Special thanks

I want to extend a special thanks to the book donors:

• Christopher LaRoche
• Elisa Kaplan Miller
• Elsevier Publishing
• Morgan & Claypool
• Morgan Kaufman
• Rosenfeld Media

Their generosity has created a small library of extremely relevant and timely books for future UTP faculty and students.  On their behalf as well as on mine, THANK YOU!

Also, thanks to the Fulbright Program, sponsored by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and particularly, Jennifer Fox for her support and encouragement as I prepared to come to Panama.

Thanks to the faculty, staff and students of the Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, and to the staff at the US Embassy in Panama City.

Most of all, thanks to my wonderful family who supported me throughout the process of applying, preparing for, and living this adventure.  

Day of the Three "C's" (Tuesday)

Today was defined by three different "C" words:  Colleagues in the morning, Canal in the afternoon, and Chicken at night.

1)  Colleagues.
We started by heading over to UTP so my colleagues and friends there could meet Anna Rachel and vice versa.  After talking about her for so long, it was nice to actually show people that she does, indeed, exist.  As a proud Mama, I enjoyed the chance to observe her poise and to see her (great) skills esp. at navigating social situations in a different language.  I enjoyed giving her a picture of where I've been spending my past four months as well.  She even took a picture of the Masters students' Affinity Diagram from the "Speedy Bead" User Research project.

2)  Canal:

As in "The Panama Canal" of course.  It's just not possible to come here and NOT see the Canal.  So in the afternoon, we set out to visit it.  Even though I've been there 3 times, it's still amazing.  And fascinating.  Each time I learn something new also.  This time, it was that my body is 76% water according to one of the exhibits.  Not sure what that means - especially since all it took besides the weight was your age and gender - but there you have it.  And I guess that means I'm officially "all wet."

But out on the Observation Deck, we watched several ships go through the Miraflores Locks, and saw how the water levels drop (since in the afternoons, ships are coming down from the Atlantic side to the Pacific side) and how the ships power forward in the locks, guided by the trusty "Mules" - still my favorite part of the Canal.

No trip is complete without photos of this all happening in real time, so here are some of Anna Rachel's shots - as well as some photos to prove we were there.

  

3)  Chicken.

Of course, this was only one of the many defining elements of our amazing meal with Martha and Carlos Maduro as well as their amazing daughters, Emily (and Edwin and Emita) and Essie (and Charlie).  First, the food.  Martha is famous for her great meals, as I can attest from an earlier visit where I shared a meal with the same crowd (sans Anna Rachel) and tonight was no exception.  Simple, yes - chicken with pasta, creamed chicken, salad.  But luscious!  And dessert was too - frozen  mini Snickers bars.  Yum yum yum!

(L to R) Carlos, Anna Rachel, Essie,
Martha (missing are Emily, her
husband, Edwin, and Essie's
beau, Charlie)

The REAL defining element of the evening was the incredible family who invited us into their home and to their table, and who treated us like long lost family.  Their warmth and intelligence swirled around us and we talked about all manner of things.  We had one particularly hilarious conversation about Panama's seemingly ubiquitous "Push Buttons" - hotels you rent by the hour, which give you total anonymity.  You pull into a garage where you push the button to close the garage door, open the room, and then, when you are done doing whatever it is you do during your time (ahem!) so they can check the room to make sure everything is OK before they push the button to open the garage door - all without having to interact with anyone.  You can imagine what they are used for.  There's no particular stigma about going to a Push Button - and we were regaled with tales of funny happenings at Push Buttons, as well as a more serious discussion of their value in a country where there is very little privacy for adult children who often live with their parents until they marry, and for their parents too.  Everyone knew the locations of them - in fact, there's a locally famous street with many of them (stay tuned for a tour on Sunday!) and one of their friends gives her address as being "between the McDonalds and the Royal Garden Suites (a well-known Push Button)"  

When the time came to say good-bye, Carlos and Martha drove Anna Rachel and me to 2 different pharmacies and helped me get some inhalers and cough suppressants (not to mention cough drops) to take care of my cough that has been building the past few days.  They went well out of their way and spent quite a lot of time helping us.

