Just finished my Close of Service conference and have all of the necessary information to complete my Peace Corps experience.
It was a weird couple of days with all of the friends I have made during my 2 years of service. We spent the 3 days in a room learning all of the forms we need to fill out and all of the medical appointments we need to make in order to leave the country healthy and happy. Most importantly we learned how we are going to sell our service when we return back to the states. Finally we learned how much money we were going to receive and when we could expect to get that money.
When we learned our COS date and had to decide whether or not we were going to fly home or take money in lieu. I was up in the air but it took some convincing for me to decide that I am going to go on a short trip after finishing in order to get some time to really relax before I have to get to work. Instead of returning home I am going go to Columbia for a week with Gretchen and my friend Donald. We are going to Cartagena and Medellin. It should be a trip of a lifetime and I know that I regret not going when I have the time.
As for work I will be able to finish all that I set to finish. I have a couple of hard days of work left but with the success we have had in the past I will be done quick. I know that I will miss this country and I don't want to regret seeing everything, spending time with the friends I have made, or not finishing the projects I set out to finish. I work hard and will finish my work but at the same time I like to have fun and will regret both if I don't get to enjoy the time I have.
Time is Running Out. I have about 2 months left and feel the end coming quick. My feelings about the end are constantly changing. I am ready to go one day and then the next day I can't stop thinking about all of the friends I have made and how comfortable I have become here in Panama. There is nothing I can do, the end is going to come, I have to move on and am preparing myself for that next step. What that next step is will start with Lifeguarding but after that it will be up the firefighting agencies to decide whether or not I have to change my plan.
Ready or not here I come USA.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
A couple Projects Photos
The two sets of photos are from a project in my site and another one where I assisted my fellow volunteer Derek Bloor. The world Map was a project that we painted at the School in Milla 10. Many people don't know what a map of the world looks like, let alone can show you where Panama is located. Therefore Derek decided to paint a map on a school wall in order to help with the education in the schools.
The second set of photos is of the aqueduct that I am putting together in my community. Derek is assisting my aqueduct group and myself with the digging of trenches in order to bury the tubes for protection. Secondly the old tubes that were left are being used to connect tubes to more houses. A lot of manual labor but the project is coming along and I am proud of the community involvement in the project.
Life after Peace Corps
As my time comes to an end, I am starting to think about what I would like to do once I am home. When I say that I am thinking about what I want to do, in this instance I am not referring to my future, although I have thought of that, but rather the activities I would like to do for enjoyment. Being in the Peace Corps for two years has seen my life revolve around simplicity.
The other day I was sitting in my town on a hot day and all I wanted was a pool. I dream of a hot summer day in California. No work and a bunch of friends and family surrounding the pool in my backyard. I dream of a barbecue cooking burgers and hot dogs with a bag of chips surrounding fresh guacamole, a cooler full of corona and music playing in the background. As the day moves on it gets too hot to handle and I am forced to do a front flip into the deep end of the pool to cool off. Although it rains a lot here in Panama I was unfortunate enough to be placed in a community that doesn’t have a large river. There are several creeks that flow throughout the town but not one of them deeper than two feet. For this reason I dream of a pool. I grew up around the water and there is nothing more refreshing to me than to submerge myself completely in cool water on a hot summer day.
I want to go on a bike ride. In the middle of my service the government came and gave all of the children in the school new bikes. They obviously ruined them within a couple months but still I was jealous. I am allowed to ride a bike here but never thought it to be a reasonable purchase. Likewise I want to drive a car. I have gotten into going on long walks because it is the only form of transportation I have in which I don’t have to wait on slow, lazy, Panamanians. I dream of the ability to go where I want to go when I want to go there. The hours of my day could be so much more usefully if I had my own car.
SURF. I WANT TO SURF! It has been hard being here because I can’t surf when the waves are good. I missed a great El nino right when I got down here and was forced to hear about all of the great waves I was missing. Secondly, I was placed within an hour of an island that does have some good waves, only to be able to visit this island once every three months. Don’t get me wrong, I have surfed a few times and I did get lucky with some good waves but compared to the amount I used to surf I am hurting on water time. I want to surf. I can’t wait to get home in June and go straight to the beach. I don’t care how small the waves are, if there are waves I am going to surf.
I also look forward to the ocean in general. I am going to spend all of the time I can at the ocean. If there is no surf I am going to go fishing, diving, or swimming, whatever I want to do. I am going to enjoy the ocean and all of its glory. Being here has made me realize that when I finally settle down I am going to have to live near the ocean.
Those are a couple of the things that I want to do. I want to enjoy the things that I miss the most in Panama. I want to return to the life I had before I came to Panama. I know that I have changed as a person and will return to the United States stronger and smarter but my desires and the activities I enjoy haven’t changed. Being without the ocean and water for two years has been a strain on me. It was one of the things that I never thought would get to me the way it has. I was raised in the water and I will always be around some sort of water.
The other day I was sitting in my town on a hot day and all I wanted was a pool. I dream of a hot summer day in California. No work and a bunch of friends and family surrounding the pool in my backyard. I dream of a barbecue cooking burgers and hot dogs with a bag of chips surrounding fresh guacamole, a cooler full of corona and music playing in the background. As the day moves on it gets too hot to handle and I am forced to do a front flip into the deep end of the pool to cool off. Although it rains a lot here in Panama I was unfortunate enough to be placed in a community that doesn’t have a large river. There are several creeks that flow throughout the town but not one of them deeper than two feet. For this reason I dream of a pool. I grew up around the water and there is nothing more refreshing to me than to submerge myself completely in cool water on a hot summer day.
I want to go on a bike ride. In the middle of my service the government came and gave all of the children in the school new bikes. They obviously ruined them within a couple months but still I was jealous. I am allowed to ride a bike here but never thought it to be a reasonable purchase. Likewise I want to drive a car. I have gotten into going on long walks because it is the only form of transportation I have in which I don’t have to wait on slow, lazy, Panamanians. I dream of the ability to go where I want to go when I want to go there. The hours of my day could be so much more usefully if I had my own car.
SURF. I WANT TO SURF! It has been hard being here because I can’t surf when the waves are good. I missed a great El nino right when I got down here and was forced to hear about all of the great waves I was missing. Secondly, I was placed within an hour of an island that does have some good waves, only to be able to visit this island once every three months. Don’t get me wrong, I have surfed a few times and I did get lucky with some good waves but compared to the amount I used to surf I am hurting on water time. I want to surf. I can’t wait to get home in June and go straight to the beach. I don’t care how small the waves are, if there are waves I am going to surf.
