New years so far

I woke up at 1:15am to help kill a pig and since then all I've ingested has been coffe, beer, rum and pig. Happy panamanian new years
Mensaje enviado desde mi BlackBerry® de +Móvil!

Countdown

200 days
Mensaje enviado desde mi BlackBerry® de +Móvil!

Naranjas

I've been eating around 6 oranges a day or more. I found a tree out back that's producing little tiny ones but they are the juiciest and sweetest that I've had. I'm going to miss orange season.
Mensaje enviado desde mi BlackBerry® de +Móvil!

Secrets out

I knew the day was coming when some kid would surprise me and catch me on the blackberry, ooops. Its prob no big deal considering everyone already knows. I have a camera and a laptop here. I just hate "showing off" all this.. status symbol junk.

On another note, feliz día de las madres (ayer). There was a procession in Calabazo but I didn't go por la lluvia. I went last year so its np.

Its been raining pretty consistently since the end of November and they say its not going to stop. El niño is going to give us rain through february (plus the normal summer winds). Essentially there will only be a tiny summer this year.. as the rainy season starts up again in april or may.

the sun came out for 5 minutes today so I thought that was a good sign to do my laundry. I was trying to hold out until I go to Penonomé next week to throw my clothes in a machine, que va. I ran out of anything clean. We'll see how many days it takes to dry :p

I'm going to panamanian court next week, so I'll let ya all know how that goes. Same old laptop issue.. just want it to be over. The adult suspect had his trial on thanksgiving and he's still around town, sounds like he got a fine. I'm sure the minors will get their fine too and hopefully it'll be done with.

Schools ending, so my "set schedule" will be ending as well. After new years I plan on starting up my english classes again.. Getting things going with stove construction (still waiting on funds and the extended rainy season might make it tough to transport material).. And if all goes well, I will put on a project management seminar for APEP w/ the help of the president. The guy wants me to do it on my own but since he has experience w/ the seminar.. I'm not gonna budge. We do it together or we don't do it.

I'm going home in 2 weeks wooo
Mensaje enviado desde mi BlackBerry® de +Móvil!

Shoutout

Well, the internets doing its job.. More than just family and close friends are reading my blog. Thanks for the postcard Shurbani from Malaysia.
Mensaje enviado desde mi BlackBerry® de +Móvil!

Happy Holidays Panama

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2667412&id=3204872&l=96e801206d

Those are some pictures from this month. I got invited to help slaughter some chickens, but missed it by 15 minutes.. darn. I did help them pluck.. which obviously was my first because I did one in the time that everyone else did 3. The response I got when I showed the women my work was "woah David, salío bonito!".. then they chopped its head off and yanked out the guts.

We have a string of holidays in November.. Nov 3 Separation from Colombia, Nov 4: Day of the Flag, Nov 5 Colón Day, Nov 10: The Uprising of Los Santos against Spain, Nov 28: Indep from Spain. I'll be in Chiriqui (Cerro Punta) again for Thanksgiving next week. Then comes Mothers Day on Dec 8.

Class is winding down.. last day is Dec 13. I'll have a bit more free time in the Summer haha, but I do have plans to build more stoves around town.. just waiting for my grant to go through. I have some stocked up so I hope I can get at least 3 done in early December before coming home wooo. I'll be in SD the 22nd to 28th.

Maria is coming down to celebrate the holidays with us. We read something awhile back that a volunteer in a long distance relationship should try to see their boyfriend/girlfriend every 4 months and.. its actually ending up that way haha.

The link has pictures from the parade on the 3rd in Loma Bonita and the 4th in Copé. It was a rainy week just like last year.

This kid is called 'chinito' maybe for obvious reasons.. here's his victory dance after my gooool (I scored on a 4 yr old).

Cristo Negro

Since I'm feeling better, thought I'd take the opportunity to check out the Black Christ festival in Portobelo, Colón. Its a piece of culture that you're not going to find anywhere else. Portobelo in general is beautiful, with the Caribbean and the ruins of the forts.. but when you see all the people crawling hands and knees from who knows where, with hot wax being dripped on them.. it adds something.

Some people even marched from Panama City or further, starting as early as Monday to get there by Thursday. I'm not sure of the exact story of Black Christ, but the statue that well over 30 men carry in the procession is the same one that has always been used.. and the tradition hasn't changed. Pretty cool. I don't really know why everyone was getting a haircut.

http://www.yourpanama.com/black-christ.html

Pneumonia.. 105.4*F aaah

Let me start by saying that title reflects how I felt yesterday. Today, although I'm sure I still have Pneumonia I feel completely normal and finally like myself again. (it went from AVC start to end).

