Panama Update #92
November 30, 2008
After 7 straight days, the rain finally stopped. Today it was still cloudy but you could actually see some blue in the sky now and then and I caught a glimpse of the sun. We went out and took a long walk on the Causeway, which I have mentioned previously. It is a 2 kilometer road and sidewalk/bikepath that is human-made and connects 3 islands near the entrance to the canal.
Yesterday we had the house warming at our new apartment. It has been 3 weeks since we moved in so we thought it was time to have the party. We spent a lot of time taking taxis to the supermarkets last week to pick up all the necessary supplies, but I think people really enjoyed it. We invited the people that Nikki works with, the people in the dorm where we used to live, and a few other assorted people we have met over the 5 months we have been here. It was a great turn-out and lasted about 2 hours. Based on the number of cups used, we think there was about 50 people total there. People ate a lot, but there was still a lot of food left. Most of the food was from the large Kosher Supermarket here such as pickles, olives, mushroom and cheese Burekas, halva and other sweets, and homemade hummous by Nikki. Everyone seemed to have a good time and maybe it helped people sort of get through the last day of the 7 day rain streak.
Tomorrow is another Panama Independence Day holiday so I will be off from work again. Last Friday I gave a private tutoring session in one of the homes of the students. It was quite a distance away from where we live and the traffic is very bad through town, so I may not do it again, unless they can supply the driver. It was in a highrise condominium overlooking the ocean in a very nice part of town where most of the students live.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
Panama Update #91
Panama Update #91
November 28, 2008
Last night we went out to dinner at an Indian restaurant called Masala with 4 other people. It was a different way to celebrate Thanksgiving, but was fun. The rain here has continued now for about 6 straight days. It stops now and then, but it is much more than I have seen here before. Our new bamboo place mats are already turning green with mold from all the humidity, so we will have to switch to plastic.
We are planning for the house warming tomorrow from 2-4 PM in the afternoon. We invited all the people from Nikki's work and other people we have met here. Next Monday is a Panama Independence Day celebration and is a national holiday. Many people are leaving town for the weekend so we are not sure how many people will show up. If we don't have it tomorrow, we would need to wait until January, and then it wouldn't be much of a house warming.
We leave town in about 2 weeks (December 15) for an AGU convention Nikki has in San Francisco. We will then visit her mom and Red in Idaho and my Aunt Betty in LA, and return to Panama on December 27. A lot of people will know here will be dispersing over the holidays for a couple of weeks. Some will return and others will not. Many people come and go so we are making new friends and saying goodbye to others all the time.
November 28, 2008
Last night we went out to dinner at an Indian restaurant called Masala with 4 other people. It was a different way to celebrate Thanksgiving, but was fun. The rain here has continued now for about 6 straight days. It stops now and then, but it is much more than I have seen here before. Our new bamboo place mats are already turning green with mold from all the humidity, so we will have to switch to plastic.
We are planning for the house warming tomorrow from 2-4 PM in the afternoon. We invited all the people from Nikki's work and other people we have met here. Next Monday is a Panama Independence Day celebration and is a national holiday. Many people are leaving town for the weekend so we are not sure how many people will show up. If we don't have it tomorrow, we would need to wait until January, and then it wouldn't be much of a house warming.
We leave town in about 2 weeks (December 15) for an AGU convention Nikki has in San Francisco. We will then visit her mom and Red in Idaho and my Aunt Betty in LA, and return to Panama on December 27. A lot of people will know here will be dispersing over the holidays for a couple of weeks. Some will return and others will not. Many people come and go so we are making new friends and saying goodbye to others all the time.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Panama Update #90
Panama Update #90
November 26, 2008
It has been raining here for about the last 3 days, almost nonstop. This is the longest wet streak since I have been here. I noticed that in our new apartment, the wireless internet does not work when it is raining for some reason, so I have not written in the blog since for 3 days or so. I have been busy again with the airlines. There has been an ongoing problem with Nikki's ticket to San Francisco since wh change the return flight from Houston back on October 10. I won't go into all the mess, but I have spent literally hours on the phone with Delta, American, and Travelocity. We are supposed to go to SF in about 2 weeks (Dec. 15) and are trying to confirm the ticket.
Nikki is busy preparing for a big talk she gives here in 2 weeks about her Ethiopian research and she is also preparing a poster for her SF conference on her work down here. We are also getting ready for the house warming that we are having this Saturday in our new apartment. We have invited all the people that Nikki works with and also a few others. We plan to shop at the Kosher Market tonight for all the supplies.
For Thanksgiving tomorrow I plan to work since it is not a holiday here. We are planning to have dinner with Nikki's colleague (David). He is originally from Minnesota and has been here for a few months. His parents are visiting this week and we are all planning to meet and go out to a restaurant for dinner.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!
November 26, 2008
It has been raining here for about the last 3 days, almost nonstop. This is the longest wet streak since I have been here. I noticed that in our new apartment, the wireless internet does not work when it is raining for some reason, so I have not written in the blog since for 3 days or so. I have been busy again with the airlines. There has been an ongoing problem with Nikki's ticket to San Francisco since wh change the return flight from Houston back on October 10. I won't go into all the mess, but I have spent literally hours on the phone with Delta, American, and Travelocity. We are supposed to go to SF in about 2 weeks (Dec. 15) and are trying to confirm the ticket.
