Wednesday, October 17, 2012
This past week was really fun :) I did not do alot of crazy things, but I had fun just hanging out with friends after school and such! I went into David most of the time and went to the gym after school! Yesterday I went into David again to pay for my internet and get something to eat with my friend too! I am a little sick and I don't know what from but I am going to the doctors today to get me all better for next Monday! On Monday I'm going to a beach near Panama City with some of the AFS kids! We are sleeping in huts on the beach so that will be really fun to see everyone again! Its been almost 2 months since we have! Saturday I will be going to the movies with some kids from AFS as well who I just found out live closer to me than I thought! It is only 3 bucks for a movie, so that is really great! Yesterday I also went to Pedro's house, who is a family friend and his wife wanted me to straighten her hair. So we talked alot and had dinner and then I straightened her hair. I got to call all my family on the phone he has because it is the Magic Jack System! I tried to straighten one piece of my hair and it got curly again because of the heat, so then Pedro started telling me about the prices here for haircuts, and getting your hair straightened. Its 5 dollars for me to go get my hair straightened, 3 dollars for a haircut, and 5 dollars for a pedicure and manicure. That is so different from in the US and I feel as though when I get back, I'm not going to want to buy anything, thinking it is too expensive! haha! This Friday there is also a dance at my school so I will be going to that with my best friend Yesenia! Classes are getting much easier and I understand most things the teacher says unless they speak super fast. I am doing all my homework fine, completing projects fine, etc etc. I have made friends fast and hang with them between classes, and after school too! I keep having dreams that I'm at home with all my friends and it has been really hard adjusting but I am settling in good and I know I can do it! My Spanish is getting better to the point where I have full conversations with people for a good hour and I am fine! My sister said " cuando tu primero llegar aqui en panama tu no hablas en Espanol y ahora tu siempre hablando en espanol " ! Translates to " when you first arrived in Panama, you did not speak Spanish but now you are always speaking in Spanish " ! I am really enjoying my family, they are really understanding ! :D I miss my family and friends and my own bed, but I know that this experience is good for me and will make me appreciate home and my family that much more! <3 xoxoxox Madison
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Sorry I haven't uploaded much! The last two days I have not had school because there has been a water suspension and I think they are painting the gym. We will make these up probably at the end of the year! I went back to my house where I am now, listened to music and later I will go into the city with my host Uncle here to check if my mail came then maybe go see a movie later with some friends. Going into the city there's alot of different culture things. On the side of every road there are markets where you can buy everything, sort of like a Rite Aid store. These are also on the corner of every neighborhood too, with MoviStar painted on them, which is the local phone company. There are bikes with carts attached to them in the city where you can buy fruits or juice whenever and they are all over the place. There are also things called " Paquetera's" which you have to put all your other bags other than a purse before you go into the store and you receive a card with a number on it, so once you are done shopping you can get your other things. I guess this may prevent theft from people stuffing things into backpacks and other shopping bags. When we went into the city there was a festival going on where they were celebrating! Girls wore traditional Panamanian dresses which are really dressy and colorful, I will take a picture of it next time! There was a singing competition or concert and so my friends went and listened in the Park, which I have a photo of! It is a really pretty place, with lots of palm trees, shady spots, music, food, waterfalls and markets every weekend. Outside the park is downtown David which has everything, including the movie theater where we went after. To watch a movie, get popcorn, and a soda I think it cost me 5 or 6 bucks. The ticket was 2.75, which is awesome compared to 10. Also in David there is alot of small corner shops or outdoor fruit markets. People set up small stations and sell things like bracelets, fruit, or other food. Theres also still little booths you can get your shoes shined at, just like you see in the old movies. It rains every day here and cools off for the night time to the point where you can be comfortable in jeans and a long sleeve shirt or a sweatshirt. School is getting easier, which is good! I am really enjoying it and maybe I will want to stay longer, who knows. I am getting into a pattern, making friends quickly, speaking more Spanish every day, and getting along with my family ! XOXOXO Madison
Thursday, September 27, 2012
