June 24, 2009-- Dance Monkey Dance…and if not at least sing for us.

Oh hey! I am alive and well. Still in Panama working for this government organization, Peace Corps. Yes, I am tall. Yes, I am white. Yes, I have blond hair and blue eyes. And yes, I do know how to speak Spanish.
I had my site visit this past week. It went well, I enjoy the people in my community and think I have the potential to do very well there. Lots of staring and talking about me instead of to me…until the conversationalists realized I knew Spanish. There were a plethora of awkward, ‘oh snap, she understands what we are saying’ moments shortly after this realization. Pretty hilarious in retrospect to tell the truth.
I am living on the boarder of Costa Rica in a community of about 500 people. The community is spread out along the beach and up a rather steep hill. Of course all three families that offered to host me my first three months live up the hill. Haha. I saw the house I will be living in on my own – cutest little house ever, on the beach!!! Very beautiful, super relaxing and on the edge of the community so it is much quieter than the rest of the community…
There are definitely going to be challenges but I am confident that I am the perfect person for this site. All in all my spirits are high and I am ready to start the next two years of service. Good thing too because our swear-in ceremony got pushed up 4 days. I suppose I was never meant to have a legitimate Peace Corps swear-in. One cool thing because of the changes – we get the Panamanian Vice President attending!
During my week at site I got to meet some interesting people in my community, to say the least. Everyone is outgoing and pretty freakin’ funny. Great personalities and a great view, what else can a girl ask for?! The teachers at the primary school made me sing the Star Spangled Banner for them, yeah, that’s right. They wanted me to dance initially and I diplomatically refrained from doing so. The singing could not be avoided seeing as I clearly know the Star Spangled Banner. It was hilarious for all of us.
I played Lo Sabes Todo with my host family for nearly 7 hours one day. It is the Panamanian version of Trivial Pursuit. (Yes, that is correct Colin Hunt, I played it and somehow managed NOT to freak out. Kari I expect you to share this with Colin, as I doubt highly that he will ever read this.) It was so much fun and an awesome help with new Spanish vocabulary. My training director is awesome and gave us an extra day off before having to be in our site in July. This means that I have my birthday free which I will be celebrating on the beach! I will be returning to my site on July 4th and was told that they are throwing me a welcome party on the 6th.
We are now back in Panama City getting ready for Swear In, to become Volunteers! A very exciting time, especially considering we have nice places to stay in with screens on the windows and internet!!! Panama is treating me well over all.