Nikki is busy preparing for a big talk she gives here in 2 weeks about her Ethiopian research and she is also preparing a poster for her SF conference on her work down here. We are also getting ready for the house warming that we are having this Saturday in our new apartment. We have invited all the people that Nikki works with and also a few others. We plan to shop at the Kosher Market tonight for all the supplies.
For Thanksgiving tomorrow I plan to work since it is not a holiday here. We are planning to have dinner with Nikki's colleague (David). He is originally from Minnesota and has been here for a few months. His parents are visiting this week and we are all planning to meet and go out to a restaurant for dinner.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Panama Update #89
Panama Update #89
November 23, 2008
Yesterday (Saturday) we spent some time at the mall. Nikki wanted to buy some clothes so she looked around at some of the possible stores. I finally bought a reading lamp, but it is only a table lamp, not a standing lamp. It was $9 for what looks like a pretty good quality. The mall was so packed that Nikki didn't buy anything and will plan to go back on a week day over lunch hour when it isn't so crowded. Last night we had dinner at another couple's house who we have become friends with. They live within walking distance of us. The woman has been here for several years, working as a scientist for the same organization as Nikki. She is originally from Germany and researches invasive species of plants that come into the canal on all the ships from around the world. The guy is originally from India and is also a scientist in a different area. He made a traditional Indian dinner, which tasted great. We ate kind of late so I didn't want to eat too much. Another couple was also there. He is a research scientist from England and his wife is a middle school science teacher from Fiji. You can see that there is a real international group here. We had a nice dinner and visit and then walked home about 11:00 PM. They told us we might see some deer on the way. Since we live in an area with a lot of jungle, we do occasionally see different types of animals, but we have never seen a deer before. We did end up seeing one on the way. It was shorter and stouter than the kind we see in the forests in Minnesota. We also were startled to be loudly hissed at by something that sounded like a very large cat. It was too dark to see what it was, but it sounded like it was very close.
Today I made a dentist appointment for Nikki and I for a teeth cleaning in January. It is with someone who was recommended to us. They are supposed to have high quality doctors here and this will be our first appointment since coming here.
November 23, 2008
Yesterday (Saturday) we spent some time at the mall. Nikki wanted to buy some clothes so she looked around at some of the possible stores. I finally bought a reading lamp, but it is only a table lamp, not a standing lamp. It was $9 for what looks like a pretty good quality. The mall was so packed that Nikki didn't buy anything and will plan to go back on a week day over lunch hour when it isn't so crowded. Last night we had dinner at another couple's house who we have become friends with. They live within walking distance of us. The woman has been here for several years, working as a scientist for the same organization as Nikki. She is originally from Germany and researches invasive species of plants that come into the canal on all the ships from around the world. The guy is originally from India and is also a scientist in a different area. He made a traditional Indian dinner, which tasted great. We ate kind of late so I didn't want to eat too much. Another couple was also there. He is a research scientist from England and his wife is a middle school science teacher from Fiji. You can see that there is a real international group here. We had a nice dinner and visit and then walked home about 11:00 PM. They told us we might see some deer on the way. Since we live in an area with a lot of jungle, we do occasionally see different types of animals, but we have never seen a deer before. We did end up seeing one on the way. It was shorter and stouter than the kind we see in the forests in Minnesota. We also were startled to be loudly hissed at by something that sounded like a very large cat. It was too dark to see what it was, but it sounded like it was very close.
Today I made a dentist appointment for Nikki and I for a teeth cleaning in January. It is with someone who was recommended to us. They are supposed to have high quality doctors here and this will be our first appointment since coming here.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Panama Update #88
Panama Update #88
November 21, 2008
I am writing this update at 10:00 PM on Friday night. I didn't realize that I hadn't written anything since Wednesday. I think missing two days in a row would have been for the first time so I wanted to keep the streak going of either writing every day or every other day.
On Fridays I do not go into the school so I try to catch up on some shopping at one of the malls. We are still trying to find a standing reading lamp and have tried almost every place and so far have only found table lamps. I went to the Multi-Centro mall today where the Kosher Market is. Across the street is a store specializing in lamps but I found out they are all very expensive. The cheapest standing lamp they had was over $300. I am looking for one much cheaper and will continue to try looking at a couple of other stores. Next to the lamp store was a pet store and they had small green iguanas for sale for $12 each. I did not get one. They also had birds and rodents for sale. In the back of the store I saw 2 dogs for sale. The sign said they would cost $500 each. They must have been purebred and looked to me like some kind of Scottish Terrier. I also found a store near-by where they sell inflatable beds for about $15 each. I bought two of them for when we have visitors. Our first visitors from the states are scheduled to arrive around mid-January. At the Kosher Market I picked up some items that they only carry there such as Bragg's Liquid Aminos, tahini, high quality cheeses and Yogurt, and horseradish sauce. Many of the items are imported from Israel which makes it much different than the other stores. I also bought a laundry hamper and some blank CDs for Nikki. It is supposed to be the largest Kosher Grocery outside of Tel-Aviv.
