6 months in Panama

Can you believe I have actually been gone 6 months already...it has flown by like I never thought possible! And the holidays are here which makes the times very festive...Panama has two Independence Days...one from Spain and one from Columbia...and they are both in November. So as one would probably guess this month is one of pure celebration...and us Americans have Thanksgiving to add to the pile. All of the volunteers in Panama are getting together for a big Thanksgiving celebration, so just know I wont be alone!

Well news from in site...I have been really busy doing site development for a new volunteer and working very closely with one of the Agriculture agencies here in Panama. I spent the last week straight hiking back and forth between my site and a new site that we have been developing about 1 1/2 hike away, preparing the community for the arrival of the new volunteer...and then spending a few days getting her and all her stuff up the hill to her new site. Needless to say this has been a week of way too much hiking. As an example...last monday I had to hike over there just to drop off a note saying we would be a day late arriving. There are no other forms of communication here...so I literally hike over 3 hours just to hand a note to a women that spoke no spanish and turn around and hike right back. At least the scenery is beautiful...and I have a new neighbor!

The other thing that has been taking up most of my time has been working with this agency called MIDA, who the tecnico that I have been working with just kind of took a shine to me so I have been going to their meetings and representing PeaceCorps in the planning and design of new sites for their proyecto. This is a little nerve-racking but has been very important in forming a relationship between our program and theirs...but it means being professional. I have to dress up real nice and try to speak my best spanish while I give presentations to representatives from all over Panama. I am not sure how I was appointed this position, but it feels nice to be doing something so productive. MIDA brings well funded ag. projects to communities all over Panama, and due to my involvement with them they are going to bring a project to my community...so we can build lots of rice/fish tanks and do tons of other fun stuff that would otherwise be imposible due to funding.

Other than these bits of fun, my life has consisted of lots of hanging out with the women....due to the fact that almost all the men left for the coffee harvest. I now have a nagwa...the traditional dress of the Ngobe women and my hut is done. I will be moving in next week when I get a lock for the door. I will be sure to take lots of pics and send them with the next update.

That is all for now but I hope all is well back in the states...and I will be seeing you all in July!