Despedida, Swearing-In, and Vacation

10.3.12-18.13.12

The Saturday before we elft Santa Rita, we threw a despedida (going away) party.  It was pretty cool.  It seems like most of the town was there.  A small group of aspirantes and a host mom made arroz con pollo (a very typical fiesta dish), salad, and chicha.  I went to Chorrera in the morning for a few things and was put in charge of the cake.  I was also in charge of the slide show and had people coming by my house most of the afternoon.  It was fun :)  The despedida went pretty well, and then we all got together and hung out afterward.

I spent Sunday packing and looking at pictures with my host family.  I also cooked dinner (lasagna!) for them.  They loved it!  Then I walked around to say good-bye to a few people.  It was harder to say good-bye than I thought it would be.  On Monday morning we said good-bye to our families (also sadder than I thought it would be) and left for our 3 days in Clayton-yay hot water and air conditioning; boo sitting through more health, safety, and security sessions.

Swearing in was on Wednesday.  It was pretty exciting and fun to see everyone all dressed up :)  The PC Panamá director spoke and some representatives from the projects as well as 2 of the aspirantes.  They were really good speeches.  I wish I had recordings of them.  Then we all went out for a nice dinner and then hung out downtown.

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, we all went on vacation together as a TE group: we rented 2 villas on the beach and spent the almost-weekend doing nothing.  I had fun cooking; it was quite the outing to buy food for 31 people for 2.5 days!  It was really good to have some final bonding/despedida time before we went of to todos lados del país.  Saturday night a group of us ended up staying in Santiago because the cleaning took longer than anticipated (and because we weren't ready to leave each other).  It was super hard to say good-bye to everyone on Sunday morning.  It's hard to believe I have only known these people for a few months.  I finally arrived at my host family at like 8pm.  I ate, unpacked the essentials, and slept; I was pooped! the end.

Secondary Projects 19.5.12

As my official time of observation comes to a close (June 16), I have been thinking about possible secondary projects.  These would be any projects not directly related to teaching English to the students at CEBG Elifenia Staff in Potrerillos Abajo (my school).

The most obvious (and honestly probably the least interesting to me) is adult English classes.  I really wanted the Padres de Familia (PTA) to organize them and tell me when to show up because that’s what I have heard works best, but somehow my directora was still asking me what time I wanted to have the class at, etc.  We’ll see.  It’ll all work out.  There is definitely an interest and a need, but I don’t know the level of commitment.  It could be that they come for 2-3 weeks, but then get bored.

Another possible project that I am more excited about is computer classes.  I would want to mostly teach about Microsoft Office and typing and maybe a few internet resources.  There is also a need for this because so many of the higher paying jobs require computer literacy.  But again, I have the same question of commitment as I do with the English classes.  We’ll take it one step at a time, I guess.

One project I am already committed to is the Juegos Especiales-the Ministry of Education (MEDUCA) version of Special Olympics.  The official swim coach has no actual competitive swimming experience, so he is going to supervise while I run practice…?  I’m hoping it’s really non-competitive; I have no idea how to write a workout!  Let alone how to communicate it in Spanish to special needs kids.  Wish me luck J  So far no students have turned in the medical exam, so we haven’t started practice.  Hopefully, we’ll get on that soon.  The competition is in September and I have no idea where we’re starting skill-wise.  On that note, I have been working a lot with the special ed. Students-especially 2 deaf 7^th graders. It’s tricky because they don’t read, but they’re super quick and fun to work with J

The last project that I’m thinking seriously about is a peer tutoring/mentoring type program.  I have no idea how the details would actually work or if there’s even any interest, but I can see a need and for me it would be a lot of fun.  It would also be a more sustainable program/use of my time if I could make it happen.  Any thoughts about how to go about organizing and starting such a thing would be appreciated.

I think that’s it for secondary project ideas right now.  If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions, they would be welcomed.  After all, I am your tax dollars at work J

Update 15.4.12-10.5.12

My apologies; this is going to be kind of long.  Another month has passed, so I figured I should probably update a little bit.

SCHOOL
School is good.  I can almost name all of my students.  I am definitely feeling more comfortable in the classroom.  I even had one day wehre I taught by myself because Zuleika (my co-teacher) couldn't come.  I still haven't completely figured out my role in the classroom.  As my official observation period comes to an end (hah!-I started participating like my second week), I will talk with Zuleika and Yulissa (the directora) more specifically about what they see me doing over the next 2 years.  I think it will help make my time alittle bit more productive.

