More Bloggers Unite at the Boquete Tuesday Market

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Kris Cunningham

Now I know not one, but two fellow bloggers in person 🙂  My friend Cindy and her husband arrived in Boquete recently, and we decided to meet at the Tuesday Market. What fun! I should have taken pictures but we were too busy talking and enjoying each other’s company. It’s so interesting to follow someone on line, and then meet them in person. It adds a whole extra dimension, and it’s a lot easier to talk without all the typing 😀 We had a good time and I’m really looking forward to seeing more of them.

I also saw our friend Jose. He was working at the Bambu Hostel where we stayed on our first visit here, and we have been friends ever since. He was at the market promoting a new housing development about 15 minutes from David. It looks affordable and very nice. If I wasn’t so attached to our neighborhood, I’d take a look. But, it was great to see Jose. We’ve kept up on Facebook but haven’t seen each other much in person, and he and Joel hadn’t seen each other since our trip three years ago.

I only took a quick walk around the rest of the market because I wasn’t in shopping mode, but there is always something interesting to see. My favorites are always the molas, especially when they are sold by the artisan who makes them.

After the market, we caught up with Holly and Scott at Habla Ya where they were going for the second day of Spanish class. They are looking great, and now even have their own wheels.  I was happy to hear that their first day of class went very well. If they are spending every afternoon at the school, it’s not going to be long before they are talking with everyone.

And, I saw my teacher! We have spent so many hours on line that we are good friends. She is also expecting her first baby in a couple months so it was wonderful to see her looking round, healthy, and happy. We’ve only seen each other in person maybe 4 or 5 times, so today was a real treat.

It’s been a good day. Even the drive is getting more tolerable. There is a crazy back roads detour in the Dolega area, but otherwise it’s mostly new road. There is work in progress in many areas, and I think it will be finished soon. Then it will be faster, safer, and more fun to make the drive to Boquete. That’s good because I’m getting so many new friends there that I expect we’ll be making the drive more often.

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Something’s crawling up my arm! Scorpions in Panama!

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Kris Cunningham

joeltc1's avatarFindingMySelfinPanama

I’m very happy that I didn’t have to be taken to the hospital last night. I have a little story to tell you

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It was dark, very dark, before our neighbor, Ama, returned to her home across the street from our house. Kris and I were waiting to give her three boxes of clothing, books and other items that had been on our porch for a month or more.  I had washed some blankets that were musty smelling and had rummaged around in the boxes during the daylight hours and had seen nothing unusual. We just wanted to get the boxes to Ama and out of the weather.

“Hello, Kris?” Ama called out. Kris got up and greeted her. We proceeded to get the boxes, Ama taking the first one, Kris the next, leaving the one the bottom for me. It was heavy and Kris offered to take it to


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Poison Dart Frog

Posted on June 15, 2013 by Kris Cunningham

We’re eating breakfast on the back patio, and I see this little frog hop out from under some stuff behind my neighbors house. Isn’t it a cool looking little frog! A bit of internet research told me he’s a poison dart frog.

PoisonDart

From what I understand the bright colors are a warning to predators to stay away, and they come in a number of bright colors. I showed the picture to one neighbor who said they are very dangerous and was upset that I saw one next to her yard (but she tends to freak out about everything!). Other neighbors said they are fine and they have never had a problem with them. They said that red and yellow ones are seen around here as well.

I will plan to keep my hands off these frogs, but I am very happy to have seen one. There is no end to the interesting things around here!

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David, Chiriqui, Panama – the weather this morning

Posted on June 15, 2013 by Kris Cunningham

weather

Notice the 100% humidity! We had a lot of rain yesterday with thunder and downpours. This morning everything is wet and dripping, and very green. It seems like everything is growing like crazy.

We were also just visited by a noisy bunch of oropendolas! What a treat to see these interesting birds, but they are so active they are almost impossible to photograph. Joel managed to catch one with the camera though, and I thank him for his patience and skill.

crested oropendola

crested oropendola

Life is good in Panama 😀

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A Visit to a High School

Posted on June 14, 2013 by Kris Cunningham

One of our neighbors is an English teacher at the Instituto David, and it’s English week. There are contests for speaking, poetry, singing, and other activities all week. She asked us to be judges at the singing contest, so yesterday off we went to the school. (This post is about the school and the Father’s Day festivities that we also attended. There will be another post about the contest.)

