4 Minutes 24 Seconds

As the title of this blog states I have barely any time to get this post up... Paying for internet by the hour sucks BTW. Anywho just wanted to say that I loved our time on Kuna Yala, full story in the next blog and Im looking forward to going back "home" to La Mica. Crazy how quickly something can become your home isnt it. We are all actually missing sharing one giant room and dining room table and basically being all up in each others space (i do not think Panamanian keyboards have an apostrophe key.... Ah well, I suppose it makes sense as contractions and possession marks are not necessary for Spanish). 20 seconds!! Got to go.... till next time

Pre-Kuna Yala

So, its only been about 3 days since I last had internet and, surprise surprise, I can already feel the withdrawl symptoms setting in... Its not necessarily that I cannot live without the internet, but I like to have the option. Its been very surreal not being able to just google something for an answer, or check facebook to talk to someone. This must be what it felt like growing up long ago in the seventies or something :p

Anyway, some updates since the last time that I was able to check in. I found my camera!!! This morning actually as I was packing for a four-five day trip to Kuna Yala, I happened to look into the front pocket of a bag and found it! Finally!! I have been dying to find it, so that I can capture my Panamanian adventure forever.

Anywho, as I alluded to above, we are heading off to Kuna Yala. This place is on the northern coast of Panama, and is home to an indigenous community which is a matriachical society (as it should be). This community exists largely on islands, as houses and businesses are jammed together covering every inch of land available. I hear that trees and plants are a rarity on these small chunks of land. The buildings go completely to the shore, and the only way on or off the island is by boat. Of course Ill be able to go more into detail after making this trip, but I`m really excited about the opportunity to interact with an indigenous people and witness their way of life. While visiting this community, we will be staying on our own private island. Thats right, white sandy beaches and palm trees... Ocean adjacent.... That will be us. We will be the only inhabitants of the small island we are staying on as we camp on the beach for 4 nights. While i fear what this means in terms of showering/using the facilities Im sure itll be a fun, character building experience.

Just in a more general sense, I have been having a blast at the research station. I feel like everyone is getting closer, and noone is really having any problems with anyone else. Im loving the weather, and Im even starting to get some color (thats right... its totally possible). Exciting/funny bit of news is that my laptop is working!! Now, you may be wondering why this is big news.... Well, funny story. I was returning from El Cope, the town near the La Mica research station, and we came to a river. There was no easy way across the river really, so I took my shoes off and crossed. After successfully making it to the other side, I proceeded to walk along the bank back toward camp. As I approached our swimming hole (yes, we have a swimming hole and it is glorious. Not only can we swim whenever we want, but it is also a prime showering location) my foot suddenly shot out from underneath me (unexpected hole) and I fell into the river carrying my laptop bag. As I fell underwater, I tried my hardest to keep my computer dry, but the entire bag submerged in the water. Fearing the worst, I headed back to camp and let my computer dry out a bit before giving it a shot. When I finally tried it out, it worked! Though it had a water mark for a few days, it finally dried out completely and now its fine! :)

Other quick blurbs before my limited internet access expires:
-I have been having intense TacoBell cravings lately
-I miss everyone
-I already worry about how much Ill miss Panama when I get home
-Everyone here has really grown on me, and I dont know what Ill do when I go home and have an entire room to myself (instead of sharing one with 22 other people)
-Im happy we have so much fun at the river, and succeeded in our ´team building´exercise of damming the stream
-Plant collecting has started and, while it is going to be SUPER difficult to identify them, I am excited to give it a try
-I really feel like Im lacking, as far as plant knowledge goes, but Im confident that Ill learn quickly

As we must now reboard the bus, bound for Panama City and then our private island, I bit you adieu. Until next time

First Few Days

So we are finally in Panama! And its been quite the adventure already. Monday seems like such a distant memory, though at the time, I was having a little bit of a freak out. Of course I left everything that I needed to do until the day before I left the country. I collected all pairs of shoes, most clothing, and many other items that day then needed to head home, pack, and answer all of my mother's demands for information about where we were going to be.... Intermingling with all of this preparing was the need to write my JINS ppr for Wade. I ended up being finished packing at midnight and writing my ppr from 1-3.