I also look forward to the ocean in general. I am going to spend all of the time I can at the ocean. If there is no surf I am going to go fishing, diving, or swimming, whatever I want to do. I am going to enjoy the ocean and all of its glory. Being here has made me realize that when I finally settle down I am going to have to live near the ocean.
Those are a couple of the things that I want to do. I want to enjoy the things that I miss the most in Panama. I want to return to the life I had before I came to Panama. I know that I have changed as a person and will return to the United States stronger and smarter but my desires and the activities I enjoy haven’t changed. Being without the ocean and water for two years has been a strain on me. It was one of the things that I never thought would get to me the way it has. I was raised in the water and I will always be around some sort of water.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Sick Days
I was trying to determine whether or not I was going to write about my recent visit in the hospital. You see, my Mom is one of those that can't help but worry about everything. Seeing that I am in another country that has all sort of venomous animals, mosquito spread diseases and gastrointestinal track illnesses you can imagine that she is constantly worried about the state of my health. I had stayed on the side of no, to save her a few early grey hairs until my younger brother Duncan let it slip and she called me the other day.
So now that she knows, I can explain the reason for my recent 4 day stay at Hospital Cattan in David.
To start, a few weeks ago I had a full body reaction to something... still don't know, food, bugs, or plant. Anyway, I had a full body rash that started at night and lasted throughout the following day until I reached the clinic that conveniently opened at 3 in the afternoon. The doctor agreed that I had an allergic reaction and gave me enough medication to get the itchy red rash to go away. The following two mornings the rash returned in the morning, although to a lesser extent, only to go away by noon. At the end of the third day I had worked on the aqueduct for 5 hours and had a pretty normal rest of my day. Ate some food, nothing new, brushed my teeth and laid down to read a book and go to bed. While reading my book I slowly developed a headache and decided to stop reading and just try and sleep. I immediately got freezing cold. It was not cold out either, I put on a sweatshirt, pants, socks, and was under my covers. I was violently shaking and unable to raise my temperature, I even was having trouble just using the toilet. This was then followed by a complete reverse in temperature. I stripped all of my clothes and could not cool down. I was in and out of sleep all night and when the morning finally arrived I had no motivation to get up and my entire body was sore. I couldn't open my eyes for more than a minute and had no energy to get out of bed.
That morning I called Lordes our wonderful medical officer and she informed me that I might have Dengue and if I could get to David, a 5 hour bus, it would be best for me. I built up the guts and lived through the long bus ride with the help of a friend and made it to the Hosptital in David. On my arrival I had no fever but my lower back, head, and cheeks were still giving me pain. The doctor had no idea what had happened and decided to hospitalize me just to be safe. That night I had a recurrence of the chills followed by a high fever. The fever the second night was considerably worse than the first night and after the worst of it had broken the nurse measured my temp at 39C or 103F. I know that it had gotten higher than that because during the worst I was lying as spread out as I could on my bed pouring sweat. Definitely the worst I have ever felt in my life. During the second fit I also had one bout of vomiting and started to have diarrhea.
From then on the doctor referred me to an internal digestion specialist because one of my blood tests reported that my white blood cell count was 13,000 when a high normal level is 10,000. His determination was that I had an intestinal infection and my body was fighting very hard to try and fight that infection. Once this was the determination I had an IV of saline and antibiotics in me 24 hours a day. It turned out to be what was needed because the following two nights I didn't have a recurrence of the chills or fever. I still am not pooping well but my fever is under control. Also a final blood test showed that my white blood cell count had leveled off to 6,700.
In the end it turned out to be an infection... I guess. I was given three types of medication to take for varying amounts of time and told not to eat anything exiting and to keep resting. I am glad the whole thing is over. I am definitely thankful that I came to David the night I did and that Lordes was so caring and on top of it the entire time. All and all I guess it is just another day in the Peace Corps, but it is a day in the Peace Corps that I could go without.
So now that she knows, I can explain the reason for my recent 4 day stay at Hospital Cattan in David.
To start, a few weeks ago I had a full body reaction to something... still don't know, food, bugs, or plant. Anyway, I had a full body rash that started at night and lasted throughout the following day until I reached the clinic that conveniently opened at 3 in the afternoon. The doctor agreed that I had an allergic reaction and gave me enough medication to get the itchy red rash to go away. The following two mornings the rash returned in the morning, although to a lesser extent, only to go away by noon. At the end of the third day I had worked on the aqueduct for 5 hours and had a pretty normal rest of my day. Ate some food, nothing new, brushed my teeth and laid down to read a book and go to bed. While reading my book I slowly developed a headache and decided to stop reading and just try and sleep. I immediately got freezing cold. It was not cold out either, I put on a sweatshirt, pants, socks, and was under my covers. I was violently shaking and unable to raise my temperature, I even was having trouble just using the toilet. This was then followed by a complete reverse in temperature. I stripped all of my clothes and could not cool down. I was in and out of sleep all night and when the morning finally arrived I had no motivation to get up and my entire body was sore. I couldn't open my eyes for more than a minute and had no energy to get out of bed.
That morning I called Lordes our wonderful medical officer and she informed me that I might have Dengue and if I could get to David, a 5 hour bus, it would be best for me. I built up the guts and lived through the long bus ride with the help of a friend and made it to the Hosptital in David. On my arrival I had no fever but my lower back, head, and cheeks were still giving me pain. The doctor had no idea what had happened and decided to hospitalize me just to be safe. That night I had a recurrence of the chills followed by a high fever. The fever the second night was considerably worse than the first night and after the worst of it had broken the nurse measured my temp at 39C or 103F. I know that it had gotten higher than that because during the worst I was lying as spread out as I could on my bed pouring sweat. Definitely the worst I have ever felt in my life. During the second fit I also had one bout of vomiting and started to have diarrhea.
From then on the doctor referred me to an internal digestion specialist because one of my blood tests reported that my white blood cell count was 13,000 when a high normal level is 10,000. His determination was that I had an intestinal infection and my body was fighting very hard to try and fight that infection. Once this was the determination I had an IV of saline and antibiotics in me 24 hours a day. It turned out to be what was needed because the following two nights I didn't have a recurrence of the chills or fever. I still am not pooping well but my fever is under control. Also a final blood test showed that my white blood cell count had leveled off to 6,700.
