They said it was a roller-coaster ride

This will be the last day I have guaranteed internet access so I figured I'd just write about the last two days while I can. Yesterday, we had some lectures and got some shots. That took most of the day. I had a yellow fever injection and hepatitis. We then went to Albrook mall/bus terminal to pick up some last minute items and get acquainted with the bus station. Unfortunately, I got sick there (I think from the vaccine plus adjusting to the food and weather) and had to call the Peace Corps staff letting them know that I was feeling really rough. They were pretty amazing and hunted me down in the huge mall and ending up taking me home. I puked in the van but luckily I had a bag from buying shampoo so there was no nastiness on PC property. I did have time for a few quick observations. Panamanians do dress really will. They haven't been lying about that. Also, malls are pretty much the same wherever you go which is comforting I suppose.

So today I am feeling mostly better which is good because we had a site visit today. We went to an Embera community where a current volunteer is serving. The Embera are a Panamanian indegenous group that subsist mostly on tourism. This particular community was built two years ago after a falling out between the old community and these guys. We had to take a boat to get there. It was amazingly beautiful. There was a monkey and I GOT TO HOLD IT! What more could you ask for? The volunteer there told us what he does and let us ask questions. He told us that a good way to combat the lonliness is to throw ourselves into work. I'm going to take that advice to heart. He seemed really excited about his projects. We discussed strategies for getting tourists in and getting paid fairly for it. The Embera have essentially created a union so the won't get ripped off by tour companies making them compete against each other to the point that they LOSE money by taking in tourists. They fed us really well. Fish from the river, lentils, and rice. It was the best meal I've had here by far. It made for a good day and was a real morale booster too. It's comforting to start to see what is expected of me.

Tomorrow we're going to meet our host familys for the rest of training. No more a/c, no more internet, no more hot water. Time to kick it Peace Corps style.


Our arrival.


Embera women weaving. I bought a woven pot from them.


QUE RICO!!!


This was truely a dream fullfilled although not quite as nice as holding my little niece :-P

Got my pills against mosquito death*

I'm here in Panama safe. Everyone in the group made it with no issues that I know of. Hurray! Honestly, I'm not sure what to say so I'll just start by describing the day. We woke up at 2:00 am to catch our flight to Miami. It was the most turbulent flight I've been on so far but it turned out ok. I did get a little scared though. So fast forward several, several hours and we're in our site outside of Panama city by the canal. I haven't seen much yet but Panama City seems really neat. It looks like Miami mixed up with some Pirates of the Caribbean set pieces. The canal has some impressive boats in it but I haven't got a close up look. Today we had a brief meeting and the girls got blood tests to make sure we aren't preggers. We got our medical kits, malaria pills, mosquito nets, and water purifiers. Tommorow we learn all about why we need to use them.

The people I'm meeting seem really cool but I'm in such shock still that I haven't really gotten to know too many of them. It's going to take me a while to adjust and I know I need to just let that happen. I was just getting comfortable and really settling in to Baltimore so it makes the change just that much harder now that I don't know anyone and don't know my surroundings. I'm keeping a positive attitude and an open mind though. I think when we start training classes I'll get really gung-ho but for now I'm just a bit tired and overwhelmed. On the plus side, I haven't had too much time to think about that because the Peace Corps staff really has it together. They keep us moving. To tomorrow!

*I in no way endorse Alice in Chains.

This is what the old army base we're staying in looks like:

"Accentuate the positive"

I'm almost done packing! I feel like I've done a pretty good job of packing light, all things considered.

Ahhh... 1st negative entry. Here we go.

The only thing worse than leaving your friends, family, and the love of your life for two years and change is having to do it while moving in the relentless rain. Better let up soon.

"I'm sick of the forms! I'm sick of being misread!"

Just kiddin'. I'm not sick of the forms... yet. I'm sure I will be. In these past two days I've received my staging information and it turns out I'll be in D.C. for a day of orientation. I'm curious about how transit will work because I'm supposed to call and arrange a flight with this travel company but I don't think there are any puddle jumpers from BWI to Reagan International. I assume I can take a train and get reimbursed later? We shall see. It's no sweat to get there so I'm glad.

So, in a nutshell, we collect in D.C. and go over some of the BASIC basics then we all ship off to Panama City on the 22nd and get into the heavier stuff. The 1st day is form day. Then we get all kinds of shots, safety lessons, language lessons, and cultural lessons. There is a field trip. It's been so long since I was on a field trip! I'm pumped. Also, I just ordered the biggest duffel bag known to man.

I got a questionnaire in my e-mail which I wanted to share:
1. What compelled you to join Peace Corps (PC)?
As someone from a developed country, I want to try and share some of the opportunities I have been given while taking advantage of the opportunity to learn from a culture different from my own. I want to challenge myself while providing lasting benefits to my community of service.

2. What attracted you to Panama and made you accept the invitation?
I have been fortunate enough to travel in Central America before and I enjoyed it. Having had that little bit of prior experience is comforting— like I have a little head start in adjusting to the culture. The more I learn about Panama specifically, the more pleased I am that I accepted the invitation. The variety of cultures and landscapes are exciting. I am excited about being selected for this project because I am interested in how tourism can used to create opportunities without destroying cultural identity.

