2 days in

So, I'm here.  I know that it was sudden, and Sunday was exhausting, but it now feels like a week has gone by!  There is so much to absorb!  I am, as expected, going to battling, with my cultural independence...I currently have to depend on others for rides.  Yesterday, Cheryl and I walked from the school, on a busy street, because we didn't really want to wait.  It was safe enough, but we got muddy feet!  We found a huge tree to climb, which we were kindly told NOT to climb, a pool, for 2 dollars, and a bakery, pizza, and convenience store.  Everyone is very kind here, we have been offered many rides, and for the most part, no one but taxi drivers, have gotten frustrated with our lack of language expertise!

So, I'll quickly give you a time-line update and background

Cheryl:
--she is my roommate, from Texas, we are both 2nd born of four children (3 girls and 1 boy), our favorite color is yellow, we both are simple, and I guess don't eat very much....she eats less than I!

Sunday:

• arrived about 1:00 in the afternoon, we quickly realized it was always HUMID here, not necessarily hot, but HUMID!
• We were taken to our fully furnished apartment, with some food, and didn't have enough time to unpack before the kind neighbor, the school's librarian, was over and introducing himself, a sweet man!  But we may have not been the best company as we were tired!
• mind you....Cheryl and I, both, did not sleep on Saturday night!
• Mindy, one of the teachers, stopped by later in the afternoon, maybe 5:00, helped us unpack, and then came back a bit later to pick us up for pizza, and brought us back home afterwards
• We went to sleep!  I was exhausted!

Monday:

• Orientation today!
• We met everyone else who is new this year, there are about 12 of us. 
• Went over Panama culture
• Left about 11:00 
• Cheryl and I, joined a tour....no one else from the school went on this, but we made some new friends, I think they are friends from the church, Carmella, and Sonya, seem to be wonderful!
• We toured the city in a trolley and learned that Panamanians, although they don't drive fast, get in many fender benders!...they drive as if they are all in bumper cars!
• We arrived home about 7:00 ate a ham and cheese melt
• We explored our yard a bit, and the garage, found the button that turned on our hot water!
• Found a termite nest
• made friends with the neighborhood cats
• ....and SLEPT!

Tuesday:

• Orientation-- we got computers for our classroom today, learned a bit about renweb--the computer system for the school, and saw our classrooms!  They are nice, and we seem to have all the amenities
• We couldn't seem to find a ride as soon as we may have liked and so we walked home
• Stopped at the Chinese Garden, a fruit stand, where I got diced mango for a $1.50, there were probably 3 mangos in there!  They were delicious!
• On the way home we explored, Clayton, the old military base, where we are staying.  The military base is very large, but has been converted into a residential area since America left Panama in 1999. 

Wednesday (Today):

• Orientation---we went over the philosophy of the school, Biblical Integration, which doesn't seem as easy to accomplish as I originally thought. 
• At about 11:00 everyone came together for orientation, we played a name game, and then ate lunch together, we had chicken, salad, rice and beans, plantains, soda, I think that's it....
• Cheryl and I decided to be explorative and jumped on a bus to the mall.  The buses are old school buses from the states, called diablo rojo (the red devils) I guess they drive a bit crazy, and so they do!  But it only cost a quarter
• The mall was huge, I didn't get anything, I was overwhelmed! 
• Left the mall, found the bus terminal to travel elsewhere, like costa rica, and maybe the beach
• Took the Taxi home, that cost five fifty, too much, but at least we talked them down from eight dollars!  I think it should have only been three dollars or so, but their excuse was traffic! Maybe that's true....

So it has been good, and full so far.  I suppose maybe a few of my dashed expectations:

• the beach is an hour away, I want to go so badly!
• I can't talk to my family on the phone or skype or anything yet and I want to!
• transportation is disappointing
• The sun ALWAYS goes down at 6:00 everyday. 
• It's rainy season, so sunny in the morning, but in the afternoon, the clouds roll in....don't expect me to have a tan in December...the next time you see me!

Tomorrow:

• Orientation, who knows what the rest of the day will be!
• Tonight....I need to do some school work, look at the web, log in, and maybe, just maybe, get an idea for my curriculum for the year!

Love you all so much!  As of right now feel free to comment or write here, otherwise I have ichat, skype, and my e-mail: rhexom81@gmail.com