Every time someone saw me walking around like a zombie, trying to sit through some.. surely interesting session - I just couldn't think - they would ask me "feeling better?" and I'd either say "yea little better, think I'm almost over it". I really thought it too, until it hit again and the thermometer showed me somewhere between 102 and 103. Friday.. yesterday morning, after half of CECs section, I decided I couldn't take it and went to nap until lunch..

I woke up an hour or so later with uncontrollable chills; my entire body was shaking. Eventually I got out of my cold and wet bed and look in the mirror. I looked and felt like a ghost, couldn't hear anything but my teeth chattering and couldn't really think. It took me about a minute to text my doctor a few words because I couldn't get my fingers to hit the buttons.. and when I finally called her too she probably could just hear the teeth, which she must have translated into "I need to go to the hospital" and got me a ride.

I packed or better said, jammed everything I thought was mine into my drysac.. luckily only leaving behind my ipod* and got into the car. Once at the hospital, I realize shit, I'm gonna have to show my ID and since I don't remember much, I don't remember if I packed my wallet or where it is in my bag. At check-in, I'm tearing out all my clothes and whatever else and eventually find my wallet at the bottom and check in, to wait another who knows how long it was to see the doctor.

It was a good spanish test for me, considering I couldn't think about anything but my head blowing up. I guess I did well because we only spoke about my head blowing up. At this point he was thinking it was viral and that I may have dengue, but was not sure.

Anyway, they gave me a shot in the ass* and an IV and things started to change. They got me a chest x-ray and well, it proved I had pneumonia*. I popped another amoxicillin and some pain killers and ate dinner. Brian and Jenn, Panama Country Director and PTO*, came by to see how I was doing and gave me a much needed care package.. toothpaste and a phone card. Thanks! Everything was going great, especially because the Rangers were winning 5-0 when I closed my eyes. I woke up with no fever, very very minor headache, but the damn yankees came back*.

As I was packing up.. this time a little more organized, the nurse told me I had a compañero here. It was Dylan. So you read it right its pronounced Dailan. algo así. I thought 'cool.. someones visiting me'. I gave him a call and asked where he was. He told me he was in the doctor's office and just got a shot in his ass. Haha, he wasn't there to visit but its cool. His new shoe gave him a blister which got infected and made his foot twice as big. He showed me how to get to the pharmacy in Chitré and I got on a bus to Penonomé.. got some pizza with some other people and am now back at my hotel.

It feels good to feel good again. Sucks I missed AVC, but as far as my healths concerned, I'm really glad this all happened while I was there instead of stuck in my house.. If I didn't go to the hospital with the temperature I had yesterday.. wow.

Oh, by the way.. I got to keep my x-ray!. As crazy as my story is.. my infection is not as cool looking as others I found online :(. Even worse in the picture I took.. being upside down doesn't help*. haha like I said before, I haven't been able to think straight lately.

*Got my ipod back
*holy crap. shots have never really hurt me too bad.. I didn't cry or anything but damn it hurt.
*Weird, because I could probably count the amount of times I coughed all week. None Tues-Thurs, but Friday morning I did start just a bit. An explanation they gave me is I probably got the flu as well.. another reason for an insanely high fever.
*PTO = Program and Training Officer
*Yankees got killed today.. woot
*This one might be obvious. I flipped the picture

PS. Three times during my stay at the hospital, a lady opened the door trying to sell lottery tickets haha.

oh, one thing I did accomplish at AVC was fill out and turn in my ballot. I actually got to vote this election. I also received my packet from June... and i found my 'lost' favorite shirt at the laundry mat this morning. I haven't seen it since my parents were in town.. months, crazy.