3. How does PC service fit into your personal and/or professional goals? What does post-PC life have in store for you?
I am interested in continuing my work with nonprofits so the experience I gain will be invaluable as far as managing resources and organizing people are concerned. I am also considering some of the grad school programs for RPCVs. Lastly, I have studied Spanish academically for a very long time and am excited for the opportunity to actually become fluent.

4. What is the greatest expectation that you have about your service as a volunteer?
That I will be able to help create an autonomous project that benefits the community
on their own terms.

5. What is the greatest worry or concern that you have about your service as a volunteer?
That I will not accomplish anything lasting.

6. What do you think will be the greatest challenge you will face as a volunteer?
I think the greatest challenge will be to learn enough about the culture to properly
motivate the community and help them meet their goals.

Is there any specific information/background that might be useful to assist us in site placement? (Include even if also listed on your resume and aspiration statement)
• Technical Schooling/Training:

• International Experience: I have traveled for about 10 days each with my high school in: China, Cuba, and the Scandinavian countries. I have spent a little over a week at a home stay with an au pair friend in the Netherlands. I spent two weeks in Costa Rica with a volunteer group and one month in Ireland on a study abroad internship.

• Language: I have a minor in Spanish

• Work Experience: I am currently a Fair Housing Specialist with Baltimore Neighborhoods.

• Other: Part of my Costa Rica trip involved trying to encourage ecotourism. We helped maintain trails into the forest and built a bus stop as a way to encourage tours.

7. What do you consider are the most important/personal/professional strengths that you bring to your work as a Volunteer?
Personally, I can be very determined and so I would hope that my enthusiasm for potential projects would encourage the community. I am respectful of cultural differences which, with any luck, would give me some credibility as a community organizer. Professionally, I have very strong organizational and general office skills. I have had some informal experience teaching and in Costa Rica I helped teach English to children and teenagers.

8. What do you feel are your weaknesses?
My biggest weakness may be a lack of confidence in my projects. Sometimes, I have a hard time asking for help or clarification of instructions.

10. What might cause you to consider an early termination of your service in PC?
Illness and perhaps thinking that the community does not need a volunteer.

11. Describe your working style: are you a self-starter? Independent? Need structure? Etc.
I like structure while I am learning my work but then I prefer independence once I have it down.

12. How do you feel about being in a community with:
Alcohol use- It is not my ideal situation but I would be able to deal with it.

Volunteers reasonably close by- I would prefer this.

Strong religious groups- I don’t have a preference although I am not very religious myself so there would be culture shock.

Only dug-out canoe access- I am ok with this.

Only hiking access- I am ok with this.

Indigenous- I have no preference of Latino or Indigenous communities although since I have experience with Latino communities, I may be more effective there.

Only airplane access- I think I may feel too isolated if there were only airplane access.

Tons of kids- Kids are great.

No electricity- I would prefer electricity but I understand that it is not always available at PC sites.

No privacy- I like my privacy but I understand that PC service requires you to be willing to part with some of that.

Harsh conditions (Extreme heat, dust, lack of running water)- I would prefer running water but I understand that it is not always available at PC sites. As for heat and dust, I think I could adapt.

River crossings- I am ok with them

Introduction!

To avoid mass e-mail, I've decided to keep a blog of my Peace Corps experience. JFK asked me what I can do for my country and so, next month, I'm headed off to Panama to ultimately become a "tourism and English consultant". I'm not exactly sure what that means, but I'm excited. It looks like I'll be able to update this bad boy about once a month. That seems to be the average for the other Peace Corps blogs I've been reading. I'll kick this off with some fun things I've learned about Panama!

• Everything in el bosque will kill you, sting you, poison you, or lay its eggs in you. (just kidding but it's starting to seem that way).
• Speaking of... they have coral snakes! I want to see one because they are the prettiest snake but I don't want to see one because (SURPRISE!) they can kill you.
• There are several indigenous groups in Panama and they have the some of the most political autonomy of any native people in the Americas.
  
• Panama is on the US dollar... I had no idea.
• Cashews grow wild but are really poisonous before you roast them and even then the smoke during cooking is toxic.
• Some people have a poison-ivy-like reaction to mango leaves.
• The Peace Corps makes you take a swim test in which you turn your pants into a flotation device... I'm very curious to see how I will hold up.
• Hot dogs are a favorite. Really big. The breakfast of champions.
• Pasta goes with rice. They do that in Costa Rica too though. :-P
  
• A lot of pc volunteers adopt pets. I really want a dog! I don't want to feel like I'm cheating on Hobbes though. Maybe I'll stuff him in my bag...
• It is considered weird to live alone en el campo. I kind of already knew this but I had no idea of the extent of it.
  
• There is one active volcano in Panama. If you visit me, we're going there. I don't care how many times I see it.
• I'm going to need to buy high heels for la ciudad.
• Mother's Day is a massive blowout. Maybe not as huge as hotdogs but almost...
• Bob Villa is a Peace Corps Panama alumnus.
  

So there it is. Keep an eye on this page for contact info as it comes up and changes. Please leave plenty of comments so we can keep in touch! Also, start making plans to come visit because I'm already homesick.