Me gusta Panama

Disclaimer: they keyboards here are completely different with extra keys, missing keys and Spanish. I may have some inadvertent typos and weird symbols pop up in my blogs.

I arrived in Panama Wednesday (8-6-08). But the adventure began back at home :) My mom and brother dropped me off at SFO. I stood in line for 20 minutes. Then, after my ride was long gone, I found out I was flying out of Oakland. Oops. I booked the flight two months in advance and had other things on my mind since then (the Bar!). The itinerary was a bit confusing (because it was through a Spanish airline) and I had read SFO, but I fly back into SFO... Luckily the TACA airline staff was ready. The woman at the counter weighed my bag and then ran with me down a few flights of stairs shouting my passport information into her cell phone. She had me completely checked in at Oakland by the time we reached the Taxi stand. $80 later I was greeted at the entrance to the airport and was rushed to the security check. Then I waited for an hour to board the plane.

I was impressed with TACA airlines. They didn´t hassle me about my earphones and they served food that was actually edible and at no extra cost.

My Panamanian aunt, her brother and little my cousin were waiting for me when I got off the plane. It was great. (Thank you Unkle Keith!!!) This is my first international trip alone and it was reassuring to have someone waiting. A much cheaper cab ride later, I found myself at my aunt and unkle´s house (la casa de mi tia y mi tio). It is about 3 times as big as my place in San Francisco... scratch that, my former place (I moved to Modesto over the last weekend). The apartment is on the top floor of a three story building, is breezy and open, has high ceilings, a balcony and two bedrooms. I am staying in my little cousin Salvador's room. I love it.

My aunt´s name is Meivis. I am grateful that she speaks English much much better than I speak Spanish. Meivis is studying at Panama University to become an English teacher. Salvador is 6 years old and completely adorable and hilarious. Chiqueto, Meivis´s brother is 17 and reminds me very much of my brother Jace. My uncle Kieth is currently in Alaska for the working season.

A little about Panama City: It is two hours ahead of California time. The temperature is in the high 80´s and very humid. The city reminds me of Delhi, India in that everywhere you look there are buildings and streets under construction, the building codes if they exist are very lax, there are people everywhere and the cars zip around wildly, somehow without crashing. However, unlike India, there are no cows laying in the middle of the road ;) The streets are narrow and everything is a little grimy. Parking here may be more sparse than San Francisco. For traveling around, there are definately better and worse parts of the city. fortunately Meivis lives in one of the better parts.

For Mo-towners it is a little like being on west side or Yosimite, but with smaller streets and no parking lots. Also, the younger women all dress like they are going clubbing. I look like an REI ad with my Northface sweat wicking shirt, Tevas, and Timbuk2 bag. I could have just brought my hoochie mama shirts, heels, and a fake Coach purse. Although, even in my obvious traveler clothes I still get whistled at on the streets. It feels even more like home because every few minutes a car will pass playing loud rap music. Yesterday, I even heard a car blaring Disturbed. It was like being in the Airport neighborhood!

The prices are better here. Movies = $3, a bag of coffee grounds = 3.50 (compared to $9), taxis are cheap, just a few dollars to most places, 90 minutes on a calling card = $5, and Internet is 55 cents per hour.

Besides the popcorn I had at the movies last night, I have only eaten food that was cooked at home by Meivis. This morning we had fried bananas, yummy! I am drinking the water straight from the tap and no problemo! Meivis made a delicious orange and lemon juice last night. The food is basic with some spice to it, just how I like it. To make up for my lack of cooking skills I have been trying to do the dishes and help out. I would love to make dinner, but without access to a Trader Joe´s I wouldn´t know where to begin!

Since I have arrived, I have explored the neighborhood around where I am staying, went to see Kung Fu Panda in Spanish, and visited the Panama Canal. Meivis had only been to the canal when she was 4 years old. It was amazing. We saw a huge freight boat get tugged along and lowered from different locks into the Pacific Ocean. The canal area also had a four story building with a museum and a theater playing a movie (also in Spanish) about the canal. We explored the museum. They had native insects on display (dead of course). I am hoping to see the glittering blue and purple butterflies and dragonflies with 6 inch wing spans. I am not looking forward to seeing any 4 inch long cockroaches!!! On the subject of critters, I saw a small gecko two nights ago and pointed it out to Salvador. He immediately caught the gecko, which looked just like the Gecko gecko. I suggested we put him outside, Salvador smiled, took off running and launched the little guy off the three story balcony. Next time I will be more specific... Boys!





This morning I went to check into a Spanish language school just a block from the house. The classes are expensive, but I think it would be a good idea to improve my Spanish before I take off on my own in Central America. I am surprised that not very many people here speak English. Also the accent is very different. When people do speak English, it doesn´t sound like "jew no wut I mean eh?" The accent is very pretty.

I am starting to freeze (Internet cafes are all air conditioned), so I will sign off for now.

More adventure to come... Jeeni

PS I have a new boyfriend