Panama....the experience

Change seems to be the constant in my life right now. Maybe it’s the slow realization that I’m not in Colorado anymore. And the realization that I’m now that awkward foreign exchange student trying to prove to others that, “Yes, I was actually pretty cool back home”. But it’s hard to express how cool you really are when you are slowly learning their language and when your clothes are not Panamanian style.

It’s definitely a lifestyle change when your host family is worried when you’re not home by nine….and usually that was the time that you left the house to go out.

Poco a poco I’m getting used to grabbing fresh fruit off a tree, riding a pimped out old school bus for public transport, cold showers, and telenovas.

I do like Panama for all of you sitting there scratching your heads and wondering. I like that I live in a really small town. I like that my host family here is so big, so close, and I’m introduced to others as their daughter. I like that I can read a Spanish newspaper and know what it is saying. I like that when I go to tech classes and during break I can go play with Pepe the monkey. And I like that my family is constantly teaching me new things. For example: today I’m killing a chicken for a party. Every day is a new experience and a chance for me to learn something new.

Even though my life is constantly changing, I’ve been struck by one other constant in my life: God. Last night while trying to fall asleep I was listening to a song and I realized how true the words were. It goes something like this:

All the things my feet thought to be firm
Are falling with urgency
Tearing back my false sense of security
Some say, “Things change, nothing stays the same”
But the sweetness in my ears
Safe in your arms
Speak the words I love to hear

You have been more faithful
Than the morning sun
You have been more faithful
Than knowing night will come
You have been more faithful
Than the changing of seasons

All the things I thought
That I used to know
Falling down again
Our disillusionment is how we grow
Some say, “Things change, nothing stays the same”
In a world of inconsistency
Everything’s the now
What causes my heart to believe?

You have been more faithful…..

It;s not official yet

So I talked to my boss, Pablo the other day for a final interview for my site. It turns out (drum roll please) that I will be going to an indigenous site. I¨ll be working with two different communities to develope tourism


....for surfers.

I know. You can all be jealous now.

The only problem is, I¨ve never surfed a day in my life.

It´s not official; I¨ll find out the final say on Wenesday....

But it´s kinda cool.

Malaria Medication Dreams

Last night I dreamt about ice cream. Lots and lots of ice cream.

I was in Michelle¨s ice cream shop (which is a 50¨s ice cream shop that is kinda decorated like Victoria¨s Secret) and I was looking at all the ice cream.

And I got 4 scoops of chocolate ice cream. And I remember thinking that that was alot of ice cream.


And then I woke up in 90 degree weather under a mosquito net.

Ah, Panama, I love you and your weather and lack of ice cream