it's been a long time...


first off, i want to apologize for the months i have gone without posting a thing. but don't woory, i'm still alive and back to blog for you all. i don't have my camera on me, but i'll hopefully post some pictures soon.

what have i been up to? i've been working in my site and it's been summer, which means that there isn't a huge storm everyday. so you know i'm happy. it's actually gotten really windy and much cooler here for the "summer," something i didn't expect. i even wear a light sweater sometimes. in panama. crazy. i taught english and computer class over the summer, which was fun, but i am not too sad it's over. teaching is draining. the students here are used to the panamanian education system, which requires them to copy info from the board, stay quiet, and keep their ideas to themselves, if they have any. so it was hard to get them to really involve themselves. i also moved into my house, which now feels like home. i've decorated, have pictures of y'all up, have two hammocks (thanks to the best bf ever), and am enjoying cooking my own food. no more white rice. :)

i've also gotten to travel around a bit. february began with a bang. i went to celebrate carnaval in the azuero, the carnaval capital of panama. it was craaaaaaaaaazy. everyone parties in the streets (which are packed) and big water tankers spray people with water. then floats come around with the queens, who dance and wave to the crowds, and each one is followed by a float with a band. the streets are filled with all sorts of people (old, young, city people, campesinos) and everyone yells and dances and has a good time letting all thier sin out before lent begins. basically, the best party ever.

recently, i also traveled to an indigenous site. the people are of the embera tribe and live (more or less) how they have since before the gringos came and took over. they make their money by having tourists come and visit. the women wear just a bright piece of fabric as a skirt and then men use loin cloths. their houses are wood platforms, raised off the ground, with palm thached roofs. some have walls, some don't. the whole things was really surreal. and beautiful. the communities are on the edge of the chagres river in a national park. i will definitely bring everyone who visits to visit. (photos to come. in the meantime, google image search parara puru.)

lastly, last month i hit my 6 month mark of being away from home. i really started to miss everyone and think, "do i really have 21 more months to go?" but, i realized that i live in the tropics, have a wonderful house and community, have awesome friends, and am getting paid to help make a difference in people's lives and really just hang out with and learn from people from another culture. so, life is great. and, my mom and sister are visiting in a month! i couldn't be more excited. oh, and if anyone buys magazines (fashion, celebrity gossip, news, whatever) and can drop off their already read issues at my mom's house before she leaves, i would be forever greatful. FOREVER. i need to stay up to date with which middle age celebrity is having twins next, if barack is going to be our next president, and what trouble lindsay lohan is in now. oh, and if you read any good news articles online, email them to me. whenever i get online i am too rushed too look up news. thanks! i just feel so detached from the states sometimes.

ha'ta luego, pue'.