, they are so pitied for being alone, without a mom or a wife.
Finally, love: I was one describing to one of my friends in site my theories of pity and “gringa sexy.” He laughed, but then told me that I was wrong. People like me and want to bless me with things. I am used to going to visit people and shoot the breeze. Usually, I also get offered a little cup of juice or a cookie, or if I hit the jackpot, a whole meal. But, the other day, I answered my front door to find my neighbor from across the street at my door with some soup for me, and even a little extra food for my dog. It was a revelation, she either pitied or loved me so much, that she would bring me food, and I didn’t even have to visit her (though I do regularly, don’t worry).
It’s things like these that I will definitely miss back in the states, where no one even says hi or helps strangers. Is there a town that will take me in and adopt me with all the love I’ve received here in Panama when I go back in a year and a half?
First, gringa hotness. It is a well known fact to any white girl to appear in Panama that Panamanian men love gringas. Any moment I walk down the street, I am greeted with hisses, “I love you”s, and “hellos.” I am pretty sure that most men I run into, whether 12 year old boys, or heads of government agencies, have hit on me. But, this gringa hotness has its advantages. For example, I went to Carnaval with two other volunteers. We got some free beers, and my friend even got her bus fare paid for. I get offered free rides pretty much anywhere I go. There’s nothing that pulls the heart strings of a Panamanian man like a gringa walking on the side of the road. He is obligated to try and offer her a lift. I have even been offered free rides from taxis and busses. This leads into the second.
Pity: That’s right, that poor girl was walking by herself under the sun on the side of the road. She needs a ride. Of course, I’m pretty sure when people in my town look at me, they just see this poor girl, who’s down here living by herself without her family. Most of the questions I get asked are just whether I miss my family and if I’m scared to live alone. Plus, they are pretty sure I can’t cook. So, I get so much food, or rides, or whatever help they can offer me. I know most male volunteers don’t even have to wash their clothes, they are so pitied for being alone, without a mom or a wife.
Finally, love: I was one describing to one of my friends in site my theories of pity and “gringa sexy.” He laughed, but then told me that I was wrong. People like me and want to bless me with things. I am used to going to visit people and shoot the breeze. Usually, I also get offered a little cup of juice or a cookie, or if I hit the jackpot, a whole meal. But, the other day, I answered my front door to find my neighbor from across the street at my door with some soup for me, and even a little extra food for my dog. It was a revelation, she either pitied or loved me so much, that she would bring me food, and I didn’t even have to visit her (though I do regularly, don’t worry).
It’s things like these that I will definitely miss back in the states, where no one even says hi or helps strangers. Is there a town that will take me in and adopt me with all the love I’ve received here in Panama when I go back in a year and a half?
am I becoming too Panamanian?
I scare myself sometimes. I think I’m starting to become what you might call “over integrated.” In the past week, I’ve had at least a couple times where people told me I was Panamanian. Admittedly, they were in relation to painted nails and threatening to fight a girl with a knife over a boy (jokingly, don’t worry). Just yesterday, I arrived in Albrook mall in Panama City. When I first arrived in country, I thought, wow, this is just like a mall in the U.S. This time, my little rural self felt so uncomfortable with the shiny, expensive stores, I tried to get out as soon as possible (but, after buying a Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger, of course). But, here’s another one for example. These are the shoes I brought with me:
I never use them. They sit in my “closet” (aka, the floor under the bar that holds my clothes on hangers at the foot of my bed). Here, on the other hand, are the shoes I use every day:
Oh yeah, they are ugly. In the U.S. I would have mocked them. But, here I find them strangely attractive. Look at those orange jellies. The other day I went to the creek with some girls from my town. I was wearing some Teva Flip-flops. Every single one of them and their mother were wearing these shoes. They looked at my Tevas in disdain. The next time I went to David, I immediately bought myself a pair of those jellies for 1.59. The next day when I walked into my manicure class, they ladies just admired them and smiled at me. Probably thinking, finally we’ve started to help this poor gringa.
But seriously, while other volunteers like to travel and visit other parts of the country, I start to feel uncomfortable being outside of my town, my home, for even an afternoon. It’s gonna be super hard in a year and a half.
I never use them. They sit in my “closet” (aka, the floor under the bar that holds my clothes on hangers at the foot of my bed). Here, on the other hand, are the shoes I use every day:
Oh yeah, they are ugly. In the U.S. I would have mocked them. But, here I find them strangely attractive. Look at those orange jellies. The other day I went to the creek with some girls from my town. I was wearing some Teva Flip-flops. Every single one of them and their mother were wearing these shoes. They looked at my Tevas in disdain. The next time I went to David, I immediately bought myself a pair of those jellies for 1.59. The next day when I walked into my manicure class, they ladies just admired them and smiled at me. Probably thinking, finally we’ve started to help this poor gringa.
But seriously, while other volunteers like to travel and visit other parts of the country, I start to feel uncomfortable being outside of my town, my home, for even an afternoon. It’s gonna be super hard in a year and a half.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
what´s new
Sorry I don´t update this blog very often. Life continues to be busy and interesting, but not really in ways that can be put in words and posted on the internet. I am enjoying the summer here. I went to the beach in a busload with my community. Plus, plenty of little trips to the swimming hole in the river. I´m still working too (well, a little). I have an English class twice a week, am working on my girl scouts troop, planning for the next school year, and translating for some hikes, plus I continue to accept all meeting invitations (and social invitations as well) and attending various conferences. I’m even taking a class in manicure and pedicure with other woman in the community. Who knew that I might return from Peace Corps ready to start a salon! Of course, the start date of school here got pushed back from March to April. In some ways this is good, because I was not as prepared as I thought I’d be and I have another month of “vacation”. But, in some ways, the kids will be missing out on a month of learning. The days contain their disappointments and surprises. The other day, after a sad girl scouts meeting, when only two girls came, I was pleasantly surprised by the arrival of a donation of 4 tanks to use for the school recycling project.
