The Panama Adventure

Hola from Seattle

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Kris Cunningham

There is a pretty view of the fall colors from the back door.

As you can see from the photo, I’m still in the US. I haven’t been writing much though. Life has been a bit topsy turvy the last couple weeks. I first went to California to help my older daughter’s family and new baby, and planned to leave there on the 17th. My younger daughter’s baby, however, decided not to wait until due date and came a week early so plans changed and I went to Seattle early.

The sun tried to come out this morning

This is as far as it got

For some reason, hospitals don’t seem to want new parents to get any sleep (according to both of my daughters). This new mom was up all Thursday night in labor. The next night she was still in the hospital but she said there was a constant stream of people in and out all night doing something for either her or the baby, which usually left her with an upset and crying baby. By the time they got home on Saturday afternoon she and her husband were both beyond exhausted, and the baby was also upset and fussy. Thankfully there was room on the evening plane so it was easy for me to just come on up here.

outside the front door

They are doing great with the baby! They just needed reassurance and some sleep. The baby has been sleeping 3-4 hours at a time during the night so they are catching up on their sleep a bit and feeling a lot better. The baby is also doing well and though she has a very strong set of lungs, she hasn’t been using them to cry very much.

So, I am using this post just to check in and to share a few photos. It’s cold and rainy here, in the 40’s, so I haven’t set foot outside the door since I arrived. They are in a pretty area though as you can see from these photos, all of which are views from the house.

I have baby photos, of course, and various things I want to share so these will be coming as I get time to sort through things. And, I will be here a while so we will be getting out and about later on. Right now though most of the time is spent supporting the new parents, cuddling the baby, and even watching a bit of TV. (they have cable! :D) Both of my daughters are doing great with their new babies and I couldn’t be more proud of them.

When there is a bit of sun, I love how it shines through this tree.

Posted in family | Tagged family, grandbabies, grandparents, Seattle, USA, Washington | 8 Comments

Chasing Bubbles

Posted on November 11, 2015 by Kris Cunningham

There won’t be much about Panama for a while since I am currently in the US with family. But, since this blog is about my day to day life, now you will hear mostly about grandchildren!

I am with my older daughter who has a 2 1/2 year old boy and a newborn daughter. Babies are wonderful and this one is beautiful, but for taking photos it is the boy who is the most interesting since he is in almost constant motion. One of his fun activities is blowing and chasing bubbles.

We started with the bubbles in the backyard one afternoon.

This bubble gun is pretty cool and he knows how to work it.

Blowing bubbles from the wand is also fun.

Even more fun is chasing the bubbles that Joel blows.

There was much blowing of bubbles, chasing, running, shouting, and squeals of excitement that afternoon!

My daughter’s neighborhood has this great park that wanders through the neighborhood, containing a playground, flowers, walkways, streams, and fields for people to run and play. It’s a favorite place to go on a nice day.

We walk along the path in the park, chasing bubbles along the way.

Alexander, another friendly kid in the park, wanted to show my grandson his favorite secret places near the stream.

Climbing over logs near the stream is always fun.

OK, onward we go following daddy.

Playtime in the field!

Dad has the great wand that makes big bubbles.

I can do it!

big bubble

Down the slide, and off and running

I am not supposed to kick dirt, or wood chips, or gravel, or anything but it is so irresistible.

Swinging is another wonderful thing

We also had a lovely outing to the St. Francis Winery on Sunday afternoon. Along with beautiful scenery, wine, and cheese there were of course, bubbles!

There is a beautiful statue of St Francis near the entrance to the winery.

This plaque tells about the Italian bell above the entrance.

The back terrace, and bubbles everywhere!

Joel reaches for a floating bubble as he hangs out with the baby.

Chasing bubbles is such fun!

The baby is happy to sleep through all of it.

There were a couple really interesting windmills.

I should have taken a video to show how beautiful the windmills are in motion.

The kids liked the fountain and water pool

Hanging out by the water. I’m getting a bit more acclimated but I still need a number of layers of insulation.

We got the idea to switch the hats around

I have daddy’s hat and he has mine!

I am just here to enjoy the family, play with the kids, and help out a bit around the house but it is surprising how fast the days are flying by. I’d rather watch Pooh, Monsters, and Sesame Street with my grandson than work on the computer, and I’ll hold the baby when she needs an extra pair of hands to cuddle and rock. My grandson is going to Montessori school so he needs to be dropped off and picked up, and there are the usual shopping and errands and chores.