Laura Bush was visiting Panama today and was scheduled to give a speech across the street from Nikki's office this evening. The Supreme Court and Legislative Offices are located there. Someone told me it is about UNICEF and that one of her daughters lived in Panama for a year and wrote a book about it. There are a lot of Central American non-profits headquartered here. We walked by the place, but she hadn't arrived yet. There was a lot of Panamanian music and dances being performed for the crowd while they were waiting. It was a fairly small crowd of maybe 100 people. It was outside, under a tent and visible to the street, but closed off to the general public.
November 21, 2008
I am writing this update at 10:00 PM on Friday night. I didn't realize that I hadn't written anything since Wednesday. I think missing two days in a row would have been for the first time so I wanted to keep the streak going of either writing every day or every other day.
On Fridays I do not go into the school so I try to catch up on some shopping at one of the malls. We are still trying to find a standing reading lamp and have tried almost every place and so far have only found table lamps. I went to the Multi-Centro mall today where the Kosher Market is. Across the street is a store specializing in lamps but I found out they are all very expensive. The cheapest standing lamp they had was over $300. I am looking for one much cheaper and will continue to try looking at a couple of other stores. Next to the lamp store was a pet store and they had small green iguanas for sale for $12 each. I did not get one. They also had birds and rodents for sale. In the back of the store I saw 2 dogs for sale. The sign said they would cost $500 each. They must have been purebred and looked to me like some kind of Scottish Terrier. I also found a store near-by where they sell inflatable beds for about $15 each. I bought two of them for when we have visitors. Our first visitors from the states are scheduled to arrive around mid-January. At the Kosher Market I picked up some items that they only carry there such as Bragg's Liquid Aminos, tahini, high quality cheeses and Yogurt, and horseradish sauce. Many of the items are imported from Israel which makes it much different than the other stores. I also bought a laundry hamper and some blank CDs for Nikki. It is supposed to be the largest Kosher Grocery outside of Tel-Aviv.
Laura Bush was visiting Panama today and was scheduled to give a speech across the street from Nikki's office this evening. The Supreme Court and Legislative Offices are located there. Someone told me it is about UNICEF and that one of her daughters lived in Panama for a year and wrote a book about it. There are a lot of Central American non-profits headquartered here. We walked by the place, but she hadn't arrived yet. There was a lot of Panamanian music and dances being performed for the crowd while they were waiting. It was a fairly small crowd of maybe 100 people. It was outside, under a tent and visible to the street, but closed off to the general public.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Panama Update #87
Panama Update #87
November 19, 2008
On my morning walk today up the Ancon Hill, near where we live, I saw a dead armadillo on the sidewalk. It is the first armadillo I have seen here and guess it must have been hit by a car. It has been a little cooler in the mornings and raining less often during the day, so I guess the season is gradually changing here to what they call summer, which just means dry season. Starting in the next couple of weeks the rain is supposed to stop and the humidity is supposed to drop for the next few months. It will still be hot, but I can imagine the mornings and evenings will be very pleasant.
For breakfast we have been eating oatmeal a lot and some other cereals we have found in the markets here. This morning I wanted to eat some of the fruits I had bought earlier in the week that are turning ripe. I had an avocado and a papaya. It is tricky to buy them so they don't ripen all at the same time. It is a pretty small window of time from when they ripen to when they go rotten, so I wanted to have them for breakfast while they were still edible.
The taxi that I caught to work today was the most beat up I have seen so far. The front seat belt was broken, the windshield was cracked, and the doors didn't lock. It got me to work on time, but most of the others you find are in better shape. The driver had a cross hanging from the mirror and a model of Jesus in the front. Some of the drivers have religious symbols in the car and for the most part are very nice and honest. Others of the drivers have pictures of women models and they play loud music. With those drivers, about half are nice and about half are inpatient or kind of angry. So all together, I would say that about 75% of the drivers are fine, and the others are not as pleasant. Even with all the traffic, I can see why people say it is much nicer to have a car than take taxis all the time like we do.
November 19, 2008
On my morning walk today up the Ancon Hill, near where we live, I saw a dead armadillo on the sidewalk. It is the first armadillo I have seen here and guess it must have been hit by a car. It has been a little cooler in the mornings and raining less often during the day, so I guess the season is gradually changing here to what they call summer, which just means dry season. Starting in the next couple of weeks the rain is supposed to stop and the humidity is supposed to drop for the next few months. It will still be hot, but I can imagine the mornings and evenings will be very pleasant.
For breakfast we have been eating oatmeal a lot and some other cereals we have found in the markets here. This morning I wanted to eat some of the fruits I had bought earlier in the week that are turning ripe. I had an avocado and a papaya. It is tricky to buy them so they don't ripen all at the same time. It is a pretty small window of time from when they ripen to when they go rotten, so I wanted to have them for breakfast while they were still edible.
