Boquete

 Last weekend was my first regional meeting and it was in Boquete, Panama.  Boquete is one of the most popular tourist destinations inPanama.  It sits in the cloud forest at the base of Volcan Baru and is home to exquisite, yet quirky gardens, a boat load of ex-pats, the best coffee in the country, a hippy transient community similar to Arcata, fancy hotels, and backpackers hostels.  Spending the weekend there, feeling like a tourist, I had my first experience with culture shock.  It was so strange to not be the famous person, the person everyone wanted to talk to...  It was strange to be commoner, and look like everyone else.  When I walked in to the backpackers hostel I was so excited to learn about all these people and tell them all about Peace Corps and what I am doing, only to find know one really cared.  Everyone just cared about tomorrows next adventure or where they were going to eat.  I felt like a tourist in a hostel, which is exactly what I was...

 As well as quite dissapointed to have lost my fame.  In fact
it took me so off guard I had trouble forming sentences
correctly in English and all I wanted to do was get back
to San Andrés. I will work on getting a hold of myself
before coming back to the states where I am normal once
again!

This week has also been very exciting because my host family's cat had kittens.  They are super cute, but haven't open thier eyes yet and I am afraid to touch them to check if they are male or female.  I get to take my pic for which one to keep, but I think I will have to take a pair to keep them together and then the mama can keep one with her too.  My host family is fine, I really enjoy my 30 year old host brothers company and am starting to feel like I have a social life, accompanying him to soccer games and hanging out with his friends.  3 weeks till I move into my own place!

Well, I am off to go kill my first chicken, we have kept it tied up in the back yard for 15 days fattening it up for dinners this week and I going to help and learn how to massacre then clean it.  Wish me luck!
Also in my near future... horse back riding, getting my own place, San Juan dancing horse festival and so much more.  The time is flying, and I am keeping busy and happy!

Adios!