This post is largely going to be my experiences traveling around Panama thus far. I keep reading the blogs of my fellow PCV’s and they all have a real way of telling a story and painting a picture. I realize my story telling style is more of sporadic thoughts and details imbedded in larger thoughts. I assume this post will not be any different. So let’s buckle up and get started!

Panama City: or as the locals say Panama.

This is where I began my journey. I spent my first 10 weeks quite near the capital in a smaller region just past the canal. Besides going to Albrook (the largest mall in Central America!), a “public transportation” scavenger hunt that was mandated by the PC, and one time into Casa Viejo… I regret I don’t have much to report for this area. Let’s see.. Albrook is pretty legit. Huge and where the main bus terminal is for the city area. I didn’t get to see most of the shops because, as a creature of habit, I stuck to the main area that I knew well already… which had a Dunkin Doughnuts and real Iced Coffee. I had to take a Diablo Rojo-which is a graffitied school bus that is a very cheap way to travel, they are common in smaller rural areas but not TOO rural. You would be amazed how many people you can cram on to a school bus. 3 people per bigger seat (meant for 2) and 2 people per smaller seat (meant for 1) then people standing in the aisles. Not highly recommended for those who are claustrophobic. BUT! They are usually decked out with Graffiti and blasting some sort of tipico music. It is really a unique experience! My favorite memory on a Diablo Rojo was on my way to my site visit in week… 5? My whole 32 oz waterbottle spilled and I ended up in the seat with the wheel holding my giant backpacking pack sitting next to two other people. I was crammed between the window and a sleeping lady holding my bag when I realized where I was. Sometimes that happens, I will just be calmly in a strange/unique situation and I sort of take in where I am in that moment. I started giggling because I felt like the lady in a magic show-crammed in a box, but I didn’t feel strange at all. That freaked me out more that the 100 people on the bus going 60 and taking corners like we were in Tokyo Drift. What else in the city? There are some really cool hostels, I didn’t stay in one but we found them on our scavenger hunt. There is a really clean and easy to navigate Metro system in the city, there is even a small underground type thing! It was like taking the MAX at home in Oregon. Oh! I also went to the Mira Flores museum and saw the Canal. I didn’t get the opportunity to watch a ship, but it was interesting and cool none the less. I had read “The Path Between the Seas” before coming to panama so it was cool to see it all in museum form and get to geek out on things I’d already read about. I was also approached by a few Chinese tourists to help them navigate all the Spanish. I’m still not sure why they approached me out of the group of 20+ people I was with. My whole group thought I was translating between Japanese and Spanish, and the cooler version of me would have lied about it. BUT! I did get to show off my Spanish to the tourists so.. I guess it was pretty cool, after all. I spent the majority of my time in Panama city in my training community or El ciudad del Saber (which is a real ye ye area [fancy]). But they had hummus in one store and pretty decent pizza so I won’t complain. Casa Viejo is pretty cool and I think one of the number one things recommended to tourists. I only went a few times at night with all the trainees so I can’t really tell you much about it besides it looks like some streets in Cuba (from what I’ve seen in photos) very cool old timey vibes. 

Volcán

This is the area in Chiriquí where the volcano lives! I went here with my host family to meet more family of theirs. Let’s start by saying that I really am happy where I am… but being in the mountains feels like home to me. It was nice to get up into some elevation and see all the green. It is really hard to describe the way Volcán looks… The mountains are really steep but you look out and see the same sort of pattern you see when you’re in an airplane. There are sections of quilted areas of different things growing there. It’s all so green and so beautiful. I looked out the window of the car and stood outside and was just in awe. There are many indigenous people that work on these fincas (farms) so I got the unique opportunity to see the various forms of living here in Panama. Living in the city, I really only see the same sorts of life styles-city life. But I hear wonderful stories (and some not so great…) from my fellow PCVs who live out in that sort of life style and it was breathtaking to finally see the types of things they were describing to me. I was in a truck with my host sister and her (younger) Uncle. We switched back between English and Spanish per usual, as her “uncle” wants to learn English as well! We ate some really delicious food. All these mountain places grow strawberries (fresas) and so I got this really delightful strawberry smoothy.We also walked around this small market type street to look for a new succulent for my host sister. She loves them and cactus and so now I’ve found myself pretty fascinated with them.  We spend a lot of time discussing plants and how to care for them. I think I know more flower words in Spanish than anything else. I’ll post a picture, but it is really hard to describe being surrounded by quilted mountains looking at succulents and rows of fresh honey with a few chickens just wandering the streets like they belong with the humans. I also found out that larger cactus are called “el asiento del segura” or “seat for the mother in law”. My favorite memory was driving up to “Las Nubes” (the clouds) and seeing a river. There was some herbs growing wild which I guess are pretty expensive in David so my host mom (very petite older woman) just walked right up and started plucking the herbs. She kept handing them back to me without looking and I ended up holding them like a bouquet.  She told me stories of living up there as a little girl and about the uses of the herbs. My host mom is so great, she always is giving me extra love and attention and never gets frustrated at my Spanish level. So that was my day trip to Volcán! Driving around with my host family’s extended family laughing at my Spanish misunderstandings and ones in English also, staring at some of the most beautiful and treacherous looking fields. OH! Another funny memory was explaining to my host sisters “uncle” how she says everything is “ito” and he looked out the window to a potato farm and said “There is papas. Big papas, not papitas.” And we spent a good few minuets laughing and talking about “big papas”. 

