Panama Update #161
April 30, 2009
It looks like I will be staying in Panama until June 2, the date Nikki is scheduled to leave. For a while it looked like I may go back early to help out in the school district, but now it looks like that won't happen. Because my leave does not offically end until June 15, according to Human Resources I cannot work for the district until that date. They are very frustrated at the school because they don't have anyone to fill in and there are a lot of burning issues about who is eligible for graduation this year, etc.
My last day at the school I worked at down here was on Tuesday. The school was let out early that day for some holiday or another and I went out to the Balboa Yacht Club with a few of the teachers as a way of saying good-bye. Because I was only part time at the school I didn't bond with the staff and students as much as would be usual when working full-time in a place. The Balboa Yacht club is a nice bar right near the entrance to the Causeway that overlooks the ocean. It is a popular hang-out for the English speaking crowd, but is the first time I had been there. The principal wrote me a very nice email thanking me for my contributions to the school this year and all the help I gave the teachers that I worked with. I wrote her an email thanking her for the opportunity to work there. The part-time schedule was a good fit for me.
Yesterday I went to a matinee movie called Almost 17. It is discount day at the Albrook Mall Theatre and tickets only cost $2.25 all day. It was a fun movie and was in English with Spanish subtitles.
There is a lot of talk down here about the Swine Flu. It has not come to Panama yet, but someone said there were two cases in Costa Rica so it is only a matter of a short time. Nikki and I go to New York in Monday for a couple of days and I hope we can get back into Panama after that because of all the screening they are doing at the airport.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Panama Update #160
Panama Update #160
Sunday, April 26
We are down to about 5 weeks left in Panama and possibly sooner for me (depending on the job situation in Minneapolis). My guess is that I will find out this week if I will go back early to fill in for a position (see Panama Update #159). The week after next, on May 4, we go to New York for two nights. We are planning to stay with my cousin Sally. I think as each week goes by it will get busier and busier as we wrap things up here. I have all the boxes and packing tape ready to mail the things back that we can't fit in our suitcases.
Nikki signed up for a 5 day silent retreat that is offered this summer from July 18-23 in St. Paul (http://www.himalayanyogatradition.com/stpaul.html). While she is doing that I will probably be up at the cabin.
Yesterday we found the the book by Nikki's great uncle- In the Kingdom of the Dalai Lama, at Aaron's apartment. He had borrowed it and we didn't get it back before he moved to Vancouver. The person subletting his apartment helped us find it in some box Aaron had left in a closet. Yesterday I also got my first (and probably only) haricut in Panama. Carmen and Santosh showed me the place they go to. They charge $5 for the cut and $7 if you want a shampoo. I had about an inch trimmed off the bottom but it is still long enough to put in a pony tail.
Sunday, April 26
We are down to about 5 weeks left in Panama and possibly sooner for me (depending on the job situation in Minneapolis). My guess is that I will find out this week if I will go back early to fill in for a position (see Panama Update #159). The week after next, on May 4, we go to New York for two nights. We are planning to stay with my cousin Sally. I think as each week goes by it will get busier and busier as we wrap things up here. I have all the boxes and packing tape ready to mail the things back that we can't fit in our suitcases.
Nikki signed up for a 5 day silent retreat that is offered this summer from July 18-23 in St. Paul (http://www.himalayanyogatradition.com/stpaul.html). While she is doing that I will probably be up at the cabin.
