tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60008091474134129642024-02-07T11:57:07.968-05:00Mel's AdventuresReturned Peace Corps Volunteer trying to readjust to life back in the States. The contents of this Web site are still mine personally and still do not reflect any position of the U.S. government or the Peace Corps.Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12816540880833370824noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000809147413412964.post-77237217099529533352010-07-15T12:21:00.001-05:002010-07-15T12:21:34.620-05:00jobsSo i just got an automated email about a job i applied for back in No-freaking-vember! It was one of the jobs off of USAjobs/AVUE so it's kind of expected... but still. The only difference between this one and the other automated messages I've received from applications on that site is that this one said I was actually found to be eligible! So my app has been forwarded to the hiring manager and in a few more weeks I may here something back. Or not. I don't know what to think. I mean really it's still up in the air and vague. But furthur along than any of the other jobs I applied for off those sites. And it's for USAID in D.C. It's just a secretary position, but it starts at GS-8, which is $10,000 more a year than I get right now with the SSA. But I just started here and it might (*cough* WOULD) be rude to leave so soon. But it would be a better job... in D.C. Who knows. It probably won't go anywhere anyway. I was just so surprised to get the email. November. Damn. Stupid agencies that know their jobs are desired. :-pMelaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12816540880833370824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000809147413412964.post-10142833926190485942010-06-15T00:17:00.003-05:002010-06-15T00:21:03.984-05:00Benefits!I'm enrolled in a dental plan! And tomorrow when I fax in my other form I'll be enrolled in a general health plan! I have benefits! :) Kind of exciting I think. :-p Such a nerd. Work at the SSA has been alright. Not much to do to start with. The official training class won't start until September or October... so until then there's only so much I'll be able to do. And it kinda seems like no one there really knows what to do for now. Good planning, eh? I don't even have a desk yet! But, again I know I'm a nerd, I'm kinda excited to have my own desk. Cause I have a silly love of office supplies. And organization. And I'll be able to decorate it! Hee,hee! But they have to promote someone first then I'll get the desk they vacate. Hopefully soon... cause if I had a desk at least I'd be able to look like I was working. ;) Just observing so far. So yea, not super exciting. But it'll be good. Everyone in the office is super nice so far. It's a good place so I think I'll like it. :)Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12816540880833370824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000809147413412964.post-2628262621093040352010-06-04T20:11:00.003-05:002010-06-04T20:14:54.972-05:00PeopleToday was my last day working at the Census. And I have to say, that while the job may have been boring and tedious, I met some awesome people there. And I'm going to miss them. Though some I know I'll see again as we've actually become real friends. :-p But it's amazing how the people you work with can make a job that much better (or worse). I just feel lucky to have met them. :)<br /><br />So I start at the SSA on Monday. I got an email linking me to a page with all the paperwork for new employees and HOLY CRAP! So much paperwork! Which I was expecting but jeez! And all the health benefits stuff... I'm glad I get benefits finally but now I actually have to figure out what it all means and which plan to pick. :-p And retirement info. I'm almost 27, I've never thought about starting a retirement plan. But I guess I am now. And everyone tells me it's a very good thing to do so I guess it'll work out. :-p I'm happy about the job. And I would say I'm nervous but I'm not actually cause at this moment I still don't really have any idea what it is I'll be doing. :-p<br /><br />So here opens a new chapter in my life.Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12816540880833370824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000809147413412964.post-54892563064065875192010-05-15T00:57:00.001-05:002010-05-15T01:03:09.413-05:00New JobI got a new job! A "real" job! With the SSA actually. But not in Ohio, which is good. After turning down the job in Ohio, a lady from the SSA office here in Spokane called to see if I was still coming in for fingerprinting. I told her no cause I turned down the job and she just asked if I wanted to interview at the Spokane office. So of course I did and she pretty much just offered me the job on the spot at the interview. She really didn't even ask any interview questions. I guess she just figured that since I had already interviewed for the Ohio office and they wanted me, that was good enough! :-p So, a job with the SSA. With a salary. And benefits. Where they expect me to stay for years! I've never had that. This is my first real job, that isn't just a temporary thing. Crazy. So this also means I'll be living here in Spokane for a few years. That's interesting as well. I don't think I was expecting that when I first came out here three months ago. Craziness. I'm excited though. I'm excited to have a salary and the possibility of not stressing about money all the time. :-p And being able to afford trips! Like to Africa with Adam! Hahaha. :-p So that's the update. I start on June 7th. Staying at the Census as long as I can until then cause they said I could and hey, there's not reason to quit early if I can continue to get paid until I start SSA training. Yay! :)<br /><br />In other news. The weather here in Spokane the last couple of days had been BEAUTIFUL and WARM!!! It's so freaking nice. Finally. :-pMelaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12816540880833370824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000809147413412964.post-87051047299813829102010-04-19T18:53:00.001-05:002010-04-19T18:58:09.364-05:00Busy!Today was a busy busy day at work. But it was nice! They trained me to work at the front desk. Which is usually pretty simple, but today being Monday I think it was overly busy. All the FedEx shipping and data entry and manning the phone and just yea. Busy. A nice change from the boredom that was the recruiting desk. And my supervisor is awesome. She purposefully requested I work the front desk because that way I'll be able to stay employed through the entire census operation, whereas most people leave throughout the months as different periods come to a close. I've told her many times that I want to stay employed there as long as possible so it's nice to know she likes me enough to make that happen. :) Then of course she told me she got a call from the SSA about me, as I had put her down as a reference. She's happy because she wants me to get a real (read: permanent) job but I don't know what to do. I guess it's good that they're following up on my references but I really hope they change their mind about the relocation expenses. At this point I just can't afford to move to Cleveland even if they do offer me a job. So hopefully they'll decide to help out a little, since they said that while they can offer relocation expenses they just don't. We'll see. Otherwise things are good. I had fun in Reno with Allie. Lost some money of course, but it was still good times. :) And it's a freaking beautiful day here! Sunny and hot! So glad to see Spring arrive! :)Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12816540880833370824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000809147413412964.post-26322607867608205922010-03-23T15:31:00.000-05:002010-03-23T15:34:09.891-05:00Staying hereI got an office job today with the Census Bureau so I won't be going to Alaska! It's a full time job that'll last like 8-12 weeks ish. So I'm happy. I didn't really want to go to Alaska again. I mean, I like it up there. But I'd like to visit. I just moved here, and I'm happy to stay around for awhile. So yay! :)<br /><br />I went to roller derby practice last night. It was interesting. Jenn and I went to a bout two weeks ago and it was really fun so thought I'd try it out. It doesn't hurt my ankle as much as ice skating does so that was good. And I only fell real hard on my ass once so go me! So we'll see how that goes. I don't know if I'll be good enough to join a team, but we'll see. If nothing else it's fun.<br /><br />So it's been a good couple of days. I'm happy. Much happier now that I have a job that starts tomorrow. Whoo-hoo! :)Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12816540880833370824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000809147413412964.post-77394287321191768432010-03-10T23:52:00.001-05:002010-03-10T23:52:00.795-05:00Alaska?So I just applied for jobs in Alaska again. Same job I did before (driver/guide) or other jobs with the same company. They made me put three choices so my first was Driver/Guide in Juneau again and the other two were at lodges in other places. I don't know. I just thought "well I might as well apply." See what happens. Have it for a back up. I mean I would think I could get a job before May. Or I'm gonna have serious money problems. And if I work in Alaska I'd have to pay rent in Spokane as well since our rent is until November and I'm not going to leave Jenn hanging. She could possibly sub lease for the summer (her idea) but then I'd have to pack up all my shit. Again. But I know I'd be back in Spokane since, like I said, the lease is until November and I'd be back at the end of September. So we'll see. I don't know. Just felt like I should have a back up or something. I did make lots of money in Juneau. That'd be super nice...Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12816540880833370824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000809147413412964.post-42761148584788091392010-03-10T00:31:00.002-05:002010-03-10T22:07:19.619-05:00wishesWhy is it that I have so many travel ideas... so many possibilities, and yet I know I won't be able to do probably any of them. This sucks. I hate having no money. I need a job! I want to make a lot of money but be able to take lots of vacation in between work in order to travel. That's everyone's wish, right? If only. :( I'm going to Reno next month with Allie. Been planning to go to Vegas in June with Jenn and peeps. Then of course there's Adam in Alaska I'd like to visit if I could but that probably won't happen. Then, even less probable, Bali. Garry called me today. Garry the Australian I met in Peru. And he's going to Bali in June. June 17th to be exact. I said it'd be fun for me to go since that's my birthday. But freaking Bali. So expensive. Tickets are around $1500. But how awesome would that be? Though so not likely. Sadness. I wish I were rich. :(Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12816540880833370824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000809147413412964.post-72812439523330795182010-03-06T00:27:00.001-05:002010-03-06T00:27:56.711-05:00So happy!My brother is engaged!!! Steven proposed to Ashley today! I'm so happy for them. :) I mean, since Christmas when Ashely came up here and met the whole family we knew it was gonna happen, just didn't know when. I mean, we took our family portraits with her in them! ;) So the wedding won't be till May or June of next year, but I'm so stinking happy for him. She's a fantastic girl. :)Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12816540880833370824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000809147413412964.post-52221319579230511142010-03-02T21:25:00.002-05:002010-03-02T21:31:12.867-05:00GrrrrrSo I went to donate plasma. Seeing as how I'm still unemployed and in desperate need of money, I figured it'd be a good thing to do. It's even the first time I've found my overweight-ness to be a good thing because you get paid more the more you weigh. Since they can take more plasma. Go figure. So I get there and am doing the physical for new donors and in my stupid brain I figure it's probably good to do full disclosure. So I tell the doc. that I can't donate full blood due to a mis-immunization whenever long ago that made it so I showed a positive test for Hep. B back in high school. Well of course this results in a phone calls including to the Puget Sound Blood Center and here I am, now unable to donate plasma as well. Even though I never actually freaking had Hep. B and I'm pretty sure after all my Peace Corps tests and re-immunizations I wouldn't even test positive for it now. If I had never opened my big mouth, I could've earned some extra cash and donated at least 4 or 5 times before a positive test would've even been detected (if for some reason it did still come up) 'cause it takes them 14 days to get those test results. I hate myself. I could probably call Peace Corps and have them fax up my most recent test result since that was just in May. And maybe I will I don't know. I'm just angry.<br /><br />And I then I went to the car place to find out about my car and it turns out there is a huge coolant leak that's gonna cost me over $240 to get fixed. And only like $40 of that is for the actual part, the rest is labor. I hate mechanics.<br /><br />Did I mention I'm still unemployed? Grrrrr. So angry. :(Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12816540880833370824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000809147413412964.post-57294180968338276322010-02-14T21:25:00.002-05:002010-02-14T21:30:01.245-05:00Good TimesPanama was fantastic. My time back in Cabuya was actually really good. It's like by going back now, and not "working" there, I've finally crossed over into just being a friend to a lot of people. We played bingo, I went swimming in the river, relaxed. Joyce had her Christmas party. So it was good. And honestly, it was nice to be there and just do what I wanted. To not worry about visiting everyone and making a great impression. I got to be more me. And the people I didn't want to see, I didn't go visit! What an idea. ;) It was just nice. And Loki is still all healthy and great, which was super nice to see. He totally remembered me. :) I even slept in my old house for my two nights in town. Then I went to the city and got to see Luz and family. That was really nice since I hadn't seen them before I left the first time. Zulai turns 15 in August. Crazy.