Barqueta

This is a beach that is about a 30 min drive from my house. I went there my first full day here in David with my host sister and mom. It is a good spot for surfing. It’s where I saw my first Iguana, had my first experience stopping at a road side stand for dulces and started the strong relationship I have with my host sister and mom. We also got some delightful fried fish. 

Podreríos

This is a finca I went to that belongs to a friend of my host sister. They grow a lot of cool things! A ton of veggies, the terrifying looking but delicious Gunavana and sugar cane! Because they grow sugar cane, they also make Raspaduras which is processed sugar cane so it’s in a hard sugar form that tastes a bit like brown sugar. I haven’t seen them being made, yet, but I have been invited to watch at some point! I had never seen sugar cane being grown so I had a really good time touring the whole finca. It was my first trip up towards the mountains in my time in David and I loved it. It made me a little sad that I wasn’t living up in the mountains, but I also realize it’s easier for me to appreciate all these things when I get to see them every now and then. I got to get onto a tractor (just for the photo) and got to ride on a four wheeler! It is very interesting to see how different life is from my city home to the finca. I learned that people who live in “el campo” have a form of Spanish that isn’t correct. My host sister warned me they are often difficult to understand and to not adopt anything they say. I thought it was fascinating that the same can be said of people who work on farms in America. Now! Before you get all huffy, I’m not saying people can’t speak correctly if they work on farms, and I’m NOT suggesting that everyone in the city has amazingly perfect English. What I’m saying is there is a distinct patter of speaking for people who live on farms, and most second language learners would be confused. My favorite memory there was learning about the complete generosity of the family and other farming neighbors we visited. Even though I had real difficulties communicating, they sent me home with extra bananas and tomatoes because I said I liked them. They invited me to come watch the Raspadura process some other time and I went home with a giant bag of them and also a smile on my face. We went to celebrate a birthday up there, but I came away with way more than we brought to share. 

David

My city! Now, a lot of people ask me what it’s like.. and I don’t have any better answer than “it’s like a city” but without high rises. It takes me 10 min and 35 cents to get downtown to the Parque de Cervantes which is like the central part of El Centro. I go downtown at least 2 times a week either to meet with another PCV that came into town or with my host family. There are lots of cool shops-crafting places, shopping centers, chochqui stores (or checheritos as I have now adapted to calling them). There are plenty of places to choose to eat-my favorite thus far is a vegetarian taiwanese place. A professor here introduced me to it and the little shop owner who now recognizes me and we just sit and smile at each other when I go in. The food is always so good and eating fresh veggies really helps me sort of reset. I eat a lot of fried food-as is the Panamanian way-so it’s nice to get a break and eat some veggies! There is a movie theater here (there are only two in Chiriquí as far as I know and I live near them both! Super lucky!) and lots of cute little cafes to go hang out in the AC and get some wifi. Everything is pretty walkable and it’s easy to orient yourself based on where the park is. I never feel like I’m in danger even though I live in a pretty big place. There are areas that I tend to avoid but over all, I enjoy being in the city here. There are always people selling fruits and veggies or empanadas on the street. My favorite memory to date is when the people who live in Bocas del Toro had to come to David for the night before a meeting and the other two volunteers in Chiriquí all met up! It was like a half family reunion. You never know how badly you need a hug until you get 10 big ones! Thats my favorite big memory but I always look forward to my weekly trip with my host sister and mom. Last week we went to a glorified smoothie shop and I got a ginger smoothie! Everyone was shocked when I said to add as much ginger as possible and no sugar. I understand the face the smoothie barista made now…it was pretty gingery but SO so good. We (host ladies and I) sat and laughed about different fruit names and how my host mom likes to write what is in the smoothies down and try to make them herself at home. Every night I have a new type of “chicha” or juice that she has created.

