I've been thinking a lot about the future lately. The past 20 months have been spent living mostly in the moment, enjoying the freedom to do what makes me happy- be it reading books in my hammock, playing with the kids in my youth groups, spending time with other volunteers, or pasearing (~visiting) with people in my community. The time flew by and suddenly everyone is applying for jobs or grad school, making all kinds of plans for when they get back to the States. But mentally I'm still sitting in my hammock.
The past month I've thought a lot about extending my service with the Peace Corps. I miss home, and I miss my family and friends more than I can express, but I love my life here. I love the people I've met and all of the things I've experienced. I'm not in any rush to get back to the United States. Obviously I wouldn't extend just to extend. I would stay only if I felt that my work here was continuing to aid the people of Panama, while also challenging and fulfilling me.
I thought I had found what I was looking for in the HIV/AIDS Coordinator position. Usually a position held by a 3rd year Volunteer, the HIV/AIDS Coordinator travels the country, working with Volunteers in various communities helping host Health Fairs. They are an excellent resource for other Volunteers, many of whom aren't familiar with giving presentations on HIV/AIDS, Domestic Abuse, Sexual Reproduction, Family Planning, etc, especially in Spanish. They also keep in constant contact with local agencies like Panama's Red Cross and local health organizations. My favorite part of my service has been the many HIV/AIDS fairs that I have participated in, particularly those focused on young teens. I think the work, if I stayed, would be immensely rewarding and enjoyable.
The problem is that it looks like funding for the position may not be available until October, which would require a one-year extension on my part. Originally the job would have started in March, ending in March 2010, meaning I would have only been extending an additional 5 months. Now, though, the idea of not returning to the U.S. until October 2010 seems daunting. Like I've said many times, I love it here. But if I stayed until October 2010 I would have been in Panama for 39 months. I'm just not sure I have it in me.
As of this moment, right now, I am fully intending to go home in October of this year. A week ago I thought I would try to stay. Next week, who knows? I don't have to decide until August but I can't help but think about it often. Am I ready to go home? Am I ready to (try to) find a job in a struggling economy, to go back to the rat-race of climbing ladders and being better than the Joneses? Life is so calm and slow-paced here. Am I ready to give that up?
On the same note, could I really stay another 12 months? I am 27. If I extended I would be 29 when I got home. I still want to go to grad school. Someday I might like to start a family. I'm not getting any younger, that's for sure. But then again, what's one more year in the scheme of things?
So I go back and forth, back and forth, running the pros and cons through my head. Many of my friends are extending, and many of them are leaving. My friends and family in the states have been supportive when I've talked about extending, most citing the ridiculous economy as a good reason to stay away. I guess only time will tell. I have to decide by August and I think my decision will be made right at the deadline.
That's it for photos and comments from me. I hope everyone is doing okay wherever you may be and that we get to see each other soon. Love from Panama!
The past month I've thought a lot about extending my service with the Peace Corps. I miss home, and I miss my family and friends more than I can express, but I love my life here. I love the people I've met and all of the things I've experienced. I'm not in any rush to get back to the United States. Obviously I wouldn't extend just to extend. I would stay only if I felt that my work here was continuing to aid the people of Panama, while also challenging and fulfilling me.
I thought I had found what I was looking for in the HIV/AIDS Coordinator position. Usually a position held by a 3rd year Volunteer, the HIV/AIDS Coordinator travels the country, working with Volunteers in various communities helping host Health Fairs. They are an excellent resource for other Volunteers, many of whom aren't familiar with giving presentations on HIV/AIDS, Domestic Abuse, Sexual Reproduction, Family Planning, etc, especially in Spanish. They also keep in constant contact with local agencies like Panama's Red Cross and local health organizations. My favorite part of my service has been the many HIV/AIDS fairs that I have participated in, particularly those focused on young teens. I think the work, if I stayed, would be immensely rewarding and enjoyable.
The problem is that it looks like funding for the position may not be available until October, which would require a one-year extension on my part. Originally the job would have started in March, ending in March 2010, meaning I would have only been extending an additional 5 months. Now, though, the idea of not returning to the U.S. until October 2010 seems daunting. Like I've said many times, I love it here. But if I stayed until October 2010 I would have been in Panama for 39 months. I'm just not sure I have it in me.
As of this moment, right now, I am fully intending to go home in October of this year. A week ago I thought I would try to stay. Next week, who knows? I don't have to decide until August but I can't help but think about it often. Am I ready to go home? Am I ready to (try to) find a job in a struggling economy, to go back to the rat-race of climbing ladders and being better than the Joneses? Life is so calm and slow-paced here. Am I ready to give that up?
On the same note, could I really stay another 12 months? I am 27. If I extended I would be 29 when I got home. I still want to go to grad school. Someday I might like to start a family. I'm not getting any younger, that's for sure. But then again, what's one more year in the scheme of things?
So I go back and forth, back and forth, running the pros and cons through my head. Many of my friends are extending, and many of them are leaving. My friends and family in the states have been supportive when I've talked about extending, most citing the ridiculous economy as a good reason to stay away. I guess only time will tell. I have to decide by August and I think my decision will be made right at the deadline.
Anyway, enough with me and my indecisive rambling. Here are some photos (in very random order) to enjoy! 