Yesterday we found the the book by Nikki's great uncle- In the Kingdom of the Dalai Lama, at Aaron's apartment. He had borrowed it and we didn't get it back before he moved to Vancouver. The person subletting his apartment helped us find it in some box Aaron had left in a closet. Yesterday I also got my first (and probably only) haricut in Panama. Carmen and Santosh showed me the place they go to. They charge $5 for the cut and $7 if you want a shampoo. I had about an inch trimmed off the bottom but it is still long enough to put in a pony tail.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Panama Update #159
Panama Update #159
Friday, April 24, 2009
I heard a couple of days ago that the guy who had been filling in at my old job in Minneapolis had to go on Medical Leave for the rest of the school year. They asked me if I could come back and help out. It is tempting, but I told them the earliest I could make it back is in about 3 weeks, or around May 15. Nikki said it is OK with her if I leave a couple of weeks early, but they may not be able to work out the funding details and they would have to have me reinstated early from my Leave. So it is still unclear what is going on with that. My guess is I will hear something by next week. In case that is an option, I have started to speed up the moving back preparations. I went to the Super 99 Supermarket at Albrook Mall and got a bunch of cardboard boxes, packing tape, labels, and a marker. We have a few things to mail back, but not as many as when we came. I have sold and plan to sell or give away more of the things that we had brought down here. We are leaving most of our kitchen stuff for whoever moves in here next. I also went to the artists mall that is close to here and bought a few things for souvenirs and presents. While at the mall I went to a photo place to develop some pictures that we are bring to New York with us for HH. Even if I don't go back early, it feels good to be making good use of the time now and taking care of a lot of the tasks that I need to do, whether I leave early or not.
Friday, April 24, 2009
I heard a couple of days ago that the guy who had been filling in at my old job in Minneapolis had to go on Medical Leave for the rest of the school year. They asked me if I could come back and help out. It is tempting, but I told them the earliest I could make it back is in about 3 weeks, or around May 15. Nikki said it is OK with her if I leave a couple of weeks early, but they may not be able to work out the funding details and they would have to have me reinstated early from my Leave. So it is still unclear what is going on with that. My guess is I will hear something by next week. In case that is an option, I have started to speed up the moving back preparations. I went to the Super 99 Supermarket at Albrook Mall and got a bunch of cardboard boxes, packing tape, labels, and a marker. We have a few things to mail back, but not as many as when we came. I have sold and plan to sell or give away more of the things that we had brought down here. We are leaving most of our kitchen stuff for whoever moves in here next. I also went to the artists mall that is close to here and bought a few things for souvenirs and presents. While at the mall I went to a photo place to develop some pictures that we are bring to New York with us for HH. Even if I don't go back early, it feels good to be making good use of the time now and taking care of a lot of the tasks that I need to do, whether I leave early or not.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Panama Update #158
Panama Update #158
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Today has been the first all-cloudy day we have had for the last few months. It is a clear sign that the dry season is ending. I was caught in a downpour when I went to the Fruit and Vegetable market this morning. Fortunately my plastic poncho was stuffed in one of the pockets of my backpack so I just continued walking in the rain. The rain lasted about 2 hours, but the clouds remain.
I informed them at work yesterday that my last day will be next week. I was going to stay for a couple of more weeks, but since we are going to New York the week after next, it seemed like a natural break. That will give me the last couple of weeks here free to do whatever I need to get ready to leave Panama, such as packing and mailing back some boxes of books, etc.
The Twins-Red Sox game was supposed to be on cable here last night but was rained out. That would have been the first Twins game I had seen on TV this season. They usually only put them on here when they are playing New York or Boston, which is only a hanful of times a year.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Today has been the first all-cloudy day we have had for the last few months. It is a clear sign that the dry season is ending. I was caught in a downpour when I went to the Fruit and Vegetable market this morning. Fortunately my plastic poncho was stuffed in one of the pockets of my backpack so I just continued walking in the rain. The rain lasted about 2 hours, but the clouds remain.
I informed them at work yesterday that my last day will be next week. I was going to stay for a couple of more weeks, but since we are going to New York the week after next, it seemed like a natural break. That will give me the last couple of weeks here free to do whatever I need to get ready to leave Panama, such as packing and mailing back some boxes of books, etc.
The Twins-Red Sox game was supposed to be on cable here last night but was rained out. That would have been the first Twins game I had seen on TV this season. They usually only put them on here when they are playing New York or Boston, which is only a hanful of times a year.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Panama Update #157
Panama Update #157
Friday, April 17, 2009
Last night I went to the a semi-pro baseball game at the Estadio Rod Carew, the biggest baseball stadium in the country. It is about a 20 minute drive outside of Panama City, depending on the traffic. They have a 3 month league with about 6 teams that each play each other several times. They were pretty good. I was told that many times there are pro scouts there from the US. I went with a couple of guys who work at the school where I do. There were about 1000 people there but it was easy to get seats right behind home plate. Vendors are constantly coming by and offering beer, pizza, popcorn, hotdogs, KFC, hamburgers, and peanuts. Everything seems to cost a $1. It is cheap and the service is good. Parking was free and plentiful and admission was only $4. It was also beautiful weather to sit outside. The temperature was moderate with a nice breeze. The game started at 7:00 PM and was over by about 10:00 PM.