Enfermo

So I woke up Tuesday morning feeling the worst I've felt in over a year. The first time being my initial visit to Loma Bonita where I was stuck in a bed the whole week. This enfermedad's timing wasn't much better. AVC (All Volunteer Conference) started Wednesday and goes until Saturday morning. Hours of seminars.. HIV/aids, cross sector sessions, and information about Panamanian government and economy. By cross sector sessions I mean projects that are not in the CEC program. I signed up for composting latrines, aqueducts and ESL techniques. Should be cool assuming I can get out of bed today haha. We'll see. I said that timing was bad, but the whole med staff of peace corps is here at the conference. I'd much rather be sick here than be sick stuck in my house with cold showers and a barking dog. Plus I just ordered a plate of piña.. best decision of

So as far as I know I just have the flu which is going around my town, and everywhere. They're actually giving flu shots here.. just missed it. Whats worse is the kids. Not one of them understands the concept of covering your mouth or even coughing and sneezing in another direction. I knew it was coming when I was filming some kids jumping around and they all ran over to see the camera. I was breathing in their warm gripe breaths and cleaning off their sneezes from the camera. Its nice to know though that the whole towns got my back.

I don't think I have dengue, but if I'm still sick by Saturday I'm going to the city. Alright I don't know what else to write and my brain hasn't been running anywhere near full capacity.

goodnight

oh, so as a kid I always put on Independence Day when I was home sick.. randomly today while stuck in bed, it came on in Spanish! It didn't help my fever but I got some sense of excitement for a bit.

Que hay de nuevo?

The last few weeks I've been babysitting nikki's puppy while she's on vacation. Its nice to just sit and watch two happy dogs playing. Little elfrita/fritura can usually take anzuelo down but he"l grab her by the collar and shake her around like a toy. Ketchup wasn't a fan at first but has calmed down by now.

I've been doing a lot of painting at the school and english. The environmental ed has slowed down a bit in recent times but I'm working with the environmental group on the art projects. We also went out to the national park for a day trip. We're planning an overnight in december.

Global architecture brigades (college/grad students from the states) came through to build a house for the family at the granja. I hung out for a few of the days and showed off a bit of my nailing skills. The dogs were over there more than I was, I think they're attracted to americans.

Not much more than that going on. I'm waiting on a grant application to go through to get more stoves going in town, so hopefully thatll come in soon. Can't really start work until the summer anyway when the roads are nicer.

I forget what the count is, but somewhere around 270 til my service is over and 90 until I come home for the holidays. If all goes well, greg (my brother) are planning a trip up north through central america when I"m finished.. Getting us home in early august.

I"ll get some recent pictures on here when I get a chance.

Btw, panamanian clowns are rediculous.. I went to a bday party in the city.

Interesting fact:

Penonomé (capital of Coclé) was founded in 1581.[2] The name of this town comes from the words "penó Nomé". Nome was a chief of a local native American tribe, who was put to death by the Spanish colonial officials. "Penó Nomé" means "Nome was executed."[3] The town was the capital of Panama for a short period after Panama City was sacked by Henry Morgan in 1671
Mensaje enviado desde mi BlackBerry® de +Móvil!

Ye-ye

After a year or so of a life of candles and flashlights, I decided to bring a bit of technology in. I got my battery a few months ago and the one light bulb makes such a difference. It's a hands free nightlife (I still go to sleep around 8 30 or 9) that I never had before. You'd think 'hey why not use a head lamp?' But then remember, oh wait bugs like light and the light is on your face.

The battery could probably last a good month longer if I only use the light, but I charge my cell and sometimes the computer, so. I get about 3 weeks. Either way its super easy to charge at the store in town from their generator.

Then I thought about looking into a blackberry plan. Maria sent me down an old one and I set it up with mas movil for only 12 a month. Not bad to have internet at home and for long bus rides, such as the one I'm on now. Heading to Isla Caña in Los Santos and a few days later for Guararé mejorana #2.

Anyway I don't promise that my blogs will get any more frequent, but we'll see. The bb is also nice b/c I can send free texts to any other bb. So.. Everything I wrote about pretty much defines 'ye-ye'.
Mensaje enviado desde mi BlackBerry® de +Móvil!

vacations over.. I finally can stop spending money

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2589243&id=3207372&l=b2de2f9613

Thats a link to Maria's album from her and Ron's trip out here. I'll at least give a run down of where we were

Penonome

Ojo de Agua working

Loma Bonita

Boquete

Climbing Volcan Barú

On top of Barú

Panama City (Casco Viejo, canal, Panama Viejo)

the goodbye at the terminal which we're so used to by now

Now that August is about over, I'm goin back to the life I was so used to before the month long string of visitors. Its always a mini shock to think "oh yea, I live by myself again and I only speak spanish." The dog and cat (the biting and scratching ketchup does I take as a sign of affection) help jaja. In September I'll actually be holding on to nikki's dog while she's in the states. It'll be an in-site month except for the mejorana festival in Guararé.. a town in Los Santos. Oh, and our environmental group is making a trip to the National Park Omar Torrijos next week which should be fun.

