What
a day!! Lots of things happened today. I should be catching up on
past events but it was such a good day I want to write about it right
now. So, things are out of order? This is Panama. Things aren't
always in order (by our USA standards) and that is OK.
It's
Tuesday, 10/16/12 or as they do it here in Panama, 16/10/12. Today
was the day of the market in Boquette so I decided to tag along with
my friends. It turned out to be an excellent day!
First, I met the guy who manages my house. We did the
contract and necessary business, and now I have keys to the house!
I'm looking forward to arranging the necessities and getting settled
in. Property management here is more than good. He translated the
contract line by line to be sure it was all clear. He does all the
communicating with the owners, and stops by the house every month to
pick up the rent. He even offered to take me to where one can buy
good fresh fish! He also gave me all sorts of advice on setting up
utilities and necessities. I'm glad I got connected with this good man.
(the picturesque Boquette area)
The
market in Boquette was also very interesting and I met and talked
with a lot of people. Oh dear, can I even remember everyone I met? I
connected with Chris the fish guy, Juan Linares, the Argentian chef
with the delicious quiche, Lyn with the heavenly soap. Eric
(www.rambalajunglelodge.com)
about life in Panama, and an invitation to enjoy it at his resort.
There was a lady with quilts, people with food. I can't even
remember how many people I talked with... the young people with the
hand made jewelry, the man with home made bread, produce people....
I
was also very excited to talk with two mola sellers at the market.
Molas are a very interesting native Panamanian craft. I have seen
them on line, read about them, but hadn't seen them in person.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mola_(art_form)
One guy has molas made
by his mother and sister. He told me it takes at least a week to make
just one of them. The other has molas made by his mother, and a
variety of other similar items. I bought hot pads/gloves for the
kitchen but I doubt I will be able to actually use them. They are far
too beautiful. But, I know the man now so I suppose if I mess them up
I can get some more from him. I also plan to get some authentic molas after I get more settled.
I
was also happy to meet Elizabeth Whorley. I've read her book,
http://comingoutincoffeeland.com/
and I've also read about her coffee farm (I bought a pound) and her
quest to learn about natural healing and traditional remedies, which
is becoming another successful business because of her excellent
results.
Most
of all though, in Boquette, I was so happy to meet my teacher! We
have met on line almost daily for months, and she has worked and
worked and worked with me, trying to get Spanish into my thick head. I am hardly
fluent but finally I can get by and understand some of what is said
to me. We have also become good friends so it was a great pleasure to
finally meet in person without headsets and webcams. This, more than
anything, made my day! I met her through Habla Ya. Check out this school for lessons as well as all kinds of field trips and activities. I am looking forward to getting more involved now that I am in the area. http://www.hablayapanama.com/
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My
friends were finished with the market before my teacher was free, so they left me to visit
the school and make my own way back home using the buses. This also
turned out to be a much better experience than I expected.
My
teacher directed me to the bus stop for the first leg of the journey
and I boarded the old US school bus that serves as one of the buses on
this route. We all know school buses aren't the height of comfort but
it wasn't bad, just a bit bumpy. It wasn't totally the bus's
fault though since the road is under construction. The bus became
more and more crowded as it stopped for more people, but all was very orderly. Many young people boarded in front of a school but there was
no rowdy behavior. All the youngsters and teenagers were very quiet,
just taking whatever seats were available and riding silently as the
bus proceeded on. In the US things probably would have been a bit
different, and much noisier.
The
bus's final stop is at the bus depot in town. You pay as you
get off the bus. There is a driver, and an assistant who collects the
money and does whatever else is needed to assist the passengers.
I
had a bit of trouble finding the bus to San Pablo Viejo where my
friends live. There are a number of buses that come through that
neighborhood, and a whole lot of buses at the depot! I found the ones
that go from city to city, was directed elsewhere and went too far so
I was in the section for the buses to Panama City. I was directed
back and found the smaller white buses that are the local buses. I asked a
man for help and he called another man who took me to a correct bus
and handed me off to the helper on that bus.
Again,
I was very impressed. The bus filled up until there was standing room
only. The helper jumped out at every stop, took bags out of hands,
helped people into the bus, stowed the bags and packages at the front
if people didn't have room at their seats. He helped people over
puddles (very rainy day here and everything is wet), helped people up
and down the steps, took the money (again, you pay as you get off),
and alerted the driver when passengers wanted to get off the bus. If
someone in the back needed to get off, everyone standing up got off
the bus, let the passenger out, and then got back on the bus without
the slightest hint of bother. Someone had baby chicks. I could hear
them peeping through the whole ride. People had children. There were
a number of school kids. Everyone was quiet and polite. If a woman
got on and there were no seats, the nearest man immediately got out
of his seat and gave it to her. I am very impressed with the bus
service here and the people who use it.
Why
did I buy a car??! There will be times when I'm glad to have a car,
but I expect to be riding the bus frequently also. Why drive when you
can relax, read, nap, or whatever you wish while someone else drives.
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That
is my adventures for today. Tomorrow I pick up my car. Then I need to
set up internet and other services at the house. After that it's time
for some serious shopping for necessities so I can start staying at
the house!
It
will be interesting to see what tomorrow holds.
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