HOMESTAY
As of May 8, I moved host families.  I genuinely enjoyed (most of) my time with my first family, but they are a little overwhelming and I want to get to know the other side of town too.  It was time for a change.  On the other hand, change is hard.  I was more sad to leave than I thought I would be.  I'm sensing a theme... It was hard-my little siblings were crying a little bit while I was packing :(
My new family is good.  The mom (Lourdes) works at the school selling snacks, the dad (Fran) works in recycling and isn't home a lot.  I have 1 18 y/o brother (Fran Junior)who is a senior in High School in Dolega, and a 10 y/o sister (Astrid) who is a 5th grader in a bilingual school also in Dolega.  Fran Sr.'s mother, Saturnina, also lives here.  It's more tranquilo here, for sure.  But I also kind of got used to my routine in my other house.  I feel stuck between a rock and ahard place, but I get my own house in 4-ish weeks!!!!

COMMUNITY
I really like my community.  The people are super nice and it's really accessible to anything I could want.  Unfortunately, the internet has proven pretty unreliable, but I really can't complain.  I have enjoyed getting out and playing tag/hide-and-seek/baseball with some neighbor kids/students, going to mass and running into more students, and meeting actually quite a few Americans including 2 former PCVs who are retired and living in the community.  My closest volunteer is Meg.  Like I mentioned before, she lives in Rovira/Palma Real which is only like a 10 minute/$.40 bus ride away.  She's with the Community Environmental Conservation (CEC) Project.  She's super cool.  We get together about once a week to hang out and check-in.  I said I didn't care how close my next volunteer was, but now that I have one so close, I really like it.

OTHER
Random other news, and please do not be alarmed.  On Sunday the 29th my host family was robbed while I was church and they were out.  They took my computer and some of my family's cash.  Luckily, that's all.  The neighbors scared them off.  The police came and everything.  I called PC Safety and Security and they are pretty sure I wasn't targeted, so please please please don't worry.  I feel completely safe, especially because I have moved host families since then.  All the paperwork and everything is taken care of.  I am pretty sure my computer has been sold for parts by now, but I am surprisingly at peace with it.  I think I appropriately prepared myself for the possibility before I brought it.

One last piece of news:  I have decided where I am going to live!  I am going today to talk to the landlady and let her know for sure.  Hopefully, I will be able to get a key and start moving some stuff in so it's not such a big project when the time comes.

I have been very fortunate to have no health concerns (physical or mental)- knock on wood.  I am actually in good spirits-ready for my own space, but it’s coming (3 weeks!), so I can hold out.  The rains are here, but apparently they will get more frequent.  Luckily, I enjoy them J I did have to break down and buy and umbrella, though. Overally, I’m doing really well.  That is all.  I still miss you all soooo much!  Please, let me know how things are going there J

Love, Ally
Jeremiah 29:11

Settling In 26.3.12-14.4.12

After almost a month, I am finally settling into a routine: scgiik ub tge nirbubg, planning on Mondays, pasearing (when it's not raining)/internet (when it's not broken) in the afternoon, novelas and work in the evening, bed at like 9.  It feels good to have a regular schedule.  I really like pasearing-it's fun to walk around and get to know the community-especially my students and their families.

I am also settling a little bit more with my family. Cooking on Saturdays is really fun and for the most part they are pretty chill.  It does feel really crowded in the house sometimes, though, and they're always asking to borrow stuff.   I don't mind lending it, but they don't take care of it.  For example, they lose the caps to my markers, etc.  It's also just weird to live with my students; and I'm pretty sure it's weird for them too, on some level.  Anyway, this all means I pretty much decided I will move to a different host family on May 5-that's 7 weeks here and 5 weeks there for my total of 3 montsh.

Oh! Important noticias: my address! and yes, please put my phone number on the package/letter so they will call me when it gets here :)  I can't wait to get tons of mail!  Hopefully I will send some more of my own soon.