I have pictures to post and hopefully will get those up soon.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Last night I went to the a semi-pro baseball game at the Estadio Rod Carew, the biggest baseball stadium in the country. It is about a 20 minute drive outside of Panama City, depending on the traffic. They have a 3 month league with about 6 teams that each play each other several times. They were pretty good. I was told that many times there are pro scouts there from the US. I went with a couple of guys who work at the school where I do. There were about 1000 people there but it was easy to get seats right behind home plate. Vendors are constantly coming by and offering beer, pizza, popcorn, hotdogs, KFC, hamburgers, and peanuts. Everything seems to cost a $1. It is cheap and the service is good. Parking was free and plentiful and admission was only $4. It was also beautiful weather to sit outside. The temperature was moderate with a nice breeze. The game started at 7:00 PM and was over by about 10:00 PM.
I have pictures to post and hopefully will get those up soon.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Panama Update #156
Panama Update #156
April 16, 2009
There is some news to report. Nikki and I are scheduled to go to NYC for two nights on May 4, 5. Her great uncle, Archibald Steele, was a journalist working in Tibet at the time The Dalai Lama was growing up in the 1930s/40s. He has passed away a few yers ago, but there has been a request for descendents from his family to meet with the Dalai Lama. Nikki's mom can't make it so she has encouraged us to go and has offered to buy the tickets for us. I purchased the tickets today. The airline prices at this time are pretty good.
Yesterday I bought 2 large suitcases for us to carry things back when we leave here. I found them at the mall at a discount store for only $16.99 each. They look fine and I figure they can make it through at least one flight.
Tonight I am scheduled to go with some teachers from the school where I work to my first Panamanian baseball game. It is at Rod Carew National Stadium. I plan to report more on that later and to post pictures.
April 16, 2009
There is some news to report. Nikki and I are scheduled to go to NYC for two nights on May 4, 5. Her great uncle, Archibald Steele, was a journalist working in Tibet at the time The Dalai Lama was growing up in the 1930s/40s. He has passed away a few yers ago, but there has been a request for descendents from his family to meet with the Dalai Lama. Nikki's mom can't make it so she has encouraged us to go and has offered to buy the tickets for us. I purchased the tickets today. The airline prices at this time are pretty good.
Yesterday I bought 2 large suitcases for us to carry things back when we leave here. I found them at the mall at a discount store for only $16.99 each. They look fine and I figure they can make it through at least one flight.
Tonight I am scheduled to go with some teachers from the school where I work to my first Panamanian baseball game. It is at Rod Carew National Stadium. I plan to report more on that later and to post pictures.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Panama Update #155
Panama Update #155
Saturday, April 11
It is starting to switch back to rainy season here. It has rained 2 or 3 times this week which hasn't happened since last December. The rains are also lasting for longer periods and it is more cloudy. My guess is that it will slowly transition until it is in full bloom by the beginning of May. I came last July, so now I am seeing the full cycle of the two seasons that they have here. The dry season is only about 4 months long.
Panama City is noticeably quieter over this Good Friday/Easter weekend. I guess a lot of the people head out to what they call "the interior" to celebrate, including our landlord and his family. Downtown is quiet and it is easy to get a taxi. I went this morning to one of the El Rey Supermercado and it was very easy shopping. When I am buying things now I am starting to think of if we can use it in the next 7 weeks or not, before we leave.
Nikki went out to the field for a night with Fumi, an archeological graduate student who we have become friends with. She wanted Nikki to take a look at the site where she is working and had some geological questions. They left at 5:00 AM this morning (Saturday) and I was supposed to go with, but I woke up with 3 or 4 giant welts on my feet. It was probably bug bites, but it looked like almost a allergic, hives kind of reaction. I decided it would be best not to go to the isolated area they were going to which was a 5 or 6 hour drive. I put some rubbing alcohol on it and it cleared up in about 2 or 3 hours. My plans today are to watch some of the Masters golf tournament on our cable this afternoon and tonight watch a rebroadcast of American Idol.
