December 31, 2010

Went out to run errands the Monday after Christmas. Wow, talk about the difference between night and day with traffic. We were told from November 1 until after Christmas to not go out in the car and how right it was! Today we could go, we could actually find a parking spot at the mall!
While I am off for three more weeks I am trying to get things done. We did go to the dentist. Granted, a no brainer at home, but down here after getting our teeth cleaned, we really thought we had accomplished something. Finding a dentist, figuring out how to get an appointment, dealing with the language difficulty, finding the place, and having our teeth cleaned in a foreign country is, well, different. We were pleased though. Then, we took Ace in for a haircut and bath. The groomers knew NOT a word of English. Knowing that before, I ran all the possible conversations through the Google translator on my laptop at home prior to going and printed everything out. Good news, we got our dog back clean and groomed. THAT was an accomplishment!
My neighbor just mentioned to me today that we should expect a few days of rain this weekend. This IS the Dry Season. Never in Panama (to her knowledge) has it ever rained this late in the year. She said that no one ever discusses weather here, because it is either the wet season and you get rain every afternoon, or it is the dry season. This year is rather unique I guess. She mentioned that at work everyone is discussing weather now and watching weather forecasts!
Christmas is over and there are no long lines at the stores for “returns”. Returns don’t happen here. If you buy it, it is yours. Bet that keeps the cost down from people returning so much. Perhaps the US should take some of that advice. You make sure you want it before purchasing it.
Check the pictures of the kudamudi. They were in our yard the other day. Typically they run in packs with their tail stuck straight up. Funny to look at! Haven’t seen them too often but always a treat when we do.

December 26, 2010

We just celebrated our first Christmas as residents of Panama. Interesting. Most customs such as the decorations at the mall were similar to America. But the people here celebrate by church on Christmas Eve, then the opening of gifts, THEN FIREWORKS!!! And lots of them. Generally they begin at midnight (as custom), but our neighborhood started early. I only know because they woke me up. We had to sleep with the a/c on that night just to drown out the noise. On Christmas day, we headed to the beach with a cooler packed with “Christmas dinner”. Granted, I will do anything to avoid cooking and going to the beach seemed like such a great way to do it. Apparently, many people here thought the same thing, because the beach, which was empty on Wednesday, was really crowded. But, that is MY idea of a white Christmas. The white sand was too beautiful and the water inviting.
I attached a picture of the ice skating rink in one of the malls. And it was REAL ice, not the plastic stuff. Bet that is a real treat for people down here.
Also have some picture of one of the local parks in the area. We felt so lonely today after our kids and grandchild left, so we headed out to explore some new places. We were the ONLY gringos in the park today. Seems to be the pattern here, that we may very well be the only gringos most places we go. Humm??? And IF they are talking about us, we would never know. Six months and still don’t understand a thing people say other than hello and Good Morning.

December 24, 2010

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR FRIENDS!!! We have a WHITE Christmas this year!!!! But it is beautiful white sand!!!

Pictures

December 23, 2010

It was one of those days that people in California can have, but not in Ohio. We were on a mountain top overlook, wishing for a jacket, then we were on the hot sandy beach only 30 minutes later. So easily is it forgotten how beautiful Panama can be once you leave the city and traffic. What an amazing view though. In the background, you can see the beach we were headed to. One of my friends led us to a beautiful remote unspoiled beach that the developers haven’t gotten a hold of yet. We had a fabulous day playing in the ocean and sand. However, the last half mile approach to the beach I could have walked three times as fast as it took us to drive. The recent massive rains have created roads that are practically impassible with potholes. Wonder if those roads are on anyone’s agenda to be repaired anytime soon?

December 21, 2010

My daughter in law and granddaughter are here enjoying history in Panama. We were told that Panama can lose its electricity, internet and trash collection, but there is never a water problem because of the Panama Canal. Yet, last night we lost our water and to boot we had family visiting. This remarkably occurred during historical rainfalls and flooding. Granted, other parts of the city were without water, but never this area. All areas around the school had no water, yet the school did. So we did have school and all of us (teachers and students) were there dirty with greasy hair. Another adventure! Never in the past twenty years has that happened. Wayne took the girls to the “other side” of town that had water to go shopping. Thankfully, all was fine when we got back home.
Our boys got here on Friday. Now we are doing the touring thing. Posted some pictures of my granddaughter harassing the pigeons in an historical area of Panama and on the beach, which is just about 20 minutes away. Lorelai enjoyed the sand while the boys enjoyed the beer.
When Wayne and I arrived, we had no gas and lost our electricity that first week. Now, the girls arrive and we lose our water. We wondered what would happen when then boys got here. It was the horrible traffic. One of the only two bridges crossing the canal is closed due to the recent flooding. So, the usually bad traffic in Panama City just got worse. Always an adventure down here!!

