"Haz bien y no mires a quien..."

You’ll find one of my new favorite quotes above given to me by none other than Ana María (supposedly a Panamanian expression).  Loosely: “Do good and don’t pay attention to who you’re helping.”

Another tranquil night here in La Via (I learned that’s the area I officially live in: between Las Tablas where Ana María lives and Chitré...but all three are in the province of Los Santos. Phew). I’m sitting here on the back porch swatting bugs away and watching another big baseball game with Vanessa, Jose and Cécil (another muchacho who is also renting a room from Vanessa while he goes to school at a university nearby).  To give you an idea of how close the houses are here: (and how everyone here is related to everyone) when Vanessa’s niece suddenly appeared on TV at the game, she let out a high pitched yelp, leaned forward in her seat toward the house next door and shouted to her sister who lives there: “Ayyyyy!! I just saw Carmencita on TV!!!”

She gets really into the game too, yelling at the bad plays, celebrating with the good, and crossing her legs, fingers, and arms for “buena suerte”  (which reminds me a little of my own dear mother who shares the love of screaming at the referees and players during KU basketball games).

Yesterday at breakfast Jose asked me if I eat at McDonald’s and KFC everyday.  I tried my best to stifle my laughter at one of the horrible misconceptions people have here of the States.

Today turned out to be a busier day than expected, (and I’m expecting these blog entries to become more and more spaced out as classes get started mañana so don´t panic) and I spent most of it running errands with Ana María and another girl who works at the same hotel, Dinah.  Dinah is actually German and came here when she was 16 with an exchange program…without knowing a single word.  I was impressed.  I can tell she’s a little more gutsy than me – we visited a hospital today (Ana María is trying to help me find a place where I can work a little under a nurse while I’m here) and recognized a man who passed by us because he gave her a ride a few days ago when she was hitchhiking. 

I also went into USMA for the first time: one building, less than 15 rooms, and a library that would make even the worst librarian cry…but I think I like it already. 

Random thing I’ve noticed here: everyone seems to have a Blackberry.

The street where all the magic happened

By far the craziest thing that’s happened to me so far while here was this afternoon while walking through one of the streets close by USMA.  Vanessa was showing me a gym on the street (take that term lightly…I’ll explain more later after I officially experience it tomorrow) and the minute we walked in, a bulky bodybuilder comes up to greet us, first saying hi to Vanessa and then turning to me and speaking in English: “You know Mr. John Stanley?” I was in shock. A little background: my aunt has friends that hosted a Panamanian (Pedro) while he studied for four months at KU.  Those friends also have a house in Panama and have visited several times. They told Pedro that I was coming (he also lives in Los Santos) but I kind of had my doubts I would ever run into him. Well, as you probably all already guessed, the muscleman talking to me in English was the very same Pedro.  We talked a little bit about his love for Kansas (and I quote: “I have been to almost all the states and by far Kansas is my favorite…”) and he showed me half a dozen pictures on his Blackberry of the Royals and their stadium. (I didn’t tell him that the Royals no me importan para nada = don’t matter to me at all) But he apparently works there as a trainer (also in the States too) and said he would introduce me to the different places Panama has to offer if I helped him with his English.  Deal. The only words that could describe the unbelievable coincidence that had just occurred were Vanessa’s: “Qué mundo más chiquitito…” or as we know it better: “what a small world…”

Hannah the rat dog has taken a special liking to me. Jose told me it’s because we’re both “gringas” and have light eyes.  She’s also named after Hannah Montana. Did I tell you that? Pobrecita…

My last closing notes for the night:

1) Vanessa secretly cracks me up.  I don’t think she means to be a gossip queen, but she isn’t shy about telling you anyone’s business. Tidbits of our conversation while walking down the street today: “Ay Dios mío, Jose got caught holding a beer last weekend…Jose had surgery on his testicles so he can’t run much…ooooh, that man right there is gay. Is that what you say in the US too?”

2) I’ve noticed that the polite Panamanian thing is to greet people you walk by in public buildings or restaurants with a simple “buenas!” even if you don’t know the person.  Just goes to show how friendly everyone here is.

3) Jose just asked me what the word “dooo-des” meant.  I had no idea what exactly he was trying to pronounce so I had him write it: dudes.  That one was fun to explain.