So let’s start where I am now, and we can work our way back. Hola from beautiful Panamá! I am officially in week 4 of my training in the Peace Corps.

I live in a really cute little community near the Capital (Yes I’ve already seen-at least part-of the canal). I am in the TELLS section of G84! Which means I’ll be teaching English if I have the great privilege to swear in! Time has already flown by, and I don’t know where to begin. The group I’m in is a group of amazing people! Everyone is so spirited and ready to learn and serve. Everyday I am humbled to be in this group, and to be able to learn from them. (I’ll post later about details *shrugs*)

Let’s see… for those curious, my Spanish isn’t great, but it’s improving “poco a poco” as they say. We have language classes and I feel as if I’m starting to remember things long since forgotten from school (so shout out to all my Spanish teachers whom I didn’t pay close enough attention to).

I live with a host family now- they are super gracious and patient people. Everyday we speak together and the 12 year old twins (las gemelas) are finally warming up to me and my 17 year old host brother is finally giving me the time of day! I feel very lucky to have landed in the house I did. Everyone is kind and helps me so much. Communication in a second language is daunting in and of itself but trying to communicate cultural norms and then just basic human needs? Super humbling. So far I haven’t had to use any grotesque hand motions but according to the doctors, it will come. But my new host family has opened their arms wide and accepted me as one of their own! My host mom (Mamá) is close in age to me so I feel like we were immediate allies. We laugh a ton together and roll our eyes at the kids.

As for food- I eat very well! My Mamá is a great cook. There is a lot of rice and beans and fried foods… that’s been an adjustment. But, overall, I’m still happy with the food! It’s most of the pictures I’ll be posting. I am also getting the chance to eat a lot of tropical fruit! So delicious. Piñas the size of my head (picture or it didn’t happen, right?) my host mom thought it was HILARIOUS that I compared it to my head and wanted a picture “to send to [my] mom at home to prove I’m alive”.

The community- I now live with chickens, roosters, dogs and geckos. Also people. Everyone is friendly and they say “buenas!” As you pass them in the street. It’s a greeting here in Panamá. I always feel safe and am getting the tools to keep safe here and when I go to my new site (for those worry warts at home… I’ve never gotten so much training and practice, advice and support from a wonderful security team… so you can sleep).

The WiFi/mailing situation- please give me time. As for now I have data I buy as I go. I can always email, text with iMessage or WhatsApp (the app WhatsApp is easiest but I have a new Panamanian number so please ask me for it and I’m happy to share!). I’m not sure where I’m going yet for my “site”, so I do not have answers. I am not actively ignoring people, but also please understand I’m so busy and overwhelmed right now you probably don’t want to talk to me anyway.

Ok, I think that’s good enough for my “audience” (aka family) with all those burning (repetitive) questions. I promise to keep up on this as best I can! Sometimes just to update you, sometimes to share something cool I’ve learned, sometimes just to show you a cool animal I saw. At any rate, I will post more soon.

Ya esta (that’s it).