<br /><br />Now I'm all moved into my apartment in Spokane with Jenn! And I like it, it's super cute. It kinda still feels like I'm just visiting - I don't think I've quite wrapped my head around the fact that I am staying here. Even though I bought myself and bed and finished unpacking everything today... I like the place. And I think Jenn and I will be good roommates. So yay. :)<br /><br />And now, I just finished filing my taxes. I'll be getting $586 back. :) Whoo-hoo! I definitely need the money. So yea, things are going really well right now.Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12816540880833370824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000809147413412964.post-15397015593558937862010-02-03T12:59:00.002-05:002010-02-03T13:02:56.393-05:00yumI just had a lunch that consisted of 1/4 chicken fried (three small-ish pieces), rice with lentels and a coke. And it was only $3.85. Just one of the reasons I love it here. :-p I´m impressed with how well I´m handleing the heat. As in, totally fine and loving it. And it is indeed beautiful. I´m in Chitré right now, visiting Carlos, and they´re already setting up for Carnaval. Makes me kind of sad I´m leaving before the festivites start since I´m hearing so much about it, but at least I got to experience it twice. And I know it really would be a pain in the ass to try to stay for a couple days of that and then try to leave. So it´s all good. Mostly I´m just relaxing. It´s kinda nice being here and not having to think about anything work related. That´s what vacation is for, right? :)Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12816540880833370824noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000809147413412964.post-4503629122526608352010-02-01T10:05:00.002-05:002010-02-01T10:09:44.889-05:00Home...I´m back in Panama. And it´s fantastic. I flew in last night and immediately got on a bus to come here to Penonomé (heh! I can use accent marks again!). On the bus ride, the driver played a bachata mix almost the whole was that was mostly Aventura. That was a good welcome home. :) I showed up to Steph´s house and everyone was already sleeping and I was super tired too so that was good. It´s as hot as I expected, but it is of course beautiful out. I had an hojaldre this morning for breakfast. And the waitresses (who know me because I ate at that restaurant all the time) gave me my first ¨Wow you´ve gotten fat!¨ comment. I just kinda laughed it off. I was expecting those. I´m sure I´ll get more. :-p But it´s nice to be back. It´s amazing how it feels kinda like I never left. I feel like I know this place better than Kenmore in some ways. I immediately felt totally comfortable and I know exactly where things are and where I´m going. It´s nice. :) Today I´m going to spend some time catching up with Steph and tomorrow I´m off to Chitré to see Carlos. :) Yay!Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12816540880833370824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000809147413412964.post-54503810358589514462010-01-30T17:52:00.002-05:002010-01-30T17:56:42.010-05:00Panama!I'm going to Panama tomorrow! I'm so excited. :) It's only for 10 days, but still. SO EXCITED!!! And not just for the sun and warmth and beach and lack of rain... also for my boyfriend, and family, and my doggy! It's gonna be great. I land at like 7:30pm and am straight getting on a bus and heading to Penonome. Cause really, why would I need to stay in Panama City? I'll be going to the Chitre area first to see Carlos and some old friends, then heading to Cabuya for the weekend to see everyone there. Then in the last day or two I'll head to the city and make a visit to Santa Clara before leaving. I'm so stoked! :)<br /><br />And then when I get back I'll be packing up my car and moving to Spokane! We found an apartment, I got approved without a co-signer (yay!) and Jenn is already moving in! It's a cute two bedroom right across the street from where she lives now. Super convenient location, only like 15 minute walk to downtown. I like it. :) And it's less than $600/mth! So really good financially. So Jenn's already moving in and we're paying rent, so I'll be heading over as soon as possible when I get back. I get back late on the 10th so I'm planning to be in Spokane on the 12th. All is good! The next step, right? Now I just need to find a job over there. :-pMelaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12816540880833370824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000809147413412964.post-40085322064148339262010-01-23T02:56:00.000-05:002010-01-23T02:58:06.822-05:00Spokane it isGot the email today. No job. Sadness. Expected by this point, but still disappointed. So I'm for sure moving to Spokane next month. Looking for a job. Guess we'll see how it goes. Spokane. Guess