Saturday, April 11
It is starting to switch back to rainy season here. It has rained 2 or 3 times this week which hasn't happened since last December. The rains are also lasting for longer periods and it is more cloudy. My guess is that it will slowly transition until it is in full bloom by the beginning of May. I came last July, so now I am seeing the full cycle of the two seasons that they have here. The dry season is only about 4 months long.
Panama City is noticeably quieter over this Good Friday/Easter weekend. I guess a lot of the people head out to what they call "the interior" to celebrate, including our landlord and his family. Downtown is quiet and it is easy to get a taxi. I went this morning to one of the El Rey Supermercado and it was very easy shopping. When I am buying things now I am starting to think of if we can use it in the next 7 weeks or not, before we leave.
Nikki went out to the field for a night with Fumi, an archeological graduate student who we have become friends with. She wanted Nikki to take a look at the site where she is working and had some geological questions. They left at 5:00 AM this morning (Saturday) and I was supposed to go with, but I woke up with 3 or 4 giant welts on my feet. It was probably bug bites, but it looked like almost a allergic, hives kind of reaction. I decided it would be best not to go to the isolated area they were going to which was a 5 or 6 hour drive. I put some rubbing alcohol on it and it cleared up in about 2 or 3 hours. My plans today are to watch some of the Masters golf tournament on our cable this afternoon and tonight watch a rebroadcast of American Idol.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Panama Update #154
Panama Update #154
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
The Yoga class had a nice turnout last night. There is a good core group and new people are still coming. There are only 7 more classes left before we leave Panama. Angel,the person organizing the classes, is planning to go to Yoga Teacher Training this summer in St. Paul to help him feel comfortable and able to lead the classes.
We have decided to buy a new Honda Fit when we return to Minneapolis. We had sold our car before leaving. The new car prices are very good right now and it makes more sense to buy a new one than a late model used car. The Fit is the smallest Honda model and it is a good fit for what we are looking for. It is a 5 door hatchback and gets good mileage (27/33). US News and World Report ranked it as the best buy in its class.
Last night we had dinner with Fumi and Laura in the dorm where we used to live. Both are Ph.D. students who are doing research here for their dissertation. We met Laura when we first came and she is staying until August then returning to Florida. We met Fumi since she works in Nikki's building. She is planning to stay here at least until January and wants to move into our apartment after we leave. She is looking for a roommate if anybody wants to try living in Panama for a few months.
For Passover tonight it looks like it will be just Nikki and I. We have stocked up on some goodies for dinner. We almost went to some one's house that I work with at school, but it didn't work out. Our school is on vacation next week for the holiday.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
The Yoga class had a nice turnout last night. There is a good core group and new people are still coming. There are only 7 more classes left before we leave Panama. Angel,the person organizing the classes, is planning to go to Yoga Teacher Training this summer in St. Paul to help him feel comfortable and able to lead the classes.
We have decided to buy a new Honda Fit when we return to Minneapolis. We had sold our car before leaving. The new car prices are very good right now and it makes more sense to buy a new one than a late model used car. The Fit is the smallest Honda model and it is a good fit for what we are looking for. It is a 5 door hatchback and gets good mileage (27/33). US News and World Report ranked it as the best buy in its class.
Last night we had dinner with Fumi and Laura in the dorm where we used to live. Both are Ph.D. students who are doing research here for their dissertation. We met Laura when we first came and she is staying until August then returning to Florida. We met Fumi since she works in Nikki's building. She is planning to stay here at least until January and wants to move into our apartment after we leave. She is looking for a roommate if anybody wants to try living in Panama for a few months.