I also went and celebrated a little bit of Carnaval yesterday. I didn’t go all out and travel to the Azuero peninsula like my compatriots, but opted rather for a half a day in a nearby city. I missed out of the parades, mostly it just consisted of a pit of people drinking and getting hosed down (by representatives of the political parties, nonetheless). Somewhat fun, but hopefully people fit in enough sin and are now ready for Ash Wednesday and Lent.
Sorry for the sorry updates. If you want to know what’s going on. Shoot me an e-mail or give me a call.
I also went and celebrated a little bit of Carnaval yesterday. I didn’t go all out and travel to the Azuero peninsula like my compatriots, but opted rather for a half a day in a nearby city. I missed out of the parades, mostly it just consisted of a pit of people drinking and getting hosed down (by representatives of the political parties, nonetheless). Somewhat fun, but hopefully people fit in enough sin and are now ready for Ash Wednesday and Lent.
Sorry for the sorry updates. If you want to know what’s going on. Shoot me an e-mail or give me a call.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
christmas
I just want to send out Merry Christmas greetings to all. I´ll be spending Christmas here in my community in Panama. Not quite sure what the plans are. Something about the tropical climate makes it feel not quite like Christmas, but I´m looking forward to seeing new cultural celebrations.
Merry Christmas to all!! Feliz Navidad!!
Merry Christmas to all!! Feliz Navidad!!
Friday, December 12, 2008
Development Theory
So, I’m in Peace Corps. Thus, I am in a “third world,” “underdeveloped” or “developing” country. Here’s my International Relations/American University opinion of this experience.
I am not in a “third world” country, in whatever negative, patronizing connotations that might hold. If you think I am surrounded by huts, famines, and big-bellied parasitic children, I am not.
Instead, let’s think of “developing.” Developing countries, in the true active sense of this word, are moving from the rural to the urban. from subsistence to money-making agriculture, from isolated to connected, from illiterate to educated, from poor to middle class, etc. There are many indicators of development. Some of the key elements of “developing” countries are falling birthrates, increasing education, urbanization, professional jobs, and infrastructure. Ports, roads, railways, airports, telecommunications infrastructure are all being developed.
Thus, we come to my site. This was the view from my front door this morning:
That’s right. The road is a coming. Now, my site wasn’t like some where volunteers have to hike in. We had a paved road. It was old and full of potholes, but cars could come through. But, in Panama’s development, new roads are important. Thus, I often heard of this “ruta sur” or road that would connect Cerro Punta and Boquete and would pass through town. This will change travel time from like 4 to 1 hours between the two towns. I spent one week out of site in a training seminar. When I arrived back, about 3 feet of my yard had disappeared. Two days ago, another couple feet were gone. Tubes lay in the streets, dump trucks pass by every half hour. Unfamiliar construction workers holler at me. Heavy machinery and equipment appeared in the streets.
Development was happening.
Now, noise is everywhere. Knick-knacks fell off shelves and my walls shook like I was in an earthquake. As I walked to the store this morning, people in my community had paused mid-morning and huddled together to watch the machines at work.
This road will cut transport time substantially. It will be a much more efficient route between two large cities. Transport in and out of my town will be better. More tourists will begin passing through my town. We will have the opportunity to open restaurants, sell items, and make more money. Yet, the traffic will be higher and faster. No longer will I be able to stroll the streets, stopping to visit my neighbors. My town will become merely a town along a highway.
Development is happening.
I am not in a “third world” country, in whatever negative, patronizing connotations that might hold. If you think I am surrounded by huts, famines, and big-bellied parasitic children, I am not.
Instead, let’s think of “developing.” Developing countries, in the true active sense of this word, are moving from the rural to the urban. from subsistence to money-making agriculture, from isolated to connected, from illiterate to educated, from poor to middle class, etc. There are many indicators of development. Some of the key elements of “developing” countries are falling birthrates, increasing education, urbanization, professional jobs, and infrastructure. Ports, roads, railways, airports, telecommunications infrastructure are all being developed.
Thus, we come to my site. This was the view from my front door this morning:
That’s right. The road is a coming. Now, my site wasn’t like some where volunteers have to hike in. We had a paved road. It was old and full of potholes, but cars could come through. But, in Panama’s development, new roads are important. Thus, I often heard of this “ruta sur” or road that would connect Cerro Punta and Boquete and would pass through town. This will change travel time from like 4 to 1 hours between the two towns. I spent one week out of site in a training seminar. When I arrived back, about 3 feet of my yard had disappeared. Two days ago, another couple feet were gone. Tubes lay in the streets, dump trucks pass by every half hour. Unfamiliar construction workers holler at me. Heavy machinery and equipment appeared in the streets.
Development was happening.
Now, noise is everywhere. Knick-knacks fell off shelves and my walls shook like I was in an earthquake. As I walked to the store this morning, people in my community had paused mid-morning and huddled together to watch the machines at work.
This road will cut transport time substantially. It will be a much more efficient route between two large cities. Transport in and out of my town will be better. More tourists will begin passing through my town. We will have the opportunity to open restaurants, sell items, and make more money. Yet, the traffic will be higher and faster. No longer will I be able to stroll the streets, stopping to visit my neighbors. My town will become merely a town along a highway.
Development is happening.
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