So this past month has been filled with many firsts.
My first visitor: Technically it wasn’t a visitor from the
States, but it was even better. My friend Tess, from Santa Barbara who is
currently serving in Peace Corps Paraguay came to visit! It was so great to see
her! Since she’s good friends with both me and our other friend Kayla who’s in
PC Panama with me, the three of us adventured our way around Panama together.
It started with a nice time at the beach during my week-long school break. Then
it continued with river rafting up by Kayla’s site. That was crazy fun! I had
never been river rafting, but a volunteer doing tourism in PC Panama, started
river rafting with the locals in his community. We only had one “man overboard”
situations, and that was Tess within the first 30 seconds in the boat before we
really hit any rapids. Yes, we made fun of her for the rest of the trip. J Lastly, Tess and Kayla
came to my site. They got to go to my school and teach an impromptu and very
chaotic class game, meet some members of my community, eat hummus and burritos
and make cookies! We shared lots of laughter, good conversations, and a few
tears too. Tess is an amazingly strong woman and although she has had some
struggles in her experience in Paraguay, I am so proud of all that she is doing
there. I know that she is making a difference and although it was tough to see
her go back to Paraguay, they are very lucky to have her back.
My first school break: At the beginning of June, we had our
first week-long school break. The Panamanian school system has two week-long
trimester breaks during the school year. Since we hadn’t seen many other
volunteers, a big group of us decided to meet up at a beach that was central to
everyone, and conveniently located only 20 minutes from my site. Before the
beach, another volunteer came to my site to visit and I had lots of fun showing
him my town, school, and friends in town as well as a cool area nearby with
lots of hiking and a hot springs. During his visit, there was also a
celebration at my school for “el dia de la etnia negra” (basically black
history day in Panama). There was lots of food, dancing, and cultural
activities, which was fun for both of us to see. Then we all met up at the
beach. The whole group stayed at the beach for a total of 5 days playing in the
water, camping, catching up and just enjoying being together. I admit it was
hard to go back to site after being with everyone at such a beautiful beach.
My first teaching experience: Although I have been in my
school for over 4 months, the first three were spent observing the teachers and
classroom setting. That way I could figure out the best ways to help the
teachers and figure out what we need to work on together as co-teachers. So,
this month, I started teaching for real. It has been challenging and fun at the
same time. Most of Panamanian teaching involves writing things on the board and
having the students copy. Then the students have to memorize what they copied
and have a test on it. So, I try to bring in other activities and games to make
the classroom more fun and interactive. My biggest challenge is classroom
management because the students and classroom setting in Panama is pretty dang
chaotic! Also if you have any fun activities or games that you know of for
learning English or fun activities in general please let me know! I’m always
looking for new ideas.
My first house: This is a big one for me! I officially moved
into my house a week or so ago. It’s been exciting to settle in and get to know
my new neighbors and area of town. I love the community! The first day that I
got here, I already started hanging out with the kids and I’ve had fun playing
volleyball, jumping rope and getting to know new people. My landlord is the
nicest lady. Her house is right behind mine and she is always bringing me food,
and making sure I’m settling in ok. I hang out at her house with her husband,
mom, daughter and her daughters 3 kids who also go to my school. They are a
wonderful family and have been very welcoming. I feel at home with them around
and very safe. Especially because they have a dog that is literally the size of
a small pony that likes to hang out in front of my house. He’s super sweet but
looks menacing so criminals beware! My “house” is really a one room building.
It used to be a kiosko or small store, but my landlord and family converted it
into a house for me, which took a lot of work and they did it all out of the
goodness of their heart. I have a bed, stove, sink and small piece of
furniture. Much of it has been loaned to me by wonderful people in town and I
am amazed by peoples’ kindness. Out of the little that they have, they still
find a way to give which is amazing to me. Whether it be fruit from their
trees, a table from their living room, a ride when I’m walking home from
school, or a traditional dish that they cook for me, I never feel short on
love. The only downside to my new house is that it’s about a 40 minute walk
from school. There are many kids that live by me and go to the school, so in
the morning I’m able to get a ride, but in the afternoon, I leave school at
weird times so I usually have to walk home. This isn’t a problem for me since I
like to walk but when I have to go to school and home a few times a day, it
adds up. But I am getting a new nickname out of it: La gringa que camina mucha
or La gringa loca que le gusta caminar (the white girl who walks a lot or the the
crazy white girl who likes to walk). It also gives me lots of time to think,
which can be good and bad. I get lots of ideas for things in the community, but
it can also make me think of people and things I miss. But then I get home or
to school, depending on which way I’m walking, and am filled with joy and love
by the students and community members. So, I am slowly settling in to my new
house.
The first time living without a fridge and faraway bathroom:
This isn’t as big an adjustment as I thought it would be, but it does make me
have to get creative with certain foods. For example, no cheese and I’m using
powdered milk, but this is where vegetarianism comes in handy because I have no
meat to refrigerate. And my landlord feels badly that I don’t have a fridge, so
she gives me cold water sometimes haha. My bathroom is also outside, which
isn’t terrible, except when I have to pee in the night, which happens every
night between 2 and 3. Then I have to trek out to my bathroom with a flashlight
and pray I don’t see snakes. I really don’t think that there is any real threat
of seeing a snake, but in my head, they are lurking everywhere! Every bush has
one underneath waiting to strike my poor unsuspecting ankle; every stick is a
snake stalking its prey: my foot. But other than that, I am very content with
my house, just adjusting.
So, this month has been eventful, but wonderful. I am so
grateful for the support of other volunteers here because we’re all going
through the same adjustments of starting to teach, moving into our houses, and
still figuring out Panamanian culture together. Their love, friendship, and
listening has helped me a lot. And your support and love for me in the States
has helped a lot too. Sorry that I write so infrequently, but having internet
every 2 weeks or so makes it hard (excuses, excuses). Besos, abrazos, y
sonrisas desde El Higo (kisses, hugs, and smiles from fig town), Sydney