This is a large school with over 2000 students age 12-18. The students wear uniforms, blue shirts for the younger ones and white shirts for the older ones. The building is not new and lacks a lot of things we take for granted in the US, but it is spotlessly clean. The courtyards have flowers and plants, and there are many painted murals.

It feels very happy at the school. Students were quiet and orderly (extremely so by US standards). There were smiles everywhere and lots of affection. Friends and groups often had their arms around each other, or a hand on a shoulder. The students seemed interested in us also and it felt very easy to talk with them.

Amarillis, our friend and neighbor
Amarillis’ board promoting English Week, and technology.
There are two courtyards in the school. Notice the mural on the side of the staircase.
There was nice landscaping and plants all around the school.
This is the other courtyard with a statue of the Virgin Mary on the side.
These teachers were painting disks red, maybe for some sort of decoration?
This is the hallway as you leave the library. The library was minuscule compared to a US high school. We could fit all the books in our living room. There was also no water in the ladies staff bathroom so you have fill up a container in the men’s room to flush the toilet. I was told it’s always like that. But, there were computers all along one wall, as you will see when I get the pictures of the contest posted (it was held in the library)
The physics teacher.
The physics class. Amarillis told the teacher about my daughter, the new PhD physics, and he told the students who looked at me with increased interest and big smiles!
There is a snack shop on the grounds.

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After the contest and a walk around the school grounds, we headed to the gym for the Father’s Day festivities.  This was an experience that can’t be described with photos so be sure to check out the video below!

The gym, where they are apparently building a covered walkway to connect it with the rest of the school.
The fathers are seated waiting for the party to begin. Notice the gifts on the table, and the prizes on the stage.
Lunch was served to all the dads by a staff of students who were on hand to do whatever was needed.
The gifts had been handed out, and balloons were then put on the table.
On our way out we saw a few students mopping the floors.

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Notice the last photo of the student mopping the floor, It was explained to us that this is punishment. That girl had a skirt that was too short. This seems a lot more useful than detention, in my opinion.

OK, on to the videos!

This is the Father’s Day celebration with bit of each performer and a taste of what it was like.

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I especially love this boy. I uploaded the video of his performance separately so I can share more of it.

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I was so impressed with these students. They had such  gusto, and courage, and confidence on stage. There were also some really excellent singers! My friend thinks we were doing her a favor by coming to her school, but she really did us a big favor by inviting us. I had a wonderful day. I think we are going back Monday to judge a speaking contest and I’m looking forward to it!

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Panama Shopping – the Doit Center

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Kris Cunningham

A lot of people wonder how it is in Panama. Can you buy the things you need? What is available here? Let me assure you that here in David, we lack for nothing. the Doit Center is only one of the stores similar to Lowe’s or Home Depot. Another is located across the street, and a couple others are down the highway.

The hardest thing about taking these photos was the number of employees in the store. I didn’t want to get in trouble for taking pictures so I tried to stay out of sight (and that is my excuse for the quality of some of the photos). Unlike many stores in the US, you won’t have any trouble finding someone to help you. If they see you in their department they will often approach you and offer assistance.

