Saludos de Chichica

Hey guys, what´s up?
I´m just working on the project management and leadership seminar (looks like I will have to do it in April after all) so I´m getting a little legwork done on that. It is so HOT!!! It must be at least 95 degrees in here if not more. I hate coming to San Felix. But I needed to take money out of my account so here I am.

So I guess the neighbors are going to have a wild shindig tomorrow night. They are throwing a dance to celebrate the foundation of the comarca and also to raise funds to put a floor in their store. I helped them haul the small mountain of beer and soda down the hill, there are probably a hundred cases of beer, seco (panamanian equivalent of vodka), and rum, and about 8 cases of soda. So I think I will make an early appearance and then disappear once things start getting crazy.

I renovated my baño because the old one was falling to pieces. So now I have a bamboo shower that is still doorless but I will have to figure that out later. At least it covers more than it used to. Also, that day a group of gringos from Kansas appeared at my house after installing a water purification system at Tía Lipa´s house. So I talked to them for a bit. One of the guys was a doctor that says he´s been here several times doing volunteer medical work, but he still can´t even pronounce the word Ngäbe (it´s pronounced like Nawbey, for all you who don´t know - he says it Newbie). Anyway, they were nice and were excited to share they water purifiers with the communities around here. I hope that the people will actually use and maintain them properly, we´ll see about that.

Also this week there was another meeting with the community and the community development program in Peace Corps to talk about sending a business volunteer here. It is looking more and more like a sure thing, the sub-director sees a lot of potential here for that program (which is why I recommended it, although she was skeptical at first). So I will probably get a site-mate in October. I hope we click, it would suck to have to share the town if we don´t get along.

What else has happened. . . oh yeah, it looks like I will be teaching classes one full day a week in the elementary school. Apparently they no longer have an actual english teacher like they did last year so I will be stepping in to help. I still have yet to talk with the high school director about what I will be doing with them, she ran out on my appointment yesterday. Typical.

Also, it´s official. I have purchased my plane ticket for April 19 and will be returning here on May 4, so make room for me in your schedules during this time! I plan on gorging myself on all my favorite foods, visiting family and friends, and doing some fun and relaxing stuff for a few days. Well, it´s hot and I need to get more work done and actually get back to Tolé before 5:00 so I don´t miss my chiva, so I´d better go now. I don´t have any new pictures this week, my apologies. Ja tuaita!