Esta fin de semana fuimos a un pueblo se llama "El Valle de Antón," un valle hecho por una caldera enorma millónes de años pasados. Viernes, visitamos un Zoo se llama "El Nespín." Era poquito mejor que Summit, si sólo porque su tapir era disponible por fotos (digo, podría verlo y sacar fotos). También, tenía un ave se llama "faisón dorado," un pájaro muy bonito. Después del Zoo fuimos a los Pozos Termales, donde nos relajamos en los aguas saludables. En la noche fuimos para mirar el partido con Honduras en la televisión, y jugamos fútbol en los calles.
Sábado, escalamos una montaña se llama "La India Dormida," porque su perfil parece como una mujer durmiendo. Según leyenda, ella espera su amor, quién nunca regresó para ella (por la guerra? porque no le enamoró a ella? no sabemos porque). Rafael, Miguel, y yo caminemos más adelante que las otras, y regresamos mas rápidamente que ellas. Regresamos a la cuidad esa tarde, y en la noche miramos una película.
Hoy, Rafa y yo fuimos a Palmar para surfear. No había muchas olas, pero sentí muy tranquilo estar en el agua. Ahora, estoy muy cansado pero contento. ¡Listo por una semana nueva!
~~~
This weekend we went to a town called "El Valle de Antón," in the Valley of Antón, an ancient caldera (collapsed volcano). Friday, we went to "El Nespín," a locally-owned zoo. It was a little bit better than Summit, the zoo in Panama City, if only because its tapir was actually available for photos. They also had a bird called a "golden pheasant," which was absolutely wonderful in its bright colors. After the zoo we went to the hot springs (Pozos Termales), where we relaxed in the healing(?) waters of the pools. That night we watched the futbol game with Honduras, and played futbol ourselves in the streets.
Saturday we climbed the ridgeline of the valley, at a point called "La India Dormida," the sleeping Indian, so called because the ridge profile looks like a woman sleeping. According to legend, she waits for her love to return, who never returned (because of war? or because he didn't love her? we don't know why). Raphael, Michael, and I traveled farther over the ridge than the others in our party, going all the way over and returning through a different path than they did. We returned to Panama City later that night, and I watched "The Wizard of Oz" with some of my friends. I forgot how much I liked that movie. Special attachments, especially after we performed it (more or less) in high school with PA.
Finally, today Raphael and I went to Palmar to surf. There weren't a lot of waves, but it was relaxing to be on the water. I've missed being able to go out. As usual, this is the part where I say "I should go surfing more when I get home," which is true, but we shall see if i take myself up on that offer.
Nevertheless, it was a wonderful weekend, the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation, of large group time and small group time. Now I am tired but content, and ready for a new week of adventure!
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Saturday, October 6, 2012
cerro ancón and Pipeline Road
¡Hola, todos!
This weekend has definitely been a change of pace. Friday morning I went birdwatching at the famous "Pipeline Road" with two new Panamanian friends, Susana and Pedro. It was so much fun getting out into the forest with people who really love it (she's an eco-tourguide and he's a first-year bio student birding extraordinaire). They were able to point out plants and birds and identify them, so I ended up learning way more than I could have otherwise. It was a blast. It also gave me a chance to reflect a little more on what interests me, and I realized being a volunteer naturalist or science educator would be something fun for me, even if just short term.
Today, four of us ISA students climbed Cerro Ancón, or "Ancon Hill." We got only slightly lost along the way, discovering a picnic area that we were informed is not currently open to the public. At the top, we found beautiful scenery, awesome views of the entire city. Definitely a sight to behold; pictures forthcoming when I steal them from my friends.
On our descent, we stumbled across a strange, mostly empty village. There were brightly colored buildings and a large empty parking lot--it felt like we'd discovered the ghost of some old theme park. But people were around, so we went and asked someone where we were. She explained we were in the "Villa Afroantilla" or something like that, a tourist stop commemorating the cultural groups brought together to forge the Panamanian identity: for this group, this included people of African descent, indigenous people of the peninsula, and the people of the interior/mestizos. Our guide then showed us around the village, telling us about the people of Bocas del Toro and the stories of the indigenous peoples throughout Panama. It was a fun little surprise, discovering the little village. I even got to have a little hojaldre before we left, a yummy central american bread that I think we ate in Belize, too, under a different name.
From there, we took a short cab ride to the Fish Market, to at last try the obligatory ceviche. It was good, as expected, and now I can check that piece off my list and get back to my normal veggie-and-grain diet.
