1st of Many Successes

This picture is as recent as it gets around here. I took this picture 2 days ago as I walked through the city of David visiting agencies and finding the post office which of course didn´t have the package I´ve been waiting on for over 2 weeks. Anyway, no incredibly huge news going on. The 11th of this month marked the 3 months that I have been out of the U.S. Speaking of other time frames, I have been in my site for about 3 weeks and have definitely come across some issues. To not go into too much detail, I am dealing with issues of reorganization, motivation, communication, broken promises, bad influences, religion, and a sense of community. I AM glad to report that yesterday I had the best day that I´ve had here in Panama because for the first time I felt that I was needed at my site and I felt confirmation and affirmation in my purpose of even being here - to make a difference.

To not expand into too many details, lets just say that after a meeting I had yesterday, a group of adults walked away energized, motivated, and willing to tackle the internal problems that existed within the group but had never been acknowledged or discussed until I facilitated the interaction between the members. At the end of the day, my host mom who also happens to be a member of this group gave me a hug and told me that I had no idea what I did today and that for years, they have tried to do something like this but have never succeeded and it took me to open everyone´s eyes to push forward. She also said that after every meeting she would be so enraged and come home to cry out her frustrations but after the meeting yesterday, she left with such a feeling of peace.

I call yesterday the first of my many successes. As my internet time is running out, here are some pics that I thought you fans would enjoy. Much love from Panama.

(above) This is a desfile (pronounced des-fee-le for all my non spanish speaking fans out there) that took place in David last week celebrating Panamas independence from Colombia. This month is jammed pack with Panamanian holidays...seriously. The guys in the pic are wearing uniforms with the colors and theme of the flag of Chiriqui, my province. That day it was raining so bad and these kids walked for hours in the downpour. Nothing like Chiriqui pride! Mecho!

(above) Angela, Andrea and I (among at least 30 other Peace Corps volunteers) are hanging out in David to see the elections. Obama had all our support all the way from Panama! We went to a restaurant in a casino where they actually let us listen to the TVs in english and then in the middle of Obama´s acceptance speech the casino turned the sound off and cheesy dancers perfomed their choreographed routing on stage to entertain the rest of the patrons since I´m sure they were bored with the english speaking TVs and all the crazy gringos dancing all over the place celebrating Obama´s win.

(above) This is a bracelet that the family of one of my cooperative kids made for me. Isn´t it great?!

(above) Why did the chicken cross the road? (Because I made my friend Dylan chase it so I could take a picture of a chicken crossing the road...)

(above) This picture was a special request from my Grandpa who wanted to see a Panamanian pig. Love you Grandpa!

(above) A shot I took within the 1st month of being here in Panama. I call it Two Worlds. The crazy development of Panama city in the background while the art of the indigenous people in the foreground.