Panamania

August 5th A couple weeks ago I headed to IST.   I had been looking forward to it for a while, it was my first opportunity to see everyone from my group, learn about their experiences, and gain important training to help me with the projects in my community.   Unfortunately a game of “capture the flag” cut my time at IST short.   The second evening, after our meetings for the day were finished, I was playing “capture the flag” with a group of other volunteers.   During the game I was chasing someone and had to jump over a hole that I saw at the last second.   I landed with all of my weight on the knee that I’ve had two surgeries on. Unfortunately it was too much pressure for the knee, and as a result it “blew-out” on me.   I iced it all night and hoped that the swelling would go down, but by the next morning it was clear that I needed to go to the hospital.   I traveled to Panama to see the doctor, and had an MRI.   Luckily it didn’t need to...

Y our task is not to seek love, but merel y  to seek and find all t h e barriers wit h in  y ourself t h at  y ou  h ave built against it.                                                                                                                                 - Jalal ad-Din Rumi

July 15th A couple of days ago I moved into my own house.   It’s very simple but I couldn’t be happier with it.   I’ve spent the last two weeks working with my community members getting the house ready (painting it, building furniture, and connecting water and electricity).   It’s so nice to have my own space and be able to cook for myself.   Now I just need to get curtains for my windows, because the last three days I’ve been woken up at 6 am by my 6 and 7 yr. old neighbors who think that the house is their playground.

July 12th Yesterday I facilitated my Community Analysis meeting.   The purpose of the meeting was to tell the community members about tve work I’ve been doing for the first three months, dicuss environmental issues that we’ve recognized are a threat to the community’s resources, and facilitate a conversation over the projects that we want to work together on during the rest of my service.    The meeting went pretty well overall.   It was well attended, there were a decent amount of citizens of Piedras Gordas, all of the teachers from the school came, multiple representatives from ANAM attended, as well as my boss who helped me organize and facilitate the meeting.   It got off to a little bit of a rough start.   It was obvious to me that the way I was presenting the information was not as engaging as I had hoped, so I decided to cut short the presentation I had planned.   After that everything moved in a more positive direction. The attendees partic...

If If you can keep your head when all about you 
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; 
 If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, 
 But make allowance for their doubting too; 
 If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, 
 Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies, 
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating, 
 And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise; If you can dream - and not make dreams your master; If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim; 
 If you can meet with triumph and disaster 
 And treat those two imposters just the same; 
 If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken 
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, 
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken, 
 And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools; If you can make one heap of all your winnings 
 And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, 
 And lose, and start again at your beginnings 
 And never breath a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve...

July 15th Sorry it’s been such a long time since I last posted.   I’ve had a lot going on this past month so let me fill you in on how I’ve been spending my time. In terms of work I’ve started teaching at the school two every Tuesday and Wendensday.   I teach the kindergarteners through sixth graders computer literacy classes, and environmental classes.   I spend two weeks teaching computer classes and two weeks teaching environmental classes each month.   I’ve also been spending a little bit of time teaching english.   I tutor my community guide each week for a few hours, and I occasionally work with the students at the school to improve thier pronouciation.   At times the second graders can be a little difficult, but overall I really enjoy working with the students.   I spoke to my mother not too long ago about when I was a student.   It was really helpful conversation.   It put the occasionally difficulties I have with the studen...