This week has been awesome! I have started to feel what missing home is like. I keep having dreams that I went home for a day and got to hug all my friends and family just once more. Sometimes I wake up thinking I am in my room, but I am lucky I am in such a good situation. I went for some more walks after school this week, and got to know more people, and the people that I do know, better. I am going to the movies and the mall on Saturday with some friends from school so that should be fun too. I am starting to get into a pattern and really love where I am living. I want to convince my family to move here ! I love my school, classes are hard but I enjoy the challenge. I love my teachers, they are so helpful and understand when I don't understand certain things. I am presenting already in front of my class and talking Spanish in detail every day. People here are so kind. For example on the bus I had to stand up with my friend because all the seats were taken and two guys gave us their seat and stood up. Everyone greets you with a hug and a kiss on the cheek and always asks how you are doing. There's not alot of judgement's at all. People want to help me with everything and I am so thankful for that. My family is great and has been understanding of everything and all my struggles and have helped so much! I love where I am, I love my school, I love my friends! Tonight I went to the park to talk with some of my friends who live in my neighborhood and tomorrow night I play basketball with some of them, and go for a run. I am hopefully going to try and look into cheering in the city because I do miss it! I don't have any new pictures because I don't bring my camera to school! I will try to take more pictures this weekend and upload them with captions this time! Miss You All! xoxoxox
Saturday, September 22, 2012
This week was my first week of school! I haven't updated much so sorry for that ! I really love my school and my friends. Within five minutes I had people introducing themselves and wanting to help me around the school and to my classes. I was placed in the 12th grade my first few days because of the classes but then moved down to the 11th grade so I could get credits relevant to my classes at home. I have made a group of friends and get many smiles and hello's everyday from new people! It is defiantly different here school wise. Classes arent as long and the environment is very different. I like it though, its something different. For example every friday we go to the church and listen to the christian music and are welcome to go into the church to pray or stay outside in the park and just listen. I usually stick with my friends from school during these times and they have been really helpful with the whole adjusting piece of this. My Spanish is getting better every day and I can hold conversations and feel fine going out to the city with friends and speaking for myself! School goes from 730 to about 1130 or 12 and then after school everyone either plays sports or hangs out with friends. For example, on Wednesday I went for a walk with my friends and we bought juice and walked around the town my school is in! Thursday I did the same and same as Friday. It is really nice to enjoy the simplicity of it all! I also sometimes will watch the volleyball games in the gym after school or when we have breaks ! I went into the city with the other girl from the US who was here yesterday and got some things I needed. The prices are really great here and I feel safe. My family is awesome and remain so helpful! I am thankful I was placed in such a good situation. I take a bus to school in the mornings and have to wake up early because it is public transportation and not a school bus! I am really enjoying my time here but everyday I miss my family, friends, and doggie more and more but thats only natural. I dont have much else to say because this week was laidback. School and walking with my new friends! I dont have any new pictures but I will take some this next week at school! :)
Sunday, September 16, 2012
I have officially been in Panama for a week, well at my house with my host family, plus two other days for orientation! I have had a laid back day today after traveling to boquete yesterday! We went to see one of their cousins farms and we picked fresh vegetables and then went to the cousins house to have lunch and played piano for everyone! It was so cool seeing this town since I had heard about through my uncle and aunt. I have really started enjoying my time here. Today we didn't have anything planned and it was a rainy cool day so we all just hung around the house because tonight we had a little party for AFS. I got to see my friend who lives near me and another girl from Thailand who lives close to me too. I also met the pastor of the church who gave me his guitar to use, after I explained to him that I play piano and guitar at home. People here are so generous, even the cousin gave me a book about Panama and the different places. We had some tacos and rice tonight for dinner at the party and just talked, it was a good time. Then I went to the seamstress in my neighborhood because my skirt for school is too long and it needed to be cut I guess. The day before Boquete we went to Dolega with the uncle and got juice and did some errands, and than later went into the city and he brought us to the mall! We looked around, and then went to get Chinese food and then went to the dad's work and talked for a while untill my dad here was out of work. It has been a very good first week here and I am so appreciative of my family here. They always understand when I'm tired, they provide me with beyond what I expect, and always ask if I am okay or if I need anything. Tomorrow I have to wake up at 5 am to get ready to catch a bus for 6 then to school for the day! I am excited to meet new people and especially to wear my hot uniform. :P Adios!
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