2007.10.03: October 3, 2007: Headlines: COS - Panama: Michigan Technological University Online Lode: Nelson Alger writes: Bonjour from Panama!

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Panama: Peace Corps Panama : Peace Corps Panama: Newest Stories: 2007.10.03: October 3, 2007: Headlines: COS - Panama: Michigan Technological University Online Lode: Nelson Alger writes: Bonjour from Panama!

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Nelson Alger writes: Bonjour from Panama!

Nelson Alger writes: Bonjour from Panama!

Yes my friends, I have been to the wild side of Panama and seen many things from snakes as long as I am tall (5´10”) to the traditional dancing of the Ngäbe people. First and foremost I am glad to be back in civilization as I know it despite the fact that I will be serving my two years in the Ngäbe reservation. I never knew how precious the little things such as air conditioning, tiled or carpeted floors, and hot water really were until I went without them for a couple of weeks. Small creature comforts like peanut butter and raisins do an infinite amount of good when work is tough and boiled green bananas just aren´t doing the trick.

Nelson Alger writes: Bonjour from Panama!

Panama Peace Corps:
"Whirlwind Tour"
By: Nelson Alger

Bonjour from Panama! The last couple of weeks have been insane and packed with several adventures. Yes my friends, I have been to the wild side of Panama and seen many things from snakes as long as I am tall (5´10”) to the traditional dancing of the Ngäbe people. First and foremost I am glad to be back in civilization as I know it despite the fact that I will be serving my two years in the Ngäbe reservation. I never knew how precious the little things such as air conditioning, tiled or carpeted floors, and hot water really were until I went without them for a couple of weeks. Small creature comforts like peanut butter and raisins do an infinite amount of good when work is tough and boiled green bananas just aren´t doing the trick.

My first week out in the reservation was focused on building a composting latrine. The work was grueling but well worth it to hear the gratitude and sincerity in the Ngäbe people´s voices when we left for the city.

Just to clarify, a composting latrine is different from a pit latrine in that there is no deep hole dug for the composting one. There are two boxes used in alternating periods and along with the daily deposit of excrement one adds dry material such as sawdust or rice husks to help absorb moisture and help the bacteriological breakdown occur. I know, it sounds obscure and rather gross but stick with me, it gets better. At the end of six months, the owners seal the first box and start using the second box. Then at the one year mark, the first box is reopened and voila! They have fertilizer good for growing sundry fruits and vegetables that do not rest on the ground. I was opposed to this type of latrine when I first heard about it but after using one I learned that there are absolutely no bad smells provided you throw enough sawdust down the hole. Regardless, the project was a success and five families had their own composting latrines which they will later use as models to build five more.

The second week was focused on cultural training and this was my favorite of the two because I was better prepared for the shock of eating boiled bananas. The other reason I probably enjoyed cultural week better is because we had more time to mingle with the people instead of building latrines all day. I stayed in a thatch house for five days with a man and his family whose real names I cannot possibly pronounce. Early to bed and even earlier to rise was the name of the game. Once the sun went down, everybody was in their house, the candles were lit and drowsiness set in shortly after dinner. We ate rice, fried bread, green bananas, and for a special treat, spaghetti with meat!

At the end of the week there was time for a cultural exchange of sorts. The exchange involved dancing the macarena in front of wide-eyed Ngäbe spectators. My dance instructors from the Social Dance Club at Tech would have been proud. I thanked my host dad for a spectacular week and boarded the truck headed south to the Pan-American Highway.




Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: October, 2007; Peace Corps Panama; Directory of Panama RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Panama RPCVs





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Story Source: Michigan Technological University Online Lode

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