International Surfing Competition

This past weekend I accompanied a coworker to check out the World Masters Surfing Competition that is being held in Panama on the beaches of Santa Catalina which is about five hours away from the city. While in the countryside we crashed at the coworker´s family´s house which is in a nearby little town (the primary school for the town has 15 students). Being in such a small town meant that we spent a lot of time on the front porch when not checking out the competition. We saw a heated argument at neighbor´s house for which the police were called and a mini parade (the third annual parade of the local fish market) that consisted of 12 cars following each other honking their horns, one of which had a scantily clad dancer standing on top of it.

Saturday was the flag ceremony for the surfing competition which was held in the town square of a nearby town. Being in Latin America the event started late and was a little confused, during the opening parade the paraders went along the right side, the left side and through the town square to get to the final destination. Also on Saturday evening was a party at the beach sponsored by the surfing organization which was fun.

On Sunday we watched the surfers compete. They competed in 20 minute matches with four surfers partaking in each match. When you think international surfing competition you think big waves but actually the waves were not all that big (not much bigger then the ones I was learning on in CR). But despite that the surfers were able to make mad moves on them (while I in CR could barely stand up), it was impressive. But the competition meant that even though we were on a hot beach we couldn't go into the water to chill off.

At the office work has been still a little slow, but I've working on a report on the country's national internet project. I also had the opportunity to check out some field work in the countryside.

The other day I also a group of people around some domino tables with money changing hands. I'd never seen a competitive dominoes match before.

The First Week - work begins

I began work for the Ministry of the Presidency this week. The office building is located right next to the President's house (Palacio de Garzas). Compared to the United States, the presidential compound is widely accessible … you can walk right by the Palacio de Garzas, the guards will check your bags, but nothing else. The other day I left the presidential compound by walking down an alley and the guard station at the end of the alley was empty!

So far I haven't done too much in the office … the office is in charge of 49 goals of the president (las metas imperdonables) and I've talked to people about what projects I'll be working on but nothing concrete has been decided. On Thursday, I accompanied a coworker who was interviewing school principals. One of the schools was located in downtown but had a couple of roosters walking around outside.

As some of you may know, I frequently save my lunch leftovers and eat them later in the day. I don't think I'm going to be able to continue this habit here. On Wednesday, I went to eat my leftovers after leaving them out for 2 ½ hours and I found a solid stream of ants going from the wall to my styrofoam container. I was shocked, particularly because previously I hadn't seen a single ant in the office.

I was talking to someone about how they conduct the census here. Apparently on the day of the census, nobody is allowed to leave there house until the census takers visit their house (otherwise you can receive a ticket from the police). Once the census takers come visit your house you get a sticker which allows you to leave your residence, of course there isn't anywhere to go because all the businesses are closed since everyone is at home. There is apparently no way to know what time in the day the census takers will come so you can be stuck at home all day.

In other news, I went to the beach again this weekend … this time in the town Santa Carolina. It was nice … good food, good relaxation only got lightly sunburned.

Panama: The Introduction

As I am once again out of the country, it is time for me to start up this blog again.

So far things have been going pretty smoothly. I arrived Thursday and found my hostel without any problems. On Friday, I bought a cellular phone and managed to find a furnished apartment for the the summer. Its not anything spectacular but has all the necessities, kitchen, bed, refrigerator, AIR CONDITIONER, television … It is also in a happening part of the city near where some of my fellow SAIS classmates are (there are 4 of us here in Panama for the Summer).

Saturday, a bunch of us toured the old town part of Panama City (Casco Viejo) and then the ruins of old old Panama City (deserted after a successful pirate attack). Today, we went to the island of Taboga to enjoy the beach. On the island, there was also a decent sized hill which we climbed for a nice view of Panama City (unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me so you are going to have to take my word that the view was nice).

The weather has been about what you'd expect for a tropical country. Relatively hot and humid with frequent rain. I think in the the 3 days I have been here it has rained 8 times. At least the rain lets up relatively shortly and then the sun and clouds come back. While we were touring the ruins, some heavy rain came but luckily there was cover in the ruins of a bell tower of an old church.

Tomorrow, is the first day of my internship. Hopefully, I can talk my way into the building.

