This update will be (ok not so) short and sweet.

We are moving into week 6 of training soon, which will be a crazy busy week as I will be in a school practicing all the things I bragged about in my resume. This past weekend we went on a “field visit” to see what life is really like! I got the opportunity to go to the province of Coclé. I got to meet a PCV (Peace Corps Volunteer) Kate! I am so happy I got placed with her! She was really cool (photo under, for you curious cats) and open about all things in the Peace Corps. I felt much more relaxed after the trip. She showed us her school and all the cool projects she has done (Hey, Kate! Don’t mind me just bragging about your achievements). It showed me all the things that I am going to get the opportunity to do e.g. adult english circle, reading clubs, and youth health awareness. I traveled with a fellow trainee, and it was nice to get away from the group of 20 and get to know someone one on one.

I am in a group of 20 (thank you for repeating that, Kallie) other trainees. I feel super lucky, because everyone is very inclusive and our group is pretty tight and open. You hear a lot that “You’ll never be able to explain your PCV friends to your family and friends” and I hate to say that it is true. We are all going through some intense things together and I’m blessed to have landed in the group I did. I have slowly broken out of my shell and started to worm my way into being friends with everyone… In all honestly I had a difficult time in the first few weeks because… well I’m not sure why. But I couldn’t focus, or maybe I didn’t feel like “enough” to be here. Either way, after a week of difficulties and soul searching I set an intention to make at least one friend and low and behold I have met some of the most amazing and strong women here (and some really cool dudes, too). It is nice to be surrounded with people whom I don’t have to explain anything to. We are all here for (different… but…) similar reasons and it’s nice to get to know one another without any judgment for why we are here in Panamá.

For those asking “What are you doing?”-I am in the TELLS part of the Peace Corps (Teaching English Leadership and Life skills), we have the amazing opportunity to not only teach english but skills that young people and adults can apply into other parts of their life. I was so excited after the visit and super ready to get my own site and get into things. Also to answer that question-I am training. All the time. Legitimately 90% of my time is training in some way: language, technical, security, structured sessions, unstructured sessions… yadda yadda yadda. I don’t have much to update people so when you ask and I shrug, I’m not trying to be evasive or glib. I just have a lot of training. So far my experience has been (and I for-see continuing to be) really positive. I have some really hard days, but also some really easy and fluid days. I spend a lot of my day trying to check my reaction to things and figure out why I am feeling that way. Some days you feel like you’re the only one feeling this way which can make you feel more isolated and lonely, but I’m not and I have to check my privilege to be here and have this beautiful opportunity. I’m happy every day, definitely not all day every day… but everyday.

“What is Panamá like?”-This is about as easy to answer as “what is America like?” So far, in my limited experience in a small town in Panamá, it is very hot and humid. Did you know that the tops of your feet sweat? I learned that fun fact recently. There are a lot of bugs…bats (I, so far, have two interesting bat stories I will tell in another post about animals)… lots of chickens (they sleep in trees, can you believe that?)… palm trees… mango trees. Everyone I speak with is scandalized that I have a slight intolerance to Mango. I love all the fruit trees and nature, but I have to admit “I walked up hill both ways” has never resonated more than in our little community. It is nice to get out and walk around with other trainees and exercise but, it isn’t the easiest way to trek around. As I mentioned before, I’m only in this community until April so I feel updating it is a little pointless. But it is really green and beautiful lots of trees and a cool waterfall. Paved roads and gravel as well. There are lots of different types of transportation that I think needs a whole post in itself, I’ll get to it eventually. So, that is really all I can update for now… until i’m in my own site and more settled! I also don’t love taking photos so I don’t have many. I hope that I will get better at that.

I made my host family dinner! (Picture below!)The easiest thing I could think of was burgers with an over easy egg. Turns out everyone in the house hates over easy eggs so they had a fried egg instead. It’s was a good opportunity to “share culture” but difficult for me to explain that there isn’t really such a thing as “traditional Oregon food”. My host dad told me that their door is always open for me even after I leave and he hopes I visit again. I almost cried. My host family is truly spectacular-opened their arms to me and make me a part of everything.

Ya esta for now!