In October, I'll hopefully get one more stove put up in site.. while the others will have to wait until January or so when the rain stops so we can get the materials up the hill. We've got AVC mid october in Chitre, which stands for All Volunteer Conference.. the name explains itself.

Octobers another important month because fiesta season starts up again with the founding of La Pintada (capital of our district) on the 19th. Then hits November with a string of holidays including independence day. Besides the one stove, seems like I'll just keep teaching through the end of the school year in December. By the way, I'll be home for the holidays 22nd to the 28th :)

Pictures from Mom and Dads visit

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2577429&id=3204872&l=dafa8c3598

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2580037&id=3204872&l=7ddb66c754

Hopefully the pictures are good enough for now.. probably won´t get to write about it for a few weeks

Los Padres de San Diego are in Panama

= My parents are visiting. I'll give credits for that joke to the 10 year old down the road.

I'm in Jail

ok not really, but at home it kinda feels like it with the bars up.

i feel better having them even though i'm pretty broke.

heres a story.. i was waiting for a bus in Cope to come out to the beach for the 4th.. and a drunk guy charging full speed on his horse ran head on into a bus. it was parked, but man.. the horse freaked out right before it hit and threw the guy off. immediately a swarm of people came over to look at the guy on the ground and not one person calls the police. they all just go "hes drunk itll be fine" so I called them up. That guy did not look fine.. I can't imagine anyone surviving hitting a bus headfirst. I didn't have it in me to take a picture of the guy like everyone else, but I took the bus afterwards.

I've got a busy month or so coming up.. a good mix of work and slacking. I'm going to a organic fertilizer seminar in a friend's site with ANAM for a few days and heading straight from there to pick up my parents. Once theyre gone, I need to plan the construction of at least 8 more stoves. 5 for families in town, and 1 or 2 for the schools in La Trinidad and Calabazo (neighboring towns).

As for the families in town, I had to narrow it down a LOT because well.. everyone wants one. I did a survey at the school to see which families are already using a gas stove every day and which cook on rocks or some other type of fogon. Looks like only 5 houses do not have a gas stove, so those are the ones that will get one. Its nice having Nikki nearby because shes doing the same project in Ojo de Agua, so we're going to do most of it together. Everyone here talks about who is a "super volunteer" and who isnt. Well.. I'm cool with being half of one ;). It'll be nice to leave here knowing the entire corregimiento of Las Lomas (the group of communities LB is in) will get something out of Peace Corps being there.

Then Maria and Ron come out. Our plans are pretty small compared to my parents trip but its cool, we're all broke. They'll be in LB for a few days then we're going out to Boquete to hike up Voclan Baru. Hopefully the weather will be alright, b/c we're camping at the top so we can see both the Pacific and Caribbean coast in the morning. A lot of people start hiking around 11 pm and get up there for sunrise and head down.. but we're going to take it a little easier.

Update

So the police have recovered my computer and arrested someone for it (they found it at his house). He ended up being one of my neighbors and is the same guy that most people suspected.. apparently hes rubbed the town the wrong way by robbing them for years. I'm still not sure if the comps busted or not, but I'll be going in to find out details next week. I also don't know if he'll be off with a fine or if he'll get jail time or for how long. The bars should be up on the windows soon, but it would be semi-creepy to know the guy is back living within 20 seconds of my house. More soon.

This past thursday was the dia de San Juan.. St John. Most of the kids made little caballitos de palo.. little horses on sticks and had to compete running around and neighing, it was pretty hilarious. Then they performed different songs and dances and presented what they've been doing all year.

The one family who wasn't there was the family of the guy who was arrested :x. It blows because I really like that (HUGE)family except for him and its unfortunate that they are most definitely getting a bad name due to all of this.

1 year in.. first bad experience

While I was out walking with.. almost the entire town in a candlelight procession.. someone broken into the house and took my laptop. It blows, but once word got around that the gringo had something expensive.. it made my house the target. Ive talked to police and a detective is coming out later today to check it out. Luckily I had gotten property insurance.. tip for any new volunteers.. GET THE PROPERTY INSURANCE.