After that, I was just in time to shower and meet my brother to go to the airport. I'll stop narrating this part now, as it is nothing too exciting. The only things that I discovered from my first time being on a plane were that it sucks to sit by the window when you need to go to the bathroom, and that my ears hate altitude change. The descent in both Miami and Panama were excruciating. Chewing gum did not really help at all. I moaned quietly for the twenty minutes before landing from each flight, trying to soothe my painful ears. For some reason, they refused to pop and rendered me nearly deaf for the next few hours. This odd trend with my ears has continued for the following days as any altitude changes or turns of my head will make my ears painfully pop.... It probably didn't help that I was trying to make them do it for awhile after getting off the plane.

So our camp at La Mica is pretty amazing. We are literally right in the middle of the jungle. To get to our camp, we have to hike for about 20 minutes down quite a difficult trail. Ill post pictures next time (hopefully if I can find my camera). Our dorms are one giant room divided by a tarp for males/females. It is quite interesting sharing space with 16 other girls, especially when trying to be quiet during the night. I sadly failed at being quite the first night here, as I brought a cold with me from the US. REALLY hoping it goes away soon.

Now, I really want to mention our trip to Omar Torrijos National Park. This place was so unbelievable. We arrived to this location by travelling up the side of a mountain by Chiva (illegal truck that carries people in its bed) for 40 minutes. I actually really enjoyed the Chiva we were riding in. It was pretty fun rocking with every bump in the road while feeling the wind in your hair (all the while trying not to fall out of the bed of the truck).

This National Park is the home to so many beautiful plants and animals. While waiting for the second group of people to arrive at the station we were able to look at some colorful flowers and we even spotted a sloth and its baby hanging in a nearby tree. Once the second group arrived, we began our journey in the rain forest.

Our hikes through this beautiful scenery was the best part of my trip so far. We walked down some perilous trails, and ended up finding a river that some people are going to be doing their projects at. I really wish I could think of the words to describe what this experience meant to me, but the only words coming to mind right now are words such as awesome, majestic, and beautiful. I'm not particularly eloquent right now, but this journey into the rain forest was all those words and much more. It was just witnessing all the beauty of nature while hiking through it, feeling a bit rugged and BA at the same time. As we were walking back up the slippery/mossy trail, it started to rain, and, in all honesty, that only made the walk back even better. I got rained on in the rain forest... How perfect right? I brought a poncho, but I'm enjoying the rain so much thus far, lets see how much I actually use it.

From our journeys into town, to the excursions into nature, I'm finding that I'm falling in love with this place. While I do worry a bit that I might still be in the 'Honeymoon' stage (initially in love with the place that you visit), I do not see myself really having any reason to leave this bliss. I have always loved nature, and its so fulfilling to finally spend this much time getting more in tuned with it. From showering under the open sky to falling asleep to the sound of crickets to doing homework with the rain forest as my backdrop, I am just so content with life right now.

Less Than An Hour

Oh, how I wish I had more time to elaborate on what's been going through my mind lately.... This will be quite a short post, as I must leave for Lambert within the hour (!!), but I had to take a moment to just just some of my anxiety out. I am sooo unbelievably excited about leaving on this trip, I am so tired as I have pulled an all nighter, I am nervous about leaving the country, I am nervous about missing my flight, I worry that I have packed too much/yet not enough.... Basically my mind is swirling and, as I sit here shivering in my cold room under a thick blanket, I cannot yet fathom the adventure that is about to begin for all of us. I hope Panama is ready for us, because here we come!

Just Keep Swimming

I'm trying my hardest to follow Dory's advice, and 'just keep swimming'. I'll survive this next week and a half of homework overload, and I won't let it get me down!

So, as a nice break from various papers I'm currently juggling, I've decided to update everyone on what I've been up to these past few days.

