Buffalo Bills

Yesterday, I am in Chitre and turn on the tv in my hotel and what is on....THE BILLS GAME! I got super excited until I saw they were losing. But it was a comforting familiar feeling. And it made it me crave pizza and wings. Da Bills.

Weather

The weather in Panama is crazy. During training it was ungodly hot. Now in site its usually comfortable during the day, but I sleep in sweats and a hoodie in my sleeping bag. Oh and the rain. I have never experienced 8 days and nights of solid rain. Pouring rain. So depressing. The mix of heat, cold, and humidity has also ruined my two most valuable possesions in Panama, my camera and ipod. I got a new camera, but I guess its Panamanian reggetone and tipico from now on.

I have started baking. The people LOVE it! I have made a bunch of different kinds of sweets and they think I am nuts, but love to eat them. And this is without a stove people. I have a list of people who want to learn how to make them. Now that I have their attention, maybe I can teach them about cooking vegetables.

I feel like I am contantly stuggling with the need to be a member of the community, and Peace Corps volunteer. Because I honestly feel like you cannot be both. I start to feel normal and in the groove, and bam hey Amy you need to leave for two weeks for training. Hey you need to leave for this meeting or that meeting. And that really is part of my job, to work with agencies and make stuff happen. But at the same time the community members dont really get it either. They just know you are not in the community and not visiting their house.

I have realized that most of my blog posts are totally random but hey when you are rushed for an hour to do all your stuff in a super slow internet cafe. So you get what you get folks.

Community Analysis

For my first three (actually four) months as a volunteer, my job was to observe and listen and learn about the community. Pasear, attend meetings and community events. And it all comes down to the big meeting. And nothing seemed to be going my way. My boss changed the date after I had sent out all the invitations. Then the day before my meeting, a woman in my community passed away. (RIP) My boss showed up late and I felt as though I might throw up. Oh and of course it was raining! But everything went smoothly. Having my boss there really helping and he said he enjoyed my different approach to the meeting. Excellente! Some of the community´s ideas for projects include: eco justa stoves, lombri compost, a chicken project, and home gardens. So we will see what I can make happen!

In other news:

I also visited fellow volunteer Daisy in La Loma Montuosa for spanish class. Another beautiful site and a great visit. It is nice sometimes to get out of the community and see new places. And I was told by my teacher I have a campo accent. She didnt exactly say it as a compliment, but I took it as one.

The community has officially formed a cooperative which is an excellent step in the right direction.

Independence Day from Columbia was November 3rd and there was an activity in the school. Games for the kids and of course arroz con pollo and chicha.

A recent problem, not so much in my community, but communities nearby. Alcohol. There have been at least two fights and the police were called once. Two people in the hospital. Yes there are problems when you drink fermented corn out of fertilizer containers and then have machetes. Who would of thought? But on the good side. People are pissed. They want to stop people selling Seco out of their homes and stop making chicha fuerte for the peons. Hopefully we shall have some community action!

I have aquired some new plants for my garden and will be planting my vegetable garden in the beginning of December.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD! :)