Internet, it's so hot here that I actually used the intracity buses today instead of just walking. This Panamanian summer might make me melt. Or just avoid any activity more rigorous than sitting in my hammock (unless absolutely necessary and "necessary" can become very negotiable).
Graduation
Snorkeling
Christmas
Graduation
The graduation ceremony for the 9th graders at my school was last Monday. It's the first graduation ceremony that the school has ever had for pre-media students and the teachers and administration have been planning for weeks.
I had no idea what to expect. When I walked into my kitchen on Monday morning to make breakfast I looked out the window to find my neighbors getting their makeup and hair done by the same guy who did Manuela's hair and makeup for Mi Ranchito in November, and it suddenly became clear that this was going to be a much fancier affair than I had anticipated.
I spent the morning traumatizing my cat by cleaning my house (the spiders were starting to take over...), then Jenny came over and we had PBJ for lunch and spent the afternoon chatting and playing with Canela while I finished sewing Prima's Christmas present.
Prima's Christmas Present (the final version has two more snowflakes on it)
Canela and I spending some quality hammock time
The graduation was during the evening in the pavilion next to the artificial grass cancha (field) that they must have just finished because the floor was still dirt in November. The stage was beautiful and all the teachers got really dressed up. I really need to get a pair of heels, I always feel underdressed around these fabulous women. The ceremony was lovely. Lots of speeches. My favorite part was that a band from a local IPT played each student onstage when the Principal called their name to receive their diplomas. The song selection included "Bad Romance" and "Timber". The fireworks made it hard to hear sometimes, but it was a wonderful joyous evening. After the graduation Jenny and I went to the post graduation brindis dinner, which was delicious and then watched Hocus Pocus and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (for the want of Polar Express; I'd already watched Die Hard two days prior) while I continued my sewing.
Santa Catalina from my reading rock
The next morning we madrugar-ed (when you wake up before dawn) to get ready for our snorkeling adventure at Isla Coiba national park/nature preserve. I'd never snorkeled before and it'd been almost 20 years since I'd been on a boat smaller than the ferry from Long Island to Connecticut (which is large enough to fit dozens of cars), so the prospect of getting on a lancha (speedboat) for a few hours was a little nerve wracking. Armed with gatorade, a full water bottle, a peanut butter sandwich, and a bottle of sunscreen we set out.
I was hoping for some instruction. I had the basic idea of "put on a mask and swim around looking at fish", but I wasn't exactly clear on the finer points of how. The "instruction" consisted of being handed a mask and flippers when we got to the first snorkeling spot and being told that "most of the fish (including sharks) hang out by the rocks over there".
After about 20 minutes of some serious struggle (including losing one of my flippers and flooding my mask like 3 times) I took a water break to get some non-salt water into my body and switched masks with a friend. The second attempt went much better than the first and I actually started to relax and have fun.
Our second stop was the ANAM station (Panama's Ministry of Environment) to pay our park entrance fee and eat lunch. Peace Corps Perk: we only had to pay $5 for the entrance fee as opposed to the $20 that we thought it might be.
A shipwrecked cruise ship in the bay of Coiba.
They ran aground on some rocks and punctured 6 holes in the hull
the morning before we got there.
Our third stop was for more snorkeling. Less coral this time, more rocks, and much deeper water. It was fun, but exhausting. I saw some really cool fish and I am really glad that we got to practice a bit in shallower water earlier in the day.
The last stop was hanging out on the beach on another small perfect little tropical island. It was so beautiful and the water was crystal clear, but I was so exhausted that after 20 minutes I was ready to start the journey back to Santa Catalina and spend some time in a hammock.
It was a long trip in the lancha to and from Coiba. On our way there we sang/shouted Christmas carols, but on the way back everyone was much quieter. That evening we ate at the fonda (small restaurant) across from our hostel and spent the rest of the night reading.
It was a wonderful, beautiful trip and I want to go back with the Veraguas wonder women, but I was so tired at the end of it.
Sunset at Santa Catalina
Breezy ChristmasClimate change is real. It was 60 degrees on Long Island on Christmas Day. It was much hotter than that in Panama (probably around 100, but I haven't looked at a weather report in almost a year), but it was beautifully breezy, which made it easier to deal with the heat.
I spent Christmas Eve making some Christmas phone calls, baking, and finishing Prima's present. Prima lent me use of her oven and I made oatmeal raisin cookies and chocolate chip cookies without burning them too badly.
An improvised baking sheet out of a pot top
"No Bake" peanut butter oatmeal cookies
(that were more like pudding because they didn't solidify, but still delicious)
Cookie dough
Prima loved her present and her daughters want to learn how to bake cookies. I also spent a lot of time hanging out with her family and eating fruit. It seems to be a Panamanian Christmas tradition to set out a bunch of fruit (apples, pears, grapes, etc.) and sweet bread (reminds me of challah) on the dining room table for people to snack on during Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
On to New Year's!
I leave you with this:
Canelita in a frisbee, she thinks it's her bed