Ive felt safe every single day Ive been there, but even if you know and trust 95% of the people, theres always that 5%. This past weekend was the festival for San Antonio, so lots of relatives and ppl from neighboring towns were around as well (most ppl in town seem to think it for sure was someone local). Other houses were robbed as well, a few gas tanks. I really didnt want to put bars on the windows, but it looks like Ill have to now. The 95% that I do trust have been awesome.. everyones really supportive and are trying to help as much as they can.

The funny thing is, whoever took it.. didnt take the charger which was sitting right next to it, or the ipod.. or my wallet sitting on the table. Im assuming they were in a rush because they had a pissed off cat and a crazy dog. Anzuelos not a fighter though.. he was probably just trying to play with the guy. Luckily I had left my camera (and a pair of boxers) in Penonome earlier that day, or else it would have been in the same bag as the computer.

The next day Stephanie came out to Cope to give me the camera and boxers and I spur of the moment went with her and another volunteer to the waterfalls in Barrigon. It was really convenient I left those boxers b/c I had something dry to change into :p.

It all works out.

I AM THE AMERICAN DREAM!

read a 3 year old's shirt that I noticed during church the other night.. ridiculous.. especially after just finishing a book talking about Latin America being the workshop for the US empire. I promise, that no matter what Peace Corps might say about returning volunteers, I will not come home hating America haha.

The mundial EEUU temp tattoo proves my loyalty. I'm coming out to Penonome to watch the games, because the radio announcers here don't do it for me. As much Spanish as I've learned, all I can figure out is the score every once and awhile.. whenever theres a GOOAAAAAAL, when someone gets carded and when the game is over.

I'm pretty excited that my parents are coming out in just over a month now. Most people in site are ready to meet them too. They know that my mom speaks Spanish (Mom.. you should practice b/c they'll want to talk) and that my dad knows nothing, but they're used to white people coming through and not speaking at all.. for example, me last year.

We'll be.. taking a tour through the canal, hanging out in site and going to a baile (haha, that will be fun), Decamerons, Santa Fe, El Valle, San Blas, and whatever else there is to do in Panama city.

Just two weeks after they leave, Maria and Ron are coming out. I promised a bunch of 8th grade girls that I'd bring them a gringo from the states (which I didn't do), but because Ron's coming.. that'll work. Apparently they don't mind he's a chino and are going to raffle him off. Maybe the money can go to the environmental club. We're definitely going to hike Volcan Baru, but besides that I'm not sure what else there is planned. Probably just hanging out in site.

So 1 year mark in site is coming up.. the 3rd of July. Last year I celebrated the 4th at a little girl's birthday party, playing the according and hitting a piñata, but this year most of my group is getting together at the Decamerons for a few days.

Work wise, same old stuff.. I'm a teacher, which is cool.. its always fun and I like most of the kids. I do have a favorite class, but I won't say which.

A town further down the road, Calabazo mentioned that they are interested in stoves built at their school so I'm going to look into that. It got me thinking that I could talk to Trinidad, the town between us about it as well. Because the majority of homes in LB have gas stoves already, I'd like to focus the project on the schools where their only option is a wood stove.. plus they will be using it 5 days a week, whereas the homes may not use theirs as often. We'll see how it all plays out, its just a thought for now.

Panamanian Slang / lost in the city

Here is a link to a well put together list of Panamanian slang. I was laughing almost the whole time I was reading it b/c I hear about 90% of them every day. There is also a pretty good system of hand signing that somehow EVERYONE here understands. People can have a conversation from across the way.. or if one person is passing by on a bus.

Slang

As for me, we just had our regional meeting in Penonome and then spent the night at the beach. I got back to site, went to a baile, and the next day got a call "come into the office.. your flu shot is going to expire." I had plans to go in June for my 1 year medcheckup, so I switched those up and came out the following day. I stayed with my old family in Nuevo Emperador, had my dentist appt (mom, he said dr. rawlings was a good pick.. but ill admit i actually still wear my retainer sometimes, that probably helps).