The taxi that I caught to work today was the most beat up I have seen so far. The front seat belt was broken, the windshield was cracked, and the doors didn't lock. It got me to work on time, but most of the others you find are in better shape. The driver had a cross hanging from the mirror and a model of Jesus in the front. Some of the drivers have religious symbols in the car and for the most part are very nice and honest. Others of the drivers have pictures of women models and they play loud music. With those drivers, about half are nice and about half are inpatient or kind of angry. So all together, I would say that about 75% of the drivers are fine, and the others are not as pleasant. Even with all the traffic, I can see why people say it is much nicer to have a car than take taxis all the time like we do.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Panama Update #86
Panama Update #86
November 17, 2008
We are settled into the new apartment now and getting back into a routine. I have been going to work from about 9-12:30 PM. The school is quite a distance away (about 10-15 miles) but it is very easy to find a taxi and the trip goes fast because there is no traffic in that direction since it is away from downtown. It is in an outlying area that used to be a US Army base. I cross the Puenta de las Americas every day on the way and get to see the Pacific entrance to the Canal and all the big ships waiting in line. At the school I am tutoring 5th-7th graders who are having problems in English and math. It has been many years since I have been in Middle School but I am getting used to it again. I definitely prefer the older high school students or adults at this point in my career.
In the afternoon today I went to the large outdoor fruit and vegetable market and picked up 2 large papayas, 3 avocados, 6 oranges, broccoli, 6 bananas, red leaf lettuce, and hot peppers. All that cost about $6, which in a regular supermarket would cost about 4 times as much.
Yesterday we went to someones house that Nikki works with for a birthday celebration for their one year old daughter. There were mostly families there with kids, some Panamanian and some American. They had a lot of good food like olive and bean dips, chips, lasagne, and sweets. The kids also took turns at busting open a pinata. We talked to several Americans there who came to work at the International School of Panama, which is one of the schools I was thinking about working at before I came here. I was offered a math job there but it would have been a long distance commute (about an hour each way) and I just wasn't interested in that kind of lifestyle. We would also have had to buy a car, which so far we have been able to get by without one.
After nearly two weeks, the bug bites I got on the field expedition with Nikki have almost disappeared. I am surprised it took so long but I had so many and maybe had an allergic reaction. Someone suggested that I rub alcohol on them and that really helped a lot and relieved the itching. The temperature here continues to be a constant 85/85 (temp/hum), but I can tell it is slowly starting to rain less and in the afternoons there is a nice breeze. They say in a couple of weeks we will be in dry season, where the humidity drops a lot and there is a nice breeze, but still very hot.
November 17, 2008
We are settled into the new apartment now and getting back into a routine. I have been going to work from about 9-12:30 PM. The school is quite a distance away (about 10-15 miles) but it is very easy to find a taxi and the trip goes fast because there is no traffic in that direction since it is away from downtown. It is in an outlying area that used to be a US Army base. I cross the Puenta de las Americas every day on the way and get to see the Pacific entrance to the Canal and all the big ships waiting in line. At the school I am tutoring 5th-7th graders who are having problems in English and math. It has been many years since I have been in Middle School but I am getting used to it again. I definitely prefer the older high school students or adults at this point in my career.
In the afternoon today I went to the large outdoor fruit and vegetable market and picked up 2 large papayas, 3 avocados, 6 oranges, broccoli, 6 bananas, red leaf lettuce, and hot peppers. All that cost about $6, which in a regular supermarket would cost about 4 times as much.
Yesterday we went to someones house that Nikki works with for a birthday celebration for their one year old daughter. There were mostly families there with kids, some Panamanian and some American. They had a lot of good food like olive and bean dips, chips, lasagne, and sweets. The kids also took turns at busting open a pinata. We talked to several Americans there who came to work at the International School of Panama, which is one of the schools I was thinking about working at before I came here. I was offered a math job there but it would have been a long distance commute (about an hour each way) and I just wasn't interested in that kind of lifestyle. We would also have had to buy a car, which so far we have been able to get by without one.
After nearly two weeks, the bug bites I got on the field expedition with Nikki have almost disappeared. I am surprised it took so long but I had so many and maybe had an allergic reaction. Someone suggested that I rub alcohol on them and that really helped a lot and relieved the itching. The temperature here continues to be a constant 85/85 (temp/hum), but I can tell it is slowly starting to rain less and in the afternoons there is a nice breeze. They say in a couple of weeks we will be in dry season, where the humidity drops a lot and there is a nice breeze, but still very hot.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Panama Update #85
Panama Update #85
November 15, 2008
Yesterday I spent the morning shopping for small things that we need for the apartment and some personal items. I found a new wallet for $.99, sandals to wear around the apartment for $3.99, a large waterproof backpack for $9.99, a clock for $3.99, and a new cell phone for $16.99. The cell phone seems much better than my previous one and as far as the quality of the other items, time will tell. I also got a hair catcher for the shower drain. I didn't come prepared to the store for the Spanish words for that, so that is when you really get to practice your pantomime skills. When I returned home after the shopping, I found that all the furniture that our landlord promised us had been brought here. There is a new couch, love seat, and easy chair, which makes a nice living room. The air conditioner in the 2nd bedroom is also being installed today as I am writing this, and the new washer and drier are here and will be connected soon. So far we are receiving very good service here, with everything being installed that was promised to us. The owner said he is also going to install security bars in the windows over the next couple of weeks. Most of the houses in Panama have these, but in this neighborhood they are just starting to put them in some of the houses.
