Alright so not to say that I haven't heard my fair share of crazy stories about bad guys but come on Panama this is a tad bit ridiculous
So I don't know how many of you all stay up to date on local Panamanian news but here is what's been goin on recently:
There is this rapist on the loose he has evaded local Santa Rita authorities several times, has broken out of jail twice has been shot several times and is still limping his way around the community and taking advantage of women and young children. So this is pretty serious, he has sexually assaulted five individuals which is terrible and awful and I wish he would just get caught already but really??
I have heard that he lives in a cave under the river and that he is a phantom or a wizard, that he is working in cahoots with the Panamanian government, that he is a ghost or some sort of other spirit of the devil... the list of crazy theories goes on.
Here is what I think; he is a very very bad man who did bad things got caught then paid his way out of jail by bribing the guards at the jail and he has been living with his family members and various friends around Santa RIta.
The day we got back from our site visits we were walking down our Main Street in Santa Rita de Chorrera and we saw mobs of people standing around and at first we thought there was another culebra (snake) hunt but then we saw the massive numbers of men wielding machetes and guns and chains and sticks and pretty much any other weapon you can think of running around with all the dogs chasing this man around the community. Then follow that by two police officers on a motorcycle and you got a full fledged Panamanian man hunt.
So far he is still at large but I will be sure to keep you guys informed of his whereabouts
CHao for now
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Site Visit in Cheppo
So if I were to summarize my time in Cañita de Cheppo this is how it would look:
-A bug crawled in my ear while I was sleeping
-I had a staring contest with a bull
-I ate coffee and Oreos for nearly every meal
-I went to a drunk softball tournament
-Had some interesting conversations with a cat
-AND I watched a teacher scream at a crying 4-year-old for nearly fifteen minutes
I'd say it was fairly productive week in the jungle of Panama Este....
I guess to elaborate I was woken up during the middle of a wonderful nap by a terribly uncomfortable sensation of something making its way into my ear....since I woke up with ants crawling all over me the night before I had to assume that is the little critter that had made its way into my head. So after waking up startled and a little confused I remembered what our PCMO (Peace COrps Medical Officer) said to do if a bug crawls in your ear= Pour water in your ear drown the sucker for a good minute then shake the remaining water out of your ear. Good news is it worked though it gave me a bit of swimmers ear. I will tell you though it is the most unnatural sensation listening and feeling something crawling around in your ear.
Some of the other ones are a little more self explanatory but I will say that I was NOT drunk at said softball tournament it was mostly the players drinking to excess as well as the rest of the attendees which was hilarious, until they started getting a little grabby with us gringas and we promptly left the premises
So that was a good ole time please feel free to have me elaborate on any number of things.
Hasta pronto
-A bug crawled in my ear while I was sleeping
-I had a staring contest with a bull
-I ate coffee and Oreos for nearly every meal
-I went to a drunk softball tournament
-Had some interesting conversations with a cat
-AND I watched a teacher scream at a crying 4-year-old for nearly fifteen minutes
I'd say it was fairly productive week in the jungle of Panama Este....
I guess to elaborate I was woken up during the middle of a wonderful nap by a terribly uncomfortable sensation of something making its way into my ear....since I woke up with ants crawling all over me the night before I had to assume that is the little critter that had made its way into my head. So after waking up startled and a little confused I remembered what our PCMO (Peace COrps Medical Officer) said to do if a bug crawls in your ear= Pour water in your ear drown the sucker for a good minute then shake the remaining water out of your ear. Good news is it worked though it gave me a bit of swimmers ear. I will tell you though it is the most unnatural sensation listening and feeling something crawling around in your ear.
Some of the other ones are a little more self explanatory but I will say that I was NOT drunk at said softball tournament it was mostly the players drinking to excess as well as the rest of the attendees which was hilarious, until they started getting a little grabby with us gringas and we promptly left the premises
So that was a good ole time please feel free to have me elaborate on any number of things.
Hasta pronto
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
The death of a president
March 5, 2013
Hugo Chavez died today.
My host mom thinks it was some sort of terrorist attack by Venezuelan gang members... I don't think so but it gives us something to talk about
Hugo Chavez died today.
My host mom thinks it was some sort of terrorist attack by Venezuelan gang members... I don't think so but it gives us something to talk about
Panama City time
March 3, 2013
Panamá city was superbien it was much like any other city but it definitely had some pana flourishes to it. They had us doing yet another scavenger hunt starting from Santa Rita we had to get ourselves to the main terminal Albrook and the Mall then to the interior city. We got to the terminal without any problems and it was awesome taking advantage of the Diablo Rojo system to get there. The terminal was like a super mall it was so clean and open and absolutely overwhelming. We didn't even take the time to check out the mall for fear that we would be just as overwhelmed as we were going to the mall near the ciudad del saber (city of knowledge). So we took advantage of the access to some slight luxuries buying our weight in iced coffee and dulce de leche munchkins from Dunkin Donuts and using a REAL BATHROOM that flushes and has toilet paper and soap and hand dryers and doesn't smell.... it was totally worth the 25 cents.