Merry Christmas Blog

Merry Christmas to EVERYONE
Being that the ability to send cards this year is totally impossible, we are putting our Christmas wishes on the blog. And we aren’t really writing that “what we have done this year note” since the blog has more than enough updates than probably anyone cares to know. But, WHAT an experience this has been. Who would have ever thought that the decision to come to Panama would result in such an incredible adventure? We, so far, have enjoyed ourselves beyond imagination. Our one regret is that we miss our family and friends. Yet, thankfully we have the computer and the phone to keep in touch. Interestingly enough, we do NOT miss any of our “stuff” we had in Cincinnati.
But OUR Twelve day of Christmas from Panama:
On the twelfth day of Christmas my true Lord gave to me:
12 traffic jams within a mile
11 government bureaucrats not solving a problem
10 (10,000) new animals, birds, flowers to enjoy (plus as many new friends)
9 new experiences (every week)
8 new places to visit and enjoy (every week)
7 days of heavy downpours (in 4 days)
6 new Spanish words to commit to memory (unfortunately, not every day though)
5 taxis running a red light
4 ships in the canal
3 fried chicken dinners in one day
3 monkeys and sloths in the tree outside our back patio to watch (yes, this is three again, because there are not enough days in the song)
2 people trusting God enough to take a big risk
1 babe in Bethlehem
Our family wishes you and your family the best Christmas and may God richly bless your lives in the upcoming year.
Merry Christmas and Many Blessings,
Wayne, Janet, and Ace

December 12, 2010

One of the biggest holidays in Panama was Wednesday, Mother’s Day. They celebrate Mother’s Day on the 8th of December as a national holiday and the country closes down. Thus, a day off from school. Would have been really great except it started raining Tuesday about 10:00 pm and rained all night, and all day Wednesday (did someone tell me the dry season started??). Sometimes it poured, sometimes it was heavy, sometimes the skies opened up. Amazing!! Absolutely amazing! Still warm. At one point, I just had to go out and walk even though it was raining. Kinda nice really if you don’t mind getting soaked. But, we figured it was “just” the tropics, except that we found out the Panama Canal was closed due to flooding and it was the first time it has been closed in 20 years. Guess it really WAS a lot of rain. So all schools throughout the country were closed for Thursday as well. Tough for high school kids as final exams begin next Tuesday. Really, like any of the kids cared?
We were warned. We were warned that if you wanted normal sliced bread during the holiday season you couldn’t get it during Christmas. I guess all the bakeries stop production and only make this wreath bread (a sweet bread) for the holidays. So we went to a store today (the 8th) to get some and put it in the freezer for our company. I figured the 8th was probably way too early and I hate to freeze bread. But the shelves in the major grocery store we went to were completely void of normal bread. There were piles of this Christmas wreath bread in 2 pound, 5 pound, 10 pound packages! But doubt that ham and cheese would be all that tasty on it. So hopefully PriceSmart (Costco) has some this weekend. Who would have thought on the 8th! Oh well, can’t say I wasn’t warned.
We haven’t had our air conditioner on now for the past week. Even my neighbor said it was the coldest here that she ever remembers and she was born and raised here. Really, very pleasant. All the windows opened, still in shorts, but sometimes I need to put on a T-shirt with sleeves (rather than sleeveless). Can’t imagine where you would go to get warmer. We are at sea level and practically on the equator.
Our school had a “civil day” Friday. Since uniforms are required by the government for EVERY school kid in every school, each school is allocated a few “civil days” during the year where they can wear something other than uniforms. So our kids got to wear red and green.
Another interesting school fact. The government will not allow a student to receive a zero on an assignment if he / she turns it in. So a five page essay with nothing on it but an incomplete sentence has to be awarded a grade of a 40 or 50 percent (whatever the school determines). Kids certainly have THAT figured out, but it is government policy.

December 5, 2010

Hummm, maybe the dry season has come? It “should” end sometime in December or so we have heard. But last week, it started raining on Tuesday and just didn’t stop. The rain reminded me of those tropical sound machines you can get. Just a beautiful steady rain. But four days was a bit much. Then it stopped Friday evening all of a sudden, humidity left, winds started blowing steadily and it was drop dead beautiful outside on Saturday. People have told me that was the “sign”. They have also said that after a couple months of the dry season, you really pray for rain, yet it doesn’t come again until May.
We went to a Christmas tree decorating party Friday night. It was the first time I have ever done that in shorts and sandals. I must admit, it was great. Then to wake up and see the “gadget” on my computer saying the weather was cold and snowy in Cincinnati, it had to make me smile.
After church today, we went exploring trying to find places to take the kids when they come in a couple of weeks. We took a few hikes through the jungle. The jungle never ceases to amaze me. The beauty of it is overwhelming. Did spot one monkey, although it was a small one. I was anxious to come because I would live so close to the beach. Now, the jungle is what I find so fascinating.