While I was walking near the apartment yesterday afternoon I noticed an Iguana (about 3 feet long including the tail) that was trying to get under a wire fence. It is the first time I have seen one here, but people say that it is fairly common to see them. As I was watching, it got caught in the fence hole. Half of its body got through, but it couldn't fit its back legs through the hole. It couldn't back out either, so it was stuck. I walked back to the apartment and got a couple of the workers here, and they came with me. I showed them the spot and the Iguana was still stuck there. One of them held the back legs and tail and the other undid the loop in the fence. There was a cut on the Iguana's back, but they said it would be fine. When it was free it scurried away and was very quickly out of site. When they move, they are really quick and I am sure it was relieved to be free, at whatever level they have feelings.
Aside from those things, we went out last night with another couple who we have met through Nikki's work. They took us to a bonfire in one of the outlying areas where they were celebrating the arrival of a group of indigenous people from North and South America who had run for many miles to meet there. They call the event "The Eagle meets the Condor," and as best as I can see their goal is to bring awareness to the need to clean and take care of the planet. After that they took us to a club in downtown Panama to hear some contemporary Panamanian folk music that we all liked. Everything goes late here, so we go home about 1:00 AM, which is very late for us. We have enjoyed meeting some new friends here in Panama.
November 15, 2008
Yesterday I spent the morning shopping for small things that we need for the apartment and some personal items. I found a new wallet for $.99, sandals to wear around the apartment for $3.99, a large waterproof backpack for $9.99, a clock for $3.99, and a new cell phone for $16.99. The cell phone seems much better than my previous one and as far as the quality of the other items, time will tell. I also got a hair catcher for the shower drain. I didn't come prepared to the store for the Spanish words for that, so that is when you really get to practice your pantomime skills. When I returned home after the shopping, I found that all the furniture that our landlord promised us had been brought here. There is a new couch, love seat, and easy chair, which makes a nice living room. The air conditioner in the 2nd bedroom is also being installed today as I am writing this, and the new washer and drier are here and will be connected soon. So far we are receiving very good service here, with everything being installed that was promised to us. The owner said he is also going to install security bars in the windows over the next couple of weeks. Most of the houses in Panama have these, but in this neighborhood they are just starting to put them in some of the houses.
While I was walking near the apartment yesterday afternoon I noticed an Iguana (about 3 feet long including the tail) that was trying to get under a wire fence. It is the first time I have seen one here, but people say that it is fairly common to see them. As I was watching, it got caught in the fence hole. Half of its body got through, but it couldn't fit its back legs through the hole. It couldn't back out either, so it was stuck. I walked back to the apartment and got a couple of the workers here, and they came with me. I showed them the spot and the Iguana was still stuck there. One of them held the back legs and tail and the other undid the loop in the fence. There was a cut on the Iguana's back, but they said it would be fine. When it was free it scurried away and was very quickly out of site. When they move, they are really quick and I am sure it was relieved to be free, at whatever level they have feelings.
Aside from those things, we went out last night with another couple who we have met through Nikki's work. They took us to a bonfire in one of the outlying areas where they were celebrating the arrival of a group of indigenous people from North and South America who had run for many miles to meet there. They call the event "The Eagle meets the Condor," and as best as I can see their goal is to bring awareness to the need to clean and take care of the planet. After that they took us to a club in downtown Panama to hear some contemporary Panamanian folk music that we all liked. Everything goes late here, so we go home about 1:00 AM, which is very late for us. We have enjoyed meeting some new friends here in Panama.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Panama Update #84
Panama Update #84
November 12, 2008
Today we bought what is called a "tower fan." Our landlord recommended it as the best type of fan. It cost about $60. We have that fan in the living room along with a ceiling fan. It is still warm, but they help circulate the air. We keep both of them on all the time and turn the AC on in the bedroom at night. It is still not real cool at night in the bedroom because the room has vents in it so the air escapes. The heat is becoming the biggest adjustment for me living in this apartment. Our dorm room was small and had good AC on all the time. Even when I went out walking and got hot and sweaty, I could always come back to the AC. That was the relief I needed. In this current apartment we don't have that luxury so I am hotter more of the time. I have adjusted to the heat and humidity down here better than expected, so maybe that will continue. Electricity is very expensive here, so that is why people try to go without AC as much as possible in their homes. Plus, our current apartment is so big, that it would be very difficult and expensive to have a whole apartment system. The offices where Nikki works have AC and the school where I work has AC, so it must cost a fortune to cool those places.
