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Blogs from Panama, Central America Caribbean - page 7
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November 19th 2012
All I did yesterday was practice Spanish. I used duolingo for hours, I looked up different tips for learning languages online, and I bought a spanish learning/grammar ebook. When I finally went back to my house, instead of going to sleep or playing a game on my computer, I went through the first 8 lessons of said Spanish book. Since I have so much trouble sleeping anyway, I figured I might as well do something productive with my night. I worked on the book till 3am, and still couldn't fall asleep afterwards! Everything that I've read says that focus and actually trying to speak the language are the two most important things about learning a new language. I've definitely got the focus part down, but I could probably use a little bit more actual speaking time. ... read more
Back Home in Panama
Published: November 17th 2012Central America Caribbean » Panama » Chiriquí » Boquete
November 17th 2012
I've always been scared of the dark. Maybe it's because I watched too many scary movies growing up (okay, not maybe... I know that's why), but I've always been most afraid of things that aren't real. Take me to the top of a cliff and tell me to look down, and it won't bother me at all. On the other hand, take me into the woods at night and leave me there and I'll melt into a puddle of tears and snot (I'm working on my imagery... how'd I do?). At least, that's the way it was for me in the States. For some reason, though, while I'm here, all of those non-real threats don't bother me. I'm not scared of much more than spiders and maybe other people while I'm here. I've decided that this ... read more
November 16th 2012
Hola everybody! Sorry I missed blogging yesterday. You didn't miss much. Two days ago I worked on my permits, practiced my Spanish, and looked for frogs and salamanders. After looking for amphibians I went into the kitchen and found Jolanis there eating crackers. I had some soup for supper and talked to her for a while. My Spanish still isn't very good, but it is getting better. I know A LOT more than I did! Also, it absolutely poured rain all day long. Yesterday I got Nadia to help me with the parts of the permit that I couldn't figure out with the translator. After work, I walked down to the Super Mini Guadalupe at the bottom of the hill. I left around 5:30 and got back right before it got dark at around 6:20. Now ... read more
otro día aburrido
Published: November 14th 2012Central America Caribbean » Panama » Chiriquí » Cerro PuntaNovember 14th 2012
Around 1pm the electricity went out at my house. I was hoping it would be on up in the main office, but it wasn't there either. I helped the girls repot some orchids until the electriciy came back on and then spent most of my day today practicing Spanish. At 5:30, Jolanis and I walked down for fresas con crema and I went to the "Mini Super Guadalupe", which was like a small grocery store, though not as small as the little corner store. I needed more Jelly. I wonder how bad it is for me to eat Pb&J every day? I eat other things too, but I always have at least one Pb&J sandwich each day. I thought it was interesting that the woman who checked me out at this store was Asian too... what's ... read more
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I got one... then lost it.
Published: November 13th 2012Central America Caribbean » Panama » Chiriquí » Cerro PuntaNovember 13th 2012
Yesterday wasn't a particularly eventful day until night. I went out to look for frogs or salamanders and I actually found a frog! They sit right in the little pools of water where the fronds of the bromeliads meet. I went to grab it but it disappeared down into the murky water. I reached down in between the fronds to try to grab it, but lost it. I have to say, there's something creepy about reaching down into the leaves of a really big bromeliad. I have gloves on, but I still half expect something to bite me. I looked around for more frogs, following the sounds of their calls and ended up back at the first bromeliad. The frog was out again, and I went to grab it. It was in my hand!!!!!! And I ... read more
A slice of Israel in Central America- San Blas Islands
Published: November 20th 2012Central America Caribbean » Panama » Kuna Yala » Archipielago de San Blas
November 12th 2012
The scene: white pristine sand, crystal water, palm trees scattered amidst beach bungalows and a collection of 40 israelis. This is a short but sweet introduction the franklin island, part of the San Blas Islands of Panama. The San Blas islands are an archipelago comprising approximately 378 islands, of which only 49 are inhabited. These islands are governed independently of Panama by the indigenous koni's. Let me back track to how we found ourselves in this slice of israel. Having no idea which of these islands to visit, we impulsively followed our first and only recommendation from the hostel and we we made our way to Franklin Island. Franklin island is in fact only one piece of the island with the other half belonging to Toni (it turns out is infamous with female travellers because of ... read more
Really?! Again?!
Published: November 11th 2012Central America Caribbean » Panama » Chiriquí » Cerro PuntaNovember 11th 2012
It’s amazing to see how my outlooks on things change. I’m sorry to keep going on about spiders, but spiders keep coming after me! At this moment, I know where at least five different spiders are in my house. If I was back in the US, and I knew where even one spider was located, it would be dead. Granted, the spiders that I know of are all nickel sized or smaller, but I still would have killed them in the States. I just had to kill another big one. I was hoping I was done with giant spiders, but alas, they were not done with me. I was in my room minding my own business, when I decided to go downstairs for a glass of pineapple juice. I didn’t even get down the stairs before ... read more
Panama to El Salvador to LA to FIji - a whilstle stop tour!
Published: December 4th 2012Central America Caribbean » Panama » Panamá » Panama City » Casco Viejo
November 10th 2012
We arrived to the panama shoreline and Gisbert gave us a lift to the town centre where we could get a bus into Panama city. There was a street parade going on and part of the road which the bus would go down was shut off, so we hiked a few Kms up road and hailed a bus which was heading in the right direction. It was a little under a £1! We checked into the hostel and headed to the panama canal. I turned into a geek for the next couple of hours as it was really quite facinating to see what a precicion operation the ships passing through undergo. there is only a 35 inch gap on either side so not much room to manouver at all!! Kate and i got some dinner and ... read more
November 10th 2012
The kids were back again, essentially assuring that I could get nothing done. I purposely didn't go up to the office until later, hoping that perhaps they wouldn't be there, but of course they were. They wanted to play games on my computer, but I needed to do work. I appeased them with playing games on my iPhone and walking down to my house to get them each a piece of chocolate. I really do love kids, but I don't feel particularly comfortable with them playing with my phone when they can't read or speak English. They don't know my password, but I'm still terrified I'm going to get a $400 bill from iTunes from some in-game currency that they bought. They managed to turn Airplane mode off yesterday, but fortunately there is no service here ... read more