We then proceeded to take the new metro buses into the city to start our adventure picking up treats along the way like some ice cream at the grocery store and things of that sort. Our group finished quicker than expected so naturally we figured we would treat ourselves to a lunch out in the city before heading back to the campo. We stumbled along this hidden treasure Mar de Gao as we were meandering about and got treated to some AMAZING peruvian seafood dishes we ate our weight in food and then stumbled back to the terminal.
After getting back we got ready for Aja's suprise-not-so-surprise birthday party and had a blasty blast of gringo time hanging out eating cake and ice cream and singing songs and having just a swell ole' time.
Now to make it back to my home in the pouring rain... yay tropical weather.
Panamá city was superbien it was much like any other city but it definitely had some pana flourishes to it. They had us doing yet another scavenger hunt starting from Santa Rita we had to get ourselves to the main terminal Albrook and the Mall then to the interior city. We got to the terminal without any problems and it was awesome taking advantage of the Diablo Rojo system to get there. The terminal was like a super mall it was so clean and open and absolutely overwhelming. We didn't even take the time to check out the mall for fear that we would be just as overwhelmed as we were going to the mall near the ciudad del saber (city of knowledge). So we took advantage of the access to some slight luxuries buying our weight in iced coffee and dulce de leche munchkins from Dunkin Donuts and using a REAL BATHROOM that flushes and has toilet paper and soap and hand dryers and doesn't smell.... it was totally worth the 25 cents.
We then proceeded to take the new metro buses into the city to start our adventure picking up treats along the way like some ice cream at the grocery store and things of that sort. Our group finished quicker than expected so naturally we figured we would treat ourselves to a lunch out in the city before heading back to the campo. We stumbled along this hidden treasure Mar de Gao as we were meandering about and got treated to some AMAZING peruvian seafood dishes we ate our weight in food and then stumbled back to the terminal.
After getting back we got ready for Aja's suprise-not-so-surprise birthday party and had a blasty blast of gringo time hanging out eating cake and ice cream and singing songs and having just a swell ole' time.
Now to make it back to my home in the pouring rain... yay tropical weather.
Okay. I'm in Panamá
A chicken walked into my room today while I was changing. I am in Panamá. I also don't know how I should feel about this kind of personal violation.
What do you mean there are two Santa Rita's
2/28
I mean seeing as how we had been to both we probably should have known this but alas it must have slipped our minds as we were making the trek back to Santa Rita de Chorrera from the city of Chorrera.
So here's what happened. Getting to the city was fine we were in a group, we had to complete some tasks, we completed them without issue aside from an awesome sun burn. However, on our return trip is where things got a bit sticky...
What should have happened:
-Catch a bus from Chorrera to Espino and from Espino to Santa Rita and walk home
What happened:
-Waited around for a good long while
-Finally found a diablo rojo that would take us to Espino
-A bus pulls up to the stop at Espino we ask: "Are you going to Santa Rita?" He responds "Of course lovely ladies I will take you to Santa Rita"
- We hop on the bus and start chatting with the surfers sitting behind us about the beaches and just general conversation.
-30 minutes go by
-We ask "hey by any chance do you know how far we are from Santa Rita?"
-They respond "Which one we are headed to Santa Rita de Anton? Santa Rita de Chorrera was way back there."
-We all respond "Shit."
-We realize we are already late and get off the bus I try to call someone to let them know our mix up
-We run to the other side of the highway to catch another bus heading back to Espino... it takes a long time
-Finally flag down a fancy charter bus and ask if they could possibly stop by Espino, the driver said he could probably manage that and we try not to make eye contact with the rest of the passengers who look like they have been on the bus for a few hours. We sit and start to watch Three Stooges in Spanish
-Arrive at Espino
-Flag down another bus/chiva ask if they could take us to Santa Rita DE CHORRERA they respond of course lovely ladies we will take you there.
-We once again start heading to Santa Rita de Anton we yell at the bus driver to stop and he still makes us pay
-We start running back to the Espino stop
- We continue walking
-Finally find someone who will take all six of us to Santa Rita de Chorrera
Arrive safely, sweaty and an hour past our return time and short 5+ dollars.... a trip that should have only cost 60 cents.
At least we figured it out eventually
I mean seeing as how we had been to both we probably should have known this but alas it must have slipped our minds as we were making the trek back to Santa Rita de Chorrera from the city of Chorrera.
So here's what happened. Getting to the city was fine we were in a group, we had to complete some tasks, we completed them without issue aside from an awesome sun burn. However, on our return trip is where things got a bit sticky...
What should have happened:
-Catch a bus from Chorrera to Espino and from Espino to Santa Rita and walk home
What happened:
-Waited around for a good long while
-Finally found a diablo rojo that would take us to Espino
-A bus pulls up to the stop at Espino we ask: "Are you going to Santa Rita?" He responds "Of course lovely ladies I will take you to Santa Rita"
- We hop on the bus and start chatting with the surfers sitting behind us about the beaches and just general conversation.
