A little sumpthin sumpthin and some new/old music

So I don't do this often but I wanted to post the rough draft of something I wrote for a Peace Corps newspaper. Also, I found some music that I recorded about 7 years ago. I have no idea how I found it but I like it and hope you do too. First, here is the article:

When you here the word “developing” when attached to the word “country” one tends to think of dirt roads, confusing road signs, rampant government corruption, and hot climates. At least those were the first things that came to my mind when I signed up for the Peace Corps to work in Community Economic development in Central America. When I got the notice that I was going to Panama to serve I quickly added “jungle” to the list. It should be said that not every developing country fits into all of those parameters and that my assumptions about the developing world in Latin America were heavily based on terrible action movies that may or may not have accurately portrayed the atmosphere and political organization here. I had also had the chance to visit Panama for about a month almost 6 years ago so I thought I had had a pretty good idea of what I was getting myself into which in reality was also a false.

It wasn't until after my first year here did I really start thinking about this notion of the “developing world” and what definition entailed. Panama was certainly developing and to be frank, developing quite quickly it seemed like. And it was in that sentiment that got me thinking about this country in relation to others. Specificly Peace Corps service here compared to others. I realize that not there is probably not too many other Peace Corps countries that have a Hooters and a 3D movie theater and I'm almost positive that not very many countries that Peace Corps works in has such a high GDP as Panama did last year and is expected to have this year. Furthermore, I don't think very many countries where Peace Corps works is listed as one of the top places to travel by the New York Times.

I know it hasn't always been like that here and I can remember coming to Panama years ago and feeling like the country was asleep or something. I had just traveled from Costa Rica (every gringos jungle dream) where beer and food was still relatively cheap and hostels were fun and lively. I then crossed the border to find vast amounts of.....well....jungle, and tourists spots that seemed to be still trying to figure out what was going on. Boquete was boring, Bocas Island was Expensive and there was only two hostels to stay at of which neither looked appealing, and when I went to Panama City, it seemed besides the Canal there was nothing much else to do or see. Even Casco Viejo was in worse shape than it is today and that place is barely standing. I can remember that guide book saying that it wasn't worth going to and that getting stuck there after dark was dangerous.

Fast forward to today and we can see a different story. There is an actual road from David to Bocas del Toro with regular bus routes, every other building on Bocas Island is a hostel, and Casco Viejo is lively place with music and coffee shops where building are being restored. It's not every country that can pick up themselves up and start doing the right thing and I'm not saying that Panama is perfect but things are looking on the up and up. So much so that the good ol USA is starting to look a little pale in comparison. Now don't get me wrong, no mater what Panama does I will miss being the states, but the whole jobs market thing is looking a lot better here than in the states especially if you are bi-lingual and if you start missing home one can just hop into the nearest Friday's restaurant and grab some buffalo wings. Now I am talking about being in one of Panama's cities and not in a rural jungle community that has no power and very little resources, but my point is that I never thought I would be in working in country that is having a hard time finding enough skilled workers because there are so many public works projects going on.

This place is growing and while news from around the world keeps coming in about crashing markets, failing governments, and out of control unemployment, help wanted signs are going up here. I don't think very many Peace Corps volunteers get done with their service and realize that maybe things are looking better in their service country than they are back home. Makes you think.

Now for some music:       

Invasion

If someone from anywhere in the states were to walk up into my community right now they would be pretty confused. This is mostly because there is a traveling 7^th day Adventist church from the Dominican Republic here with a generator singing karaoke to church songs and jumping around. Then there are the scared indigenous watching this wondering where these people came from. Then there is Salomon and I sitting on my porch right next to them with our computers open while I write this and he stalks people on facebook. Mind you that there is no lights and we are pretty much in the jungle. I would be pretty confused.

One word about religion. Well many words. If you have read some of my past posts or know me well then you might know that I'm not what you would call a “believer” in the almighty. I respect other religions (the ones that don't have to do with aliens and magic) and my entire life I've pretty much just wanted to be left alone when it comes to religion. The way I see it, if I go directly to hell somehow then I guess that's my problem. It can't be worse than Fresno California and I've been there many times. Its when I see people trying to force a belief down the throats of others that I get a little perturbed. Rolling up with a generator and blasting Jesus music through the jungle for 3 hours a night for two weeks qualifies for that. Now when I get to the Not Happy point on my “leave me alone” meter is when that happens next to my shack of a house that has 2 inch spaces between the boards. The community didn't ask for this and I sure as hell didn't give permission to be kept up all night.