In the end it turned out to be an infection... I guess. I was given three types of medication to take for varying amounts of time and told not to eat anything exiting and to keep resting. I am glad the whole thing is over. I am definitely thankful that I came to David the night I did and that Lordes was so caring and on top of it the entire time. All and all I guess it is just another day in the Peace Corps, but it is a day in the Peace Corps that I could go without.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
It has been a while.
My last post was September 17... what have I been up to since then?
A lot has happened in the last 3 months. My projects are still coming along slowly, that is the fault of Panama not mine. Too many false promises from governement agencies and delays from community member laziness (or theft). Although I have had many different delays with my aqueduct we are finally able to perform our primary goal. Wednesday we have our first work day planned in order to start the digging required to bury the 600ft of PVC. This will require a couple days of work so I am looking forward to the blisters I will have on my hands after we finish.
My other projects, teaching, sustainable farming, and world map are also coming along well. The school schedule here is opposite to the United States and therefore they are enjoying a two month summer vacation. My finquita is also growing slowly. Using the organic ferilizers is a slow process which requires a lot of preperation but over time my plants have started to thrive. My six types are trees are growing at different rates but all look healthy. All of my food plants (sugar cane, yucca, banana, plantain, daschin, and otoi) all will be harvestable for when I have my despedida or going away party in a couple of months. The final project that I have been working on is a world map. This is a project a fellow volunteer is performing in a site only 45 min away from mine. The map is 6ft by 8ft. It has been a great project and because he chose to place it in the school we hope that it will be useful to the teachers in the years to come.
As for other Peace corps activities we had our All Volunteer Conference. It was great to see all of the friends that were placed on other side of the country. Although it was great to see friends, as usual it included a lot of boring conferences that were a waste of time. Information that doesn't pertain to my site or my projects. Oh well, I got paid to be there and got to see some friends.
What have I done for fun?
There have been many holidays that have passed.
My B-day:
A lot of fun, we went out to the Festival de la Mejorana and spent some time at the beutiful beaches in Los Santos. We rented a car and it was great to have the freedom that we grew up with. Leaving when I want to leave and going where I want to go without have a person sitting on my shoulder or playing their music really loud was amazing.
Thanksgiving:
We spent Thanksgiving in the mountains of Panama. Over 140 volunteers got together in Cerro Punto to celebrate the day of thanks. We had a fellow volunteer cook a lot of great food. I ate my self sick and don't regret my decison for a second. Once again it was great to see a lot of volunteers. I have some good friends in my community but it is great to be able to speak english and identify with other americans once and a while.
Christmas:
I went to USA! Amazing. Gretchen and I got to enjoy a week with the family in California. It rained for a second but the weather was great for the majority of our trip. I gained 5 pounds in a week so you can imagine how much good food I consumed. Sushi, steak, fast food, mexican, whatever type of food I could find I ate as much as possible. I got to surf, went to a hockey game and just enjoyed the company of my family. My younger brother Duncan also got back from the war in Afghanistan so it was great to hug him and tell him how much I missed him.
New Years:
We got back to Panama on the afternoon of the 30th so we ended up spending the night in the city with all the other volunteers that had just returned from their trips home. It was fun, we ate, drank, and danced. Pretty much your classic New Years celebration.
What do I have to look forward to?
Work. Work. Work.
A lot of my work is going to revolve around motivation. It is going to take me a lot of effort to get the members of my community motivated enough to work for a couple days digging. This doesn't sound hard but when the work benefits others in the community than them they can be very selfish and choose the hammock very easily.
I also will be assisting my neighbor in the painting of the world map at the school in Milla 10
There aren't any good celebrations to look forward to though. Although if the Packers keep playing so well I will have to get out to keep watching the playoffs.
GO Pack GO!
I will try to stay more up to date on my posts from now on.
countdown= 5 months
A lot has happened in the last 3 months. My projects are still coming along slowly, that is the fault of Panama not mine. Too many false promises from governement agencies and delays from community member laziness (or theft). Although I have had many different delays with my aqueduct we are finally able to perform our primary goal. Wednesday we have our first work day planned in order to start the digging required to bury the 600ft of PVC. This will require a couple days of work so I am looking forward to the blisters I will have on my hands after we finish.
My other projects, teaching, sustainable farming, and world map are also coming along well. The school schedule here is opposite to the United States and therefore they are enjoying a two month summer vacation. My finquita is also growing slowly. Using the organic ferilizers is a slow process which requires a lot of preperation but over time my plants have started to thrive. My six types are trees are growing at different rates but all look healthy. All of my food plants (sugar cane, yucca, banana, plantain, daschin, and otoi) all will be harvestable for when I have my despedida or going away party in a couple of months. The final project that I have been working on is a world map. This is a project a fellow volunteer is performing in a site only 45 min away from mine. The map is 6ft by 8ft. It has been a great project and because he chose to place it in the school we hope that it will be useful to the teachers in the years to come.
As for other Peace corps activities we had our All Volunteer Conference. It was great to see all of the friends that were placed on other side of the country. Although it was great to see friends, as usual it included a lot of boring conferences that were a waste of time. Information that doesn't pertain to my site or my projects. Oh well, I got paid to be there and got to see some friends.
What have I done for fun?
There have been many holidays that have passed.
My B-day:
A lot of fun, we went out to the Festival de la Mejorana and spent some time at the beutiful beaches in Los Santos. We rented a car and it was great to have the freedom that we grew up with. Leaving when I want to leave and going where I want to go without have a person sitting on my shoulder or playing their music really loud was amazing.
Thanksgiving:
We spent Thanksgiving in the mountains of Panama. Over 140 volunteers got together in Cerro Punto to celebrate the day of thanks. We had a fellow volunteer cook a lot of great food. I ate my self sick and don't regret my decison for a second. Once again it was great to see a lot of volunteers. I have some good friends in my community but it is great to be able to speak english and identify with other americans once and a while.
Christmas:
I went to USA! Amazing. Gretchen and I got to enjoy a week with the family in California. It rained for a second but the weather was great for the majority of our trip. I gained 5 pounds in a week so you can imagine how much good food I consumed. Sushi, steak, fast food, mexican, whatever type of food I could find I ate as much as possible. I got to surf, went to a hockey game and just enjoyed the company of my family. My younger brother Duncan also got back from the war in Afghanistan so it was great to hug him and tell him how much I missed him.
New Years:
We got back to Panama on the afternoon of the 30th so we ended up spending the night in the city with all the other volunteers that had just returned from their trips home. It was fun, we ate, drank, and danced. Pretty much your classic New Years celebration.
What do I have to look forward to?
Work. Work. Work.
