1.
Technology
a.
Electricity- Seriously, seeing an outlet is a
very exciting experience. . .especially an outlet that I can use. Some people in my town (the school included)
have solar panels. Others, like my host
mom have generators run on gas. My host
mom rarely uses her generator, actually, she doesn’t know how to, her son is
the one that set it up and turns it on for her if she is going to use it. Well one evening (this is the only time in
the 2+ months I have been here that it has been used) a few madres and padres
de familia (the Panamanian equivalent of the PTA) where making tomales to sell
as a fundraiser for the 9th grade.
They weren’t finished when it became dark so they hooked up the
generator. I kid you not, the children
were running around the house flipping on and off every light switch that they
could find. They were SOOOO incredibly
excited. It was adorable, and really
made me realize how lucky I was growing up, and how much I took electricity for
granted.
b.
Internet- As everyone in the US is getting used
to having internet at their fingertips anytime of the day or night, while they
are anywhere, I am getting used to traveling over an hour and a half just to
use a very SLOWWWW wi-fi connection. I
can’t google anything the second I want to find something out, I can’t mess
around on facebook when I am bored. . .and to think I use to probably spend and
least 4 hours a day online.
c.
Cell service- Oh man, having people ACTUALLY be
able to call ME haha. That is so far
from the realm of possibility right now that I actually forget what it is like
to receive phone calls.
d.
Washing Machine- Never, ever, ever again in my
life will I complain about having to do laundry using a washing machine. Honestly, how much of a lazy, no good, person
was I that hitting a few buttons, throwing my clothes in and adding some soap
was a hated task. Seriously, even when I
had to walk 5 mins to the laundry rooms at school, I should have been kissing
the machines for doing the hard part for me.
I have actually rubbed my knuckles raw hand washing my clothes lately
haha, plus they are NEVER as clean as they should be. And a dryer?! My clothes currently take two
full days to dry, and we are not even into the full on rainy season yet
haha. Please everyone, give your washer
and dryer and kiss and a hug for me J
lol. However, I must say, I am going to
have some NICE campo arm muscles thanks to all this handwashing!
e.
Refrigeration- I definitely took fridges for
granted. I miss dairy products. And man, I bought butter to bake with, and
there was extra, everyone was so excited.
They went out and bought bread (also a luxury around here) just so we
could eat bread and butter. And my host
mom made bollo (mashed, boiled corn things) with butter, bollo is actually MUCH
tastier with butter lol. Plus, cold
drinks! Frozen things! Haha, it doesn’t
take much to get me excited anymore J
2.
Indoor plumbing
a.
Flush toilets- Although I have to say it does
save time not having to flush, and it is impossible for latrines to clog. . .
there is just something so much more appealing about a flush toilet lol.
b.
HOT showers- I don’t think I can explain how
much I have been CRAVING a nice hot shower lately. I honestly don’t think I will ever be truly
clean within the next two years lol.
c.
Indoor bathrooms- Being able to go to the
bathroom in the middle of the night, not finding frogs, cockroaches, spiders
and scorpions in the latrine, not becoming muddy walking from the shower to my
room, not having my clean clothes fall on the ground and become muddy before I
get a chance to wear them.
d.
Consistent water- It kind of sucks coming back
from a run, dripping with sweat, only to discover that there is no water. Or, to be mid hair washing, and have the
water go out. Today this occurred, but
my oh so kind host mother realized that I was mid shower and brought out a tea
kettle of water for me to finish haha.
Also, sometimes the water comes out in violent, somewhat painful
spurts.
e.
Public restrooms- There are not many public
restrooms in Panama, and you usually have to pay to use them. Buses, also do not have bathrooms on them,
even though they travel for hours and hours on end. This brings up a funny story that happened
during training (I attempted to tell it in a blog post but said post ended up
freezing in my blog app and never got posted).
I was coming back from visiting a volunteer and REALLY had to pee. I asked the pavo (person that opens the door
on the bus to let people in and out and collects money) when we were
stopping. He told me 20 minutes. . .45
minutes later and we were still going.
So I asked again (I was REALLY desperate at this point haha). He gives me a sad look, then proceeds to tell
the bus driver that I really need to use a restroom. Well of course we are in the middle of
nowhere at this point and there is no place to stop. But FINALLY we let someone off and there is a
McDonalds (never been so happy to see a McDonalds in my life) and they let me
off to run inside and use the bathroom.
If that was not awkward enough, in my haste I went in the boys bathroom
instead of the girls lmao. However,
there was no one in the boys bathroom so whatever.
f.
Toilet paper- Seriously, it’s rare that
bathrooms have toilet paper. The latrine
at my house rarely has toilet paper. The school’s latrines NEVER have toilet
paper. It is honestly exciting to go to
a bathroom where there is toilet paper.
3.
Speaking English- It is so enjoyable to have a
conversation where I do not have to consciously think about every single word
and the pronunciation of that word. And
to be able to fully express what I am saying and know the other person
understands, and to fully understand what they are saying.
4.
Vegetables-
I am seriously not sure what Panamanians aversion to vegetables is. Yes, I realize they can be expensive, but
most grow lots of other things. . .why can’t they throw some veggie seeds in
there too.
5.
Insect/Rodent free home- Yes, I realize people
have problems with insects and rodents in the states too. But my ant infestation has gotten out of
control. I have to shake out all of my
clothing before wearing it, shake out my books and magazines before picking
them up, check cups and plates and food before I eat and I am still constantly
picking them off my body. Plus we have
bats and mice as well. It’s just one big
party. Thankfully my mosquito net also
acts as a barrier between me and all such creatures lol.
With all of that being said, I am
not trying to complain about the way I am living right now. Yes, somedays it would be nice to have all of
the above, but I’m doing quite alright without all of it. However, when I return to the states I will
never again take these things for granted (ok I might after I am back for a
while, but I will consciously try not too lol).
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