This all gives me a taste of what it is like for so many young families in the USA – Get up, feed and dress everyone, get kids out the door with back packs and lunch boxes, and hopefully shoes and socks, and then go to work (though my daughter’s current work is 24/7 newborn care). Before you know it, it’s time to pick up kids, prepare snacks and dinner, spend a few quality minutes before bath and bedtime, prepare for tomorrow, fall into bed hopefully to sleep a bit before doing it all again the next day. It is the rare family who can afford to have one parent home full time, and it is the rare family who has extended family nearby providing daycare and support. Few jobs have the flexibility for part time work or flexible hours, so parents are juggling a lot and trying to make it all work with little time to care for themselves. There are no one size fits all solutions, but I wish there was more support and understanding for families. Thankfully both of my daughters have good jobs, and great husbands who are very involved and hands on with the responsibilities of parenting and caring for the household, but it’s still a lot.

I’m not sure how I got from bubbles to the state of families in the US, but here we are. Nap time will be over soon so I will sign off for now, but pictures of fun outings to a children’s museum are probably coming next.

Posted in family | Tagged California, grandchildren, soap bubbles, St Francis winery | 4 Comments

Travels, Family, Kids, and Babies

Posted on November 10, 2015 by Kris Cunningham

I am currently in the USA with family. I have lots of pictures of my grandson, the new baby, and other family and California things but we have been having too much fun to spend much time sorting photos and writing. But, little by little I will check in as time allows.

Today is about baby’s first bath! She’s a lovely, calm baby who spends quite a bit of time just looking at the world between naps. I can’t wait to see what she is like as she grows. Big brother is being very good with her and generally taking things in stride in spite of a new school, new sibling, and all the grandparents invading his peaceful home.

Amy got this really pretty bathing mat that looks like a flower and conforms to the shape of the sink.

What are they doing to me?!

OK, maybe I kind of like this

Getting all the creases and folds

Almost done

Big brother checks on his sister.

The baby is over two weeks old now, doing well and growing as expected. There has been regular washing up, of course, but people tend to wait a while before giving a newborn a bath in the water. Her delicate skin is still acclimating to the world.

All finished and getting dry

Clean, dry, and dressed!

So, this was the Sunday afternoon excitement but not by any means the only thing going on. I have a more photos of my grandson who is very active and provides a wealth of photo ops as he engages in his favorite games. I love my life in Panama but I’m also thankful that it allows enough disposable income to buy tickets to come back and visit my family! It is a very special time for all of us.

All that bathing can wear out a girl.

Posted in family | Tagged family, grandchildren | 6 Comments

Be Careful of the Lemon Tree

Posted on November 5, 2015 by Kris Cunningham

I am currently in California (more on this to come!) but I had a few photos from before I left so I’m using my free time to catch up.

There is a lemon tree just outside of our neighborhood and it makes huge, delicious lemons. The fruit is just starting to ripen so on my way home I often stop by to look for fruit on the ground.

The fruit is huge, but it tastes like the lemons we are used to in the USA and makes great lemonade. The peel can also be eaten and doesn’t have the bitter taste of most lemon peels. The tree, however, is full of large, sharp thorns on branches that reach to the ground, so one must use caution when touching it. I have a pair of clippers on my bike because sometimes fruit falls under the tree and I have to clear a spot to get my arm through to reach it, and I’d rather not get all scratched up in the process.

Joel and I were both out one day and he shook the tree to see if any of the ripe looking fruit above would fall. The only thing he got though was a wasp sting! The other day we were both there again, and I found the tiny nest hidden in the leaves. I haven’t seen one before with this interesting reddish color.

It’s just a little nest of very little wasps that normally aren’t a bother, but if you disturb them one or two is likely to come out and ask you to move away (ouch). Thankfully though they don’t come out in a crowd like can happen with some bees and wasps.

We were also looking in the center of the tree and saw this very interesting sight.

These look like wasps, but not of any sort I have ever seen before. I can’t tell if this is a nest or just a ball of insects all clinging to each other. The white things are their bodies, and the rest of the wasp is brown. Joel was clipping right below them to remove enough thorns to get to a couple fruits under the tree and the wasps made no attempt to come after either of us. I just noticed them because they were flying around from the disturbance, but they quickly settled down into their ball again when we backed off.

This is what the fruit looks like. I put a couple normal size bananas next to them for size reference. The are big! When I first saw them I thought they might be grapefruit. When I get back to Panama the tree should be in full production. We also have a couple loaded limon trees in our own backyard that are almost ready, so there will be no shortage of lemonade in the coming months.

