I will be living in a town called Loma Bonita in the province of Cocle, which is in the very center of Panama. I am about 3.5 hours from Panama City. I have yet to find my town on a map lol, but it is in the north western part of cocle about 20 mins from a town called Cope. It is in the mountains! The only way to get from Cope to my site is by taking a carro. The carro's are converted pick up trucks, with roofs over the beds and benches in the back. Transportation is very inconsistant and people have had to weight up to 3 hours for rides before. Thankfully it is only about a 5k walk (very hilly but still).
Although there is a main, paved road through my town, most of the town is dirt roads/trails. In 4 days I didn't even see all the houses, and their are only 300 people in my community, it is just very spread out and hilly. Their is no electricity in my town and only cell phone service in certain locations.
For the 6 days I was there visiting a stayed with a family who lived about a 15 min hike from the main road. There were 12 people living in the house including 7 children who enjoyed poking me and running away. Their was an indoor flush toilet and shower, but one evening when I turned on the sink the water was running a nice brown color, yum. I also got ATTACKED by mosquitos my first night there, 24 bites on just my one foot. Needless to say, I am not going to live there for my first three months in site, I am living with a woman named Sra. Martina. I have my own room with a door to the outside, the only downfall is that the latrine and shower are a solid walk through the backyard. Oh well.
My community has many orange and coffee farms. In one day of pasearing (walking from house to house talking to people) I was giving 3 oranges, 2 cups of orange juice, 2 big bananas, 3 little bananas, 1 tangerine and 4 cups of coffee. This on top of 2 breakfasts. Yea, it is hard to not gain weight in Panama, since it is considered rude to NOT accept the food you are offered ha, at least it was lots of fruit!
The farmers in the community are working on an ecotourism program that I will probably be helping with, I will also be working in the school, and I am not sure what else yet. These first 3 months are a time for me to talk to all the community members, observe in the school and get to know the community and what they want/need. I am the 4th volunteer in my site and there is actually a book written about my community. Back in I believe the late 70s a woman named Gloria Rudolph lived in the town for 3 plus years, the book is called The Poor People of Panama and is published in english and in spanish. . .kinda crazy.
I only took a few pics while I was there, so here they are! The thing in the pics that looks like a road is actually a canal of some sort, I still have to learn more about that. I officially move into my site on march 17th! Tomorrow I swear in and become a real Peace Corps Volunteer. . .it is crazy how fast training has gone!!!!
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