one month in

Things are still going pretty good. I have a month in site now. In some ways, it feels like the time flew, but there were definitely some long days involved. I do feel like I’m getting more integrated, though. I mean, now people will wave at me, or call out Abby, or ask me how I am, as opposed to stare at me and whisper. The pace of life is very different from DC (polar opposite maybe). I mean, they try to warn all the volunteers about the slow pace of Panama in comparison to the U.S., but of course, DC is more fastpaced and overcharged than the average U.S. town. I was feeling bad about the occasional afternoon that I sat in the house (studying), until I found out that the most common afternoon activity in my town is napping.
To help people understand my living situation, I’ve created a couple of lists (surely to be augmented with more time in country).

Most commonly asked questions, with answers (translated for your understanding):

-Do you like it here? A: Yes, its fresca, the climate is perfect.
-Do you like the food? A: Yes, others complain, but I love Panamanian food. Lentils and rice, Rice and chicken. I love it. And I “gracias a dios” haven’t gotten sick at all.
-Have you been here long? First time in Panama? How long are you here for? A: 4 months in Panama, 1 month here. My first time. I’ll be here for two years. I’m just starting. (Side note, when I say I’m here for two years, people do like to mention that I might get married and stay here forever. I tell them its not in my plans, but hey, in two years, quien sabe).
-So, you are teaching English here in the school? A: Right now I’m just in the school getting to know the kids and the community. And no, my program is not to teach English, but to work with the environment, so I’ll be teaching environmental education in the school. (Answer useless, they still think I’m here to teach English)
-You know Anita (other white person in town), right? You live with her? A: I have met her.
-You are studying here? A: No, I’m here with Cuerpo de Paz to work and live in the community. And I’ve already graduated from the university (they are shocked because they thought I was 17).
-You’ve been to Boquete? A: Not yet (also met with shock, because I’m a gringo and I haven’t been to Boquete aka Gringo-landia)

Signs that my site is ye-ye (or nice)

1. We have paved roads and sidewalks.
2. We have a bus, it runs every hour. People are shocked when I walk somewhere instead of taking the bus. But, it gives them something to talk about (ella le gusta caminar). We also have taxis.
3. Lots of people have cars, or motorcycles, a 4 wheeler, or a tractor. (Note, many people don’t though, and a horse or the bus is also common transport).
4. Though I am sending this from an internet café, I don’t have to hike into town to get into one. In fact, there is an American family in my community, and they have internet, and I can go there and use it.
5. It is a one hour direct bus ride to get into David, second biggest town in Panama.
6. There are lots of extranjeros around.
7. I can drink the water.
8. Novelas and Vive la Musica (Panamanian American Idol) are commonly discussed topics, because everyone has a TV.
9. I have been in peoples’ homes that had computers.
10. There’s plenty of food.
11. When I meet someone, instead of telling me where they live (because they probably aren’t home a lot) they give me their cell phone number.
12. The dogs appear to be well fed, and you can’t see their bones.
13. My house has a toilet. And a shower.

Signs I am still in Peace Corps

1. I have to dodge cows while walking on the sidewalk, or when going to someone’s home.
2. People stare at me. Or whistle. Or tell me they love me.
3. There are chickens running around in everyones’ yards. These chickens are also dinner.
4. Everyone speaks Spanish
5. I ran into a (dead) Boa.
6. I eat a lot of rice
7. People are shocked to know the countries I’ve visited and ask me if its scary to be in a plane.
8. The malaria meds are making my hair fall out.
9. It is completely normal and not alarming at all that men walk around with machetes

some moments

Here is a picture of my host father killing a chicken. I helped pick off the feathers and watched and learned. Sorry, there is no picture to show that I was wearing a skirt at the time. I am one step closer to achieving my goal of killing a chicken.
Mostly, I just sit around. But, here are a few moments when I felt like I was doing something, or that I was in Peace Corps:
-The kids at school and I picked up trash in the backyard so we could plant our garden
-I convined my host father to use an organic method and not chemicals to kill the leaf-cutter ants (or arrieras)that are eating his yuca. So far, we´re trying neem and bread soaked in tabasco.
-I chewed some sugar cane. It was delicious
-I used a machete to cut down some platanos. They were delicious.

there was three months of training: visiting new places, going to the beach, taking classes, hanging out with 45 other trainees. But, now training is over. I’m off in my site by myself beginning to integrate into a community. But now, the real job and adventure is beginning. So far, its been pretty overwhelming. There’s about 500 people to meet. Lots of Spanish to be spoken. And of course, I need to start helping them protect the natural environment.
But, it has its moments too. I usually go to the school in the morning, get to know the kids (and hopefully they’ll introduce me to their parents). I’m also pretty much a celebrity at the school. As soon as get nearby, all these children run out of their classrooms screaming “Abi!!” and I get a lot of hugs. And a lot of little notes welcoming me to the community and telling me how much they love me. I’m not sure what the reason is for loving me, other than being that skinny gringa that comes to school. But, the enthusiasm of the children is highly appreciated. My second day, we already started working on school garden. Sadly, the reconstruction of the septic tank means that we are currently on a hiatus. But, I have plans.
There are otherwise lots of other moments. Mostly I’m just hanging out right now. I mean, I’m working on the community analysis.  But, I meet new people everyday. People I’ve never met know my name. I usually have to clear up the fact that I’m not here to teach English. But, all the moms see me here by myself and want to take care of me, and the Principal of my school calls me “mi niña.” Poco a poco, I´m getting somewhere.

In other humorous stories. I was sitting in the kindergarten class in my school. The teacher asked the students the different between boys and girls. One boy stood up, and in true Kindergarten Cop style, announced that boys have a penis and girls have a vagina (teaching me some new words in Spanish). The teacher just nodded in approval, as well as all the other students. Nice to know they´re teaching the basics.