One of the highlights of my time in Panamá so far was the last week of March when Mom, Dad, and Ian came to visit me!!! It was a crazy busy week filled with every type of transportation imaginable: planes, boats, the metro, chivas, and multiple busses both big and small. I met them in Panamá at the airport and we immediately set out for my site. After a night in David, we got up early and made it to my entrada. There we caught my chiva and just 24 hours after arriving in Panamá, they were in Barranquilla! It was one of the weirdest moments I've experienced so far; in my head, I've titled that moment "when worlds collide." It was amazing for them to see my house and how I live. I took them to pasear (visit) at all 25 houses in my community in just a couple hours. My gente (community members) were shy, but also curious. It was interesting for me to watch them be uncomfortable and experience some culture shock (although on a small scale). I think now my gente better understand or at least have had a small taste of the shock I experienced upon arriving in Barranquilla.
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| They made it! |
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| Bus Ride #1 |
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| At my house |
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| Shy, but curious |
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| Mom with my baby host sister, Ladi |
Ian learned to use a machete, we drank fresh coconut water, and celebrated my hosts sister's 14th birthday! We spent some time with my host family and it was my favorite part of their visit. While neither of my families could directly communicate with each other, they were able to meet and have a brief conversation with my translating. My parents thanked my host family for taking such good care of me and welcoming me into their house and lives. My host dad responded by thanking my parents for letting me come to Panamá and work in their community. This was my favorite exchange of their visit. They got to eat my campo cooking and we all squeezed into my 10ft by 7ft house for the night...Well, I actually slept on the porch in a hammock because my house is that small. I asked my family what they thought of Barranquilla, my gente, and generally my life there. They responded by saying I
really seemed happy (even though I've mentioned that in previous conversations) and they already recognized how hard it will be for me to leave in just a year and a half.
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| Be afraid |
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| When Worlds Collide |
The next morning we packed up and headed out for some quality time on the island of Bastimientos. We spent a few days being beach bums and enjoying the perfect weather. The last stage of out trip was taking an overnight bus back to Panamá for one last day to enjoy in the city. We arrive nice and early (3am) and relaxed in our hotel lobby. When it was actually daytime, we waled the Cinta Costera, visited Casco Viejo, and the Panama Canal. We ended the day with a tour of the Peace Corps Office and having dinner with my Country Director at her house because he and my dad went to grad school together. The next morning, they headed to the airport and back to the US and I made my way back to Barraquilla. It was an amazing week!!
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| Boat ride #2 of 4 |
Since my family's visit, I've been working to hold elections for my water committee and begin surveying for repairs to our aqueduct system. I spend a lot of time playing with kids and coloring with them! They also love to practice English with me! I'll be holding water committee elections in a week, and then our main projects should get underway.
I spent some time in another Volunteer's site helping her do some surveying and make plans for an aqueduct she will be building. Then I was able to celebrate my birthday on Bastimientos at the beach! It was a lot of fun a great way to ring in year #23.
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| Yeah, we're working! |
In the next couple weeks, I have a lot of training events that will cause me to be out of site. I have training in Panama City, a meeting in Changuinola, and a Seminar in early June. The seminar should be really interesting because I (along with the other WASH Volunteers) will be bringing a counterpart from my community for this training event. It's a few busy weeks filled with travel all over the country!
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| My minions |
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| My youngest host sisters |
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| Helping me sweep |
In the next couple weeks, I have a lot of training events that will cause me to be out of site. I have training in Panama City, a meeting in Changuinola, and a Seminar in early June. The seminar should be really interesting because I (along with the other WASH Volunteers) will be bringing a counterpart from my community for this training event. It's a few busy weeks filled with travel all over the country! 
