June 12, 2011

Can’t believe we have been out of the U.S. for almost a year now. Can’t believe my year at my new school is over now. What a year it has been, too. We often reflect on everything that has happened and how we have tried to live in a new culture, with a new language and everything just so different. Friday night, there was a great party the school had for all the teachers leaving. It is so interesting that at CHCA where the 20, 15, 10 year awards are given and there are several of them. Here, there is about a 30 percent turnover each and every year. A 5 year award is something, while a 10 year award is rare. There are only a few at the school who have made Panama their home for life. The young teachers come for a 2 or 3 year adventure and then head off to other places. Some of the teachers have taught in several other international destinations as missionaries. Seldom do you find a teacher who was born, raised and still living in Panama. Of course, at this school you have to have perfect English skills, so someone born and raised here probably wouldn’t have them unless they were raised in the Canal Zone. Many people we have met were born and raised in the Canal Zone, left for college, marriage and career in the states and are now returning.
Another interesting thing is the “talk” at the end of the school year. At CHCA, people are always asking each other if you are going “anyplace” this summer for vacation. Here it is “When are you headed to the states?” People scatter within days of the end of the school year. Many stay away for the 6 weeks we have off before returning. The question is never “Are you going?”, but “When are you going?”. Some missionaries need to go back to raise support, others are young and head off to visit their families. Just an interesting mix.
We are anxious to return to the states for a couple weeks as well and see our families and friends. We “wonder” if we changed? How could we not after an experience like this and taking a step of faith by stepping outside our comfort zone.
I certainly hope the Midwest gets some good weather before returning. A couple of my younger kids at school were just terrified about going to the states this summer. All they have seen on American TV down here has been tornado related and they are just scared to death. Nice that here, there is no worry about tornados or hurricanes. I guess we are too far south for the hurricanes, and obviously no big changes of weather for tornadoes. Earthquakes are still a question. We certainly don’t have the number of them that Costa Rica has, but like in Ohio, they “say” there could be a big one eventually.
Now, we have to figure out how to deal with the humidity when being gone for a while. Folks that leave for six weeks come back to mold. Apparently if you park your car and don’t get in it for 6 weeks, you can find mold on your steering wheel. Two weeks apparently isn’t an issue, but six can be. Stuff (just about anything) grows like crazy here.