We signed our lease last night for 7 months, to expire on June 9, 2009. At this point it looks like we will return to Minneapolis around that time. However, we most likely will not stay in Minneapolis. It will depend on what happens with Nikki's jobs. Our new landlord seems very supportive and sincere. He doesn't speak any English, but his daughter is visiting and knows some English so she helped translate a bit. I would say that her English is about equivalent to my Spanish. He is going to add some furnishings and we asked him to take out some others that we do not need. Right away this morning one of the guys he has working here came to move out the stuff we requested. There seems to be a few guys around doing work around here all the time, so he must pay them all. One of the guys he gives a small apartment to out in back for his residence. They also have a live-in maid, so people here with some money (middle class, not wealthy) can set themselves up very nicely. We brought the cleaning lady with us that we had in the dorm. We have her scheduled to come in one day a week to clean this new apartment. We arranged to pay her $20 for about a half day, which is above average wages.
November 12, 2008
Today we bought what is called a "tower fan." Our landlord recommended it as the best type of fan. It cost about $60. We have that fan in the living room along with a ceiling fan. It is still warm, but they help circulate the air. We keep both of them on all the time and turn the AC on in the bedroom at night. It is still not real cool at night in the bedroom because the room has vents in it so the air escapes. The heat is becoming the biggest adjustment for me living in this apartment. Our dorm room was small and had good AC on all the time. Even when I went out walking and got hot and sweaty, I could always come back to the AC. That was the relief I needed. In this current apartment we don't have that luxury so I am hotter more of the time. I have adjusted to the heat and humidity down here better than expected, so maybe that will continue. Electricity is very expensive here, so that is why people try to go without AC as much as possible in their homes. Plus, our current apartment is so big, that it would be very difficult and expensive to have a whole apartment system. The offices where Nikki works have AC and the school where I work has AC, so it must cost a fortune to cool those places.
We signed our lease last night for 7 months, to expire on June 9, 2009. At this point it looks like we will return to Minneapolis around that time. However, we most likely will not stay in Minneapolis. It will depend on what happens with Nikki's jobs. Our new landlord seems very supportive and sincere. He doesn't speak any English, but his daughter is visiting and knows some English so she helped translate a bit. I would say that her English is about equivalent to my Spanish. He is going to add some furnishings and we asked him to take out some others that we do not need. Right away this morning one of the guys he has working here came to move out the stuff we requested. There seems to be a few guys around doing work around here all the time, so he must pay them all. One of the guys he gives a small apartment to out in back for his residence. They also have a live-in maid, so people here with some money (middle class, not wealthy) can set themselves up very nicely. We brought the cleaning lady with us that we had in the dorm. We have her scheduled to come in one day a week to clean this new apartment. We arranged to pay her $20 for about a half day, which is above average wages.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Pictures from Panama 14 (new apartment)
Nikki working on her computer at the dining room table, looking out the back of the apartment.
Above, our bedroom. To the left, our living room and TV, looking out the front of the house. Below are the front windows of our apartment. We are on the 2nd floor above the car port (not our car). The 3rd floor apartment has a Panama flag, it was a national holiday today.
The front of our building, with and without us.
Daniel in the kitchen (we brought our blender from home).
Above, our bedroom. To the left, our living room and TV, looking out the front of the house. Below are the front windows of our apartment. We are on the 2nd floor above the car port (not our car). The 3rd floor apartment has a Panama flag, it was a national holiday today.
The front of our building, with and without us.
Daniel in the kitchen (we brought our blender from home).
Panama Update #83
Panama Update #83
November 10, 2008
Last night was our first night sleeping in the new apartment. Usually sleeping in a new place for the first time takes some adjustment for me, so I didn't sleep real well. There are new noises, light, and energy to get used to. It is a little disorienting to be in a new place and figure out which drawer and room to find things. We accomplished most of the move yesterday, and today we went to the store for a couple of hours to buy odds and ends such as cleaning supplies, a fan, and some kitchen supplies. I walked to the fruit market earlier in the day and picked up a couple of papayas, bananas, avocados and tangerines. We are still only about a five minute walk from the big open air fruit and vegetable market that we have been shopping at regularly. On the taxi ride back from the store, we were dropped off at our new address for the first time. It feels funny to sort of be out of the cradle of the dormitory and out in the Panama community more. It has a real different feel to it to be living independently in a country outside the US. On the other occasions when I was out of the country for longer periods of time in India, I always stayed at a place connected with the Yoga Ashram.