Posted in food, fruit, Panama | Tagged Fruit, lemon, limon | 8 Comments

Marvelous Pork

Posted on October 30, 2015 by Kris Cunningham

I’ve written in the past about my friend Cedo’s finca (farm) in Cuesta de Piedra. She mainly manages the dairy cattle, but there are also pigs on the farm. They belong to her son Harry who lives in Panama City.

The pigs are being raised for meat. I heard that some were going to be sold so I put in my order for one. Another family member was put in charge of coordinating the job, and soon after the appointed time he showed up at my house with the pig, in three huge pieces!

I learned later that when a Panamanian buys a pig this is how it is delivered. The person is then expected to chop it up with a meat cleaver or machete. But, I know nothing about chopping up pork. It arrived late in the day and I wasn’t going to spend the night learning so in the freezer it went, with promises that a guy with the proper equipment would solve the problem the next day.

As with many things Panamanian and a busy guy with a lot on his plate, it was a few days before the problem was solved. I was directed to a store here in town where Alexander, the owner, had the necessary equipment.

El Palacio de la Carne

As with most things, there are silver linings. This looks like a very good store to buy meat. It was spotlessly clean with no smells. The people were very nice and even gave us coffee while we waited.

If you want to find this place, it’s on Ave 8a Oeste and Calle B Sur, on the corner across from the Hotel Imperial.

Here are the boards with the prices and cuts of meat.

This guy is definitely used to dealing with meat. Each of our pieces was more than 35 pounds, and he picked up two of them like they were nothing and carried them into the back room. The meat was frozen which we were told is easier for cutting, but also limits the amount of finesse that can be used to get various cuts of meat.

The cutting equipment was in the back room

He tackles one of our pieces

In a very short time, we all the pork neatly sliced, bagged, and returned to the back of our car!

We had no idea what we were going to get. We are used to the various cuts of meat from the USA but here things are often cut differently. Little did we know that eventually we’d come home with everything in neat, one inch slices. There are pork chops like the ones in the first and last pictures, ribs are in the second picture, and there are also other slices that look like the other pictures below. We tried one of the bigger slices and though it wasn’t as tender as the chops, it certainly was delicious.

Of course, after thinking about this pork for days as soon as we got the sliced meat home we had to cook some for lunch. Oh my goodness!! It was absolutely delicious. Panamanians also cut the fat into little pieces and fry that. I’m sure it’s totally illegal for anyone who is trying to limit their fat intake but it sure is good.

I think this might be the best pork we’ve had. It’s a good thing since we have 108 pounds of it and are going to be eating it for a long time. (Oh, and by the way, we paid $2/lb for the pork and weren’t charged for cutting it up. Maybe the guy who delivered it worked it out with the shop since he felt bad about the misunderstanding.) We recently bought a freezer for the pork but I think it’s going to be very useful for other things as well. I have ideas about raising more chickens. There may be some beef coming from the farm. And, I’ve gotten very good at picking up fruit around town which can also be saved in the freezer.

Life is good in Panama, and we eat very well!

Posted in food, Panama | Tagged El Palacio de la Carne, Food, pork puerco | 8 Comments

A Last Painting

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Kris Cunningham

The time for my trip back to the USA is coming soon, and I have finished the last painting I plan to take with me. This one is a gift for the granddaughter who is coming in November.

I think I like this one the best of what I have done so far. I feel like I learn a bit more with each painting. While I am gone I can sketch and think about future projects, and decide what I want to tackle when I return. I feel like I want to just paint more to sharpen my skills but at some point, I can see moving in a more abstract direction. We shall see.

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged painting | 24 Comments

We are Retired, a Rant on Various Things

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Kris Cunningham

This blog is three years old now, and it has grown into something I never imagined. I never thought so many people would follow it and find it interesting, and I appreciate every one of you who read my posts. With a growing readership though, come emails with many questions about expat life and all things Panamanian.

I enjoy talking and getting to know new people. I like most of the emails. There are some I can’t answer though, and it would be helpful if people think about what they are asking of whom.

We are retired. I don’t know anything about working in Panama. I have heard various things but I have done no research myself. Don’t ask me about working in Panama (though I did run across this article from Expat Freedom that looks helpful).

I don’t have children here. I know nothing about schools in Panama.

