We wish you a Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, and all that other business too!!

The countdown has begun:  Only 6 days until I arrive in the US!!  I woke up this morning more ready for NC and cold weather and friends and family than I had expected to be!!!  Last night we had a small Christmas party at my friend John's house.  It was filled with turkey, Christmas lights, eggnog, and caroling.  We stood around together, sang some songs, and then on an impromptu note, drove to the Director's house and the Elementary principal's house and sang to them.  It was almost like being back at home except that we were sweating our bums off!!  It was a good reminder of how you can find friends anywhere if you just try.......  So to further celebrate a Panamanian Christmas, here we are:  

It's a Panamanian Christmas

We Wish You a Panamanian Christmas....

And thus begins the Christmas season.  So as I am sure you can imagine it is super hard to get in that Christmas Spirit when it's 90 degrees outside and every one speaks spanish.  One night last week Jodie and I were walking to our favorite Lebonese restaurant.  On our way is a lovely park and as we passed on this night there was una fiesta grande.  There were singers, dancers, a drag queen, the coca cola bear, light up santa hats, and street meat.  If there is anything that can put a little yule-in-your-tide it is street meat and light up santa hats.....  You think that that was it, oh no, look at the awesome..... well I'm not sure what they are, but they were awesome.

As if it weren't Christmas enough...... this is what I got to do this weekend.......

I just love a hot sunny day at the beach at Christmas.

And lastly I think penguins, in the mall, with santa hats really just says it all.

Mes de la Patria and a Happy Thanksgiving too....

This past week was absolutely insane.  I had a friend visiting from NC, which was great.  It's nice to have someone experience this here, it makes it more real having someone from my other life know this.  As nice as it was having her here, the weather was NOT nice.  This was the worst weather since I've been here.  It rained for almost one week solid, seriously.  Between work and the weather our plans were seriously hampered, but I still had fun.  :)  This week at school we had the big Mes de la Patria celebrations.  It was so much fun and really interesting.  I learned a Panamanian Tipica dance (like folk dancing) and performed it for all of the kids.

Pretty much the kids were just amazed that I was a "gringa".  I keep telling them I am Panamanian but they don't believe me, can't figure out why.  I got to see my kids dance, a panamanian marching band, hear some really good music, and just in general have fun.

I went to visit an art exhibition that a friend of mine was in and reconnected with arts community that I've missed so much.

After Mes de la Patria I celebrated my first thanksgiving without my family.  What could have been a depressing day turned out as a good one.  We had a few friends over and enjoyed each other's company and dinner with a slightly Panamanian twist...

Instead of turkey (because, quite honestly, no one wanted to cook it) we had chicken lovingly prepared by the Chicken King of Brisas, patacones, mashed potatoes, spinach, mac and cheese, apple and pumpkin pie, a pinapple dish, biscuits, and brownies.....  :)  It was nice to have everyone over and celebrate.  I was thankful to have Lindsay here and to finally be settling in here a bit.  There are still hard moments but I am finding a rhythm.  I am thankful for a good job and the learning experience of a lifetime.  I am thankful for my family for making me who I am because otherwise I wouldn't be here, able to do this.  I am thankful for friends, old and new.  And mostly, this week, I have been thankful for the insight that only time can bring.

All in all, a good week.  Only three more until I am in the States again and can see all the people I love.  Happy Thanksgiving!!

Nunca Olvido, Nunca deje ir.

Panama, is well, still Panama.  It's still hot but now, in the rainy season, it rains..... everyday.  It's ok though, it doesn't seem as hot afterwards.  I am still going to dance class with my love-crush dance teacher Luis.  I am not sure he's told his wife and kids he's in love with me yet, but don't worry, it's only time.....  :)

(Ok, in case you guys didn't get that, I am kidding, I am not ACTUALLY in love with my teacher, nor would I EVER go after a married man.)

Seriously.  School is maintaining the same level of mediocrity that it has since I began.  I am still not in my classroom.  They keep saying "the end of the month" thinking I will forget, and well, honestly I do sometimes then it comes rushing back to me and I get irritated all over again.  The kids are finally starting to grow on me.  I had a kid today, a little korean boy who has not cracked a smile at me or spoken to me or laughed or sang or anything at all, he all of a sudden decided to sing AND smile AND laugh at me.  (Yes I mean at me, but hey I'll take it.)  That was a good thing. 

Also, and get ready to be excited..... I AM LEGAL!!!  I have my visa, after my nine millionth visit to immigration.  I can finally, actually BE todos panamanios.  (See above picture.)

Don't worry friends, as the title states: I never forget, I never let go.  Just because I am now Panamanian it doesn't mean I'll forget you.

Really.  I mean it.  

 

Sometime all you need is a vacation

It's been a lovely week since I have returned.  I think all that I needed was a vacation from Panama.  I am happier (noticeable to all), I am sleeping better, I am driving better (I drove home today without freaking out!!!), and I am in general just more relaxed.  I like Panama a little more and don't feel as exasperated.  

Yay for happiness.  :)

Click your heels together and repeat after me......

....There's no place like home.

So.  Happy Fiesta de Patria.  And Happy Week Off of School.   To celebrate independence for Panama, I liberated myself from the country for a week.  I flew home to colder climates and family and friends.  The flight in, coming into Greensboro I have never been happier to see ol' NC.  The leaves were beautiful and so were the people.  I spent my week trekking up and down the mountain to take part in both of my lives.  I got to dance, I got to visit, I got to laugh, I got to shop, and most importantly I got to remember who I am.  My friends have an excellent way of showing me who I am.... slightly neurotic, time obsessed, and sometimes crazy but also sure of who I am.  I am hoping this self assurance will carry over into Panamanian life for me.  

A few pictures of the week.   A wedding, friends, and my totally "panamanian" family.  Enjoy!

  

Act Your Age...

So.  I think that I've decided no matter who you are some people will always complain about you.  I've spent the past three months here helping out and being as nice as I possibly can to a fellow american who is having a hard time adjusting.  I genuinely like her, go to dinner with her, help her out at home, help her out at school, call her, everything.  And do you know what I hear today?  That because I don't invite her every time I go do something she thinks I am rude and mean.  This is even though I invite her to the beach, I invite her parties we have, I invite her over to hang out..... she is always busy or stressed or whatever and can't manage to get out.  

Here's my advice, if she's willing to complain about me to everyone else, then she needs to act her age and tell me all about it. 

Other than becoming her personal driver and moving in with her, I'm not sure I can do much more for her.  It's frustrating to know that it doesn't matter what I do, it won't be enough for her.  It makes me not want to help.