we'll find out how much I do or don't like living in E.WA.! But hey, at least I'll be closer to two of my best friends. :)Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12816540880833370824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000809147413412964.post-24917116944518910122010-01-22T14:21:00.002-05:002010-01-22T14:25:08.654-05:00waiting waiting waitingStill waiting to hear back from the Hole in the Wall Camps people. She said she'd get back to me this week, either way the decision went (second interview or not). And now it's Friday. And they're on the East Coast so it's even three hours later on Friday over there. And still nothing. Bah. This does not give me hope. I even sent a nice "follow-up" email to her yesterday as a reminder. Sad panda. I wanted this job. :(<br /><br />So I'll be heading to Spokane on Sunday to do some apartment research with Jenn. Get that squared away so that I have an idea of where I'll be moving to when I return from Panama. Spokane. Oh joy. Especially since I just discovered this week that I think my aunt and uncle who we don't talk to anymore cause she went crazy and decided to rant against my family years ago and cause a huge rift... I think they may live in Spokane. Hope I never run into them. Hey it's a big city, right? Bah again.Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12816540880833370824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000809147413412964.post-81215339815112413722010-01-20T17:46:00.003-05:002010-01-20T17:53:38.337-05:00"New" blogSo I've decided to give this another go. Try to start writing again. But like I said in the previous post, I'm not good at back-writing. So unfortunately you'll just have to deal with the fact that a lot of information got left off here. :-p For a quick summary... My Peace Corps COS date was July 29th. So I haven't been a PCV for almost six months. I'm now simply an RPCV (Returned peace corps volunteer). :-p However I didn't make it back to the states until September 15th 2009. After my COS I sailed to Colombia (Cartagena, specifically) and discovered I'm not a sailer. From Cartagena I flew to Peru and spent like what, 3 weeks there? Something like that. Cusco, Machu Picchu, Arequipa, Nazca Lines, Huacachina, Lake Titicaca... all that jazz. Then I went back to Panama for a week before coming home. It was an amazingly awesome trip. Despite getting sick and having some stuff stolen. Still awesome. :)<br /><br />Anyways now I'm back home. Been here for four months. Had a seasonal job at Macy's but that's done now. Bought a car. Now I'm trying to find another job. I'm going back to Panama for a 10 day visit - the first 10 days of February - so I'm looking for work for when I get back. And I'll be moving. I have a potential job opportunity for a job I really really want and would be awesome and that's in Connecticut. Still waiting to hear back if I get a second interview for that one or not. If I do get hired (please!) I'll be moving to New Haven Connecticut. If not, I'll be moving to Spokane. I know, who would've ever thought I'd be moving to Eastern Washington? Not me, that's for damn sure. But hey, it's cheaper over there. And I'd be living with Jenn and I'd be closer to Allie. And a little further from my parents (anywhere is further since I'm currently living in their house). So Spokane is better because it's cheaper and frankly my job opportunities are just as good out there as they are here. So yea. A month from now, I'll be living somewhere else. Still trying to figure out where though. :-pMelaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12816540880833370824noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000809147413412964.post-56569450681380329682010-01-04T05:19:00.000-05:002010-01-04T05:22:00.111-05:00hmmm...I need to do something with this blog. A lot happened that I never wrote about. Such as my last couple of months in Panama and my trip to Colombia and Peru. And being back home. Where I've been now for almost four months. So yea, I need to do something. But I don't think I'm very good at back-writing... so we'll see. Maybe I'll start a new blog. Or change the name and layout of this one to reflect the fact that I'm no longer a PCV. Vamos a ver. :)Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12816540880833370824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000809147413412964.post-68083736876870839462009-05-18T16:42:00.003-05:002009-05-18T16:49:39.658-05:00swine fluYes, there is swine flu in Panama. Last count I heard was 54. Apparently we're moving up the list pretty quick. Us volunteers recieved "swine flu kits" sent from the Washington D.C. office. This kit consisted of a mask, antibacterial hand gel, and tamiflu. The tamiflu... we're not allowed to take it unless we're confirmed to have swine flu, not just any 'ole flu. Meanwhile, we have to keep it in a cool, dry place. Riiiiiiiiiight. Oh well. They can see the results of that experiment when we return the box at COS. Lukily for me that's only in 2 and a half months!