We don’t live in Panama City. That is a different world, different costs, lifestyle, benefits and problems, and I know very little about it. I am happy to answer questions about Chiriqui Province, and some general questions about some other areas of Panama I have seen but I’m not the one with answers about Panama City.

We rent our house. I know very little about buying property in Panama. There is no substitute for “boots on the ground” and a consultation with a professional realtor.

It is helpful if you look for answers yourself first. Google is a great resource! Study a map of Panama. Look up information on visas. Read the links on my website. Don’t abuse the generosity of people on various forums and discussion groups. Be respectful of the many people on line willing to share what they know so read what has already been discussed, and try to find answers from the many sources available.

Oh, and while I am on a good rant, don’t ask to be my Facebook friend without sending me a message explaining why. If I don’t see a connection I won’t accept you without asking. And, I don’t want to hear “I love your profile so I want to be friends, because good friends are such a wonderful thing”. What is that all about?

OK, rant over. We now resume our normally scheduled programming of living the good life in Panama. The sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the spider webs are sparkling in the sunlight.

PS My husband says this is only a rantito. I don’t use caps or red text, or pound the table, or threaten to trash any offending emails on sight 😀

Posted in Miscellaneous, Panama | Tagged blogs, expat life, questions, rant | 30 Comments

The Baby is Here!

Posted on October 23, 2015 by Kris Cunningham

My last post, Far from Family, came about mainly because my daughter was going into labor. She is in California and I am in Panama, and at those times you feel the distance. It definitely was labor and the next day her daughter, my granddaughter came into the world! I still feel the distance because I am aching to hug my daughter and hold my granddaughter but I will be there soon. Meanwhile, we have technology to keep us close.

My daughter and I were chatting through the whole process on Facebook messenger until she was too busy and her husband took over. The other grandmother who was with her also kept in close touch by messenger and phone/Skype. I am so thankful for the great communication.

My daughter got checked in to the hospital about 4PM Panama time. I figure nothing would happen for a while so I went off to my 4:30 art class, iPad in hand of course. Soon a message came in that things were progressing rapidly, and classmates wanted to know what was distracting me. More messages came in, even more rapid progress, and soon everyone was getting excited, including parents who were stopping by to pick up their kids. Before class was over a message came in that it was delivery time! Of course at delivery time there is a lot going on so it was a little while before I got more news, but I found out later that the baby was born at 6:45 Panama time, just after I left class. It was fun sharing all the excitement with my classmates.

I have pictures! None of these are my own pictures except the first, and I appreciate everyone who shared pictures.

This is a blurry screen capture of a Facetime chat, my first look at the new baby. I knew all was well but it was wonderful to talk with my daughter and get my first look at the new little girl.

These were the first official pictures posted by dad on Facebook of mom, dad, and baby girl.

Soon after came this photo. It is like the baby’s beautiful little face is being revealed more in each picture.

This beautiful picture was posted on Facebook by a coworker friend of my daughter.

And, the next day they came home!

Now you can see the baby has a full head of hair, just like her mother did when she was born. I’m not sure if dad took this picture, or the other grandmother.

And, my favorite photo of all, taken by the other grandmother

Big brother meets little sister! He is only 2 1/2 and this is going to be a big change, but word is he did fine on his first night with the new baby in the house.

What would we do without Facebook?! Other than a few phone calls that came to me via Skype, all of our communication and photos were through Facebook. I remember when my daughter was born. It was just my husband, me, and the midwife. We had recently moved to another state too, so I didn’t know many people. I don’t think anyone knew what was happening until later when we called family to tell them the news.

An aside, while no birth is without risk, my daughter’s son was born by c-section for breech. Usually a c-section means all subsequent births will also be by c-section because of the risk of a rupture. I really felt that she would be fine birthing naturally, she was very closely monitored, and the staff was ready to jump in at a moment’s notice. But, I still feel relieved that the birth is in the past and now we know for sure that all is well. All is more than well. She succeeded, she did it and did it well, and I am very proud of her!

Now we wait for the next baby, another little girl, expected in a month. Unless she comes early I will be there for that birth.

Posted in family, Miscellaneous | Tagged Baby, grandchildren | 26 Comments

Far from Family

Posted on October 21, 2015 by Kris Cunningham

On the theme of things to consider when planning a move to another country – how will you manage your family relationships? Will you be OK being physically far from the people you care about?

Today we are waiting. My daughter is in the early stages of labor. Neither of us slept much and though I am not worried, of course I am concerned. She has a very supportive husband and a good circle of friends. The other grandparents are there with her and she has excellent medical care, so all that can be done is being done. There is nothing more I could add, or should add. But of course at moments like this you feel the distance.