On Tuesday we had a relatively normal history class, full of neocolonialsim and imperialism. The only notable change of sorts was probably that this lecture tested both the speed of my pencil and my ability to actively listen, as we proceeded without a supplementary ppt for the first part of class and were hit with a lot of information. Other than that, Marc also impressed us by pulling out a '5' answer to the term 'neocolonialism'. The way he tied together the effect of foreign species introduction and neocolonialism in Latin America was quite interesting, and made complete sense. Maybe glimpsing a 5 point answer that I can relate my major will inspire me to finally get a 5 of my own... I'll try to fight off the lingering sense of doubt of whether or not this will actually happen, and be positive!

Following the rearrangement of our homework schedule for the next 2 weeks (YES!!) JINS proceeded as expected, with the discussion of Galeano's book. I liked that we got a chance to look at each other while discussing the book, as it's easier to discuss a topic when you can look at the people who are involved. An interesting tid bit about this class period was that the photographer who took pictures of our class was my suitemate from freshmen year. Gotta love her!

A sad note from Tuesday was finding out that the Shaman, who we plan on working with in Panama, had a stroke a few weeks back. He cured himself, but we are not yet sure what parts of his mind or ability to communicate were affected by this sad turn of events. We hope, not only for the viability of our project to preserve his wisdom, but also for his sake, that he is alright.

Wednesday's class involved the usual group updates and work. The most exciting part of my day today was the trip to Outreach in search of clothing that I can destroy in Panama without a second thought. I ended up leaving with lots of goodies, from clothing to English materials (books), for only 7 dollars! A pretty good deal I'd say. The best clothing option at this location had to be the shiny leopard print button up pictured on the left. While it was tempting to purchase this shirt, as it would clearly help me blend in to the natural environment of El Cope, I decided against it lest people confuse me for a shiny leopard and run in fear. Ah well, maybe someday...

As I alluded to above, I spent part of the day today collecting various items that we can take with us to aid in the teaching of English. Thus far I have obtained some books, a cereal box, a birthday card, and some stuff that I kidnapped from the Botanical Gardens.

On a more random note, I have decided to share a bit of a problem of mine with I.D. cards... I am currently the proud owner of I.D. badge number 5. I almost feel like I'm cursed a little bit when it comes to these cards. I'll lose one of them and be forced to purchase a new one due to some need (food, MOBIUS, etc). After spending the money (its $25 now!) and getting the new expensive piece of plastic, I always find the old one!!! I've found them in text books, in check books, in scarcely used pockets... They always allude me until after I buy a new one. It never fails that, within a week, the old one resurfaces. My most recent purchase was Tuesday afternoon, and today I found the old one... It probably goes without saying that I am quite frustrated. (Irony here being that I clearly haven't lost any of them since, as I have my beautiful collection displayed above).

Whew, I feel relieved to have vented that a little. Now back to my essays I suppose... *sigh*

Gardens and Car Trips and Potlucks, Oh My

Giddy moment as I'm sitting here thinking about all things Panama... ONLY 2 WEEKS TO GO!!!!!!!!!!! Its so hard to believe that we have already completed 3 weeks of classes, with just 2 to go before leaving the country. As this trip countdown continues, the surrealism of the situation continues to blow me away. When I try to picture how my life will be in Panama, the more uncertain I become. My mind cannot seem to reconcile normal things such as homework, reading, papers, etc with everything Panama will have to offer. I keep trying to imagine reading a book and glancing out the window at the rainforest, or contemplating a history paper I have to write while watching the Shaman perform a healing ritual.... What will it be like to be a student, a researcher, a teacher, a traveler, an adventurer, an apprentice, and a tourist all in one? Soon enough, we'll all find out...