Francisco speaks very good English, so he’s a good man to know if you get stuck on something. He can often be found at the customer service desk near the front doors.
The photos are in no particular order, and only show a fraction of what is available in the store. But, I did my best to give you a general idea of what it’s like there. Here I am about in the middle of the store looking all the way to the back.
The appliance department – stoves, refrigerators along the walls, air conditioners and water heaters on the right. They didn’t have dishwashers or clothes dryers in stock but are expecting some in soon. I had to be quick with this photo because the employee who works there helped me that first night when I had to buy everything for my house. We have been friends ever since.
One aisle of the car department – wiper blades, wax, cleaning products, etc. and tool boxes on the left. There are two more aisles of car related items as well.
Lights, fans, light fixtures, light bulbs, and all things electric are in this area.
An aisle in the garden department. I’m a little surprised to see chain saws because we were told you need a special permit for one and it’s harder to get than a gun permit. Apparently there is a big problem with smuggling lumber, especially teak and some of the really expensive hardwoods that grow here.
Near the garden department – BBQ’s, outdoor furniture, and wall full of all the coolers you could possibly want.
The pet area is also in this area – doggie beds, pet food, dishes, animal carriers, bird cages, bird food, etc.
Past the outdoor furniture area is a small sports department with some exercise equipment, balls, tennis rackets, fishing poles, and other sports related items.
You can also buy a riding lawn mower, a wheelbarrow, and a plastic chair in about any color you could want.
The bedding area – sheets, comforters, pillows, pillow cases, mattress covers, etc.
Bathroom organizers!
The cleaning aisle with about any cleaning product you could imagine, as well as mops, brooms, sponges and brushes.
On the left is the back of the paint department with the 5 gallon buckets. In the center area is furniture, mainly desks, chairs, filing cabinets, and some tables.
Irons, ironing boards, laundry baskets, clothes organizers, drying racks
Pots and pans, kitchen gadgets, dishes on the right. They have a very good selection of small appliances and all sorts of kitchen items.
Coming around the corner past the appliance department is the lumber area – doors, windows, boards, etc. I like how they set up a whole tiny kitchen on the back wall with the price stickers on everything. Are those bags of potting soil in front on the left?
Mattresses, beds, wardrobes. Here I was standing at the back of the store, the little kitchen behind me, the doors on the right. This gives you some idea how far it is to the front of the store.
Flooring options
Toilets, sinks, towel bars, and all things bathroom related including a shower bench.
Faucets, shower heads, and everything you would need for plumbing. The next aisle has every PVC pipe item you could imagine.
The paint department. You can chose a color from the color samples and they will mix it up for you in the type of paint you request – just like the US.
The trim aisle – baseboards, molding, decorative items, and lots of hardware on the left.

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Are you dizzy yet, with all that stuff? 😀

We have been very happy with the quality of things we have bought at Doit. They seem to have good mid-range items, and offer a good selection. I’ve seen appliances for a lot less at smaller local shops, and for a lot more at high end stores and even at PriceMart. The tools seems good, and we’ve bought some that were much less expensive that we expected. They have done the jobs we needed around the house without a problem. Since we can find pretty much everything we need for a house, the staff is nice and helpful, and the store is close to home, this has become our go to store for most things.

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Fleeting

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Kris Cunningham

Weekly Photo Challenge: Fleeting

about the fleeting moments in our days, and in our lives. The quiet, precious moments between the ones we love. A hummingbird in the backyard, among the blossoms. Chalk art on the sidewalk, with broken bits of colorful chalk left there, by the kids in the neighborhood. Or perhaps a glimpse into a rare occasion.

There are some birds here that we rarely see, and when we do it’s only a fleeting glimpse in the trees. I’ve seen them in the woods behind my neighbor’s house. She says they never sing, never make any sound whatsoever. Yesterday these birds were on a tree next to our backyard, and stayed long enough for Joel to grab the camera and get a few photos.

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I don’t know what they are. A careful search through my two bird books didn’t give me a clue either. They are fairly large and usually found in a small group. When they fly they are dark brown but with a stripe of light beige along the end of their long tails. In these photos it appears that their bellies are also a lighter brown. Usually we only catch a glimpse of their dark shapes in the trees as they silently fly off, so it was exciting to be able to catch them in these photos.

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Bloggers United in Panama!

Posted on June 10, 2013 by Kris Cunningham

I’ve met a lot of internet friends in person over the years. Since I started this blog, I’ve met people who found me here. But, today is the first time I’ve met someone I also read on a regular basis.

http://hollycarter184.wordpress.com/

We’ve been following each other for months! She and her husband went through a very similar process of visiting, making the decision, doing a major rehab on the house, selling the house, dealing with the “stuff”, wrapping up business, etc. I can certainly understand what they were going through since we did it all just months before them. Now they are finally here, and today it worked out that we could get together.