-30 minutes go by
-We ask "hey by any chance do you know how far we are from Santa Rita?"
-They respond "Which one we are headed to Santa Rita de Anton? Santa Rita de Chorrera was way back there."
-We all respond "Shit."
-We realize we are already late and get off the bus I try to call someone to let them know our mix up
-We run to the other side of the highway to catch another bus heading back to Espino... it takes a long time
-Finally flag down a fancy charter bus and ask if they could possibly stop by Espino, the driver said he could probably manage that and we try not to make eye contact with the rest of the passengers who look like they have been on the bus for a few hours. We sit and start to watch Three Stooges in Spanish
-Arrive at Espino
-Flag down another bus/chiva ask if they could take us to Santa Rita DE CHORRERA they respond of course lovely ladies we will take you there.
-We once again start heading to Santa Rita de Anton we yell at the bus driver to stop and he still makes us pay
-We start running back to the Espino stop
- We continue walking
-Finally find someone who will take all six of us to Santa Rita de Chorrera
Arrive safely, sweaty and an hour past our return time and short 5+ dollars.... a trip that should have only cost 60 cents.
At least we figured it out eventually
Bochinche for days
Bochinche is how my host mom and sisters and their friends spend the majority of their time. Bochinche for those of you who do not know is translated into gossip of bad intent and it is how most of the women in Santa Rita entertain themselves when they aren't cooking, cleaning and raising the children. I have become privy to a number of these bochinche chats, which mostly consist of talking about who's slept with whom, who is thinking of plastic surgery, what young girl has gotten pregnant within the high school this week. It is never a dull moment.
So far I have gathered that there is a 15 year old in my sister's school who is pregnant for a second time this time with a man who is not her boyfriend and she is going to be kicked out of the school for indecent behavior, the baby daddy is going to step up and take care of the kid and the mom is going to get a job at a laundry shop and they are all going to live happily ever after.
Sort of.
The opposite of a good time
A cockroach landed on my face while I was sleeping
a good indication that I should put up my mosquito net.
Also noted that the cardboard separating my room from the rest of the house is not by any means sound proof from my screaming out of shock.
This means war. Me and cockroaches will not be friends. ever.
a good indication that I should put up my mosquito net.
Also noted that the cardboard separating my room from the rest of the house is not by any means sound proof from my screaming out of shock.
This means war. Me and cockroaches will not be friends. ever.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Pics of Jasmine's Host family's home
I didn't want to overload with pics in the last post so here are a bunch of pictures from Jasmine's host family's home including her adorable brother with a baby chick!! There family owns quite a bit of land so they are able to grow a lot of crops including cashew trees, mango, banana, guava (but not the kind we are used to) avacado, squash and pumpkin along with some others I didn't really recognize... likeee where can I sign up?? I hope I luck out with a host family- I will meet mine tomorrow!! Time is seriously flying here...
Side note: apparently the cashew nuts prior to being roasted are super allergenic so this is more for potential PCV's looking at Panama but if they are roasting cashews on your site get as far from them as you can because the smoke will make bring the oils into the air and get in your lungs and on your skin and I hear it's pretty freaking miserable
Aside from that though ENJOY THE PICS!
Side note: apparently the cashew nuts prior to being roasted are super allergenic so this is more for potential PCV's looking at Panama but if they are roasting cashews on your site get as far from them as you can because the smoke will make bring the oils into the air and get in your lungs and on your skin and I hear it's pretty freaking miserable
Aside from that though ENJOY THE PICS!
Nation Wide Blackouts
NO not that kind....
2/25
Today Panamá suffered a nation wide blackout due to a fire in one of the sugar cane fields we were without electricity for our first day of classes... in a windowless classroom needless to say it was a bit difficult to stay on task
2/25
Today Panamá suffered a nation wide blackout due to a fire in one of the sugar cane fields we were without electricity for our first day of classes... in a windowless classroom needless to say it was a bit difficult to stay on task
Host Family's and the beginning of the beginning
So I suppose I have been the worst of the worst with this whole blogging thing but I am going to try to do a catch up session real quick.
Last Sunday 2/24: Host Family Move in!!
I have been placed with a fabtastic family Alicia, Sixto (Junior) are my parents and my host sisters Yuri (17 and Alisón (4), I have a pet rabbit and chicks for days and a variety of different chickens running around everywhere... in addition to the toads, cockroaches, and lizards that I have since seen meandering around my little home.
We have running water... sometimes a latrine out back that still intimidates me as well as several buckets and a hose that serve as my shower- I am the BIGGEST fan of bucket showers, I haven't quite mastered how to get a thorough cleaning with this method but nonetheless I look moderately clean most of the time. I have my own little home on the back of the house with a sort of cot/bed and a lightbulb YAY
I spend most of my time on the front porch enjoying the magic of being outside in the heat and welcoming it with open arms.... since I can't beat the heat I might as well embrace it. I must say though that being here has placed me in a place of zen almost immediately I suggest it as a method of healing to almost anyone.
So that is it for now. Pictures will come soon!
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