<br /><br />Crazy. 2.5 months. I'm still in a kind of denial that I'm leaving. That I have to leave. Sadness. But tomorrow I'm flying to the San Blas islands on the Caribbean. I'm so excited! I've wanted to go there since I got here and finally I get to. And then next month I'm going to go on a trip to Coiba with a bunch of other volunteers. I'm going to enjoy my time here before I go, dammit! Then I'll probably sail to Colombia and fly down to Peru to hit up Machu Picchu and see Lake Titicaca. Good times! :)<br /><br />Oh, and for those of you who wanted an update, Martinelli won the election. He'll be inagurated in July. The new Vice President, Varela, lives in the same building as my PC Panama Friends host family in Panama City. Oh yea, I gotta live it up every once in awhile. :)Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12816540880833370824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000809147413412964.post-45623743530425900652009-05-01T12:17:00.002-05:002009-05-01T12:33:46.625-05:003 monthsToday is May 1st. I have exactly three months left in Panama. My COS date is July 30th because, unfortunately, I did not get the job I applied for that would have kept me here another year. Oh well, there are other things, right? But three months! I'm not sure how I feel about that yet. I feel like there is still so much I wanted to do, and see. And this place has become home for me. And I'm going to have to leave that all behind. But I miss my friends and family back home. It will be good to see them. And instead of going straight home I plan on doing some traveling around South America first, so I'm really excited for that. I think it's just harder because when I left the states to come here, yes I was leaving all my friends and family for two years and I knew I wouldn't see them for awhile and it was hard. But I knew I would be coming back. I knew it was only temporary. But now... I'm leaving a whole new set of friends and family. But I don't know when I'll be coming back. I think that's harder. I wasn't expecting to grow such deep roots here.<br /><br />In other news. Panama is holding elections on Sunday. For a new president but also for an entirely new government. Every five years Panama holds elections and that is for all positions, from the most local representatives, to their type of senators and congressman, up to the president. So it's pretty intense. But I have to say, I will be so excited when it is all done! Watching the process has been quite an experience. There are three presidential candidates: Martinelli, Balbina and Endara. Though Endara just seems to be kind of there without any real support, it's really between Balbina and Martinelli. To be honest, I don't really know much difference between the political parties and the candidates. But that's ok, because as a PCV I'm supposed to be neutral. I'm just excited for it to be over because the propaganda has been crazy! I don't even know how to describe it. Just overwhelming. And I'm happy it's almost over.<br /><br />There have been no reported swine flu cases in Panama. That's all I have to say about that.<br /><br />I was going to write about something else I'm sure, but now I've forgotten. School has begun. We've got a round of Captain Planet next week. A volunteer in Veraguas put together a showing of the Vagina Monologues with actresses from the University of Panama last night and it was AMAZING. Absolutely fantastic showing, with a great turn out. I had the privelege of bringing some women from my community for the day to participate in some charlas about HIV/AIDS and domestic violence before seeing the monolouges and it was just a great day. I think the participants got a lot out of it. :)<br /><br />The rainy season is starting. That may make it easier to leave in July.Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12816540880833370824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000809147413412964.post-45389001924280098932009-04-06T14:53:00.000-05:002009-04-06T14:54:19.770-05:00more picture albums ----->I just added three new photo album links on the right. Enjoy! :)Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12816540880833370824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000809147413412964.post-42770902314014910252009-03-27T11:57:00.001-05:002009-03-27T11:58:10.784-05:00Again...Also, a p.s., my Captain Planet team and I are still looking for help with funding. If you want to donate a little please please please visit this link. Thanks for all the help to those who have already donated!<br /><br /><a href="https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.donors.