GAD Camp in Bocas del Toro

This past week was a break between the first and second trimesters. I spent it at a youth development camp, exactly like the one I participated in back in January, except this time, instead of a Jesuit church in a large town, it was held at a volunteer's site in Bocas del Toro.


The volunteer who hosted, along with many volunteers in that region, have sites accessible only by boat. After a long journey by bus, we had to board a carved out wooden boat and travel 15 minutes down a river to arrive at our destination.






Along the way we saw typical houses for areas such as this, on stilts to avoid the rising level of water during the wet season.


During the camp the kids learned all kinds of new games, such as this one, called Ninja.


The backdrop of our camp was a hill, often foggy, covered in seemingly unadulterated jungle.


As Bocas del Toro has a tropical climate, it rained a lot, and was never truly dry at any point during the camp. Walking through the mud was a daily activity.


The majority of the participants were from the surrounding area, inhabited by indigenous people. This girl is wearing a dress known as a nagua, while holding a cell phone. This unity of first world and third world is common in Panama.


During the camp, the kids learned about many relevant topics, including proper use of a condom.


I was the facilitator for this team. They were just all smiles.


Children of the community liked to hang out around the fence and just watch us.


During the camp, there were skits featuring two kids (myself and another volunteer) named Samy and Sandra. It's a reference to the most famous band in Panama, Samy and Sandra Sandoval. During the camp, the two "kids" learn about the topics covered in the camp and use their knowledge to help accomplish their goals. Here, I'm holding up the title of one of our topics, "Getting to Know My Body." Funny because it's a bit of a double-entendre, as if also a suggestion to "get to know my body." Also, if you look closely in the background, you'll see that we have another audience.

School Anniversary: Second Time Around

Around the end of the first trimester, which typically falls at the end of May, my elementary school celebrates the anniversary of its founding.


A few weeks before the anniversary, a giant delivery came with pieces of a playscape, which they finally assembled. Thanks, Mr. Politician. I could make a list of a thousand things you could donate that would be more useful, but those smiles let me know that it's a least a bit worth it.


For the week leading up to the Thursday celebration, people were building a covered ranch and backdrop for the show. Pretty nice, right?


Joselyn, the school queen, getting ready to put on her traditional dress, or pollera.


These hair inserts, known as tembleques, always amaze me.


This little tag, along with souvenirs, are just some of the handmade things on display during the anniversary.


You see that wonderful foam letter work? That's yours truly. I finally gave in this year, deciding that English teaching isn't the only thing I can do here, and was much more helpful than last year. I cut out the foam letters for 5 girls' sashes. I also helped to put up another mural, my absolute favorite school activity.


This Panamanian band known as a murga was a lifesaver when our sound system cut out. They were able to successfully play one or two of the popular songs in our playlist for the performances.


The entrance dance of the candidates and the queen. Their adorable final pose has the boys using their hats to cover their faces and the girls' faces, but one of the kids just didn't get it. Couldn't help laughing at that.


Those girls dressed as clowns are Kindergartners who performed a ribbon dance. One thing that irks me about these celebrations is how they plaster all this makeup on little girls, sometimes making them up to LITERALLY look like clowns.

A great school anniversary!