It has begun! Wonderful children, and lots of work! :) I must say that I am happy for some time this weekend to do a good job of preparing for next week, but I am rather enjoying, yes, even the early wake up hour! Yesterday were introductions, today they students got their syllabus and books. I learned a new term last night called 3rd generation culture. It is true of many of my students. Many of the Students at Crossroads have 2 parents from 2 very different cultures. These cultures have synthesized and created my now student, who is growing up in a totally different culture from what is native to his or her parents.
And the rest of the week....well, I'm watching a bit of Whoopi Goldberg....Sister Act. I have befriended a wonderful cat named Tic-Toc, he greats us at the door, in and out, of course close to dinner time.... and we found a puppy across the road, whom I want to adopt, unfortunately he looks like he might be owned, he just may have worms (most likely) and a bum leg!
Well I miss you all lots and lots! I'll write more soon, I know I am leaving out some things that I had wanted to tell you...me and my short-term memory!
Friday, 5 August 2011
Sunday, 31 July 2011
Panamanianisms...a glossary of sorts
1. Panamanians don't go out in the rain! (A full Sunday 7/31/11)
2. Car language, involving the horn, which we learned on the causeway: (A Full Sunday 7/31/11)
2. Car language, involving the horn, which we learned on the causeway: (A Full Sunday 7/31/11)
- beep, bip, bip, beep, bip -- this means: "hi, look at me, I'm over here, how are you?...maybe I'm "hitting" on you...are you interested?
- Beeeeep -- MOVE, Your in my way!
- bip, bip --- Do you want a ride? ---usually a taxi
- bip, bip -- thank you
A full Sunday
Today was my first day of church in the area. The church that I attended was Crossroad Bible Church. It was good, not home, but everyone here is so friendly! An amazing story was told today in church, though. A family here, originally from Columbia, has just recently moved permanently to Guinea. The reason that this story is so impressive, the family has asked the church to STOP giving to them! Pastor Steve, started out this story with a story from scripture, Exodus (I believe chapter 35), here the Israelites had been building the tabernacle and the community had been so giving that they had exceeded what was needed for the making of the tabernacle, in fact, they had much too much. As a result Moses told the community to stop giving. I have NEVER heard of anyone telling a community to stop giving! I must say that I am impressed with this family!
And so after church! Today was beautiful, sunny all day! So I went for a walk....a fairly long walk...an hour or so... to El Club de Equitacion Club Clayton---I found some horses! Of course, they were closed :( But I found some! The club is closed, as are most establishments on Sundays, so I will need to find another day to visit and hopefully, they'll like me and let me in on a more regular basis! I am thinking a riding club for the school?.... :)
Well, after walking all the way to the club, I caught a taxi home, it was nice to not be slightly nervous, while walking, of crocodiles! I have yet to see any crocodiles, however, I heard that they were an issue last year, they scare me! On my walk out, I found myself leaning away from any small creek, pond, or sewer!
The rest of the day, I worked on lesson planning, and I feel I was relatively productive! Had dinner with Abby and Cheryl, and came home. We have a new teacher arriving tomorrow morning at 1, in the morning. And we are still in search of a music teacher...if anyone knows of someone who would like to teach in Panama!
Well, the days are getting earlier, tomorrow I arrive at school at 8, soon it will be much closer to 6:30, on that note, I think it may be nearing my bed time!
And so after church! Today was beautiful, sunny all day! So I went for a walk....a fairly long walk...an hour or so... to El Club de Equitacion Club Clayton---I found some horses! Of course, they were closed :( But I found some! The club is closed, as are most establishments on Sundays, so I will need to find another day to visit and hopefully, they'll like me and let me in on a more regular basis! I am thinking a riding club for the school?.... :)
Well, after walking all the way to the club, I caught a taxi home, it was nice to not be slightly nervous, while walking, of crocodiles! I have yet to see any crocodiles, however, I heard that they were an issue last year, they scare me! On my walk out, I found myself leaning away from any small creek, pond, or sewer!
The rest of the day, I worked on lesson planning, and I feel I was relatively productive! Had dinner with Abby and Cheryl, and came home. We have a new teacher arriving tomorrow morning at 1, in the morning. And we are still in search of a music teacher...if anyone knows of someone who would like to teach in Panama!
Well, the days are getting earlier, tomorrow I arrive at school at 8, soon it will be much closer to 6:30, on that note, I think it may be nearing my bed time!
One Full Week
So, I am thinking that there will be an added post called: Rebecca's Panamanianisms .....I'll probably just edit it throughout the year!
So my first one: Panamanians don't go out in the rain!
Mind you it IS warm out here, I have yet to experience temperatures below 70. Most likely they don't go out because it IS their winter. But I like being outside as you all know! So yesterday, Cheryl (my roommate), Abby (the 4th grade teacher), and I all went for a walk on the causeway. We returned SOAKED! Our shoes are still wet today from Saturday.....we don't keep our apartment too cold!
So, the causeway is a walkway that has been built to connect three islands on the Pacific side of the canal. The causeway, so I have learned was built using all of the land that was dug up in building the canal. And if you did not know, they are planning on expanding the canal for larger ships in the next couple of years!
Some more Panamanianisms: Car language, involving the horn, which we learned on the causeway:
1. beep, bip, bip, beep, bip -- this means: "hi, look at me, I'm over here, how are you?...maybe I'm hitting on you...are you interested?
2. Beeeeep -- MOVE, Your in my way!
3. bip, bip --- Do you want a ride? ---usually a taxi
or
4. bip, bip -- thank you
And then today at church, I learned about a "superstition": Many traditional Panamanians do not go immediately from something cold to something hot. For example, if you are cooking over the stove, one would NOT go to the refrigerator to grab something for dinner. For this reason, many Panamanians have 2 maids. One who only works with hot things, such as the ironing and cooking, and one who works with the cold things, such as the refrigerator, or maybe washing the floors. Interesting huh?
So my first one: Panamanians don't go out in the rain!
Mind you it IS warm out here, I have yet to experience temperatures below 70. Most likely they don't go out because it IS their winter. But I like being outside as you all know! So yesterday, Cheryl (my roommate), Abby (the 4th grade teacher), and I all went for a walk on the causeway. We returned SOAKED! Our shoes are still wet today from Saturday.....we don't keep our apartment too cold!
So, the causeway is a walkway that has been built to connect three islands on the Pacific side of the canal. The causeway, so I have learned was built using all of the land that was dug up in building the canal. And if you did not know, they are planning on expanding the canal for larger ships in the next couple of years!
Some more Panamanianisms: Car language, involving the horn, which we learned on the causeway:
1. beep, bip, bip, beep, bip -- this means: "hi, look at me, I'm over here, how are you?...maybe I'm hitting on you...are you interested?
2. Beeeeep -- MOVE, Your in my way!
3. bip, bip --- Do you want a ride? ---usually a taxi
or
4. bip, bip -- thank you
And then today at church, I learned about a "superstition": Many traditional Panamanians do not go immediately from something cold to something hot. For example, if you are cooking over the stove, one would NOT go to the refrigerator to grab something for dinner. For this reason, many Panamanians have 2 maids. One who only works with hot things, such as the ironing and cooking, and one who works with the cold things, such as the refrigerator, or maybe washing the floors. Interesting huh?
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