Well, I wouldn’t call myself a blogger per se.

I mean I certainly enjoy a good blog, pondering thoughts of others then moving on with my day. But as the last 7 months have proved with my own little blog, I don’t have what it takes to upkeep one. 

My apologies to those who want to see and hear more from me in Panama, I have no laudable excuse. I'm sure I lost all of my followers months ago, or even several blogs ago. 

What can I say, I’ve tried a few posts, I’ll try a few more.

 The good news is that I plan to set up blog deadlines for myself starting...sometime in the next month or so. 

Here's to trying!

From December to April of this year, as per usual here in the 8th latitude, it didn’t rain a drop. It´s true, verified, bonafied, I set up a home weather station at my cabin and the science confirms it. As nice as it is to be mold-free, it takes its toll on people’s crops no matter how hard they try to avoid the devastation. Some crops die in a matter of weeks while others come out almost unscathed. Many folks will take a risk by setting up their 2-20 acre subsistence farms with corn, rice and beans and then take off for 3 or so months to work in large, export-scale coffee or teak tree operations elsewhere to make some actual money. Those who do stick around, mostly women and children, tend their farms as much as one can, catch up on household maintenance, hunt and fish… and pass the days in a hammock soaking in the sunshine and swinging in the breeze. Here´s a few photos during that time.

 

This snare-caught skunk is one species among many ’conejos’ of the jungle that provide a little tasty addition to the largely veggie diet

Scavenging for oranges and mountain summits with Sito and Jon

                                  After school kidding around

Roaming the hills














                    Summatime and the livins’easy


           

As the dry season continues the water flows decrease from the local springs. Everyone is aware of this annual problem but few address the issue until it is in full swing. Out of sight out of mind, I suppose; we are all culprits.

After a string of some thirsty days we finally convinced each other to get to work and fix some leaky pipes and prevent some potential future damages. Since the men typically rush through the crafty work to get to the digging (and drinking), a fellow volunteer Peter and I realized that the women were the best folks for the crafty job of fabricating pipe connections over the fire. Though a few from each gender were hesitant, most were pleased with this division of labor. Typically, work on the water system is done by the men.

Some gals really enjoyed the new activity and made it into a pipe beauty contest of which only top quality pipe unions (those with the best seal) were chosen. If that ain’t sustainability I don’t know what is! HA! Maybe not, but they at least had some fun with their important contribution to their water system.

At my little cabin, I tend to keep things tidy, work on my master’s research, read, talk with neighbors, and play with my little one-eared puppy, Olo. Life’s just better when she’s around

After months in my community working on the water system and assessing various water issues in other nearby communities, I took a nice vacation. In May, the whole Van Sickle family including Adam’s girlfriend Poa came down to visit!!!!

We toured all over the country from the beaches and luxury of Bocas del Toro to the mountains and poverty of the Comarca.

Of course first we checked out the locks of the  Panama Canal

then headed to an island retreat

where we found some good waves

                         sailed by some dolphins

passed a mossy three toed sloth

 was graced by radiant sunsets

humbled by machetes and coconuts

                      relished in the delectable food

aprovechared an impromptu barrio baile

just relaxed and took our time











After some great exploring and unwinding in a tropical paradise with amazing people and tasty food, we continued our journey over the continental divide and into the indigenous state where I live.

The arrival of not just one but SIX gringos definitely did not go unnoticed















As a Gringo herd we made our way down the 
steep valley trail to my community of Candela.

We spent the evening hanging out with my neighbors translating, laughing and sharing things about our different lives.

It was such an INCREDIBLE experience to share my life here with my family and for my community to see my own people and where I came from.  I was so impressed with my family making it to the village and sharing their time with them, especially my mom who made an enormous impression on my community members. Mom was an instant hit!!! Many had never seen a Caucasian woman so it was an eye opening experience for everyone. I´ve got such incredible people that surround me, I feel so blessed to be apart of this world! I love you guys!

Looking ahead, we begin the bulk of the water project where we are going to build tap stands, stretch pipe to include more people and build water tanks and natural spring catchments. Some buddies from AK and CO are making their way down here too for some river adventures so stay tuned!

Well, the End of the World party is over, Christmas has passed and now we are in a whole new year. I have been on this planet for wopping 30 years and I gotta say I am happy to find myself living in a remote part of the Tropics with kind and gentle people…although a wife would be nice, HA!
About 3 months have passed since the last update so I have a lot of catching up to do. Although life here is pretty slow paced and uneventful compared to what I’m used to, a lot has happened.

The rainy season ended in November with a bang where 3 days and nights of heavy rain flooded the mandatory creek crossing. Only a swift swim would get me out to civilization where I like to stuff my face with ice cream while I surf the internet.

About 100 volunteers got together at a beautiful lodge high in the cloud forest to celebrate Thanksgiving American style...the only way to go. It was great seeing all of the other volunteers and catching up but we were mostly there for the elaborate feast we had been longing for since moving into the campo.                      