A lot of my work is going to revolve around motivation. It is going to take me a lot of effort to get the members of my community motivated enough to work for a couple days digging. This doesn't sound hard but when the work benefits others in the community than them they can be very selfish and choose the hammock very easily.
I also will be assisting my neighbor in the painting of the world map at the school in Milla 10
There aren't any good celebrations to look forward to though. Although if the Packers keep playing so well I will have to get out to keep watching the playoffs.
GO Pack GO!
I will try to stay more up to date on my posts from now on.
countdown= 5 months
Friday, September 17, 2010
Life
Well hello there. How are you doing?
Me? Oh I am doing well. Just trying to trudge through the life that is Peace Corps.
What? My project? It is gong well. I have run into a few problems here and there but still pushing along.
What problems you ask? Well initially I was trying to obtain funding from the government agencies here in order to complete my project. I was working with Panamanian equivalents of the EPA and the Health Administration. Both of the agencies told me all of these steps I had to take in order to obtain the funding needed in order to enlarge my aqueduct and therefore bring clean water to the larger population of the community. Well after jumping through all of these hoops they both told me the money had "disappeared" and therefore they were unable to help me.
Disappeared? Yeah I know. What the heck does that mean? In my opinion it means that some official that has the powers of magic made the money disappear into his pocket. That or into the new rims that are on his car. Just a thought but highly likely.
Can I write you a check? No, thanks though. I don't believe in giving gifts to my community. I want my project to be sustainable and therefore I can't take money from you guys in order to compete something the host country or community should be able to do by themselves.
What now? We have already started to raise money within the community. We have also separated the the one large aqueduct project into smaller goals that we are more likely to be able to accomplish. Therefore we are on our way. Little by little we are raising the money to buy the tubes we need to bring water to hundreds of people. Also I am slowly training the people in my town how to work together and that if the work hard they can accomplish the goals they set. Sustainability is my goal and hopefully when I leave we will have a lot new families with clean water and a functioning group that works well together.
Huh, what did you say? Why Thank you. I know it is a noble thing to do. Thanks for being so proud of me. Yes, yes it is really hard having to work with people that don't know the basics of organization or group dynamics. No, I won't give up. Yes I do look forward to being home and I will be home soon.
Me? Oh I am doing well. Just trying to trudge through the life that is Peace Corps.
What? My project? It is gong well. I have run into a few problems here and there but still pushing along.
What problems you ask? Well initially I was trying to obtain funding from the government agencies here in order to complete my project. I was working with Panamanian equivalents of the EPA and the Health Administration. Both of the agencies told me all of these steps I had to take in order to obtain the funding needed in order to enlarge my aqueduct and therefore bring clean water to the larger population of the community. Well after jumping through all of these hoops they both told me the money had "disappeared" and therefore they were unable to help me.
Disappeared? Yeah I know. What the heck does that mean? In my opinion it means that some official that has the powers of magic made the money disappear into his pocket. That or into the new rims that are on his car. Just a thought but highly likely.
Can I write you a check? No, thanks though. I don't believe in giving gifts to my community. I want my project to be sustainable and therefore I can't take money from you guys in order to compete something the host country or community should be able to do by themselves.
What now? We have already started to raise money within the community. We have also separated the the one large aqueduct project into smaller goals that we are more likely to be able to accomplish. Therefore we are on our way. Little by little we are raising the money to buy the tubes we need to bring water to hundreds of people. Also I am slowly training the people in my town how to work together and that if the work hard they can accomplish the goals they set. Sustainability is my goal and hopefully when I leave we will have a lot new families with clean water and a functioning group that works well together.
Huh, what did you say? Why Thank you. I know it is a noble thing to do. Thanks for being so proud of me. Yes, yes it is really hard having to work with people that don't know the basics of organization or group dynamics. No, I won't give up. Yes I do look forward to being home and I will be home soon.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
The countdown
T- minus 10 months.
I have reached the hump and am on the down hill slide. The first year flew by and I have no doubts that the final ten months will feel like a week. As of right now my official Close of Service date is June, 30 2011. Although that is the official date I will be able to get out as early as the 7th of June. This is good news for me. I am not dying to go home or get out of Panama but the earlier I get home the longer I can work at the beach. Weird I know, I am trying to be able to work longer. But lifeguarding is such a great job and I miss the beach so mush that I am looking forward to a summer on the sand. Surf, sun and waves. Nothing better right.
I have reached the hump and am on the down hill slide. The first year flew by and I have no doubts that the final ten months will feel like a week. As of right now my official Close of Service date is June, 30 2011. Although that is the official date I will be able to get out as early as the 7th of June. This is good news for me. I am not dying to go home or get out of Panama but the earlier I get home the longer I can work at the beach. Weird I know, I am trying to be able to work longer. But lifeguarding is such a great job and I miss the beach so mush that I am looking forward to a summer on the sand. Surf, sun and waves. Nothing better right.
Monday, August 9, 2010
WORK WORK WORK
The Peace Corps is not all fun and games. I am continuously finding more and more projects to perform during my two years of service here in Panama. My projects range from building rainwater catch systems to bringing groups of dentists from the United States to my site in order to do free dental work.
The final project that I posted pictures of is a stove that is made from natural products; clay, cow poop, sand, and water all mixed together and then let dry in order to form a clay mold. We then cut holes in the mold to make a more efficient stove than the camp fires they are currently using to cook. Other benefits of the stove include less fire wood being harvested, less smoke entering the house and lungs of the families, and finally minimizing the heat that is emitted and effecting the mothers that are cooking all day.
I am continuing to find more projects that include education to building the aqueduct to bring clean water to the larger portion of the community. Stay tuned for future projects and fun from Panama.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Burn Panama Burn
Changuinola is actually burning. There are photos and news footage of Ngobe Indians throwing maltov cocktails through the windows of banks. Yup that is right the Indians that I work with and are usually so docile have decided to go crazy. A few of them have died and they have also managed to kill a police officer. I thought that I lived in a country that was stable and I wouldn't have to worry about any national problems that would affect my service.
So here are the facts as I have collected them. The President of the country, Ricardo Martinelli is actually a huge idiot and has decided to pass a law that would have caused large problems in the U.S.. The law states that Unions are not allowed to collect dues and therefore weakens their ability to negotiate with the large companies of Panama (aka Chiquita Banana). The law also takes away citizens rights to protest while increasing the laws on police brutality. Citizens that fall victim to Police brutality are unable to file legal charges against them. This I believe is one of the reasons that things got out of hand so fast in Changuinola. People will protest when they are treated unfairly. The Indians have been pushed around for many years and the President finally pushed them past their breaking point.