And now there's one more adventure before the weekend ends: birdwatching early in the morning with Panama Audubon. It should be fun, though definitely a different feel than yesterday. Enjoying my attempts to engage with Panama in ways that are meaningful to me. And hopefully to make plenty of new friends along the way! ^_^
This weekend has definitely been a change of pace. Friday morning I went birdwatching at the famous "Pipeline Road" with two new Panamanian friends, Susana and Pedro. It was so much fun getting out into the forest with people who really love it (she's an eco-tourguide and he's a first-year bio student birding extraordinaire). They were able to point out plants and birds and identify them, so I ended up learning way more than I could have otherwise. It was a blast. It also gave me a chance to reflect a little more on what interests me, and I realized being a volunteer naturalist or science educator would be something fun for me, even if just short term.
Today, four of us ISA students climbed Cerro Ancón, or "Ancon Hill." We got only slightly lost along the way, discovering a picnic area that we were informed is not currently open to the public. At the top, we found beautiful scenery, awesome views of the entire city. Definitely a sight to behold; pictures forthcoming when I steal them from my friends.
On our descent, we stumbled across a strange, mostly empty village. There were brightly colored buildings and a large empty parking lot--it felt like we'd discovered the ghost of some old theme park. But people were around, so we went and asked someone where we were. She explained we were in the "Villa Afroantilla" or something like that, a tourist stop commemorating the cultural groups brought together to forge the Panamanian identity: for this group, this included people of African descent, indigenous people of the peninsula, and the people of the interior/mestizos. Our guide then showed us around the village, telling us about the people of Bocas del Toro and the stories of the indigenous peoples throughout Panama. It was a fun little surprise, discovering the little village. I even got to have a little hojaldre before we left, a yummy central american bread that I think we ate in Belize, too, under a different name.
From there, we took a short cab ride to the Fish Market, to at last try the obligatory ceviche. It was good, as expected, and now I can check that piece off my list and get back to my normal veggie-and-grain diet.
And now there's one more adventure before the weekend ends: birdwatching early in the morning with Panama Audubon. It should be fun, though definitely a different feel than yesterday. Enjoying my attempts to engage with Panama in ways that are meaningful to me. And hopefully to make plenty of new friends along the way! ^_^
Monday, October 1, 2012
integrating into Panamanian life
I've been moving around a lot over the past several months, so making friends has been a challenge I've had to confront repeatedly. Since coming to Panama, I've mostly been hanging out with the other ISA students--US students studying abroad in Panama for the semester. This is great, but I really want to reach outside this circle and make friends with other people too. The other ISA students like to go out to bars to hang out and meet people. I enjoy going out with them, but it definitely feels weird at times since I don't drink. As time went on I was starting to feel isolated. I began thinking-- even if I did manage to make new friends at a bar, they were going to be people who wanted to hang out at a bar (duh). So if, as I contend, that's not really my scene, why was I making it my primary social activity? The answer is of course "because that's what the others were doing." When I stopped and thought about it, I realized the obvious: if I want to make friends, I should start doing things I actually like doing.
With this simple change in perspective, I have begun to take note of what things I like, so I can make it a point to do them. For example, a few weeks ago, several of the other ISA students and I went wandering through the city, and found a number of street food carts. I started a language exchange with someone who lives in Ciudad del Saber (where my school is). This weekend, several of us went to a beach and hung out with a friend from FSU. On a hike in Gamboa, I made friends with the naturalists, and this weekend we are hoping to go bird watching at the famous Pipeline Road. I looked up meeting times for the local Audubon Society. And this past weekend I went on a beach clean-up and made a couple of new friends. And I started talking to a vegetarian blogger here in Panama, whom I hope to meet up with in a week or two.
Meanwhile I am growing excited for my return home (which is still several months away). I am excited and nervous about exploring the relationships I have in San Diego, figuring out how to engage in friendships outside of the bubble. But when I think of the people I have kept contact with during my time away, I realize the richness I have waiting for me.
But for now, it's time to make the most of my present, exploring and sharing with the people I meet here.
With this simple change in perspective, I have begun to take note of what things I like, so I can make it a point to do them. For example, a few weeks ago, several of the other ISA students and I went wandering through the city, and found a number of street food carts. I started a language exchange with someone who lives in Ciudad del Saber (where my school is). This weekend, several of us went to a beach and hung out with a friend from FSU. On a hike in Gamboa, I made friends with the naturalists, and this weekend we are hoping to go bird watching at the famous Pipeline Road. I looked up meeting times for the local Audubon Society. And this past weekend I went on a beach clean-up and made a couple of new friends. And I started talking to a vegetarian blogger here in Panama, whom I hope to meet up with in a week or two.
Meanwhile I am growing excited for my return home (which is still several months away). I am excited and nervous about exploring the relationships I have in San Diego, figuring out how to engage in friendships outside of the bubble. But when I think of the people I have kept contact with during my time away, I realize the richness I have waiting for me.
But for now, it's time to make the most of my present, exploring and sharing with the people I meet here.
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