Allyson Hoover
Cuerpo de Paz
Dolega, Chiriquí
República de Panamá
Teléfono 6801-7139

p.s. please let me know in some manner if you send me something so I can keep track if I'm missing anything :)

Holy Week/Easter 1.4.12-8.4.12

Being in a Catholic country, Holy Week is a pretty big deal.  Palm Sunday was fun, but then of course I would say that-it's mass.  On Tuesday, peopel from church came into the school to talk about the meaning of Holy Week.  Wednesday was a half-day and Thursday and Friday were off.  On Thursday, I was going to do a pilgrimage-ish walk to El Angel with some of the teachers, but it was pouring rain and it scared me off. So I went to mass instead. It was alright, but it made me miss Holy Week at home.  Friday, I went to Potrerillos Arriba with Yova (my host mom) to see a passion re-enactment.  We had Eucharist and then sat around a little while waiting for it to start.  Finally, it did, and let me tell you: it was the most detailed rendering of the passion I think I have ever seen!  We stayed for 2.5 hours and Jesus had just been convicted; there was easily an hour left.  We walked most of the way back (an hour or so).  It was a good chance for me to get to know my host mom better.  Easter Vigil was good, but there were no Sacraments of Initiation, which was kind of disappointing.  Easter Sunday mass was in Rovira 5-10 minutes up the road (side note-there's another volunteer from the environmental project living there!), and that was really fun!  They had a guitar and it was really full and joyful; just like Easter should be :)  The end.

Week 1 in Site 19.3.12-25.3.12

So I pretty much hit the ground running during my first week.  I went to school and barely had my feet under me-there are 250 students to meet, learn names/personalities/etc.  And I have a relatively small school!  My counterpart is super on the ball, though, and we were planning on Monday already, which awesome :)  But it kind of makes me wonder why I'm here on some level.  Oh well, I'm sure it will all become clear in time.

At my new home, I unpacked and washed every article of clothing in my posession.  I did some pasear-ing (walking around and meeting people).  Thursday was the regional teachers' meeting, which was actually qutie enlightening.  I began to see the root of a lot fo the classroom management problems I have been observing.  Saturday, Yoli (my host sister) and I went to David (the nearby provincial capital).  We walked a lot and did some exploring.  I found my new favorite store: Arrocha.  It's essentially Walgreen's on steroids :)  And we went to El Rey (supermarket) to get stuff for curry and fruit salad.  I decided I will cook for them on Saturdays.  I'm excited about it.  It turned out pretty well and they enjoyed it. The kids were already asking what I would be making the next week.  Finally, 1 week after arriving to site, I got to go to mass.  It made my day.  It was good to be at mass and fun to see a bunch of students.

Site Visit 2/27-3/1

My site visit was really good.  It seemed to go by pretty quickly!  On Monday, I finally actually got to my site.  I met my actual counterpart, Zuleika, who seems really nice but a little shy.  I went to class and did some observation and talked with some students.  I left school a little early with Yasy to go meet my host family.  I will have an 18 year old brother: Jorge-Luis, a 13 year old sister: Yolibeth, a 7 year old brother: Jhon, a mom: Yovana, and a dad: Jorge.  They were super nice, but it was just super overwhelming to think about all the change that is coming!  I have my own room, which will be nice.  However, I feel kind of bad, because the room I am in is normally Yoli's and now she is sharing with her brothers.  Oh well.  Also, on Monday, I found out that I have another possible host family, so I could split my 3 months between them, which I will probably do for a couple reasons: 1) so I don't displace people for as long of a time, and 2) to get to know more people/different sides of town..
Tuesday and Wednesday were more like what have now become normal days.  I got up at 6, went to school at 7, started class at 7:30, came home after school at 12:30, ate lunch, took a nap, took a walk around town, came home for dinner, played uno/watched novelas, and went to bed around 9.  I can't wait until I get to know the town better.  Even now that I have been living here almost two weeks, I still feel like I don't know anything and barely any people, but that will come with time.
Anyway, I took a bus back on Thursday with another PCV whose site is also near David.  We miraculously had no problems and also ran into a current PCV from Bocas who was on her way to the PC Office in the city for a meeting.  Poor girl has a 2 day trip anytime she wants to go to the city.  It makes my 8 hour bus ride not sound so bad...haha.  It was really nice when we arrived back in Santa Rita to see everyone.  I think site visit made everyone realize how much we are going to miss each other when we're not together everyday.  But that's what we signed up for and came to do, right?  It will just take some getting used to.
That's all I have for now.  More to come soon: Swearing In, Vacation, and Arrival at Site.  Hopefully these aren't too boring.  If they are (and even if they aren't), please let me know what you want to know so I can hopefully answer some of your burning questions.  Also, I will  hopefully have more pictures when I post again :)  Miss you all!!!