One week has passed since i moved in with my host family in Santa Rita, yet it feels like a month. I already feel like a member of the fam and the generosity of the people in this community that has been shown to my fellow trainees and I is incredible. Last night, they was a birthday party for my fellow aspirante Aja, and her family provided a ton of chicken fried rice and potato salad, cake, ice cream, and some birthday music from her abuelo who plays the accordion. It was a blast! The hospitality that Panamanians display is natural and admirable. Despite the long days during the week, we have been able to spend time with our host families and other townsfolk, sharing laughs and provoking strange looks due to our desires to go for morning jogs, play frisbee, hang out at the church at night playing music, doing yoga, etc., and our general loud presence. Last week, some friends and I taught my host siblings how to play American football and ultimate frisbee. They loved it. Especially Alan, who asks me every afternoon to "jugar fris" o "jackpot." Alan and Alanis are typical younger siblings, causing trouble at times, but always trying to help me out with whatever and only wanting to be included/hang with gringos. Alan had a few of us rolling with laughter Saturday night when he performed his karaoke ballad "Me Voy" (seemingly an Panamanian song full of heartbreak). My friend Nick suggested we sign him up for the Panamanian equivalent of American Idol for kids. The older brother Carlos has been incredibly helpful, teaching me all about Panamanian food and culture and having tons of patience with me when I ask him a hundred times a day, "como se dice..." (how do you say...?). Carlos starts his second year at the University in Chorrerra in a week or so, so I probably won't see him as much because he has to take 3 buses an hour and a half each way to get to class. In other news in the host family, their perro Suzy has been in some pain lately because she is expecting puppies. I am nearly getting used to the loud animal noises of the day and night; dogs and cats roaming the streets, Suzy barking in pain : (, the 3 newborn parakeets chirping in their box in the kitchen, and even the damn roosters that never miss a crow at the top of every hour (at least).
Our group was able to observe a little bit of the diversity of Panamanian culture outside the pueblo last week. On friday we had an assignment to figure out the bus system by traveling to Chorrerra, a nearby city. Transportation is super cheap and pretty accessible. They have a brand new MetroBus system in the city that goes throughout the country for about 1.25 usd per ride (impressive, they are air conditioned to the max and nicer than most public buses in the U.S.). However, there are lingering buses from the old system called "Diablos Rojos," and they rock. They are basically old school buses painted all colors with typical images such as topless mermaids and Jesus with a guitar. Inside, they are jam packed with people, with lights, streamers, and other decor at the front so the driver can barely see, and blasting típico, the popular music here in Panama. Not the safest form of transport, but I try not to watch when I any Panamanian is zooming around these curvy calles.
Friday night I experienced my first Panamanian rodeo, followed by a baile. Twas pretty wild, the típico music was great, people danced closer together than at junior high dances (but with more style and step and less grinding obvi.), and I was quite awkward during my brief dance lesson with a local amiga. Trying to get my host mom and primas to show me some moves. I also went to a supermercado Chorrerra with Carlos on Saturday to buy a new fan for the family. It was basically a Walmart and kind of tripped me out. There were hundreds of people there and took an hour just to get to a register. Once I get to my site I think I will try to hit the smaller markets often for fresh food. That said, it's super interested in a partly developed country like Panama to see the disparity. Finally, yesterday we had yet another adventure on the diablos rojos to La Ciudad de Panama. The city is huge, full of palm trees and skyscrapers (many of them empty oddly enough enough). After we reached all of our required destinations, my group stopped at a Peruvian restaurant for some bomb seafood and a little sangria.
This week training continues with language classes every morning and TE classes in the afternoon. Many volunteers say this is the roughest part of the PC experience because of how busy we are and how structured our days are. However, I am going to stay with a current TE volunteer for the weekend who lives about 3 hours from here, in the Coclé region. Very excited for the next adventure and a new place.
Well, mi madre has my breakfast ready for me; fried plantains and eggs. Hasta Luego!
P.S. I want to give a shout out to all my fellow aspirantes in PCV group 72. So many awesome people from different backgrounds who have done and will continue to do incredible things. Training wouldn't be nearly as bearable without all the laughs with such easy-going hermanos y hermanas!
also, this song. chills e'ry time
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