Tranquila

This past week has been phenomenal. We finished out the week at Balboa and I couldn't have asked for a better first week. All of the students were friendly and excited to see a new face and all of the teachers were welcoming and attentive and have truly made Mo and I feel a part of the school.

On Friday, Mo and I went with some new found friends down to the Old Quarter, or Casco Viejo of Panama City to see the sites and the nightlife. Casco was packed, in part because of an art festival down there and part because it was a Friday night. But it was so fun. Everywhere around us there were people dancing and talking and laughing and every place we went was so full of life. My favorite part of all of it was that every bar or club we went into was open air, so you could look up and see the stars and the moon. (Don't worry mom, I was safe. There were cops everywhere.)

On Saturday, Silvio took us to the most massive mall I have ever been in. Seriously, I was exhausted from walking around it all day and we didn't even get to part of it. I loved being able to see all of the people there and Silvio says people come from all over South America just to go shopping in this mall. Mo and I tried to resist temptation, but at the end we both gave in and bought dresses. I'm a sucker for maxi dresses...

This week I feel as though Mo and I have become even more a part of the school. On Monday, one of the ninth grades we both have in class brought us ice cream to class... WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE, STUDENT?! No but really it was so awesome and sweet that I couldn't stop laughing because I was in shock. Later he asked me why I was laughing and I had to assure him that I wasn't laughing at him and that I was incredibly grateful for his sweetness. Today I went on a field trip to the Teatro Nacional de Panama with almost all of the seniors in the school to see a dance performance and it was so cool. The dance was incredible and I got to spend time with a bunch of fascinating students who come from all over. Then Mo and I went and judged one of the rounds of auditions for "Balboa's Got Talent." The kids that auditioned ranged from little babies in elementary to some of my senior students. It was so cool to see all of them performing and I can't wait to see the actual show in about 2 weeks!

As well as feeling a part of the school family, I am definitely feeling a part of my host family now too. Silvio and Erinn have been so incredibly gracious and have treated me like an old friend (they actually introduce me as that outside of school, instead of host student or random person we don't know staying with us.) They take me everywhere from the grocery to the hardware store to school, etc. Anywhere they go, I get to go too. And they have introduced me to many of their friends, with many more to come too. They have truly made this experience that much better thus far and I am so thankful I have them as guides.

Panama has many quirks and cosas distintas that make it very endearing but at times frustrating. For example, the infrastructure here is not sufficient for the amount of cars people own and so there are huge traffic jams, or tranques, all of the time for no apparent reason. There is also a concept here called juega vivo, which basically means to do things that could be potentially dangerous to others in order to gain something for yourself. In the tranques, people will drive on medians, buses will play chicken with cars until the cars move, and there is a general disregard for traffic laws in order to get what is best for the individual. However, I don't mind the tranques or the juegas vivos because it gives me more time in the car to take in the beautiful country side and talk to Silvio. The garbage trucks also come at night here and the honk their horns and since I am a grandmother and already in bed when they come, they wake me up quite often. That does get annoying, but what can you do? At least they take the trash with them.

And so, here I am, tranquila on the patio and writing. I can plan my lessons out here in the hammock and not have to worry about anything. Or simply just read and rest out here too. At this point, it is pretty safe to say that I am adjusted to the Panamanian lifestyle and fully embracing it.

Los primeros días

      After not having anything of particular consequence to write about for the past two years, I am finally back on the blogging wagon as I have embarked on my latest adventure- student teaching in Panama City, Panama. Melissa and I arrived here on Saturday, and thus far, it has been fantastic.

     The trip down here went incredibly smoothly, gracias a Dios, and we arrived in Panama around 10:30 Saturday night. Silvio and Erinn (my collaborating teacher and his wife, who is also the principal) met us at the airport and took us to their home where we snacked and chatted until all of us could barely keep our eyes open. On Sunday, Erinn and Silvio were kind enough to take us on a full tour of Panama City. We went to the Old Quarter, the beach, the causeway, the Canal, and our school. We saw so many incredible things, including sloths. I had no idea this is where they lived, but it was so cool. After we dropped Melissa off, Silvio, Erinn and I relaxed at the house and ate pizza. And went to bed veryyyyyyyy early.

     Today was great. I met my students and the majority of the teachers at school. Everyone has been very welcoming and excited that we are here and the students, as always, have had tons of questions for me. Everything from how old I am to what sorority I am in to if I have a boyfriend (you're already famous, Shelby), to why I want to be a teacher. The school has a great environment with a fascinating student population. So far, students have told me they are from Texas, Brazil, England, Peru, and Canada, as well as Panama. I am so excited to learn more about this school and all of my students.

    So far, Panama has proved to be very interesting in itself. There is a pretty significant American influence here due to the Canal, however Panamanians have infused that into their own culture. For example, they use American dollars here, but all prices have to be posted in Balboas, the Panamanian equivalent of the dollar. The construction of the Canal has shaped this area so greatly and yet there is an incredibly high sense of patriotism and pride in being Panamanian. Every Monday, the school performs a Panamanian flag ceremony because the Ministry of Education requires every school to perform an act of patriotism once a week. I really enjoyed watching it this morning and I can't wait to learn more of the intricacies of this place.