Pastry Queens and Patron Saints

My view of the classrooms for the last three months.

My “observation period” is finally over and things are about to get real busy real fast. I have to catch you up before things get crazy. Well…crazier.

I struggle with how I want to write this blog. I haven’t been journaling, so this serves as the only record of my experience here. A big part of me just wants to describe the big events that have happened since my last entry. Both so that you can know what’s been going on, and so that I can remember. However, these descriptions barely begin to capture the FEELING of being here. The beauty, joy, smells, tastes, sweatiness, successes, doubts, frustrations, etc. I'll work on giving you something more poetic next time, but for now here's a brief summary of what I've been up to. 

Last week of June/first week in July: Natural Resources Week (and also English Week for the high schoolers). The science department put on a grand celebration of natural resources for two weeks. The students made murals, drawings, and art made out of recycled materials. There was a parade with signs promoting conservation, and they even had a fashion show with recycled dresses.

The winner!

As the international judge, this was my favorite.

"If I knew the world would end tomorrow, I would still plant a tree today"

Squeezed into this hoopla was English Week. Each day we held a different contest and the students participated to win certificates and fabulous(ish) prizes. There was a dictation contest with ecology-themed vocabulary, one where they had to describe their science week murals, and one where they had to describe their recycled dresses. It was a bit rushed and not super fun, but at least it happened. The elementary school teachers have been pushing English Week back for a month now, so we’ll see how that goes. It's hard because they keep getting interrupted by seminars and meetings with barely any notice and then we have to reschedule.

July 4^th: My friend Genevieve (a sustainable agriculture PCV from another town in my province) came to visit me for the weekend and we marathoned the entire third season of Orange is the New Black. I’m not proud of it, but I’m taking advantage of the free wifi at my host family’s house while I can. On July 4^th, Kelly joined us and we had a patriotic barbecue!

Kelly/Dad whipping up some delicious burgers!

Panamanian beer, American spirits.

Second week of July: Friday I presented myself to the Padres de Familia (the PTA) and then rushed to Santiago to see my host sister sing in the Manuel F. Zarate Folkloric Song competition. A bunch of schools from all over the province came with religious hymns, cumbias, tamboritos, gritos, and salomares. (look up Saloma Panamena, I dare you. Experience the majesty of Panama’s traditional yodel)

Third week of July: In order to raise funds for special events like Student’s Day, my school had a "Debutante Festival" aka a beauty pageant. People paid the entrance fee and we sold food outside. The local folkloric dance group danced, the contestants showed off their beautiful dresses, the math teacher played a piano cover of a Prince Royce song…and my host sister and I sang Titanium by David Guetta. What a blur...

"I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose. Fire awaaay fire awaaay."

The next night was the crowning of San Francisco’s pastry queen. Well, not really her crowning yet- she just got the sash for now. There’s a Pastry Festival in January in San Francisco, but the queen for next year needs to start raising money for her fabulous outfits and float already in July. Apparently. Anyway, half the town came out for this event and a local news station even covered it! A TON of folkloric dance groups and singers performed and there were so many adorable little girls dressed up in polleras (the traditional dress with the giant skirt) and tembleques (plastic flowers in their hair). The new pastry queen wore a pant-suit version of a traditional pollera, which I thought was edgy and cool.

That was a folkloric dance at the pastry queen's party! I had a moment while watching this performance when I thought "I can't believe I'm here right now. I can't believe this is just a part of my regular life." At the beginning of my time in Panama I used to have those moments all the time, but now they're farther and fewer between. I've gotten used to a lot of things that would seem weird to a new visitor to Panama, but there are still times when I find myself on the outside looking in, thinking "What a strange and wonderful turn my life has taken..."

Existential epiphany aside, the next day I finally met the local priest. I'd been going to mass on Sundays since it's the most popular, and really the point of me going was to be seen as a trustworthy church-goin' gal by the most people possible. Unfortunately, the guy who preaches on Sundays comes from some other community. It took me until the weekend before my Community Analysis was due to realize this, find, and introduce myself to the real local priest who leads the less popular weekday services. 

Turns out Padre Marco is the biggest mover and shaker in town. Forget the mayor, the priest is the guy who makes stuff happen. Within an hour of meeting him, he appointed me a co-leader of a local Scouts troop and set up a time and place for me to give a community English class for adults who are finishing their high school degree. Whaaaa-?! Like my dad said, he's got "higher"connections.

Not pictured: their adorable neckerchiefs.

So yeah! The Scouts troop is such a gift for me here. It's a co-ed group of 30 kids ages 6-16 (so far as I can guess) with a few leaders, including the priest, the president of the PTA, and her husband. They just started meeting, so I'm excited to work with the other leaders to make this group a real opportunity for youth development. The first day we hiked over the river, through the woods, and up the Cerro. The next week I taught them a bunch of games and then we played volleyball. Hopefully we'll be able to go camping, explore more of the province, and do some cool teambuild-y leadership-y activities. Yay Scouts!!!

The rest of that weekend I had to write my Community Needs Analysis report. Basically it was about everything I learned about the community and the school, all the goals/needs I identified with my counterparts, and the action plans we’re going to implement to reach those goals. On August 14th I'll give a big presentation about this for my principal, the mayor, the priest, all my teachers, and my Peace Corps project supervisor. In Spanish. No big deal...*sweats nervously*

Last two weekends in July: Patronales! Santiago's patron saint festival. Kelly and I accidentally attended the opening parade last weekend and it was yet another "I can't believe I'm here" moment. There were floats with beautiful mujeres empolleradas pulled by oxen and followed by groups of musicians and dancers. Some floats threw goodies at us! It's what I imagine Mardi Gras must be like, but with way more accordion music and straw hats. This coming weekend is apparently the crazier, party-in-the-street half of the festival, so...I'll report back with findings. 

Next week: I start two English clubs for my students, start the community English class for adults finishing high school, continue working with my teachers, help prepare the Scouts for San Francisco's upcoming patron saint festival (which is surprisingly NOT Saint Francis), prepare for my Community Needs presentation, continue searching for used furniture and appliances for my future house...and try to have as many "I can't believe I'm here" moments as possible.

Til next time, folks! Chao!