November 10, 2008
Last night was our first night sleeping in the new apartment. Usually sleeping in a new place for the first time takes some adjustment for me, so I didn't sleep real well. There are new noises, light, and energy to get used to. It is a little disorienting to be in a new place and figure out which drawer and room to find things. We accomplished most of the move yesterday, and today we went to the store for a couple of hours to buy odds and ends such as cleaning supplies, a fan, and some kitchen supplies. I walked to the fruit market earlier in the day and picked up a couple of papayas, bananas, avocados and tangerines. We are still only about a five minute walk from the big open air fruit and vegetable market that we have been shopping at regularly. On the taxi ride back from the store, we were dropped off at our new address for the first time. It feels funny to sort of be out of the cradle of the dormitory and out in the Panama community more. It has a real different feel to it to be living independently in a country outside the US. On the other occasions when I was out of the country for longer periods of time in India, I always stayed at a place connected with the Yoga Ashram.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Panama Update #82
Panama Update #82
November 9, 2008
I am writing this from our new apartment. The internet is working fine here, which will help Nikki a lot with her work and it will make things easier for both of us. It seems so luxurious to have the internet. Things went as planned today with the move. The previous tenant was out in time and our helpers all showed up on time. The lady who helps us with cleaning came today (Sunday) and went over the place before we moved our stuff in. We also hired a guy with a truck who was recommended by our new landlord. We fit all our things in one truckload. Most of the things we have are stuff that I mailed down here like some books, Yoga equipment, clothes, and assorted other things. It totaled about 15 cardboard boxes. We live so close now to where were living before that the whole move only took an hour to load and unload the truck. At first we were a bit upset with the adjustment to a new place and all the packing and unpacking, but by this evening we are feeling much better about it. The bedrooms are air conditioned here, but not the living areas, so there is some adjustment to the heat. We are still very close to the large fruit and vegetable market so we still plan to use that a lot. It feels very strange to turn on the TV and see all the English shows. He has something called SKY, which I guess is similar to Direct TV. I don' know that much about it, but I guess they have about 500 channels from news to movies to sports.
We plan to post pictures soon of the new apartment.
November 9, 2008
I am writing this from our new apartment. The internet is working fine here, which will help Nikki a lot with her work and it will make things easier for both of us. It seems so luxurious to have the internet. Things went as planned today with the move. The previous tenant was out in time and our helpers all showed up on time. The lady who helps us with cleaning came today (Sunday) and went over the place before we moved our stuff in. We also hired a guy with a truck who was recommended by our new landlord. We fit all our things in one truckload. Most of the things we have are stuff that I mailed down here like some books, Yoga equipment, clothes, and assorted other things. It totaled about 15 cardboard boxes. We live so close now to where were living before that the whole move only took an hour to load and unload the truck. At first we were a bit upset with the adjustment to a new place and all the packing and unpacking, but by this evening we are feeling much better about it. The bedrooms are air conditioned here, but not the living areas, so there is some adjustment to the heat. We are still very close to the large fruit and vegetable market so we still plan to use that a lot. It feels very strange to turn on the TV and see all the English shows. He has something called SKY, which I guess is similar to Direct TV. I don' know that much about it, but I guess they have about 500 channels from news to movies to sports.
We plan to post pictures soon of the new apartment.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Panama Update #81
Panama Update #81
November 7, 2008
After several months of looking for an apartment, everything seemed to come to fruition yesterday. The apartment we had been looking at for some time worked out in the end. The person currently living there signed a lease in his new apartment, which cleared the way for us to sign a lease at this one. We met with the owner and gave him our security deposit. We are planning to move in 2 days, this Sunday (9th) and our lease will be for 7 months (until June 9). We found a truck and helper, so our job in the next two days will be to pack everything and have it ready to go. We don't have any furniture, but we have several boxes of books and several more boxes of clothing and other supplies. We think it will be about 15 boxes in total. The place comes furnished with an AC unit in each of the two bedrooms. It also has internet, cable TV, and laundry and the price of $800 per month includes all costs. It is a wooden building in the traditional style here, with a lot of windows and high ceilings. The first floor is for parking, which is typical for here, so the apartment is on the 2nd floor. The native Panamanian owner lives in another unit in the house and seems like a good landlord. We can post pictures as soon as we get settled a bit.
November 7, 2008
After several months of looking for an apartment, everything seemed to come to fruition yesterday. The apartment we had been looking at for some time worked out in the end. The person currently living there signed a lease in his new apartment, which cleared the way for us to sign a lease at this one. We met with the owner and gave him our security deposit. We are planning to move in 2 days, this Sunday (9th) and our lease will be for 7 months (until June 9). We found a truck and helper, so our job in the next two days will be to pack everything and have it ready to go. We don't have any furniture, but we have several boxes of books and several more boxes of clothing and other supplies. We think it will be about 15 boxes in total. The place comes furnished with an AC unit in each of the two bedrooms. It also has internet, cable TV, and laundry and the price of $800 per month includes all costs. It is a wooden building in the traditional style here, with a lot of windows and high ceilings. The first floor is for parking, which is typical for here, so the apartment is on the 2nd floor. The native Panamanian owner lives in another unit in the house and seems like a good landlord. We can post pictures as soon as we get settled a bit.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Pictures from Panama 13
Solitary and soaking field assistant (Daniel)
Waiting in line to cross the canal
Fuerte San Lorenzo
Waiting in line to cross the canal
Fuerte San Lorenzo
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Pictures from Panama 12
Sandfly bites on Daniel's foot.