As for what I have been doing while these dangerous protests have been going on. I am in what is called a Standfast. This means that I am not allowed to move from where I am until the situation calms down and it is safe for me to travel. I am stuck in David the second largest city because I was out to celebrate my one year with my group. Therefore I am an a hotel with Gretchen and several other volunteers who daily try and find new things to keep ourselves entertained. Well here goes day 7 of standfast, I am trying to enjoy it rather than get down.
So here are the facts as I have collected them. The President of the country, Ricardo Martinelli is actually a huge idiot and has decided to pass a law that would have caused large problems in the U.S.. The law states that Unions are not allowed to collect dues and therefore weakens their ability to negotiate with the large companies of Panama (aka Chiquita Banana). The law also takes away citizens rights to protest while increasing the laws on police brutality. Citizens that fall victim to Police brutality are unable to file legal charges against them. This I believe is one of the reasons that things got out of hand so fast in Changuinola. People will protest when they are treated unfairly. The Indians have been pushed around for many years and the President finally pushed them past their breaking point.
As for what I have been doing while these dangerous protests have been going on. I am in what is called a Standfast. This means that I am not allowed to move from where I am until the situation calms down and it is safe for me to travel. I am stuck in David the second largest city because I was out to celebrate my one year with my group. Therefore I am an a hotel with Gretchen and several other volunteers who daily try and find new things to keep ourselves entertained. Well here goes day 7 of standfast, I am trying to enjoy it rather than get down.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Office Space
I live out on one edge of the country of Panama. The office which is located in Panama City is a twelve hour bus ride from my closest town. Therefore I do not make it to the office all that often. In fact I just visited the office for the first time in a year during my mid term medical check up. This visit made me come to a few realizations.
The first of these realizations was one that I knew well before I even joined the Peace Corps. I will never be able to work in an office setting. The hierarchy laid out by office size, cubicles, florescent lights, business casual attire, robots typing away in front of a computer and the overall business structure. All of theses things turn me away from the office setting.
One reason I enjoy my job is that I work outside in the shit, sometimes metaphorically and sometimes literally shoveling shit for compost. I don't have to worry about a stain on my new Calvin Klein shirt. In fact a stain is more fitting and leads to more acceptance among the people within my town. I also visually get to see the progress and outcome of my projects. I am not looking at printed statistics to confirm that my job is making an influence.
Something that I am upset at realizing is that in the office setting people only look out for themselves. It is all about getting ahead and making more money. The Peace Corps is about helping others. Volunteers help people in their towns and the office helps the volunteers. Being in the office made me realize that the office isn't upholding their end of the bargain. When you put a salary on a volunteer organization you change the goal of the people's jobs. They are looking for things that only make them look better. This isn't true for all people in the office but some of the more important ones are definitely at fault. It should be; What do the volunteers need? not, How can I look good? or, What can we do to make the program look good? Somehow people that sit in an office in front of a computer know what we need without asking us.
The second reason I like my job is my site location. I am good at what I do and don't seek approval or praise for the things I accomplish. I am here to help people that can't help themselves. I don't have some staff member looking over my shoulder and trying to claim my successes as their own in order to receive a raise or promotion. The office leaves me alone and I leave them alone... just the way I want it.
The final reason I like my job is that there is nobody to blame but myself. I chose my project, schedule, hours, and house. If something doesn't happen it is all on me. Nobody to point the finger at and nobody to point the finger at me when they don't do their job.
I know when I go home I will have to adjust to a more structured work schedule. I know I will be able to adjust. I have done well here and know I will continue to be successful. But no reason I can't enjoy my freedom while it lasts.
The first of these realizations was one that I knew well before I even joined the Peace Corps. I will never be able to work in an office setting. The hierarchy laid out by office size, cubicles, florescent lights, business casual attire, robots typing away in front of a computer and the overall business structure. All of theses things turn me away from the office setting.
One reason I enjoy my job is that I work outside in the shit, sometimes metaphorically and sometimes literally shoveling shit for compost. I don't have to worry about a stain on my new Calvin Klein shirt. In fact a stain is more fitting and leads to more acceptance among the people within my town. I also visually get to see the progress and outcome of my projects. I am not looking at printed statistics to confirm that my job is making an influence.
Something that I am upset at realizing is that in the office setting people only look out for themselves. It is all about getting ahead and making more money. The Peace Corps is about helping others. Volunteers help people in their towns and the office helps the volunteers. Being in the office made me realize that the office isn't upholding their end of the bargain. When you put a salary on a volunteer organization you change the goal of the people's jobs. They are looking for things that only make them look better. This isn't true for all people in the office but some of the more important ones are definitely at fault. It should be; What do the volunteers need? not, How can I look good? or, What can we do to make the program look good? Somehow people that sit in an office in front of a computer know what we need without asking us.
The second reason I like my job is my site location. I am good at what I do and don't seek approval or praise for the things I accomplish. I am here to help people that can't help themselves. I don't have some staff member looking over my shoulder and trying to claim my successes as their own in order to receive a raise or promotion. The office leaves me alone and I leave them alone... just the way I want it.
The final reason I like my job is that there is nobody to blame but myself. I chose my project, schedule, hours, and house. If something doesn't happen it is all on me. Nobody to point the finger at and nobody to point the finger at me when they don't do their job.
I know when I go home I will have to adjust to a more structured work schedule. I know I will be able to adjust. I have done well here and know I will continue to be successful. But no reason I can't enjoy my freedom while it lasts.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Technology
I live without electricity in my site. Living without electricity really makes you realize how much you rely on stupid stuff like the internet and outlets to just do basic things like charge your phone.
So since I am in Panama City for the next couple of days I am obsessed with the internet. There is unlimited mindless entertainment to be found on the internet. I mean, I forgot how much funny stuff you can find while messing around on youtube. George Washington rap is f@*$ing hilarious. Facebook is a black hole. I can just stalk all of my friends for hours and have fun the entire time. Since all of my friends have jobs they go to 5 days a week, it is like they are obsessed, they are all on G-Chat so I can catch up on all of the events in the good old U S of A.
As well as the internet I get to see sporting events. I got to watch Ron Artest win the game as the buzzer sounded. I will also be able to see the first two games of the finals. The celtics are going down.
I love technology!
I love to read, but from time to time I want to be able to turn my brain off and watch stupid TV. Horrible MTV shows like Jersey Shore.
