August 19, 2010

Interesting to watch the trash men around here (WHEN they come). Trash pickup is “supposed” to be at least 3 times a week. It happened the first two weeks we were here, but certainly not since. At times, the trash does start to pile up. Anyway, there are at least five men with each truck. Some toss it up, others on top rip open each bag and search through it. Funny, because we tossed a few things that REALLY were trash, yet these guys carefully look through every bag seeking “treasure”. Some of these items probably supplement their income. I wish I could have brought them all the stuff I “thought” was trash that we tossed in Cincinnati prior to moving.
In talking with some of my students today, I found out that Panama has a 9:00 pm curfew for anyone under 18. If they go to a movie, a dance, whatever, their parents MUST pick them up (or their chauffer) Some say it is heavily controlled, others say it isn’t. So, the kids get their “cedula” or national identify card when they turn 18 which means they can stay out after 9 AND drink. Our lawyer told Wayne a story of a girl who had to wait a few weeks after her 18th birthday before they issued her card (typical system here) and she was about to lose her mind. That card means way too much freedom for some of these kids.
Speaking of drinking, some of the grocery stores are like a stand up bar. While samples of food, etc. are given out like in the stores back in the states, samples of alcohol are also plentiful (wine and liquor). Those vendors don’t seem to be without “samplers”. The women shop, while the men stand in line for samples and sometimes block the aisles.
After no rain for several days, the skies let loose on Monday just before leaving for school. Roads were flooded and little cars were off to the side, since they couldn’t make it through the downpour (which was why we were told to get an SUV). It only lasted an hour or so and was over, but oh my. I mentioned it to the secretary at school that I have never seen such a downpour of rain. She just smiled and said “WAIT until November”. OK, guess this one really wasn’t that bad.
Had my first Panamanian “Meet the Teacher” night Tuesday. Not much different than the ones at CHCA. Just that, as I was waiting for the parents to all gather in my room, most of the parents were speaking Spanish. But this school brings most of the teachers from the states, so their children can learn English correctly, so I imagine they realize many of the teachers are not very fluent in Spanish.