I'm not dead.

Happy Fourth to everyone!

If you’re feeling sorry for me for having to miss out on all of the fireworks and hot dogs, don’t get too emotional just yet.  The Panamanians just finished celebrating Corpus Christi last night, and I got to sit in the plaza square with my host mom for a few hours watching fireworks, eating chorizo on a stick (aka – a spiral cut hot dog) and listening to the música típica of Panama.

Fireworks: Good – but a little excessive, starting in the afternoon and going until 5 or 6 in the morning…for pretty much two straight weeks.

Música típica: BAD. VERY VERY BAD. I think I’ve realized by now that it’s obvious I don’t have Panamanian blood in me because I cannot stand the traditional music of this country. It’s a nightmarish combination of shrill accordion and this weird wailing sound Panamanian women can make. I can’t describe it. You’ll just have to find out for yourselves: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yqz0ANWZuY8&feature=view_all&list=PL0F7343FF1F83B5B8&index=13 …scroll to about 1:50 to get a small taste of the yelping and tell me it doesn’t sound like that woman is in pain.

The ONLY song of música típica I’ve come to tolerate is this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=os-cISyDbzE (the lyrics: “si me quiere que aguante, si no que vaya pa’ lante”….. or loosely in English “if he loves me, he better put up with me. If he won’t, I’ll let him go”….if you listen carefully, you can catch some more wailing in the background)

Seeing as I’ve got my first presentation in psychology class on Wednesday and some other homework to make up (class on Friday was cancelled due to partying so now we have a four and a half hour ethics class this week. Olé. Not.) I’m going to end it here. Expect that IOU coming your way sometime this week.

Invasion of the gringos at the international surfing competition this past week on the beach. Just in time for the 4th!