Hi friends! Yes I know, I haven’t written in a while!! I’m
sorry. I know that you all just sit by your computers refreshing my blog page
waiting for my new posts so I’m so sorry to keep you waiting J The last few months
have been full of travel and fun! I went to Bocas del Toro in October and
stayed on a beautiful island, marched in 5 parades in November for the many
independence days Panama celebrates, went to visit my good friend Tess who is
in the Peace Corps in Paraguay, and celebrated Thanksgiving with about 150
volunteers in the mountains of Panama. So it’s been busy and fun but also
challenging as the last trimester of school means that literally half the days
are vacation and barely any teaching and learning gets done. The students and
teachers both love this, but for me, it is frustrating to see how much time
gets wasted and how much more the kids could learn in the last months of
school. Now, I am getting ready for my sister to come in a few days and my
parents to come right before Christmas. Since all but about 4 of the volunteers
are going home for Christmas, I’m excited to at least be with my family for
Christmas even if I’m not going home. So there’s a short update on what’s been
happening in Panama. The rest is just ramblings on what I’ve been thinking
about recently. If you were just looking for a little Sydney update, you can
stop reading now, but if you want a little peak into the crazy mind of Sydney
feel free to keep reading…
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the basic things I
take for granted in the States and what I don’t have here. Not that I am
lacking in anything because I feel perfectly content here, but just the
difference between basic needs in the U.S. and in Panama. I think this is one
of the big problems I had in the States. My idea of basic needs was way bigger
and more complete than here and that complicates life. For example, a washing
machine, dryer, internet, and a car always seemed like necessities for me in
the U.S. Here, I don’t have any of those and I’m getting along just fine.
Without these things it may take me more time to do laundry, get somewhere, or
find out information I need, but that’s the beauty in it. No instant
gratification. I have more time because my life isn’t so cluttered. I enjoy
taking the time to hand wash and line dry my clothes, walk everywhere, and have
to go to another town to use the internet. It makes me feel more connected to
other people and accomplished after finishing my laundry or walking really far
to get to someone’s house to visit. I get joy out of the little things and I am
content. Spending a day walking around visiting neighbors or doing laundry and
cooking is a day filled with accomplishments. My idea of what a productive day looks
like has changed and become less complicated.
There are a few basic things for which I am very
grateful in the U.S. though. For example, most days for most or part of the
day, my water goes out. That means that washing clothes, cooking, showering,
cleaning and most basic things have to be put off. I always have a full tank of
water for when this happens, but it’s amazing how quickly one tank of water can
be used; and I’m just one person. I can’t imagine a big family of 8-10 trying
to do everything with one small tank of water. I don’t think I have ever really
experienced a lack of water, which is a crazy statement considering most of the
world lives daily with this problem. Every morning the first thing I do when I
get up is check to see if I have running water. When I do, I thank God for that
water. What a difference from how I used to thank God for a nice apartment, but
didn’t even realize that I should be thanking God for the running water. It’s
just something we usually don’t think about. You turn the faucet and water will
come out right? What perfect timing too. As I’m writing this, the water just
came back on. How perfect! I’m literally smiling. It’s been out since last
night. Let’s be honest I haven’t showered in a while and I sweat A LOT here, so
now I’m happy. And content. It’s amazing the little things that make me happy
now. And after I shower I will feel accomplished. My mentality has totally
changed and I’m ok with that. Who knows what will happen when I got home, but
for now I am home and happy and grateful for the things I have. The motto of
Peace Corps is “the toughest job you’ll ever love.” I think part of why it is
tough is that we have to learn to be ok with living in a radically different
way than we’re used to in the U.S. And it may be tough (sometimes really tough)
but I could not imagine doing any other job right now and I sure love it!