This past week has been filled to the brim with reading, 'riting, and 'rithmatic [not so much] (The 3R's of education anyone?). Sorry about that, I had a moment when I started to list reading and writing as large time commitments from the past week. As I was saying, last week caused me to experience how life must be for majors which require different types of homework than what I am used to. Being a Biology major, who is much more adapted to spending 10 hours in lab before writing a lab report than having a 10 hour reading marathon before drafting multiple analytical essays, I can definitely say I am gaining an appreciation for everyone who has spent their entire college careers doing these kinds of things. It is interesting to look back on it and see how different people have felt about the homework load. On one hand, most of the Bio majors seemed to share similiar sentiments as myself; a bit shell shocked by alot of work that reminds us more of our distant high school past than of our current college career (note to Joey and Ashlee: I used a semicolon and thought of you guys. Thanks for helping me define this mysterious, yet awesome, punctuation mark). On the other hand, the more reading intensive majors likely found last week to be normative and even quite easy (note: I did not verify this by actually asking). Either way I have really come to enjoy the mixture of majors in my classes, not only for the different perspectives that they bring to class conversations and activities, but also for the awesome individuals that compose them.

On Wednesday night, our Panama group had a potluck dinner. Overall, it was a pretty good night. I ended up making a fruit salad, and added my dish to the many other tasty foods lining Chad's kitchen counter. I think I must have tried a little bit of almost every dish, and I can confidentally say that I am proud of our group's cooking skills; It wasn't too bad for a bunch of stressed college students who had a paper due the next afternoon. The night involved lots of talking and story telling in addition to the good food. A few of Chad's particularily graphic tales of snake bites will forever have me looking at the Magruder snakes with a bit of a weary eye.

The highlight of my week was most definitely my group's trip (minus Traci, recent survivor of the MCAT) to the Botanical Gardens in Saint Louis. Joey, Ashlee, and I awoke bright eyed and bushy tailed at 4:30 am Friday morning and loaded into a car to make the 3 hour trip to Saint Louis. After spending these three hours rocking out to whatever Joey's ipod had to offer, some Glee (!!), we arrived at the Monsanto Building to meet with Mary Mcnamara, the woman I have been corresponding with over the past week. She greeted us with a friendly smile (a theme of the day) and handed us our research visitor passes. These passes were pretty awesome as they got us into basically any building we wanted for free. After treking across the Garden grounds, which were pretty beautiful considering the time of year, we made it to the Lehmann Building. Upon entering this building we were greeted by even more friendly people who seemed to be waiting for our arrival. Since Tom Croat, the Panamanian flora curator whom we were there to speak with, was busy interviewing applicants we spent some time with Mary Merello. Mary was a very nice and interesting woman who had recently spent some time in Panama collecting specimens. She started off by showing us how they store their pressed samples. The photo on the right gives an idea for the sheer magnitude of the number of specimens contained in this building. These shelves are organized by family, country, etc etc, with Panama samples having its own organizational marker, due to how much focus there has been in the country since the construction of the canal. These numerous red shelves were motorized to compress together, eliminating the aisle, for the easy/compact storage. The storage/organizational system employed here was very impressive, and the room full of dried plants gave off a nice aroma. Mary tried her best to give us some guidance for our project, since we are still trying to find out how to narrow our focus. She was able to give us some recommendations on useful books and let us borrow her copies for a few hours.

A bit later Tom was finally free to speak with us. As was made apparent by his calloused fingers and excited aura, Tom was a man who had spent his life following his passion for plants. He has spent over 5 collective years in Panama, and is the world's foremost Panamanian plant collector. It was amazing speaking with a man who clearly loved his work. From pulling multiple books off of the shelves to speaking animatedly about anything we could think of, Tom was more than willing to help us in any way possible. After speaking to Tom and Mary I definitely feel much better about our project having more of a direction.

After leaving the Lehmann Building, following a tasty lunch at a 'green' restaurant, we headed back over to the Monsanto Building to visit the Garden's library. This library was amazing! As nerdy as it sounds, I was quite enamored with this place. It was not particularily large, but it contained a massive amount of books stored in a similar 'aisle compression' fashion as the plant samples. The best part of this library was the Rare Book room. We lucked out in being in the library when we were. As soon as we settled down to start our search, a couple of staff members requested to see the Rare Book room, and the librarian offered to let us go in with them. We accepted without a second thought and entered the room. She took us around the two tables set up in the center of the room, opening each book on display to show us the ever changing print and illustrations. The first book we saw was in Latin from the 1400s and was about farming practices. As we went around the tables, we got to learn about how old fashioned printing and illustrating worked. Did you know that each illustration in a book was at one point hand painted and text was once the result of needing to carve a wooden text block for each page of the text!? We also found out that books were often ordered via subscription, a few pages at a time sent to the person who could choose to bind them all together if they wanted. I could probably ramble on and on about all the stuff that we found out... This room held me in awe the entire time we were in there. Basically, our Botanical Gardens experience was pretty wonderful all around. It probably goes without saying that I'm even more excited for our project, and ready to work on it ASAP.

