Panama

Ok. I have very little time to recount everything on a keyboard that doesn´t really have the same conformation as in the states... (i can´t really find the `at´ key)

okay so i came home from japan. the trip to the airport was REALLLLy though carrying over 160 lbs in 4 bags... i just took it a little bit at a time. i left gifts for the lab in the morning and i wish i could post pictures but again.. not much time.. i´ll make up for it later

on the narita express i was planning on paying with my pasmo card (I never could find the ticket station) and had to buy another one... the other times no one seemed to care! i i think it was mainly cuz the train was so full though.

anyways the flight home wasn´t bad and i made it back with little jet lag though it was very odd leaving at 4 pm and arriving at 1 pm the same day. yay for time travel

my time home was awesome. i wish i got to spend a little bit more time with the family but i just really was committed to making any impact i could on the incoming freshman before i left. i spent a lot of the time meeting with friends and doing some inspire slash premajor slash prehealth advising (no one else showed up for their table around me until much later aat orientation) and did the best i could with seeing everyone. i got to see my little cousins too. matthew talks more now>! though his favorite words are still ones involving bathroom happenings.

okay trip to panama

finally got all settled (still hadn´t completely finished the papers.. but ah well... i finished them eventually) and set off for the air port. it was hard saying bye to the family again but it was okay.. i sat at the atlanta jetway for 2 hours before we actually took off b-c of the weather and because of it i missed my flight to panama from houston

i landed right as they took off. but i just made some calls to SIT and to home and it was okay. continental put me up in a 400 dollar a night hotel room and gave me 26 bucks for food (which i used for two HUGE meals. nom nom).. see being nice and patient with the stressed out airport lady really pays off sometimes

next morning i took the first flight out to panama at 9 (after a nice long rest.. seriously a blessing in disguise) and landed around 1.. i spent most of my plane ride dozing and editing my papers.. after i landed and haphazardly filled out the customs and other forms.. i got through and saw my taxi driver Rahul holding a sign with my name on it. I spoke what little spanish i could still speak without sounding horrible and we were off.

my japanese keeps creeping into my spanish and a couple times i said Hai instead of Sí but about an hour later we got to the bus station. Rahul took me in and i bought a ticket on a minibus to El Valle.. the ride was 4 hours... the price? 3.50. nice eh? anyways the ride was not sooooo fun as we were COMPLETELY packed for a lot of the way (if you think japanese trains were packed you have no idea).. it was a ride through the mountains and rain and finally after an entire long day of travelling i arrived at 6 pm in the rain. needless to say i was completely soaked.. including my luggage. but hey.. i was there :)

last night and today were just logistical things and everyone on my group is really coool. becky, becca, brooks, danielle, lily, andrea, teresa, katie, laila and aly (the last two are the program directors).. so 2 guys and 7 girls... lots of estrogen flowing around. but still cool. the semester is really just like one lonnggg non stop work filled vacation if that makes any sense but i can´t wait

my internet usage will be limited but i´ll try and keep posting.

tomorrow we´re getting dropped off in the middle of nowhere to try and make our way back to camp just to make sure we know how to travel in panama... cool eh?

hasta luego

love all

tim