Monday, October 23, 2006

~~~ PEACE CORPS PANAMA ~~~




Diablo Rojos... public transportation in and around all major cities in the country. Think loud reggaton music blaring amidst black lights and random air-brushed graphics.


About half our group one of our first free nights out in the city.

Every day of training consisted of 4 hours of language class and 4 hours of tech class. Our tech classes were held at a rancho after a short hike into the monte. (walking to class on the river crossing below)
Learning about water systems and what not.
Every week or so we'd have administrative meetings all day in the city where we had to sit through hours of medical and safety procedure. The subject listed below was covered in great detail...
Admin session days were always a highlight because of the freedom in the city that followed. (fellow aspirantes Rob from Oregon and Kelly from D.C. below).
We went out into the field for two weeks of cultural and tech training. Below is a composting latrine I built with two other trainees (minus the walls).
The day before we left that site, we had a cultural exchange of dances. Below are the Ngabes doing their favorite stomping line dance. Afterwards they convinced me to lead the group in the electric slide. With no music and no one really knowing what they were doing, it ended up being beyond akward.
Bath time el rio. The currents were actually really strong and the rocks on the bottom were slippery so it was really hard to keep your footing. Kevin was bet $20 he couldnt cross the river to shake this fisherman's hand on the other side. It took him a long trip of half swimming half falling just as the man started to walk away right when he neared the other side, but in the end, he was $20 richer at the end of the day.
Big bamboo by the river.
Cooking dinner on the last night of tech week. Pretty gruesome to watch, but I have to admit the pig ended up being deeeelicious. It was also pretty amusing to watch the former vegetarians of the group try their hand at butchering. I think they secretly enjoyed helping carve up the meat and I won't let them live it down to this day.
The community we stayed in loooooved playing volleyball. It's actually a pretty big sport in a lot of indigenous communities in Panama.
Why is facial hair so amusing? This photo was taken midway through the "moustache-off." These were the other trainees in my group for the two weeks of cultural and tech training.
Back to our training community of Santa Clara... we had a big bingo night to raise money for new books for the library.
OFF TO MY COMMUNITY!!! BIENVENIDO A PUNTA SIRAIN!!!Lots of hammock-ing...Nice views....
Hammocks are used for more than just napping! (look inside)

Traditional ngabe dresses... worn occasionally and for festivals or special celebrations.

Beeeeeautiful sunsets over the caribbean.

and some nice beaches I can hike or row to in under an hour.