Las Lajas

I had to go to our Regional Meeting in the most unfortunate place: the beach. If you couldn’t tell that was sarcasm. All the Chiricanos gathered at a resort on the beach for some learning! My province only has two sectors of the Peace Corps so it was pretty chill over all-expect that the regional director of panama and the regional director of all Latin America were there. Gulp. But! Overall it was a good time. Nice to meet new people and see what volunteers a year in have been doing. I was also grateful that I knew most of the people at the meeting already and there wasn’t any super awkward meetings. Las lajas was beautiful and totally worth the trip. I got to go night fishing with a small group of volunteers. Didn’t think I’d every say that sentence in my life… but it was fun bonding and talking to people. It’s weird experience but it’s super easy to just open up to fellow volunteers about deep life stuff when the moon is out, you’re all sitting staring at the wet sand and just enjoying each other’s company simply because you’re in the same place in life in that moment. As for the beach- went swimming in the waves, as it was the first time without a board I got rocked pretty good and decided to keep in the shallows. But overall I had a great time, I can never complain when I have sand between my toes. Side note-there are two other beaches I’ve been too as well but I’ve already touched in them in other posts so I’ll leave that. But the sand was nice and soft and there were tiny SUPER FAST crabs everywhere and I got called “city girl” for taking a photo of the cows… I’ll definitely be going there again often as I have a good friend who lives at the entrance of the beach! Ain’t nothing like having a meeting at a resort!

Boquete

Last because it certainly isn’t least. I am hoping this doesn’t become a Boquete appreciation only post because I LOVE BOQUETTE! So. Boquete is this cute little mountain town about an hour away from me. It is the ideal retirement spot and in fact is crawling with both tourists and retired ex-pats. I know why. The air is so much more refreshing up there and the scenery is unreal. You can stand at the top of the hill of the road that leads to town and see everything. The volcano in Volcán, the hills, the little town and all the coffee and various fields. This was one of the first day trips we took and I immediately fell in love. It’s a very small town but central enough to be able to walk everywhere. It is also home of the Feria de Flores and, shocking, I went there with my host sister and mom and they explained all the flowers to me. There is a BIG fair at the beginning of the year but honestly I can’t even imagine there being more flowers and colors. I’ve spent two weekends there now with my host sister. The first was so that we could watch the crowning of the queen for the next weekend where Chiriquí would celebrate its 170th birthday! The ceremony was really cool and wildly hilarious. There was a huge gym rented out and almost no one came. It was a little sad but my host sister explained that this happens a lot with events in BoqueteBut I got to see a coronation which was very interesting. The next weekend we went to see the several parades of kids in traditional garb dancing to tipico music. The town is very little so the circle for the parade is easily walkable and we went form the starting point across the square to the end to watch it twice. I really loved seeing all the dresses and dances. There is so much history in Panama and such a love for their culture it’s inspiring. I have many favorite memories there so far: being able to sleep in a sweatshirt being the top. But, in all seriousness, I walked all over from the top (Boquete arriba) to the town (Boquete bajo) with my host sister. It’s been a month of us hanging out everyday and I’ve never gotten bored of her. Our silences are always comfortable but there are hardly any. We always find something to talk about and exchanged grammar tips to each other. The last trip was my official one month here in Chiriquí so we celebrated with Pizza together! We did the same at my one week mark. She always makes me feel so welcome and loved. We also went and had some fancy  chocolates together. I think boquete means a lot to her as well and so us being able to go and do and explore together makes her just as happy as me. She doesn’t have siblings or people in her life really willing to explore with her-so I’m happy we can do that together! We also went to visit yet another uncle of hers who grows bonsai! I didn’t realize that Bonsai extends beyond just the little trees you think of… you can have a lemon bonsai and it is the CUTEST little fruitSo many varieties and it really was just like an orchard for ants. It never fails to amaze me how little I know of the world (eye roll from older people here) but it makes me more and more excited to keep learning. Also there are big buses to and from David for Boquete that say “I [heart] Boquete on them and it always makes my host sister laugh. I got my first pair of typical Panamanian earring there for a bargain and saw a “Cabellgata” which is like a horse parade. 

Well. I think that is quite enough for the time being. I hope you enjoyed my attempts at story telling and the pictures that will follow. I still have some fun (and not so fun) cultural things I’ll get into later, but for now I hope you appreciate hearing about the places I’ve been so far. Ciao!

P.s. here are some other PCV blogs from people in my group you might enjoy!

https://elenapeacecorps.com/ & https://dannileethepcv.wordpress.com/ & https://chaneljimenez.wordpress.com/ & http://mydearwanderlust.blogspot.com/?m=1 & https://pieceofpanama.home.blog/ & https://wheresmorganblog.wordpress.com/ & https://kayleebug560.wixsite.com/website