My friend Kelly, who "Early Terminated" last August came back to visit her old community and her Peace Corps buddies this month. We got together in Santa Clara, a beach on the Pacific Coast. This is a shot from the walkway near our condo. The weather was perfect throughout her entire visit and it was great to see her again.
As many of you know, I have a bat, named Murci (short for murcielago, which means bat in Spanish) who lives in my shower. As it turns out I have more than just Murci and recently found one of his friends dead and decomposing on my shower floor. Awesome, right? He must have died up in the rafters and then fallen down after a suitable time in order to be nice a gross when I found him. 
The only downside for Kelly's visit was how cold the ocean water was. Normally like bath water, it was definitely chilly when we jumped in. And it turns out that the cold water is perfect for jellyfish. Kelly's friend got stung and later we saw the above styrafoam container full of jellyfish just sitting on the beach. We decided to give the ocean another try anyway but when a jellyfish about a foot in diameter started swimming towards me I freaked out and decided to stay out of the water for the rest of the trip. 
As I mentioned, my favorite work-related activity is giving HIV/AIDS fairs. I recently participated in one (though didn't present anything) on an island in the Pacifc. Above is Jim, talking about the male reproductive system.
And here is Robby, discussing the perils of alcohol abuse, a rampant problem in many rural communities.
This is la Puente de las Americas (Bridge of the Americas) which crosses the Panama Canal at the Pacific mouth. The Interamericana (the highway that runs from the the United States, through Mexico, and all the way down Central America) also crosses the canal here.
We recently discovered that our good friends Matt and Lisa, from Kinderhook, NY, are pregnant with a little Peace Corps baby! Dennis and I got them a traditional Ngäbe dress for the little one. Today I said goodbye to them. Lisa is being sent home (can't be pregnant and serve in the Peace Corps for obvious reasons) and her husband will Early Terminate to be with her. We'll miss them a lot, as I'm sure will their community.
The other day I was sitting in my house and heard loud noises in my yard. Sometimes the kids play in my fruit trees so I figured it was just them, but after a bit it didn't seem right. So I went outside and there were about 15 cows wandering around, trimming my lawn. Since then they've escaped their field back behind my yard and paid me a number of visits. I love their big floppy ears. 
I just like this tree, with it's big fan-like leaves. It's pretty.
Pete, Logan, Joanna, and I at the beach. 
Fried Yucca! I had no idea I would like it so much. Even better than french fries or patacones. 
This spider was in my bedroom. He was the second one that I had found in my room in less than a week. Sometimes I think about getting rid of my mosquito net because there aren't many mosquitos in my house and it's really hot inside my net but then I come across things like this guy and decide that the net is definitely staying.
My friend Kelly, who "Early Terminated" last August came back to visit her old community and her Peace Corps buddies this month. We got together in Santa Clara, a beach on the Pacific Coast. This is a shot from the walkway near our condo. The weather was perfect throughout her entire visit and it was great to see her again.
As many of you know, I have a bat, named Murci (short for murcielago, which means bat in Spanish) who lives in my shower. As it turns out I have more than just Murci and recently found one of his friends dead and decomposing on my shower floor. Awesome, right? He must have died up in the rafters and then fallen down after a suitable time in order to be nice a gross when I found him. 
The only downside for Kelly's visit was how cold the ocean water was. Normally like bath water, it was definitely chilly when we jumped in. And it turns out that the cold water is perfect for jellyfish. Kelly's friend got stung and later we saw the above styrafoam container full of jellyfish just sitting on the beach. We decided to give the ocean another try anyway but when a jellyfish about a foot in diameter started swimming towards me I freaked out and decided to stay out of the water for the rest of the trip. 
As I mentioned, my favorite work-related activity is giving HIV/AIDS fairs. I recently participated in one (though didn't present anything) on an island in the Pacifc. Above is Jim, talking about the male reproductive system.
And here is Robby, discussing the perils of alcohol abuse, a rampant problem in many rural communities.
This is la Puente de las Americas (Bridge of the Americas) which crosses the Panama Canal at the Pacific mouth. The Interamericana (the highway that runs from the the United States, through Mexico, and all the way down Central America) also crosses the canal here.
We recently discovered that our good friends Matt and Lisa, from Kinderhook, NY, are pregnant with a little Peace Corps baby! Dennis and I got them a traditional Ngäbe dress for the little one. Today I said goodbye to them. Lisa is being sent home (can't be pregnant and serve in the Peace Corps for obvious reasons) and her husband will Early Terminate to be with her. We'll miss them a lot, as I'm sure will their community.
The other day I was sitting in my house and heard loud noises in my yard. Sometimes the kids play in my fruit trees so I figured it was just them, but after a bit it didn't seem right. So I went outside and there were about 15 cows wandering around, trimming my lawn. Since then they've escaped their field back behind my yard and paid me a number of visits. I love their big floppy ears. 
I just like this tree, with it's big fan-like leaves. It's pretty.
Pete, Logan, Joanna, and I at the beach. 
Fried Yucca! I had no idea I would like it so much. Even better than french fries or patacones. 
This spider was in my bedroom. He was the second one that I had found in my room in less than a week. Sometimes I think about getting rid of my mosquito net because there aren't many mosquitos in my house and it's really hot inside my net but then I come across things like this guy and decide that the net is definitely staying.That's it for photos and comments from me. I hope everyone is doing okay wherever you may be and that we get to see each other soon. Love from Panama!
