First off, the Spanish class problem. To save face and avoid harsh words, I'll just say that there was a little bit of tension and confusion with the Spanish classes the first week but now everything is resolved and all are happy.
My teacher is Profesora Natasha... a woman whose energy levels are only matched my her feminism "assertiveness" as she likes to call it. She grew up in Panama but moved to the States at an early age so is great for understanding both languages quite well. We spend much time talking and conversing, though we have our share of written homework. I would and wouldn't place it as intense as a college Spanish course. It's less intense in that I'm not chewing off my fingernails worried about tests and scores... and since we have four hours a day rather than the number 50 minutes we're less pressed for time. Having said that, it much more intense in that our class has application in every moment of our day. Put yourself out there and USE THE LANGUAGE.
I've banned myself from further watching TV episodes in English that I've saved on my computer. I quickly realized (after passing hours last night watching Friends and The Office) that it was my escape from the tensions of the a Spanish world, which is great to have... until it becomes more an avoidance rather than a back-up support. Watch TV, read and write in the country you're in. I only have four months, I better make them count, eh?
Time passes much slower and faster here. Every week is unique to the next but twice as tiring as the day before. Find a program where you'll never get bored. :) If you're into saving the world and 'roughing it', do SIT (School of International Training)
Now for the actual updates.
Friday night we went out to Via Uruguay, the night clubbing 'hot spot' in the city. At first we went to a bar that turned out to be quite American in style (they were playing Lynyrd Skynyrd and Red Hot Chili Peppers) and then went to a club called Club Kraze. The clubbing scene here is small, but passionate. Ladies, don't be alarmed when guys hiss and shout out "Oooo MamÃ, Mamecito" or regularly tell you that they love you in English or in Spanish. If you're with a guy, this tends to happen less, but it really is just part of their culture and is very normal. From what I am told, ladies from Panama actually sometimes become sad if they're not given these piropa's ("compliments") from time to time.
The music wasn't too far from club music in the states, with their own Panamanian favorites and house music to boot. But then again, this was just one club.
Although Panama is the safest Central American country, one must use extra caution at night and if you're a woman, do not walk alone (don't get too worried, Mom.)
After Brooks (the other guy) and I walked all the girls home we turned in... that had been the longest day (awake from 3 AM to write a paper until 2 AM).
Consequently, Saturday was spent lazing around finishing some homework and sleeping a lot. Sunday morning, however, the group went off to Casco Viejo, which your tourbooks will tell you is a great historical part of Panama. After perusing the morning market (local goods) we bought some shaved ice (shaved manually, not by machine... twas pretty wicked) and split up into two groups--keeping track of eight people just wasn't too feasible when we wanted to do different things.
By chance, we came across a tour guide and he took us around the President's house, other houses of high status (of other countries) and told us histories of that area. By far the coolest part was when he revealed the otherwise hidden tunnels that prisoners used to use to escape. For example, in many churches there were trapdoors, random stone blocks in the wall were hollow, the bronze sign on a statue revealed a secret passageway when pushed in, among others. We could actually see parts of the tunnel along the beach (much of it had been blown away by cannons through time). Just a touch of history.
Rest of Sunday, Monday, normal. Class... class...sleep. Today, Tuesday, was our first day in the "jungle/forest", it still had a trail and everything, but nevertheless we were all VERY relieved to be leaving the city, even if just for an afternoon. The city has its own wondrous culture, but there are hundreds of odors and sounds that can build up tension if you're not used to it.
For the first time I saw extremely organized ants (walking in set lines and mini-ant-paths for kilometers). One type carried bits of leaves that they would later bring back to their nest to grow fungus on (of which they'd eat) and another type of army ants that swarmed their prey. We did not get to see much in terms of mammals though we could hear howler monkeys throughout the afternoon. For some reason I had still expected the forest to be much more less vegetated... there were tons of species.... of everything. Our group looks quite humourous though with each person wearing enough gear to survive for weeks and enough bug spray to deter even the bravest of bugs. But hey, to each his own.
Oh I forgot to mention, last Wednesday we went to a concert sponsored by environmental groups in Panama where the National Symphony of Panama played two of the Four Seasons by Vivaldi and Beethoven's Sixth Symphony and Pastorale. Afterwards there was a reception... The concert unfortunately couldn't be comparable to other professional symphonies and there were constant interruptions in the audience (one man even answered his phone and had a conversation in the echoing hall as if it was nothing, others kept walking in front of the main spotlight) but it was fun as it was the first trip with the parents and students together at the Teatro National.
Hmm. I also failed to mention that our visit to a museum (that I wrote about in the previous post) is located at the original settlement in Panama. We got to see some ruins. :)
Oh and at long last, pictures.
After I got stranded in the Texas airport, the guy next to me had this bag.
It says "Harajuku"... the place I lived near. Seems Japan follows you anywhere, eh?
Me and my rubber ducky in my hotel room at the Sheraton.
It says "Harajuku"... the place I lived near. Seems Japan follows you anywhere, eh?
Me and my rubber ducky in my hotel room at the Sheraton.
Haha. When's my flight... wait a second...
Raul! My taxi driver...
El Valle. Pretty, no?
El Valle, again. Click it.
The beach at Farallon
Flowers in El Valle. I was having fun with macro.. and I like this shot.
The Capuchin monkey at El Nispiro Zoo in El Valle! (Most my recordings of that day are in video... which would take all of today and tomorrow to load onto the internet...)
This is the peacock with the crazy intricate designs on its feathers. :)
The first sloth I've ever seen! He was sleepy... -_-
Albrook Mall... part of our Sunday "tour."
The food court. There were an unbelievably number of people. We're sitting at one of the kiddie tables a little left of center in this picture.
Part of the last remaining ruins of the first settlement in Panama.
From the tower that's still standing! Here's a cool shot of Panama (and Becca.)
Fresh coconut juice! For a dollar... Becca and Danielle
Lily, Kati, and Brooks
El Teatro Nacional. We were on the third floor... couldn't see.. so moved to fourth.
Oh. And this is Cuco. :D The cutest dog... in the world.
The crazy army ants.... attacking their kin...
Becky found this moth. You can only see it kinda in this picture b/c he's walking around.
This... is the anthill of the ants that were carrying pieces of leaves... you can see them :)
If you can see, the roots of this huge tree are above ground. The soil of the tropics is surprisingly very poor, but there's a high decomposition rate so most of the roots are above ground to absorb nutrients.
Our guide and teacher for this week. Dr. Roy
Brooks, Becca, Becky, and Lily showing off the "zip-off" pants.
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