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=525-102">https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.donors.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=525-102</a>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12816540880833370824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000809147413412964.post-33431580508624044582009-03-27T11:17:00.002-05:002009-03-27T11:29:15.048-05:00COSEarlier this month two of my best friends from the states came to visit, Tara and Stuart. We had an awesome time! I even got to use it as a chance to do things I had not yet done in Panama. We visited a village of the indigenous group Embera. They live in the middle of the rainforest on the Rio Chagres. It was just gorgeous! To get there you have to take a 30 minutes canoe ride down the river and it was just so peaceful. At the village, the locals wear their native clothing and show off the local culture, artisan work and dances. It was pretty cool. I took a bunch of pictures I'll be posting on Facebook soon, so be sure to check back here for the new album link (or just look on Facebook). We also visited my friend Cassie's site on the beach (with the turtles, though no turtles at this time of year) and took a 4.5 hour horseback ride to a cabin in the middle of the mountains. That is the longest I have been on a horse and while it was gorgeous and super fun, it was also kind of painful. Especially the next day when we had to go back... :-p But it was awesome. It was just so wonderful to see Stuart and Tara and hang out and do adventurous things. It was a really good week. :)<br /><br />My best PC friend Allie, who is a volunteer in the province of Chiriqui, got hit by a car two weeks ago. She broke her leg which required surgery and now has a rod and 4 screws in her leg and is on crutches. She is healing remarkably well and is doing excellent in physical therapy, but due to stupid, contradicting, expensive, peace corps washington medical rules, they have decided she has to go home to finish healing. So, sadly, she is being sent back to the states. But for what should only be about 6 weeks, and then she can get reinstated as a volunteer here. She is from the same group as me, but she was also planning on extending for a third year. So hopefully she comes back good as new. It just wouldn't be the same without her. :)<br /><br />Speaking of, I have officially applied for the job I want which would keep me here through August of 2010. I really really really want this job (volunteer regional leader) so send me good luck vibes! I'll let you know when I know. :)<br /><br />My parents arrive tomorrow! I'm so happy to see my parents! Unfortunetely they will be here over a mandatory conference, but we'll still have a good time. Really I'm just happy I get to see them again. :) We have our Close of Service conference next week for everyone in my group. It'll be the last time all of us are together at one place before July, when most of the group will leave (all those who aren't extending). Crazy. Only 4 months left of my official service.<br /><br />So anyway, all things are good. The mangos should be ready to eat any day now. :) I love having visitors. Life is excellent. :)Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12816540880833370824noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000809147413412964.post-62542158486922228332009-03-06T12:14:00.002-05:002009-03-06T12:21:05.858-05:00Carnaval!Once again, Carnaval was AWESOME! This year we went down to the town of Las Tablas, which is supposed to be the biggest Carnaval party in the country. It was indeed quite large. Lots and lots of people. But seriously, I just love Carnaval. It's one big street party, all day and night (with a couple hours in the afternoon off to recoup). Everybody's happy and dancing and drinking and just having a good time. Everyone's in a good mood (granted there are the random theives in the crowd, but they're easy enough to avoid). I stayed at my friend's house, who lives just a quick chiva ride out from Las Tablas, and we started the party on Friday night for the crowning of the queens. We then proceeded to go every morning to the culecos (remember culecos?!) and then every night to the street party. It. Was. Fantastic. Can't wait for next year! :)<br /><br />In other news, the Panamanian government decided to push the start of school back a month. So instead of starting March 9th (which would be this Monday...) they are not having the first day of school until April 13th! Why, you ask? Well because you see they try to do school remodeling and general fixer-uping during the summer season, naturally. Fixing bathrooms, redoing the zinc roofs, building new classrooms, that kind of thing. Well there are approximately 30 schools throughout the country that they just didn't get to in time and are in kind of a shabby state. So, in order to give those 30 schools enough time to get in line, they pushed back <em>the entire country</em> a whole month. *sigh* Oh, and the last day of school was pushed back 2 weeks. 