Technical classes full of sustainable agricultural information, language classes full of silly (sometimes serious) Spanish conversations, watching the rain, playing in the rain, laying in a hammock, planting yucca and piña in my backyard, etc etc, and family time filling in all the gaps. I love this.
So, I attempted to learn some typical Panamanian folklore baile/dance. These dances are generally for grand celebrations or weddings. The women wear beautiful flowy dresses (pollera), elaborate headpieces (tembleque), complemented by a lot of gold jewelry. The men wear adorable suits and zapatos blancos y negros. I love watching these dances - so lovely. I wish I could dance. No, I wish I could dance well. Regardless, I want to get married and have a big folklore fiesta in Panama. Alas, it has become my mission to get these dances down. Here is a look at my first dance lesson:
Dios mio. I am pretty great, no?! Once I get I my hips to work, I think I’ll be ok. Right now I kinda just wiggle my whole body around…Yeah, I have a long way to go. Ha.
Next week all 18 of us SAS people are getting split up and sent to different parts of the country for a whole week of specialized technical training. I am going to a city called Divisa, which is in the province of Veraguas, really close to the borders of Cocle and Herrera. Fun fact: Veraguas is the only province that connects to both the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean; this led to its name, which literally means ‘to see water’. If that is a million dollar question for any of you one day, I want 5%. Kidding. Anyway, we are going to be focusing on building and maintaining fish and rice tanks, irrigation/water pumps (la bomba!), and doing some work with sheep and goats. Should be a great time! We also have a free day next Sunday before we have to return to Santa Clara, so I think the 7 of us going to Veraguas are going to try to do a beach day! Ecstatic.
The Wednesday following our return to Santa Clara, we all find out our future homes for the next two years! Eeep!!! Are you excited? I am, too!
FUN
WITH
=)
I am sure it won't be long, and you will have the dance down. Maybe you can reciprocate and do some karoke with them...you have those moves down from of your favorite songs! Love the pictures! So a wedding in Panama? I am not ready for that yet! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE you! Miss you!
ReplyDeleteAlways in my heart!
mom xoxoxox
Hey Jen,
ReplyDeleteWow! This is so cool that I found your blog! My boyfriend, Tim Vanden Boom is one of the 18 in your SAS group! I have been having issues figuring out a mailing address for him-- would it be the same as yours except with his name inserted instead of yours? (And minus the Hermana part as well?) Sorry to bother you, but I was SO ecstatic when I found your blog, and I desperately want to write to Timmy! :)
Thanks,
Kristin
Hey, kristin!! yes you can write tim using the same address!! (minus hermana!! haha) Tim is awesome--in my spanish class, and definitely says things that keep the class and teacher laughing!! good luck with the mailing!
ReplyDeleteHehe! Thanks Jen! I sent a letter to him last Monday so hopefully he'll get it soon! :) I can't tell you how thankful I am that I found your blog! And I'm not surprised at all by the comments he makes! :) That sure sounds like Timmy! So exciting about finding your placement on Weds!! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks again!!
~Kristin