Now there are some people here that seem to be enjoying the service and some have told me that they are going to convert from evangelical to 7^th day now. I asked if it was because they gave out free bibles and they said yes with no hesitation. I really don't care that much and if these people want to follow Jesus or a big red tomato that dances to tango and rules from Mount Kilimanjaro that is their prerogative. What is not fair is when these people come in and tell them that dancing is the work of the devil so they need to stop doing their traditional dances. Or when they say that they need to start wearing shirts because Jesus doesn't like it. That is where I stop having just a problem with my space being invaded and start having a problem with their traditions being obliterated because an outsider says that some dude 2,000 years ago would not have liked it. Leave them alone. The world will be a boring place without dancing and boobies hanging out. Feel good that you are not going to hell and live your life how you want. Just don't make everything boring in this world and for gods sake don't tell the “heathen” locals to stop dancing and singing and practicing their traditions. And oh, don't bother the heathen gringo living in the community either.  

Visitors and the Darien

I went on a two week trip around the country that left me excited, tired, and wondering about my future. I first went on the mission of a lifetime that took me to the Darien on a 3 day trip just to get to my friend Carmen's site in Bayamon. Once there I helped the local artisan group decide on a name for their group, make a logo, and gave presentation about the group in my community and its successes with tourism and artisan sales. They seemed to be pretty excited about their future by the end of the meeting and I felt pretty good about it. The native Embera community was so different than the Ngabe that I thought I was in a different country. They seemed to have kept a lot more of their traditions and customs which is now paying off as many tourists really want to see it. One thing that I really liked was the hagua which is type of body paint that extracted from a plant. The paint lasts for about 2 weeks and I didn't really think about that before I went to pick up my friends from the airport. I also bought one of the nicest pieces of artisan work I have seen here in panama. A hand woven and dyed bowl that took the woman two weeks to make. The amazing colors and brightness of the Embera people really made me a little jealous as my people are very timid and have almost non of their culture left. Even the traditional dress that the Ngabes wear comes from christian converters trying to cover up their bare chests.

When I picked up my friends from the airport I really didn't know what to expect. I didn't even know if they were going to be on the flight as I had had limited contact with them in the weeks leading up. I spent a great deal of time trying to figure out how to use my diplomatic ID card but it was worth it as I was able to get them through all kinds of lines and was able to wait for them at the gate. It was crazy seeing some of my close friends after a year and a half. They hadn't changed much and actually seemed more grown up. Sonja, Noelle, and Natalie, were all quasi roommates of mine at one point and time in our lives and spending a week with them brought back so many memories I had forgotten about. It was great seeing them and I don't think I was completely prepared for their wanting to “spring break” so much. I guess I didn't realize that in the real world or the world back home at least that people don't really get the chance to take week and half long vacations. We had fun and they were more adventurous than I thought they would be. Going hiking into the jungle and getting to see baby sloths, and 500lb leatherback turtles up close were a couple highlights. One of the best highlights was probably going to the construction zone of the canal where they are building the new locks. Not very many people are allowed into this zone and only because of my close work with EWB got me permission to go in. It was pretty educational and fun as well.

The girls had fun or at least they told me they did and I did more nights of staying up late and sleeping on strange floors than I'm accustomed to. It went by fast and coming back to the community after being gone for so long but in the same country was a little weird. It seems that every time I leave for an extended period of time that the artisan group grows by leaps and bounds. This is mostly because they are. More and more I realize that they do not need me anymore and I find it hard to insert myself into what they are doing. I've had to step back and realize that this is where they will grow and become what they want to be and not what I helped them to be. Their new identity will be solely their own and I only hope that with the instruction and base that I have helped give them that they will be able to stand the test of time.

I'm still working hard trying to get the grinder equipment in and it has been over a year since we first started talking about it. It seems that with the help of EWB (Engineers without boarders) we are going to finally realize the project but there are still setbacks that keep popping up. Mostly trying to work with local vendors for the machinery is the biggest problem, but we hope to have that figured out soon.

Health update:

My freaking toe still hurts. I've had an ingrown toenail for months now and I keep cutting and digging into it to try to get it out. I'm slowing realizing that I'm going to have to have the nail peeled off which sounds terrible.

I realize that my broken foot has healed on its own. I'm not sure when, but it did.

My allergies are driving me nuts. Not sure why since they have been good for so long.