Saturday, January 2, 2010
Friday, January 1, 2010
GLAD TIDINGS PANAMA STYLE
New Years Eve has been pretty typically American for me my whole life. This year in tiny Boquete it was very amazing & beautiful. The moon seemed full, and the town was so full of life. All the towns kids seemed to be out, safely at midnight. The amount of firecrackers and related pyrotechnics they set off was amazing. The church bells all rang at midnight. The bombardiers, as the fire department is called, set off a noisy serenade with their fire truck horns and sirens. The surrounding mountains I am sure rang with New Years cheer as well.
Xmas Eve was somewhat similar. The church bells all rang at Midnight. the fireworks went off like crazy for hours. At midnight they were the most intense. I was staying in this beautiful hotel next to a rushing stream. Nature was intensely pushing in on me all around. From the cascading music of the creek outside my bedroom window next to the huge bushes covered in many kinds and hues of flowers. The women & girls I envisioned quietly praying in the town churches while the men and boys were setting off their beloved rockets of fire. A lot of the folks here are of Indian background the Ngobe-Bugle being the most prevalent. They come to town dressed up & very much ready to celebrate around the town square. All are included even the infants. They are nursed openly at need and are very abundant. The women wear bright traditional dresses the men Western attire. they all carry little bags they hand weave.
So for me the contrast of the poorer indigenous, the wealthy expats and Panamanians, and the middle class worker bees from local & foreign cultures makes for a blend of great diversity and fun. This and the outdoors that is so overwhelmingly beautiful makes up considerably for what some would miss in terms of cultural amenities.
So I am still in the Chiriqui province of Panama. Going to Boca del Toro on the Caribbean with a friend next week. Still looking for that job teaching ESL in Panama. I am disappointed with their long awaited interview process. I may go back to teach in Matagalpa again. I do miss my wonderful friends and co-workers there. FELIZ ANO NUEVO and may America get its shit together this year.
Xmas Eve was somewhat similar. The church bells all rang at Midnight. the fireworks went off like crazy for hours. At midnight they were the most intense. I was staying in this beautiful hotel next to a rushing stream. Nature was intensely pushing in on me all around. From the cascading music of the creek outside my bedroom window next to the huge bushes covered in many kinds and hues of flowers. The women & girls I envisioned quietly praying in the town churches while the men and boys were setting off their beloved rockets of fire. A lot of the folks here are of Indian background the Ngobe-Bugle being the most prevalent. They come to town dressed up & very much ready to celebrate around the town square. All are included even the infants. They are nursed openly at need and are very abundant. The women wear bright traditional dresses the men Western attire. they all carry little bags they hand weave.
So for me the contrast of the poorer indigenous, the wealthy expats and Panamanians, and the middle class worker bees from local & foreign cultures makes for a blend of great diversity and fun. This and the outdoors that is so overwhelmingly beautiful makes up considerably for what some would miss in terms of cultural amenities.
So I am still in the Chiriqui province of Panama. Going to Boca del Toro on the Caribbean with a friend next week. Still looking for that job teaching ESL in Panama. I am disappointed with their long awaited interview process. I may go back to teach in Matagalpa again. I do miss my wonderful friends and co-workers there. FELIZ ANO NUEVO and may America get its shit together this year.
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