So, hello Holly and Scott! Welcome to Panama, and we’re both so happy we got to meet you both in person. I have a feeling there will be lots more fun times to come.

It’s interesting. People are who they are in their words. I have been surprised by what people looked like, especially in the past before sharing photos was common. But, I have never been surprised by who someone was. I was not surprised today either. Holly and Chris are fun, friendly, thoughtful, easy to be with, and a real pleasure. We talked and laughed and talked until we made them late for their next appointment! 😀

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Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sign Says (and thoughts on travel and living in Panama)

Posted on June 8, 2013 by Kris Cunningham

Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sign Says

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I have just been on a major trip. One week ago I traveled from Santa Rosa, CA back to David, Panama. There were signs all along the way! Photos of these signs could represent our progress from the US to Panama. Do you think I could grab the camera to take a couple decent photos? I started out with very good intentions but all I took was this one in the San Francisco airport. After that, we rushed to make connections, arrived in Panama City at night with customs, a taxi to the bus terminal, etc. By then I was tired and the whole idea had just disappeared from my head.

And, in addition to that delinquent behavior, I am a week late!

But, I did make the trip, and a major trip it was. It seems that TSA always wants to inspect my luggage. This trip I had spices (bulk and bottles), coffee, vegetable seeds, and other assorted things we could buy more easily in the US and they didn’t even look. I would think any drug sniffing dog would check the coffee! But, I was happy because on a couple other trips, they took the tops off the spices and neglected to put them back on, and the spices were all over my clothes. Grrrr.

It was a great time in the US but I’m happy to be home. Going back to the US is always a change though. The first thing that shocked me was the prices! In Santa Rosa, CA I spent $700 in grocery stores for 2 weeks/4 people (and that’s not counting some things that others paid for). That’s our entire food budget for 2 months. We could have shopped at cheaper stores and cut corners, and not left the kitchen as well stocked for my daughter, the brand new mom, but it still would have been a lot. My daughter has a nicer and somewhat larger house than we do, but she pays literally 6 times more for it. Don’t even ask what her health insurance costs, now that she’s temporarily off work and paying out of pocket.

Everything also seemed so quiet and orderly in the US. Northern CA is beautiful and I really love it, but I miss all the people in the streets, the activity, and energy of Panama. Sometimes there is too much trash in the street, and you have to dodge pedestrians and bicycles when you drive, and guys are taking cars to pieces in their front yard while the chickens run around, but it’s so full of life here.

I also missed my friends. I literally have to walk out my front door to find my best friends. Others are around the corner and up the street. I love greeting people in the street. First is the look of surprise that these gringos actually say hello, and then comes the big smile as they return the greeting. Here the basics of life are family, friends, kindness, helpfulness, and respect. In the US it seems so much harder for so many to just survive, and they can’t enjoy life and each other in the same way.

I’m so thankful for the visit to both of my daughters, to celebrate a huge graduation with my younger daughter, and to help my older daughter get settled in with her new baby. I’m also very thankful for this opportunity to be in Panama, to experience this place and these people first hand. It’s really changing my head and my life.

Apologies again for the photo challenge. Even the one photo I do have is pretty pitiful! 😀  I will put my mind on the next one and try to come up with something more suitable (I hope!)

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Reality TV comes to Panama

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Kris Cunningham

The Hero (on TNT) with “The Rock” Johnson is  being filmed in Panama City, and the premier was tonight.

http://www.tntdrama.com/series/the-hero/    The site says you can watch on line if you log in through your television provider with your user name and password.  I don’t see CableOnda on the list though. (That’s no surprise because you generally can’t access USA TV shows from here without jumping through some hoops.)

There’s a yahoo news video about it also http://omg.yahoo.com/video/yo-exclusive-rocks-heroic-reality-170000143.html  I am definitely NOT a candidate for this show! It might be fun to watch though, and see other people with way more guts than me.

You just never know what might go on around here. Panama is on the map more and more.

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