Dia Del Campasino and so much more...

 In the past week I have:

Learned a Tipica baile (dance).

Met a slough of ex-pats living in the province (not to fond of them, or their lack of respect for the locals).

Starting teaching art classes with recycables, English courses for adults and kids, PE with an emphasis on nutrition and the importance of the outdoors, Social Science to fourth graders about conservation of our natural resources and environmental edu...

Saw my first equis (Panama`s most poisonous snake).

Met a group of hippie gringos that made me feel like I was in Arcata again.

Sold 70 yogurts.

Found a great Eco Tourism spot to take friends and family when they visit with fishing and kayaking on the highest lake in Central America.

Saw a cockroach as big as my hand, then the cat ate it.

Watched a mother cat give birth to 4 babies.

And so much more....



This little boy is the orphan of the town,
don´t worry I am not planning to adopt,
but how cute!



Last week in San Andres was Dia del Campasino.  Students and teachers at the school come in traditional Panamanian clothing both from the Latino side and the Indiginous side.  It was beautiful!  Each class made a traditional food to sell to the parents and community members in an effort to fundraise for their school garden and organic farm (yes!).  The kids danced the traditional dances of Panama, with no shyness or shame.  The boys even have a competition to see who could dance with the most girls.

Check out these cuties:







Local boys baseball team!  I am trying to convert them into SF Giants fans :)



The days are going by ridiculously fast, I barely have time to check my email, let alone write a blog.  But as I always said, better busy then bored!  And the last thing I am is bored in fact, I am my days are filled with activities that all feel far from work.  I really enjoy how I spend my time here, I wake up in the morning to roosters and the hoves of horses riding by with the men heading to the fincas (farms) for a long days work.  I spend my mornings at the school and it isn`t rare for me to recieve a hug from all 260 kids at least once, which makes me feel loved and extra sweaty in this heat.  I eat a hardy lunch of rice and beans, sometime with fish and chicken, and during my afternoons teach English for those who want the extra practice or who are just curious to hear me speak in a different language.  People always say the hardest part is in the first six months of service, that you feel lonely, like your not accomplishing anything and that Panamanian time is slow.  If this is the hardest part for me, my service in San Andres is going to be a piece of cake!  Sometimes I feel alone, but I never am, as flocks of children are always surrounding me and people are constantly inviting me over to be fed.  I feel daily accomplishments both personal (my Spanish) and physical.  And time, phew, I don`t feel like I have enough of it in the day.  Entonces, I am good.  Excited to move into my own place in June and get my first visitors at the end of July!  Yay Asella and Maggi for being the first to buy there tickets.  I am patiently awaiting the rest of you!  The house I hope to rent, as I am still working out the details has 3 bedrooms and is fully furnished, which means I may have to spend a little more

monthly, but won´t have to buy anything.

Rent is pretty expensive here for Panama, and this house costs $80 per month....  yes I know, but when you think $2 is expensive to go to the movies, $80 is a small fortune.  Anyway, living the luxurious life of a Peace Corps Volunteer.

Tomorrow I head for the province capital of David for a meeting and then a couple of volunteers and I are staying in a hotel and having my first night out on the town since my arrival in Chiriqui.  I am looking very much forward to pizza, a hot shower, carpet, and to speak some English with my collegues. And not to mention to have a drink!

Hope you all are well.  I can get email, so please keep me updated with whats going on in your lives at sinasza@gmail.com

Also, if you want to send me mail (or a care package):

Sina Szabados
Cuerpo de Paz
Entrega General David - 0426
Provincia de Chiriqui
Republica de Panama

Adios!