For Passover tonight it looks like it will be just Nikki and I. We have stocked up on some goodies for dinner. We almost went to some one's house that I work with at school, but it didn't work out. Our school is on vacation next week for the holiday.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Panama Update #153
Panama Update #153
Friday, April 3, 2009
Mark and Nathan returned from the Kuna Yala (San Blas) today. They are fine and said overall that it was a good time and fun experience. The first day they went to a small island that Mark said was postcard beautiful. It was a beautiful palm tree lined beach with a lot of good corrals for snorkeling. Only one Kuna family lives on the island and Mark said the parents were working very hard the whole time he was there. The husband was trying to catch enough fish to feed the wife and kids for the day. They are sunburn, but in good spirits. They ate a lot of fish, and hung out with the villagers. Today we plan to visit Casco Viejo in the morning and we are not sure yet about the afternoon. They leave for home (St. Paul, Minnesota) tomorrow (Sat.)
Friday, April 3, 2009
Mark and Nathan returned from the Kuna Yala (San Blas) today. They are fine and said overall that it was a good time and fun experience. The first day they went to a small island that Mark said was postcard beautiful. It was a beautiful palm tree lined beach with a lot of good corrals for snorkeling. Only one Kuna family lives on the island and Mark said the parents were working very hard the whole time he was there. The husband was trying to catch enough fish to feed the wife and kids for the day. They are sunburn, but in good spirits. They ate a lot of fish, and hung out with the villagers. Today we plan to visit Casco Viejo in the morning and we are not sure yet about the afternoon. They leave for home (St. Paul, Minnesota) tomorrow (Sat.)
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Panama Update #152
Panama Update #152
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Mark and Nathan missed their flight back to Panama City. Mark called this morning and they are back in the Kuna Yala (San Blas) island village for another night. Their taxi boat picked them up this morning and got them to the airport on time, but were wrongly informed about which plane to take. So they had to take the small boat (1 hour) back to the village. They are doing fine and being fed well, but maybe a little bored and sunburn. They are definitley having a unique Panama experience.
Hopefully they will get on the plane tomorrow and then have one more day to tour around Panama.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Mark and Nathan missed their flight back to Panama City. Mark called this morning and they are back in the Kuna Yala (San Blas) island village for another night. Their taxi boat picked them up this morning and got them to the airport on time, but were wrongly informed about which plane to take. So they had to take the small boat (1 hour) back to the village. They are doing fine and being fed well, but maybe a little bored and sunburn. They are definitley having a unique Panama experience.
Hopefully they will get on the plane tomorrow and then have one more day to tour around Panama.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Panama Update #151
Panama Update #151
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Mark and his 14 year old son Nathan arrived Monday night as scheduled. On their first morning (yesterday), we hiked to the top of Ancon Hill and they loved the view of the city and the canal. Nathan was very tired and after we returned he took a 2 hour nap. I think the sudden change to a tropical climate got to him. We also figured out he was not drinking enough water and was dehydrated. Once he started drinking more he felt much better. In the afternoon they went to see the Mires Fores Locks Observatory.
Today they caught an early flight (6:00 AM) to the Kuna Yala region. It is only a 20minute plane ride to get to the Caribbean side of the country. We arranged for them to stay a night in a village there, like Nikki and I and Swami Ritavan had done a couple of months ago. They speak very little Spanish and no one in the village seems to speak much English, so we hope they will manage OK. In fact most of the people in the village speak the Kuna language much more than Spanish. We sent a Spanish phrasebook with them because we know the host speaks Spanish along with the Kuna.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Mark and his 14 year old son Nathan arrived Monday night as scheduled. On their first morning (yesterday), we hiked to the top of Ancon Hill and they loved the view of the city and the canal. Nathan was very tired and after we returned he took a 2 hour nap. I think the sudden change to a tropical climate got to him. We also figured out he was not drinking enough water and was dehydrated. Once he started drinking more he felt much better. In the afternoon they went to see the Mires Fores Locks Observatory.
Today they caught an early flight (6:00 AM) to the Kuna Yala region. It is only a 20minute plane ride to get to the Caribbean side of the country. We arranged for them to stay a night in a village there, like Nikki and I and Swami Ritavan had done a couple of months ago. They speak very little Spanish and no one in the village seems to speak much English, so we hope they will manage OK. In fact most of the people in the village speak the Kuna language much more than Spanish. We sent a Spanish phrasebook with them because we know the host speaks Spanish along with the Kuna.
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