February 26, 2011

I was sharing Wayne’s “car inspection” story (in a previous blog) with someone at my school. She started laughing. Like Wayne, I guess she might perhaps be one of the few in the country who is trying to be legal with car inspections. Anyway, she took her car in and the garage only had one license plate renewal sticker left. However, it was apparently going to the highest “bidder”. She was told if she didn’t get her car “realigned” then too bad, no deal. She was fighting it, since it was really not necessary for the inspection and the car would be out of alignment by the time she got home after going over a dozen speed bumps and numerous potholes. But, she got her car aligned anyway, but then drove away with her tail light STILL as broken as it was when she went in. You keep your license plate here forever and just replace the stickers. However, some people are still driving with a 2007 sticker.
Guess street demonstrations are a very common way to express opinions in Panama. Right now, there are numerous protests about a huge copper mine they are trying to develop. Indigenous Indians, university students and environmentalists are blocking some of the major roadways, particularly the Inter-American (sometimes called the Pan American) highway which is the main road connecting Panama City with the rest of Panama and with Costa Rica. This major four lane road can be blocked for three to six hours, which makes it really tough for trucks, buses and anyone trying to get to the other side of the country by car.
A local newspaper article (translated) said Panamanian students (in public schools) are fourth from the bottom in the WORLD in reading and science. In math, they are second from the bottom. Doesn’t it appear that their public education system stinks? And with all the money they get from the canal, you would wonder why they don’t improve the schools. Needless to say, that is why there are vast numbers of private schools all over the place. Big, beautiful private schools, but they are expensive. While teacher salaries are horrible (whether public or private), tuition at some of these private schools is even more than what CHCA charges ON TOP of having to pay an $8000 fee JUST to enroll. Thus, the typical Panamanian family simply can’t afford to send their child to a private school. My school allows missionary kids to come and the tuition is quite low compared to other private schools, but they can’t handle any more kids. The waiting list is way too long.
Sitting here Saturday afternoon, watching it rain. Weirdest dry season ever, so people say. Wonder if it has anything to do with the strange weather you are having in the North? But our evenings are amazing. Windy and low temperatures. We sleep with the windows opened and can’t believe it is February.