Almost all of us expats have family and friends back where we came from – children, grandchildren, parents, and other close family and friends. How will the move change your relationships, and methods and frequency of communication?

My daughter and I remarked recently that we actually communicate more now. We lived on opposite sides of the US before so we are used to being physically distant, and keeping in touch by phone calls. But, now I am retired I have more free time, and I also have an iPad that I can take anywhere. We take advantage of Facebook messages and Facetime video chats as well as phone calls and emails.

What did people do before technology? People left their homes for new lands, sometimes losing all contact. I don’t think I could do that. I really appreciate being able to keep in touch as often as we wish, and being able to get on a plane and visit. I will be traveling soon to meet this new granddaughter and I expect to be present for the birth of my other granddaughter next month.

There are times though when you feel the distance, and you are happy for the other people who are supporting your loved ones when they need it. When considering living in another country, this is definitely something to think about.

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged communication, family, family relationships, internet technology, long distance relationships, retirement | 5 Comments

Retirement and Marriage

Posted on October 20, 2015 by Kris Cunningham

This topic isn’t only about Panama. It affects all couples facing retirement wherever they live. We plan financially for our retirement years. We decide where and how we are going to live which may involve minimal change, or moving to an entirely different country. But, do we think about what retirement will mean for our marriages and relationships?

I’ve done a bit of reading and found some common threads that are worth considering and discussing when planning for retirement.

For many, work is identity. If we shed that identity, then who are we? Where will we get our sense of purpose, accomplishment, and other benefits that came with work?
Will retirement change the responsibilities at home? A wife may expect more help with chores. Or, a husband may intrude on what has always been the wife’s domain, and she may not welcome this.
What will happen with leisure activities? Will you be expected to join in more of your partner’s activities, will you each have your own separate interests, or will it be a combination of both?
What do you plan to do in your retirement years? Travel? Stay home? Take care of the grandkids? Volunteer? Find other work? Lock yourself in the study and write a novel? If your goals and plans are different, how will you work this out so you are both satisfied with the arrangement?
How much time will you spend together and apart when you are both at home?
What is the state of your relationship now? Have you avoided facing problems by filling your time with work and other activities? Are there things you need to work on before you can coexist happily?
How will you handle money and spending decisions? How will you handle your change in income, if this applies?

Of course, the bottom line is communication. There are no rules, only what works for the individual couple. I think most of us get so caught up with the other aspects of retirement planning that we don’t think about how retirement is going to affect our relationships. The good news though, according to my reading, is that even though there may be initial adjustment problems most couples work through them and go on to successfully enjoy their retirement years.

Joel and I didn’t have any serious adjustment problems, but over time we have managed to fine tune our daily routines. We usually have breakfast together, plan any together activities for the day like a bike ride, errands, etc, and then spend the rest of the time doing our own thing in our own spaces with occasional greetings and chats. We come back together for dinner and some TV time in the evening, and then wind down the day doing our own activities. I think we have a good balance of together and separate that works for us. I tend to spend more time out of the house with various activities, but Joel is out more these days playing music.

We have always shared household chores and thought in similar ways about money, so these areas have been smooth. I have a greater urge to travel though, so this is an area for discussion and compromise. I’m lucky to have a man who is accepting of my need to pursue various interests he may not share, and hopefully I am the same with him.

For myself, I was more than ready for retirement and happy to lay down the responsibilities and stresses of my work. I have enough other interests that work wasn’t my identity, and I have plenty to keep me happy and engaged in life. I know it isn’t so with everyone though. Many are ambivalent about retirement and don’t have a lot to fill the spaces that were their work, so the adjustment can be more difficult.

That’s enough deep thinking for one day! Time for more scenery, bugs, and stories about daily life if I can find time between anxiously waiting for grandbabies and preparing for a trip back to the US. If you all want to fill the space meanwhile, I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on retirement and relationships. If you are there, how it is working out for you? What have been your biggest challenges?

Here are links to some of the articles I read on this subject.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/09/divorce-after-50-retirement_n_3286342.html

http://www.marriagebuilders.com/graphic/mbi5018_qa.html

http://ohioline.osu.edu/ss-fact/0212.html

http://firstthings.org/retirement-and-marriage/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/sex/relationship-advice-and-romance/9867597/Retirement-puts-strain-on-relationships.html