In Panama, the month of November has only fifteen working days. November 1st is Children’s Day, and the second is All Soul’s Day, a national day of mourning on which both loud music and alcohol are prohibited. As soon as the clock strikes midnight, however, three trumpet-calls (“las dianas”)[...]
Author Archive
Where the Sidewalk Ends, Part II
Panama’s sidewalks leave a lot to be desired. For one, they rarely exist – at least in my tumbledown municipality. And when they do, it is not advisable to trust them. Manholes are left uncovered, grates yawn with serrated edges, and all sorts of other ankle-breaking traps exist for the unsuspec[...]
I Can’t Say Chino
Chino means exactly what you think it means — I had no need for a dictionary when I first heard this word used, in reference to an Asian friend and fellow volunteer in Chile. She is Chinese-American, a concept which, unfortunately, didn’t always compute. “What, are you Chinese or Americ[...]
Developing in Many Directions
Of course, it is only common sense that in the developing nations of the world, progress has been made in different areas at different speeds. Certainly in terms of convenience, Panama, my new country, has been a lot easier than Patagonia. Most essential items are available in Santiago, my new home,[...]
Particles and Waves
I have devoted quite a bit of time to volunteerism. For two of my three post-college years, I worked as a full-time volunteer (the third in the nonprofit sector); during college I gave my time during summers and some weekends. Without exception, I have benefited enormously from every experience both[...]