Theres a reason I never come to the city, I'm always lost.. or maybe I'm always lost because I never come here. The taxis are cheap and usually solve the problem, unless they have no idea where we're going either. Anyways, I'm getting out of here soon. I'm going to swing by Albrook and see iron man 2 and then make it back to Nuevo Emperador for the night. I'll head out from there and go straight to Cope to teach my class, then ojo de agua to pick up anzuelo, then home finally. but guess what?

im leaving again friday w/ the dog for a weekend at Santa Catalina..beach in Veraguas. I don't like to be out of site for so long but somehow everything clumps together and its hard to avoid. Avoiding it would mean not going to the beach.. and when we're in site, we work all the time. living is work.. plus all the hours at the school. breaks are nice

Recent Pics

Sorry another blog with very few words, but here are some pictures.













caught one




National Recycling Day


Martina got involved





Filling bags for the vivero

El Circo

I was back in site for a day.. and then I got a call saying some friends were celebrating a birthday party in Santiago. They were going to the circus.. so I had to go. Animals, clowns, trampolines, trapeze.. it reminded me of dumbo. As far as I can remember, it was my first circus. Anything that happened at the del mar fair doesn't count. Ketchup is still alive and I hear anzuelo is doing well. I'm picking him up today and going back to LB.


2 motorcycles in a giant metal hamster cage

2 weeks in the states, gained 8 pounds

I made it back to Panama, staying at a hotel for the night in Penonome before going the rest of the way to LB tomorrow. The trip home was exactly what I wanted it to be.. I did everything I wanted to do and saw everyone that I could. I started it off with a little speech/slideshow about PC to a rotary club. I have never liked public speaking but after this past year having to speak in front of groups in spanish.. doing it in English came pretty easy. Then we went to REI and picked up replacement flashlights and clothes that Panama has destroyed.. shopping blows, unless its at REI.

My parents threw a little family/friend get together, which gave me a chance to explain a little better what it is I do and see everyone all at once. I got to go to 2 Padres games in the time I was out there.. one was the 17 run massacre vs Atlanta.. and one was the 1 hit win against the giants. Plus at both games everyone won free Jack tacos. I'm going to miss an awesome beginning to their season and probably a terrible end like always ;).. and the Petco stairs bottleneck, that cracks me up. Did that guy design it on purpose?

It was good to be up in Davis again.. spent a lot of time with Maria and my other buddies up there. Picnic Day was Picnic Day (meaning awesome).. I even convinced claudia to come out from SF. I had a list of places to eat and I think I hit most of them.. sushi/thai/pizza/pint night/board n brew.

I flew home with 6 machetes, and those who got them had some fun. Greg was pretty shocked by it, just like I expected haha. Btw I'm taking orders for next time.. looks like I'm coming home again for Christmas. Mom and Dad are coming out in July and Maria and Ron are coming in August. Times going fast.

Now that I'm back.. I'll be starting work again like normal on Tuesday.

Heres some pictures


dinner in LA

speaking at rotary


pads/giants game (1-0 pads)


grade 6am.. eh 7am

Stoves

Not a lot of time for a post, but we built the stoves and here are some pictures. It went smoothly.. had lots of participation.

School Rain Puppy

School year starts today, which means I´ll have work again pretty consistently. Should be doing english Tuesdays, environment Wednesdays, and this year I´ll be teaching computer classes in El Copé on Thursdays (to the teachers.. then they can teach the students. woot sustainable). I´m going to keep up with my Sunday optional English classes as well.. the kids who go seem to like it.

So thats 4 days a week of work leaving me with a few days of.. cultural exchange around town or any other random work that comes up. For example.. the stoves which we´re finally building this Saturday and next monday, I´ll be working with a Global Brigades group who are coming in for the week.


Weathers been changing, meaning Summer is ending. Its raining pretty often now. And on other news, I got my puppy. His name is Anzuelo or Anzuelito.. means fish hook. Hes only 4 weeks old which is pretty young to take him from the mom but who knows what kinda nutrition he was getting from her, plus if I didnt take him then.. they woulda given him away to someone else. He was loaded up with fleas and after taking him to the vet.. parasites too. Got him some shots and medicine, should be good to go. I´ll be able to get back online next week to fill out the march madness bracket.. maybe I´ll win again from Panama, with no idea whats been going on this year ;)



Pictures..

Carnaval

I don´t need to get into details about the week, but it was a good time and I can definitely tell why they call it the world´s 2nd biggest. Constant crowded street parties with water tankers spraying everyone, fireworks, parades.

Anyway, now that thats over and Doug´s gone life will go back to normal. Going to get those stoves built within the next 2 weeks and then school starts up again. Ill probably end up teaching at my school twice a week. I want to talk to the teachers at two towns nearby to see if I can teach at each one for one day a week. That should keep me busy enough.


a brass band parading around Las Tablas, its called Murga. I gotta get myself in that band somehow


With the queen of Chitre