 

Afterward, I had to throw in a lil river time with some buddies…what with the heavy rains and all.

Then Christmas came and I headed home to my family in Durango. What a treat it was!!

It was tough getting back on the plane to leave, but once in Panama I got right back into the swing of things.

Most of my days are spent hanging out with people in my community, which mostly consists of working the fields and eating. When they stop by the porch we mess around or shout in English or Ngabere or play soccer. The kids are really the only ones who want their pictures taken.

My old host family got a new kitten and never really fed it. After my November trip I realized I had to feed the poor thing. After a few meals of sardines and rice it seemed happy as a clam. Then it died a few days later. Minchi, I don’t know what happened but she enjoyed a few great last meals.

And then their dog had puppies!!

I think I might have to get one of these little cute turbos!

The dry season is in full swing, aka hot as hell, so many afternoons are spent down at the river swimming, fishing, diving, washing the car.

The sky is really clear literally from December to April so it’s a good time to hike around and get good views. This photo is taken from the local high point, Cerro Patena. I could see the Panamanian Cordillera, the highest volcano in Panama Baru, and the beautiful Pacific coastline well into Costa Rica.

Found some climbing a few hours away too. Columner basalt, woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some of the work I’ve been doing involves hiking to other communities that have already acquired funds and materials and are in the process of building. Here is a small spring being developed for a quaint hillside community. First, dig out around to see where the true source is, put some big rocks in so water can travel freely under the blanket of concrete (not yet placed), then build a dam or wall with a pipe running through it. Voila.

Construction is the fun part, but it takes some time getting there.  In my community we’ve been busy getting ourselves organized in order to take care of the existing water system and plan for the future improvements. We’ve been surveying the pipeline and unconnected homes. Next weekend we are going to fix the 23 holes and damaged pipe, and clean the tank.  We are getting close to being ready for bigger projects. I’m pumped to get the word out and get these guys some clean and reliable water!

I also started a latrine project in 5 surrounding communities. I've been visiting all of the 40 homes to get to know the families and chat with them about sanitation. That project will most likely come to fruition in the summer depending on funds. I plan to hold community scale meetings and classes and work individually with each family. It has been fun exploring the area and making new friends! 

 I'll be quite busy these next few months while I look forward to the arrival of my family in May, woohoo!!! I hope this update finds you all well and enjoying the long cold winter up north.

Till next time, un abrazo!

Well, it´s Junta season here in the Sweaty Isthmus. ¿What´s a Junta? you ask. 

In many subsistence farming societies, the only way to harvest and plant your land in a timely fashion is to employ your local neighbors. Without money this can be tricky. So, in turn, they supply a banana leaf sized portion of grub, that has adopted the name ¨lunche¨...

and bathe their workers in a most pungent refreshment...we¨ll call it ¨corn punch¨ ... which I help haul to the fields.

 And, by God, they´ve given me what some might say to be the most important job of the day

Nearing the end of the work day, our pile of freshly harvested rice. Almost time to tap that jug ó punch whattaya say Javier...

Javierrrrr... you ole sneaky dog you! Get back to work....

They also recipricate the work on their fellow farmer´s land whatever their needs may be.

In this photo we are planting corn for the summer season (Jan - April). Rain or shine, corn punch or not, the work must get done on hundreds of acres.

I try to be helpful and not get in the way. Throughout the day, I ask as many questions as I can to better understand their lives and needs. 

In a land where most people live far away from their neighbors in their own part of the woods, successful organization and follow-through can be tough. But the Junta works well...

On our way to fight back the unrelenting jungle in hopes of clearing enough to plant before the dry season sets in.

Man VS jungle

At the end of the day when our thirst has been quenched, I do my best to encourage this organized working style into other aspects of their life

However they do it, these farmers work tremendously hard and for long hours everyday to stay afloat. Recently I´ve been exploring the idea that only increasing one´s income will help them get out of poverty. Seems logical right? Why then do most aid organizations and governments just give away money and supplies.

If these farmers´ fields produced more with the help of irrigation and fertilizer, they may have enough to sell in  the markets and thus begin an upward spiral of sustaining them and their families. Like us, with a secure flow of income we can focus our energy on getting a good education, getting health care when we need it, and... concerning my task here...practice good hygiene and spend the time it takes to organize and solve problems on a community level. These are hard things to do when you are struggling to stay afloat.

Not a day goes by where I don´t just want to throw money at their problems to solve it right then and there and move on to the next one. This approach has failed over and over. If you give a hand-out, they don´t own it, they just take it and wait for the next one. My objective is to put the power into their hands. It´s difficult and I´m not very good at it. But I´ve got a few years to learn and get better and hopefully they will grow with me. Vamos a ver. We´ll see.

Whilst bathing after a dirty day in the fields, I got a visit from a BP rep. We had our own little conversation about Syria and Iran and of course the rebounding automobile industry. He too felt the urge to Google ´horses and bayonets´. He was also just as surprised as me to find out that Morman Mitt was born in Detroit. 

Till next time...