I can deal without it and am probably better off without it. But I really enjoy technology and easy access internet and TV.
So since I am in Panama City for the next couple of days I am obsessed with the internet. There is unlimited mindless entertainment to be found on the internet. I mean, I forgot how much funny stuff you can find while messing around on youtube. George Washington rap is f@*$ing hilarious. Facebook is a black hole. I can just stalk all of my friends for hours and have fun the entire time. Since all of my friends have jobs they go to 5 days a week, it is like they are obsessed, they are all on G-Chat so I can catch up on all of the events in the good old U S of A.
As well as the internet I get to see sporting events. I got to watch Ron Artest win the game as the buzzer sounded. I will also be able to see the first two games of the finals. The celtics are going down.
I love technology!
I love to read, but from time to time I want to be able to turn my brain off and watch stupid TV. Horrible MTV shows like Jersey Shore.
I can deal without it and am probably better off without it. But I really enjoy technology and easy access internet and TV.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Dentists ahhhhh Dentists
The Group A.Y.U.D.A. with its 60 dentists has come and gone. All in all I would call the trip a success. We did have a couple of speed bumps to get around but that is to be expected in a third world country. In the end we helped 421 people with free dental care. All of these people are from the poorest part of the country and therefore have never received any type of dental care in the past.
The dentists were interesting to watch. At first they came off really abrasive and hyper active but then it hit me “Americans like to get work done and do things fast”. I guess I am adjusting to the Panamanian culture finally and learning a bit of patience. I found myself several times talking with dentists who were saying “ we need to go”, “ we need to get there”, “where are the cabs” and telling them “this is how Panama works” and that if they wanted to stay sane and get more work done that they would have to realize that and adjust to the culture. Again this realization came forward when we arrived on the first day and there were not many patients waiting to be seen. Of course! This is Panama they are all going to wait until the last minute to show up. This turned out to be half true and the number of patients grew steadily throughout the four days. The second part of the culture that the dentists and I had to realize was that because the people had never been to the dentist before they had some trepidation to show up in those first days. Especially when some of the smaller children were seen with blood flowing from their mouth after having a couple of dead teeth pulled. With the education and continued explanation of what we were doing the people slowly came to realize that we were helping and would continue to do so.
With the group was my Dad. My older brother was the only one who had seen my town and I was excited to get to show someone else the way I was living. Especially because now I have my own house and it is all built to my liking. I had a great time with my Dad and he was obviously amazed at the way I was living. I could tell that he was proud of the work I was doing and it gave me great satisfaction to hear him compliment me on the trip and how well it had run. I know that he enjoyed himself and he got to relax from his busy life a little while when we explored the beautiful Carribbean.
The dental project was also a success for me because I was able to get some publicity for the Peace Corps. I worked with ANAM (Panamanian EPA) to get some of the tables and chairs that the dentists used throughout the four days. Little did I know that they were going to bring the local news out on the second day. I was lucky enough to be interviewed for a TV spot that spread the word of the dental group and the good that the Peace Corps was doing in the country. The second day ANAM had also arranged for me to have a spot on a radio station. Once again I was able to inform more people of the work we were doing and how they could receive help as well if they would only show up. The experience was really fun. My fellow volunteers told me I did a good job and that the office would be really happy with what I was doing.
At the end of the trip many of the dentists said that this was the most rural of locations and that they really enjoyed the experience. I was really happy to receive compliments from several of the students that had been on trips to other countries with the group. Part of the job of the Peace Corps is to spread culture, I am sure that many of these dentists have learned and experienced something that never would have been possible without this trip. I am very satisfied to have been able to host all of them and enjoyed showing them my life.
The dentists were interesting to watch. At first they came off really abrasive and hyper active but then it hit me “Americans like to get work done and do things fast”. I guess I am adjusting to the Panamanian culture finally and learning a bit of patience. I found myself several times talking with dentists who were saying “ we need to go”, “ we need to get there”, “where are the cabs” and telling them “this is how Panama works” and that if they wanted to stay sane and get more work done that they would have to realize that and adjust to the culture. Again this realization came forward when we arrived on the first day and there were not many patients waiting to be seen. Of course! This is Panama they are all going to wait until the last minute to show up. This turned out to be half true and the number of patients grew steadily throughout the four days. The second part of the culture that the dentists and I had to realize was that because the people had never been to the dentist before they had some trepidation to show up in those first days. Especially when some of the smaller children were seen with blood flowing from their mouth after having a couple of dead teeth pulled. With the education and continued explanation of what we were doing the people slowly came to realize that we were helping and would continue to do so.
With the group was my Dad. My older brother was the only one who had seen my town and I was excited to get to show someone else the way I was living. Especially because now I have my own house and it is all built to my liking. I had a great time with my Dad and he was obviously amazed at the way I was living. I could tell that he was proud of the work I was doing and it gave me great satisfaction to hear him compliment me on the trip and how well it had run. I know that he enjoyed himself and he got to relax from his busy life a little while when we explored the beautiful Carribbean.
The dental project was also a success for me because I was able to get some publicity for the Peace Corps. I worked with ANAM (Panamanian EPA) to get some of the tables and chairs that the dentists used throughout the four days. Little did I know that they were going to bring the local news out on the second day. I was lucky enough to be interviewed for a TV spot that spread the word of the dental group and the good that the Peace Corps was doing in the country. The second day ANAM had also arranged for me to have a spot on a radio station. Once again I was able to inform more people of the work we were doing and how they could receive help as well if they would only show up. The experience was really fun. My fellow volunteers told me I did a good job and that the office would be really happy with what I was doing.
At the end of the trip many of the dentists said that this was the most rural of locations and that they really enjoyed the experience. I was really happy to receive compliments from several of the students that had been on trips to other countries with the group. Part of the job of the Peace Corps is to spread culture, I am sure that many of these dentists have learned and experienced something that never would have been possible without this trip. I am very satisfied to have been able to host all of them and enjoyed showing them my life.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Religion?
I was raised with great parents. They guided me through life but never forced me to do anything that I truly didn’t want to. Among the things that they thankfully didn’t try and force on me was religion. I was able to believe what I wanted and let my mind wander and absorb all the information possible.
I have never been to a church service in the United States, I have attended funerals and weddings but never sat and listened to a preacher praise the word of God. One of my best Panamanian friends down here is Simon. Simon is a devout Evangelical, he goes to church 4 days a week and is always asking me to come and join him. I have now attended church 3 times and still feel a little skeptical of the whole thing. The Evangelical church is one that is very strict and has many rules regarding clothing and behavior.
