July 26, 2011

Why is it when I have all this free time, I can’t blog. When I am so busy with school that I can’t see straight, I can fit it into a busy schedule? Guess the quote about that if you want something done, give it a busy person.
I think after 13 months I can say I am officially getting frustrated for the first time. Efficiency is nonexistent here in Panama. We are still trying to purchase a place to live and it is certainly anything but easy. There always seems to be a problem. Things that would take a day or two in the states, takes 2 or 3 or MORE weeks here. It is just crazy. I know it is the culture and I am here and this is not my country and I need to just swing with it. But after 13 months, I find some things difficult to take. Some are still just interesting and funny. For instance, last weekend we got a coffee table. The gal that sold it to us put the sales info into the computer. Then it went to another desk for someone to order it up from the storage. Two people got it, cut into the boxes and took EVERY piece out and we had to check it (remember from previous blogs, no returns). Then those two taped the boxes together again and THREE people processed the sale. One after the other signing off on it. I was given several pieces of paper. Took one piece to the guys who cut the box opened. They signed off. Then someone put it into a cart to take it to our car (yes, we could have carried it but hey, that was nice). Getting OUT of the store was another adventure. Took two different people taking different pieces of paper and making marks on either the papers or the box. We finally got out the door. Earlier, we TRIED to purchase a set of pots and pans (we have none at our new place). We found a set we wanted and went to stand in a long line at the register. Got to the cashier and we were told something in Spanish which we did not understand. So, we had to wait for someone who spoke English. Found out we had to return to the housewares department and have the clerk take every piece out of the box to make sure all was there and nothing was broken etc. THEN, we could once again get back into a long line and wait. We decided cooking was way too overrated to go through that again. Cooking could wait a few more days.
Then, today we were trying to quickly get out of PriceMart (Costcos in Latin America). Unfortunately, someone in front of us in line was paying their bill with 100 dollar bills. Oh my, you hate for that to happen. The clerk has to record the serial number of each and every bill on a special form, after she checks them carefully for being real. The clerk signs the form, then the customer has to sign the form as well after recording all their identification information. Then, the cashier has to call a manager over (takes FOREVER). The manager comes, carefully examines all the bills and signs off as well. Then and only then, can the transaction be completed. Guess this keeps everyone honest.
So now I have just a couple days left until the job begins. Needless to say, I am really excited about figuring all this technology out. Should be a blast. Another school start-up!