Pictures from the place we stayed on the field expedition described in the previous blog entries. They are taken near sundown so they are a little dark.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Panama Update #80
Panama Update #80
November 3, 2008
Today was our 3rd consecutive day out in the field. We had to drive across the canal at the Gatun Locks to get to the field site. The cars line up at the crossing until any ships are clear of the locks, then they can lower the bridge for the cars. On the previous day we only had to wait a few minutes to get across, but today we had about a 45 minute wait to drive across because there were several large ships in the process of moving through. I am getting so used to seeing the big ships that it seems normal to me now. I remember how remarkable it seemed the first few times I saw them. The first site we went to for the field work was called Fuerte San Lorenzo. It is high on a bluff at the point that the Chagres River meets the Carribean. It is a great lookout spot for the canal and a lot of the ship traffic in the area. The fort was established in the early 1800s, then Henry Morgan took it over in the 1820s and used it as a headquarters to take over all of Panama. Eventually it was destroyed and rebuilt and has been used for many purposes over the years. It is such a critical lookout that the US used it in World War II and all the way to the year 2000, when they returned the land to Panama. Now it is a rundown historic site. It is Panama Independence Day from Colombia this week, so a lot of tourists were visiting it. Nikki and I cooked dinner for the group of 8 people who are staying here and helped out this week with all the field work. Tomorrow we head back to Panama City and plan to watch the election results at a friends house who lives near-by and who gets CNN. On Wednesday we hope to settle the apartment situation, but until the contract is signed, we cannot say for sure.
November 3, 2008
Today was our 3rd consecutive day out in the field. We had to drive across the canal at the Gatun Locks to get to the field site. The cars line up at the crossing until any ships are clear of the locks, then they can lower the bridge for the cars. On the previous day we only had to wait a few minutes to get across, but today we had about a 45 minute wait to drive across because there were several large ships in the process of moving through. I am getting so used to seeing the big ships that it seems normal to me now. I remember how remarkable it seemed the first few times I saw them. The first site we went to for the field work was called Fuerte San Lorenzo. It is high on a bluff at the point that the Chagres River meets the Carribean. It is a great lookout spot for the canal and a lot of the ship traffic in the area. The fort was established in the early 1800s, then Henry Morgan took it over in the 1820s and used it as a headquarters to take over all of Panama. Eventually it was destroyed and rebuilt and has been used for many purposes over the years. It is such a critical lookout that the US used it in World War II and all the way to the year 2000, when they returned the land to Panama. Now it is a rundown historic site. It is Panama Independence Day from Colombia this week, so a lot of tourists were visiting it. Nikki and I cooked dinner for the group of 8 people who are staying here and helped out this week with all the field work. Tomorrow we head back to Panama City and plan to watch the election results at a friends house who lives near-by and who gets CNN. On Wednesday we hope to settle the apartment situation, but until the contract is signed, we cannot say for sure.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Panama Update #79
Panama Update #79
November 2, 2008
We are still on the Carribean side of Panama for a couple of more days. Today we went to the field again, to a different spot from yesterday. We also had some vounteers with us. A couple of the volunteers were interested local people and some that Nikki knows from work. They helped out with taking pictures and measuring. For this work, Nikki finds a piece of coastline that has a high cliff that allows her to see the stragraphic layers. She had a couple areas in mind that she wanted to see. She walks through the water near the coast until she finds a good spot. Then they measure the height and thickness of the layers and take the GPS location and other notes. The water is pretty rough and it is slippery to walk on, so you have to be careful when walking. Nikki explains the geology of the area to the volunteers and I try to stay out of the way and enjoy the scenery. Today was dry and cloudy in the morning, so it was pretty nice. The clouds keep it a bit cooler. It rained again in the afternoon, but we were finished up by then.
November 2, 2008
We are still on the Carribean side of Panama for a couple of more days. Today we went to the field again, to a different spot from yesterday. We also had some vounteers with us. A couple of the volunteers were interested local people and some that Nikki knows from work. They helped out with taking pictures and measuring. For this work, Nikki finds a piece of coastline that has a high cliff that allows her to see the stragraphic layers. She had a couple areas in mind that she wanted to see. She walks through the water near the coast until she finds a good spot. Then they measure the height and thickness of the layers and take the GPS location and other notes. The water is pretty rough and it is slippery to walk on, so you have to be careful when walking. Nikki explains the geology of the area to the volunteers and I try to stay out of the way and enjoy the scenery. Today was dry and cloudy in the morning, so it was pretty nice. The clouds keep it a bit cooler. It rained again in the afternoon, but we were finished up by then.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Panama Update #78
Panama Update #78
November 1, 2008
We are on the Carribean side of Panama today and will be staying over night in a trailor at a research station on the banks of the Ocean. It took us about 2 hours to drive from Panama City to Colon. We took two trucks and there are 5 of us helping. Nikki is studying some spots in the area that she thinks may be significant in her research. It was pouring rain most of the day, and we walked in some deep water, so all of us were thoroughly soaked. I will try to download some pictures later on. I guess that is the life of a geologist, but I don't think it is for me.
November 1, 2008
We are on the Carribean side of Panama today and will be staying over night in a trailor at a research station on the banks of the Ocean. It took us about 2 hours to drive from Panama City to Colon. We took two trucks and there are 5 of us helping. Nikki is studying some spots in the area that she thinks may be significant in her research. It was pouring rain most of the day, and we walked in some deep water, so all of us were thoroughly soaked. I will try to download some pictures later on. I guess that is the life of a geologist, but I don't think it is for me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)