My parents were smart enough to raise me with the common sense, do the right thing and to treat others well. In fact I am sure that my brothers and sister will agree that it had a great role into shaping us into people that always want to help others. This was accomplished without any strict rule system and a basic freedom to do what we wanted. The one thing we did have were good role models to lead the way.
I don’t want to offend anyone with my comments about church but I was raised in a country with free speech and believe I have the right to state the way I feel. Having to begin with a warning is one of the reasons that I am wary of the church. I am not able to state my problems with a church without making people angry. They take what is told to them and just believe it as true without ever questioning whether they believe it or not. Then when someone says something contradictory it is a sin and they are shunned.
During one of my three visits to the church with Simon I was told by the preacher that I was not a son of God because I hadn’t been born (religiously) and did not praise the Holy Spirit. Well, if I am a good person and try my best to help everyone in need is that not enough? I do drink alcohol and they consider that a sin, but if I am not hurting others while doing it how can it be so horrible. In excess it could be harmful to the body but studies even show that a glass a day can actually be better for you. If I have a girlfriend I am faithful to her. Being raised in a complete home has raised me with the idea that one man one woman is the way to live. Having respect for others is yet another thing I learned from my parents.
So what I am trying to say is that if I live a good life, I respect others, I try to help those in need, and I treat my body well isn’t that a good life. I believe so. Therefore why does every religious fanatic believe it is his or her job to tell me or anybody else that they are not living a correct life? I don’t go running around telling them that they shouldn’t believe in God, or that they shouldn’t be going to church. Everyone has a choice. Freedom of religion is another right that I was raised with and I believe that includes the right to choose no religion.
I have never been to a church service in the United States, I have attended funerals and weddings but never sat and listened to a preacher praise the word of God. One of my best Panamanian friends down here is Simon. Simon is a devout Evangelical, he goes to church 4 days a week and is always asking me to come and join him. I have now attended church 3 times and still feel a little skeptical of the whole thing. The Evangelical church is one that is very strict and has many rules regarding clothing and behavior.
My parents were smart enough to raise me with the common sense, do the right thing and to treat others well. In fact I am sure that my brothers and sister will agree that it had a great role into shaping us into people that always want to help others. This was accomplished without any strict rule system and a basic freedom to do what we wanted. The one thing we did have were good role models to lead the way.
I don’t want to offend anyone with my comments about church but I was raised in a country with free speech and believe I have the right to state the way I feel. Having to begin with a warning is one of the reasons that I am wary of the church. I am not able to state my problems with a church without making people angry. They take what is told to them and just believe it as true without ever questioning whether they believe it or not. Then when someone says something contradictory it is a sin and they are shunned.
During one of my three visits to the church with Simon I was told by the preacher that I was not a son of God because I hadn’t been born (religiously) and did not praise the Holy Spirit. Well, if I am a good person and try my best to help everyone in need is that not enough? I do drink alcohol and they consider that a sin, but if I am not hurting others while doing it how can it be so horrible. In excess it could be harmful to the body but studies even show that a glass a day can actually be better for you. If I have a girlfriend I am faithful to her. Being raised in a complete home has raised me with the idea that one man one woman is the way to live. Having respect for others is yet another thing I learned from my parents.
So what I am trying to say is that if I live a good life, I respect others, I try to help those in need, and I treat my body well isn’t that a good life. I believe so. Therefore why does every religious fanatic believe it is his or her job to tell me or anybody else that they are not living a correct life? I don’t go running around telling them that they shouldn’t believe in God, or that they shouldn’t be going to church. Everyone has a choice. Freedom of religion is another right that I was raised with and I believe that includes the right to choose no religion.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
A Vacation Home
Two weeks home and it felt like only hours.
After spending two weeks at home I am sufficiently tired and full of food. I don't know if I reached my goal of gaining 5 pounds in two weeks but I was really close. I ate enough sushi in one night to last me a year and finished my last day with INN-N-OUT for lunch and Pizza for dinner. Quite a way to go.
I was busy every day that I was in California, I got to see my beautiful sister get married. Welcome to the family Ryan. I got to see my friends from Ventura, the beach, and USC. I didn't have quite enough time to see everyone but don't worry I will be back in another year. For all of you that I did not get to spend some time with it just gives you more of a reason to come down to Panama and spend some time in the tropics.
The main reason for the trip was my sister getting married. The wedding was everything I am sure my sister imagined. The ceremony, which was done by my brother Zach was beautiful, the reception was full of dancing and drinks. It was great that a lot of the extended family from Wisconsin was able to come out and enjoy the beautiful California weather and some time with the long lost shulergang of California. As for other activities I was lucky enough to score some of that epic El nino surf I had been hearing about. The last four days of my trip included head high surf with low wind conditions. Neptune truly painted a wonderful picture for me to enjoy.
I was happy to see everyone and learn that you all seem to be doing well. I hope that I got the message across that I am really enjoying my Peace Corps experience. I spoke to everyone that asked and answered the question " What are you doing down there?" a million times. It was nice to know that everyone was so interested in my life and very supportive and excited for the work I am doing.
Back in Panama now and sweating like crazy. Of course it is also rainy but I am here with friends and ready to start working again after my two weeks vacation home.
After spending two weeks at home I am sufficiently tired and full of food. I don't know if I reached my goal of gaining 5 pounds in two weeks but I was really close. I ate enough sushi in one night to last me a year and finished my last day with INN-N-OUT for lunch and Pizza for dinner. Quite a way to go.
I was busy every day that I was in California, I got to see my beautiful sister get married. Welcome to the family Ryan. I got to see my friends from Ventura, the beach, and USC. I didn't have quite enough time to see everyone but don't worry I will be back in another year. For all of you that I did not get to spend some time with it just gives you more of a reason to come down to Panama and spend some time in the tropics.
The main reason for the trip was my sister getting married. The wedding was everything I am sure my sister imagined. The ceremony, which was done by my brother Zach was beautiful, the reception was full of dancing and drinks. It was great that a lot of the extended family from Wisconsin was able to come out and enjoy the beautiful California weather and some time with the long lost shulergang of California. As for other activities I was lucky enough to score some of that epic El nino surf I had been hearing about. The last four days of my trip included head high surf with low wind conditions. Neptune truly painted a wonderful picture for me to enjoy.
I was happy to see everyone and learn that you all seem to be doing well. I hope that I got the message across that I am really enjoying my Peace Corps experience. I spoke to everyone that asked and answered the question " What are you doing down there?" a million times. It was nice to know that everyone was so interested in my life and very supportive and excited for the work I am doing.
