Swear in and La Playa

                On March 14^th (Pi Day!)  Group 70 (all 54 of us CEC and TE volunteers) officially swore in as Peace Corps Volunteers!  Our swear in was at the Canal Museum in Casco Viejo, Panama City.  It was a gorgeous building, and the ceremony was very nice.  The Panama Peace Corps Country Director, a representative from MEDUCA (Panama’s education governing body) and a rep from the US Embassy where there, along with all of the staff that has gotten us all this far. 

                After swear in they had quite the spread of food, including awesome desserts (something rarely found in Panama haha).  Then all 54 of us took buses to an island, that I believe is still considered part of Panama City.  There we wondered around and then had a nice dinner at an Italian restaurant.  After dinner a majority of the group went to a discoteca.  Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with bronchitis the day before swear in, and was on antibiotics, 2 inhalers, anti-fever meds and cough medicine, so I opted out of the discoteca.  However, a small group of us went and got ice cream before heading back to the “villas” aka dorm rooms where we were staying.  Then with that same group we watched a movie.  It was a nice and calm, relaxing, fun night!

                The next day after packing up all of us CECers headed to El Palmar, a beach on the Pacific side.  We stayed at a hostel there owned by an American, who spends his life surfing, drinking, and partying on the beach in Panama.  It was a fun two days.  Somehow, I was lucky enough to end up in the only 6 person room, with bunk beds and no air conditioning haha, but honestly it was no big deal.  Although, getting up onto the top bunk with no latter, was a highly interesting and entertaining process. 

                We spent two days hanging out on the beach, drinking pina cooladas, strawberry daiquiris, magaritas and boxed wine, and enjoying doing absolutely nothing.  We even cooked dinner the last night, with TONS of vegetables and had birthday cake for someone’s birthday. 

                Here are a few pictures from swear in and the beach!!