Ah, I have definitely rambled on for much longer than I originally intended and I must get back to reading.... Until next time

Reading, Reading, and, Oh Hey, Even More Reading

We have just completed Week 2 of our semester, and the major theme of this week has been a massive amount of reading material. From a nightly chapter in Born In Blood and Fire, to the entire book: Open Veins of Latin America, to the 5 JINS articles (each of which is at least 10 pages long), I do not find myself in short supply of reading material (as I'm still in the midst of reading most of these). The biggest issue I have faced this week would probably be my ever present mental battle with procrastination. While I love reading and learning about history politics, etc., I always find it difficult to sit down and read when I know that I have so much to go through. Its always ironic that I choose to put off things that take a lot of effort, in the end leaving only a day or two to get them done. Looks like I'll have to work on this and, for now, break out my ever faithful cramming skills... I don't know where I'd be without them!

One major obstacle that gets in the way of doing assigned readings, is the readings that I've been accumulating for my project (a topic which I find terribly fascinating). On Monday night, I spent a couple of hours browsing Mobius to see what I could find. The result of this literature adventure was me requesting over 10 books on topics which range from how to collect and preserve plants, to how to locate medicinal roots, to the medical use of hallucinogenic plants, etc. Its been an issue that I'm more likely to sit down and read these books for hours on end, while Born In Blood and Fire sits cold on the table next to me...

Overall, I feel like our research project is coming along nicely. We are quickly accumulating a lot of information on our topic, and have gotten a sense for exactly what our game-plan is going to be when we arrive in Panama, and get a chance to talk to the Shaman. Our major plan this upcoming week is to visit the Missouri Botanical Gardens, home of one of the greatest Panamanian plant collections in the world. We hope to get to search the Garden's facilities, from the library to the research lab, meeting every expert we can find, and taking in all the information we encounter. I am currently in the midst of trying to speak with someone at this location before we travel down Thursday night to stay at my house (a plan that I have yet to let my mom in on... But, hey, I'm allowed to have 3 unannounced house guests right!?). So far the Botanical Gardens has only met me with operators and answering machines, but I have not given up hope that I will eventually contact someone that would be willing to help us when we arrive Friday morning.

Other than all that I'm just continuing to collect everything that I'll need for the trip. A major thing that still need to be acquired are various shots/pills. I keep putting this off for some reason, most likely a result of concerns about their necessity/cost.

Ah well... 3 weeks til Panama!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Random Tidbits Of The Week:
~According to Chad, the most important holiday to those who practice Satanism is one's own birthday. As a side note, this revelation led me to peruse the wiki page about Satanism, only to close it soon after due to some odd looks I was getting from the person next to me in the library.

~I ended up signing up for a free trial of a 'prime' Amazon membership to get a book cheaply delivered to me in one day. I'm realizing that a happy result of this membership is that I can order a ton of Panama stuff from Amazon and get it delivered to my house in 2 days for free. Hopefully I do not forget to cancel this membership before my three month trial ends, and I get automatically charged $79 for 'wanting to continue my valued membership for the next year'.

~I spent about 20 minutes one night trying to figure out if it was worth more to save $7 or to have a quick dry towel that's long enough to easily wrap around myself. I ended up measuring a towel I currently own for size comparison purposes and trying it out. The decision still has not been made...

~I was oddly excited about my correct use of the word 'penchant' during my discipline presentation, mostly due to the fact that I've never used this word before in any form and was not really aware that I had encountered it before. Yay for passive learning!