Back in Panama now and sweating like crazy. Of course it is also rainy but I am here with friends and ready to start working again after my two weeks vacation home.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Paradise Found
John Milton may have written that Paradise has been lost, well I am sure that I have just found it.
The Carribbean coast of Panama is lined with several island chains that are full of postcard worthy beaches. Many of these have been discovered, settled, and sold to gringos who in turn develop them into luxury hotels that try and seperate you from the environment. The island I visited is still untouched.
Mike and Amanda Smith, two of my friends and fellow Peace Corps volunteers met Rogelio, a man in their town that has 25 acres of coastal property on an island called Escudo de Veraguas. Rogelio runs a small fishing business from Escudo and has a couple small houses he uses for his employees while they are working. After talking to Rogelio for a while he mentioned that he could take Mike and Amanda out to spend a couple of nights on the island. Nobody lives there permanently! A couple of houses for people that fish or hunt lobster but they are only there a couple of months out of the year. Mike and Amanda asked if they could bring some friends and Gretchen and I were lucky enough to be included along with Brandon and Jacey two of Mike and Amanda´s friends from the states that were visiting.
Three hours on a dug out wood boat with a 40hp motor and we arrived to our own little paradise. Aside from three of his workers, there wives and children we were the only people on an island that is over 225 acres. We arrived and were instantly in aww, green everywhere, torquoise blue water with coral and fish. We swam all day the first day and found little hidden beaches to relax on. Some of which I am sure very few peaopl have ever enjoyed. One Beach you actually had to swim through a little cave to get to. AMAZING. We finished the day with some wine and a freshly caught and prepared fish dinner. He literaly caught the fish in the front yard and cooked it for dinner.
Day two he gave us a complete island tour. We saw sloths, birds, and plenty of fish. We would occasionaly stop`at one of the countless beautiful beaches to enjoy a little time in the water but after a while we could choose because there were literaly too many. After a walk on a long beach and a good sun burn we were all ready for a little nap and chose our repective locations under a nice tree to dose off for an hour or two. While the others were a bit sunned out I took Rogelio up on an offer to go fishing. I went with two of his workers, Auriel and Chicho to go trawling for some fish. I caught three Benito before we filleted one and went after something bigger. It wasn´t too long before we had a 30 pound wahoo on the line and it took all three of us to get him in the boat. While a 30 pound wahoo doesn´t sound like it would be too much of a fight try to imagine that we were doing all of this with line in hand. We didn´t use any fishing poles the whole time and all three of us sustained some type of injury before I successfully knocked it over the head with a peace of wood and we could get him in the boat. We called it a successful trip after that and returned back to the house for another fresh cooked fish dinner and wine by the fire.
Amazing. Gorgeous. Pristine. THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE I HAVE EVER BEEN TO
Don´t worry I took a lot of pictures and will be sure to share the beauty with all of you.
The Carribbean coast of Panama is lined with several island chains that are full of postcard worthy beaches. Many of these have been discovered, settled, and sold to gringos who in turn develop them into luxury hotels that try and seperate you from the environment. The island I visited is still untouched.
Mike and Amanda Smith, two of my friends and fellow Peace Corps volunteers met Rogelio, a man in their town that has 25 acres of coastal property on an island called Escudo de Veraguas. Rogelio runs a small fishing business from Escudo and has a couple small houses he uses for his employees while they are working. After talking to Rogelio for a while he mentioned that he could take Mike and Amanda out to spend a couple of nights on the island. Nobody lives there permanently! A couple of houses for people that fish or hunt lobster but they are only there a couple of months out of the year. Mike and Amanda asked if they could bring some friends and Gretchen and I were lucky enough to be included along with Brandon and Jacey two of Mike and Amanda´s friends from the states that were visiting.
Three hours on a dug out wood boat with a 40hp motor and we arrived to our own little paradise. Aside from three of his workers, there wives and children we were the only people on an island that is over 225 acres. We arrived and were instantly in aww, green everywhere, torquoise blue water with coral and fish. We swam all day the first day and found little hidden beaches to relax on. Some of which I am sure very few peaopl have ever enjoyed. One Beach you actually had to swim through a little cave to get to. AMAZING. We finished the day with some wine and a freshly caught and prepared fish dinner. He literaly caught the fish in the front yard and cooked it for dinner.
Day two he gave us a complete island tour. We saw sloths, birds, and plenty of fish. We would occasionaly stop`at one of the countless beautiful beaches to enjoy a little time in the water but after a while we could choose because there were literaly too many. After a walk on a long beach and a good sun burn we were all ready for a little nap and chose our repective locations under a nice tree to dose off for an hour or two. While the others were a bit sunned out I took Rogelio up on an offer to go fishing. I went with two of his workers, Auriel and Chicho to go trawling for some fish. I caught three Benito before we filleted one and went after something bigger. It wasn´t too long before we had a 30 pound wahoo on the line and it took all three of us to get him in the boat. While a 30 pound wahoo doesn´t sound like it would be too much of a fight try to imagine that we were doing all of this with line in hand. We didn´t use any fishing poles the whole time and all three of us sustained some type of injury before I successfully knocked it over the head with a peace of wood and we could get him in the boat. We called it a successful trip after that and returned back to the house for another fresh cooked fish dinner and wine by the fire.
Amazing. Gorgeous. Pristine. THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE I HAVE EVER BEEN TO
Don´t worry I took a lot of pictures and will be sure to share the beauty with all of you.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Panamanian Easter Egg Hunt
So I know its not Easter and I know they're not eggs but I organized a project to entertain, protect, and hopefully educate a few of the kids in my town during there summer break.
There is no electricity in my site, therefore many people use batteries for radios and flashlights. after these batteries have been used the people simply throw them out the windows of their houses like the rest of their trash. Some end up in the trash piles others in the creeks that run throughout the town. What these people don't realize is that while these batteries are sitting in the water or in the forest they are contaminating everything around them. Including the water they bathe in.
So I designed a project in order to take all of the batteries out of the environment and place them within cement of a tower that a radio company is building right outside of my town. I told all of the kids that for every three batteries they brought me I would give them a piece of candy and the kid that brought me the most batteries would receive an entire bag of candy. The kids heard candy and got excited. The result from the contest were more than I imagined but after 8 dollars and 5 pounds of candy I successfully removed 1148 batteries from the environment and encased them in cement. The winning kid brought me 161 batteries.
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