I've been thinking I need to come up with a list of things I want t o accomplish while in Panama. My list at the moment is:

• improve my Spanish

• explore the country

• do a good job at my internship

• dance salsa

• determine how much travel abroad I want in my professional life

• go surfing, maybe try windsurfing

• meet people, have fun

More Photos

I finally got around to editing the rest of my Chile pictures and putting them online. Next project is picking the best 100 or so and putting them up on facebook.

http://picasaweb.google.com/paulspicturesfromabroad/Goodbyechile2#

http://picasaweb.google.com/paulspicturesfromabroad/LeavingWeek1#

http://picasaweb.google.com/paulspicturesfromabroad/BuenosAiresandSpringDC#

http://picasaweb.google.com/paulspicturesfromabroad/Travelingwgringos#

More photos and status update

So, I'm doing alright in DC. I've managed to find a place to live in Capitol Hill and I'm attending a Master's program at Johns Hopkins where I'm studying International Economics and Latin American Studies. In general I'm doing good and despite being pretty busy nowadays. But I did manage to find some time to go through my pictures. Posted below are those from Antofagasta in October and November. I still have over 1000 pictures to go through of my travels after I finished teaching.

http://picasaweb.google.com/paulspicturesfromabroad/20091124OctNovphotos#

and

http://picasaweb.google.com/paulspicturesfromabroad/Iquique#

Back in the USA

So, I've been back in the United States for about a week now. Its good to be back. I'm still adjusting though. In some ways it feels like I never left. Home feels like home. Friends are the same as the always been. etc etc. Which I think is a good thing but a little unsettling.

My life feels a little disorganized right now. 60% of my belongings are in boxes in the attic, I'm going to be starting classes at John Hopkins this January but I'm not sure what classes I'm going to be taking or where I'm going to be living. Hopefully, things become a little more organized in the next couple of weeks.

Pictures to be posted shortly ... currently my laptop is being inspected hopefully repaired.

Christmas was good. Managed to replace almost all of my missing/destroyed clothes.

Buenos Aires was enjoyable but I couldn't fully appreciate it because I was ready to return to the United States. One of the most interesting things about the city was the people who spoke Spanish with a slight Italian accent.

Leaving Chile

My last couple of hours in Chile ... its weird leaving this place that has been my home for the last 8 1/2 months.

Torres del Paines was spectacular.

Ran out of cash when my atm card wasn´t working. Had to get parent to Western Union me some money.

Buenos Aires for three days then Home!

Bottom of the world

I´ve made it to Puerto Natales and tomorrow I start hiking (for 4/5 days) Torres del Paine National Park. I´m very excited ... this park is one (of many reasons) why I chose Chile to teach English .. Eversince I read a travel article about this park I´ve wanted to experience it. Many call it the best park in South America for its spectacular views. The cost though is very extreme weather. To save money I´ll be backpacking it, camping outside, and carrying my own food ... something I shamefully haven´t done in ages.

At Puerto Montt the sun didn´t set until 10. I´m curious now that I´m 2 airplane hours farther south what time it will set. Its throwing off my body clock ... yesterday I woke up at like 6 and swore it was much closer to 9.



PS. I´ll be out of reach the next couple of days ...

On the road

Hi everyone,

I´m currently in Valdivia, a picturesque town in Southern Chile that is located at the junction of two rivers. This past week Emily, Jesus and his friend Clemente visited me in Chile. We had loads of fun in Valparaiso and Pucon. I´ll probably write about them visiting later but first I want to write about leaving Antofagasta. (This blog could lose chronological order for a little bit because I have a couple of blog entries written on my laptop that I have not been able to load online due to lack of internet)

I´m going to miss Antofagasta. At times I hated the city, its perpetual cloudiness, its dirtiness, my distance from downtown. But I created a little niche for myself; lucked into a host family who loved me and made me feel part of it, a school with frequently amusing, tiring but basically good students, and friends who I could chat and relax with. Its weird that the things that through eight months had become standard events aren´t going to happen again. Roughing housing with my family, walking to the grocery store to buy bread, going to the disco until dawn and then walking for a mile or so (for reasons I still dont´understand) until you could catch a collectivo, calming overanxious students down with phrases of no importa o no te preocupes, walking to the other side of the street to avoid a barking dog.

My host family has been very cute since I´ve left Antofagasta, calling me throughout my travels to southern Chile. Through the internet, I´m going to be able to stay in touch with them. I´m very grateful to them for all that they´ve done for me and am regretful that I´ll not be able to see them again for a long time (if ever).

Still despite all of this, I am very happy to be going home soon. I look forward to seeing my family, hanging out with friends, and being able to be independent again.

Traveling in Southern Chile

So I´ve officially finished teaching and I am currently traveling in Southern Chile. I´m currently in Pucon and planning on seeing Chiloe, Punta Arenas, and Buenos Aires. I´ll post more when I have time (which maybe when I return to the states on December 20th). Currently though I´m enjoying my travels and look forward to seeing everyone when I get back to the states.