I guess the real word to define the evening is "Family" - but heck, that doesn't start with a "C", so it will just have to stay "Chicken."

Tomorrow - we arise EARLY to fly to San Blas!  Gotta sleep in a hurry!

Adventuring in Chiriqui: Day 3 (Saturday)

In Costa Rica (very briefly)

Ngäbe-Buglé women walking to the border

 

Danny (Aris' son)

David (Aris' other son)

Daniel at the playground 

At the playground

At the playground

On the drive back to David

Coffee growers for the label, Cafe Duran

Another coffee grower

Aris at the wheel

The temperature has plummeted to 23 C (73 F)

In Volcan

The Barber of Volcan

Ngäbe-Buglé walking

Ngäbe-Buglé waiting

Ngäbe-Buglé waiting

Ngäbe-Buglé waiting

I awoke before 7 today, and got up to shower before the rush on the bathroom.  I had a “boat shower” using the collected water in the corner and then dressed and packed.  As I heard people moving into the living room, I joined them.  The coffee con leche (which used evaporated milk – brilliant idea!) was amazing!  And then came breakfast:  Yucca. Carne asada.  Fresh queso.  And a sweet made with sugar cane juice and milk, boiled together for quite a while the night before on an open fire.  Once again, delicious!

After we had eaten, two of Aris’ sisters and I were sitting in the living room when the chairs began to dance and rock.  It felt like it went on for several minutes, although I’m certain it was under a minute.  It stopped for a moment, and then continued on again.

Turns out there was a 5.2 magnitude earthquake whose epicenter was in Conception – only 45 miles away!  Aris said that they felt it even more up on the hill at her cousin’s house.  It wasn’t scary – perhaps if it had been stronger it would have been.  (David pointed out that this was the strongest quake I've ever experienced)  More about it here  

A couple of Aris’ sisters wanted to go up to the border with Costa Rica, so we jumped in the car and went.  Turns out it was just a few blocks away!  Of course, a "few" blocks is a long way when it's up a steep street!  We walked across the border –  unmanned as far as I could see – and went into a couple of shops.  Then, we went back down the hill, and sped past the family’s house.  I saw Aris’ car and, not wanting a repeat of yesterday morning when I kept them waiting, I was a bit concerned.  I used “What’s App” to tell her where we were, and then to send her the photos of us at the next border crossing several miles away.  

A digression:  If you are using "What’s App” now, I’d love to know so we can chat – for free!  If you aren’t, please consider getting it (and letting me know so we can chat)  It’s really great – you can chat and send photos easily and for free (did I mention that before?)  All-in-all, a terrific app.

We returned home and a whole new group was assembling – along with most of those from yesterday.  Aris and the boys were there, but they weren’t yet ready to leave (phew!)  Once again, the happy, busy, loving family greeted and kissed each other.  It’s wonderful.  And there was another demo of the beauty products.  And food.  More food.

We were getting ready to leave when Aris’ aunt made soup.  So we stayed for it since, of course, it was amazingly good.  

Finally, it was time to depart.  After many kisses good bye, we piled into the car and sped back to David.  There was rain splatters en route home, and the many twists and turns gave us a completely different view than we had on the way to Rio Sereno.  This time I got more of the shots I wanted while in the back seat, the boys quietly napped.  Aris said they were sort of like puppies, all piled together, and so they were.

We returned to David and I checked into my hotel.  This time, I’m on the first (2nd in US) floor, so it won’t be as hard to get up or down as it was last time when I was on the 2nd (3rd) floor.  And the elevator is working which it wasn’t last time.  But, alas, the internet is not working.  I’ve been able to download email, but not to send it, and I can’t get to the web.

So I wrote these entries, and prepared for tonight’s dance!

At 8 pm, Aris picked me up and off we went to meet her high school friends and maybe dance a bit.  It was fun seeing all of them again, but unfortunately, a headache which had been building all day blossomed into a full-blown monster and I had to cab it back to the hotel.  Darn it!

I fell into bed and straight to sleep the moment I got back.

Aris and her friends danced until 1:30 am.  At which point I had been in dreamland for many hours.