Really, you gotta love being away from what you think is normal. It really makes life so interesting. But you need to see it as interesting or you would lose your mind. Last night, our electricity went off at 12:00. We do have back-up power supplies for our computers, but they start beeping every second when there is no power. After a half hour of beeping and crazy dreams about everything, you finally realized what it is. So, Wayne had to get up and shut down everything to turn the loud things off. Got up this morning only to find out the electricity came on and went off five more times. But, thankfully I was able to get online and thought all was well. Then, we continued to lose power three more time prior to 10:00 am. So, as long as we laugh when it happens, we are ok.
But. of course, all of this was ON TOP of the school losing their internet connection at noon yesterday, right when I was starting a class that was set up to use the internet. The school has a lot of back up lesson plans. I know this happened way too often last year (almost daily). So, even though it was the first time in three weeks, I was still annoyed. Found out it was almost the entire community. Never did come back on before the end of school. But, when we were out walking about 6:00 pm, we passed by a manhole with a bunch of men around it and looking into it. Two guys were down inside working with wires. Hopefully, they were able to fix it. Oh, well
THEN, the most incredible thing happened this week. Our deed for our condo (which was supposed to have been done around June 1) is still hanging around on some bureaucrat’s desk to be registered. We found out that ALL DEEDS in Panama have a hold on them. The crazy government decided a NEW WORD needed to be put in all deeds and they can’t decide where to put it or how to get it done. So, EVERYTHING has STOPPED. The WORLD has stopped because of ONE single word. Yikes, but like I said, you better laugh!!!
So, my new school has all tile floors. That is customary here, because of the mold and humidity problems you have in Panama. Needless to say, the tile gets dirty with 200 kids walking on it all the time. The janitors are always mopping. One came into my room yesterday and I did say in Spanish (successfully, I thought) that my room is not dirty. She proceeded to mop anyway. Then, just a few minutes later, another lady came in with her mop, looked at my floor and started mopping. Really, I have no comment about that story. Make your own conclusions.
Wayne and I took my headmaster (my day off – remember I am only working four days per week this year!!) to the slums to show him around and tour the facility our church sponsors there in hopes of establishing an opportunity for our students to serve. Karen Hordinski from CHCA really instilled me that “service mind set” and I wanted to bring it to a new country. I am trying to bring many of her ideas here. I love her passion of “selfless” service. Anyway, this country needs that mindset. The “classist” mentality here just doesn’t see service to your fellow man as important.
We have widgets on our computers for the temperatures in the states. We know the temps for Cincinnati and Panama. Can’t believe you are experiencing such “low” temperatures. Granted, perhaps those numbers might kill mold, but we are outside walking in T-shirts and sleeveless tops and being able to swim in the pool anytime day or night. I will fight the mold for good walking weather any day.
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