2 weeks to make up for a month. So now they get out December 23rd. Craziness.<br /><br />But that does mean that while my friends are here visiting (SO EXCITED!) they don't have to sit around while I go teach some classes! Yay for visitors! :)Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12816540880833370824noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000809147413412964.post-76470004512175639122009-02-14T13:19:00.004-05:002009-02-14T13:28:29.922-05:00Camp, rain, and bugs... then PARTY!We had another Panamá Verde camp earlier this month. There were 4 communities involved (aka 4 volunteers who brought/sent kids from their sites). We went up to the national park in a town called Barrigón. I´ve been there before, once for a week during training and once for a regional meeting outing. It´s beautiful. We picked the first week of February because we figured we´d be enough into summer by then to avoid the rain. Boy howdy were we wrong. It´s summer every else in the country. But still raining at the park. Up in the mountains as it is. But this week not only did it rain, I think we were in a hurricane. For four days. Not only did it never stop raining for four days, the wind was ripping of the zinc roofs around our cabin (but luckily not the roof of the cabin we stayed in) and knocking people (like me) off their feet. And just so wet. Things that were dry and kept in the cabin somehow got damp anyway. We asked the kids a day early if they wanted to leave and they all screamed NO! Screw the rain. They were enjoying socializing and getting to know the other kids. And playing games games games. We had environmental activites planned but as they were mostly outside activites we didn´t get to do really any of them. So games it was. For four days. As I´m lazy, I´ve decided to copy the post of a fellow volunteer who was there, Kayla. She´s got her own blog she wrote this on. Sums it up pretty good.<br />1. Plan for rain. Did I say rain? Plan for a storm that will rip the roof right off the cabin and hurl it down into the steadily growing lake of mud. Plan for mud.<br />2. What do you do with twenty-five teenagers in one little cabin for three days? DANCE PARTY! And never underestimate the seductive power of a fifth grade girl in a mini skirt.<br />3. Wanna win their hearts? Fart and poop jokes are the ticket.<br />4. When planning, ask all the questions you never thought you’d have to ask: Um, is the only room in the park that fits thirty people going to be under construction the week that we are hosting thirty people in the park? Um, when you say that there is electricity in the cabin do you mean that there is electricity but we can’t use it unless we bring copious amounts of gasoline to run the generator?<br />5. Planning is for punks.<br />6. Did I say summer camp? There is no summer here; just wet and even wetter is gusty spurts.<br />7. Every camp needs a little fat kid to say stupid stuff and make everyone else look relatively grown up.<br />8. Make sure to limit talent show acts to one hour each unless you want to watch marathon versions of improv soap operas.<br />9. Yes, this is camp and it is cold and the water is like ice, but every Panamanian kid present is going to take two showers a day (minimum) and they will get up at 4:30am to make it happen. So schedule in showers.<br />10. Schedules are for suckers.<br />11. Nobody’s going to talk to you about “liability risk” around here. So let the kids hang from the rafters if they want to! Create mile-high human pyramids! Toss ‘em around a bit! Relish in the risky ‘cause back in the U.S. even Red-Rover has been deemed too dangerous.<br />12. When all else fails, put in your earplugs and let the dance party roll on....<br /><br />So that was camp. All in all, still incredibly successfull. Love camp.<br />At the last camp I acquired parasites in my stomach and had to go to the city the last day to get them diagnosed and to take the appropriate pills to get rid of them.<br />This camp... I didn´t have to leave early for anything and though I was fine and dandy. Till the spot on my back got worse and had to go to the doctor last week. Bugs are bad. That is all. (Don´t worry, not too bad. I´m fine and all.)<br /><br />But now... the party is coming! Carnaval starts the 20th! And goes through the 24th! For that time I will be staying at a fellow volunteer´s house who lives only minutes from the biggest party in the country. I will be wet again for four days, but this time voluntarily. :)Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12816540880833370824noreply@blogger.com0