....On Being a Vegetarian

"If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home."  

--James Michener

True. Dat.

As most of you know, I have been a full vegetarian for the past 3 months or so (and an almost-vegetarian for about 9 years).  Or, should I say I had been vegetarian for the past 3 months or so (and even vegan for a few weeks!) ....until about day 2 in Panama.

Panama is a land of fried food and meat.  To not participate in an integral part of the culture of the country where I'm living-- to not eat their meat-- would be... blasphemous.  

I don't really believe in God. However, I do believe in knowledge, learning, exploration, and love.

I believe in travel.  I believe in people. I believe in discomfort.  I believe in that little feeling that you get in your gut when the plane leaves the ground and you realize that you are on your way to experience something new.   

Most of all, I believe in truly opening yourself up and sharing culture, life, love, and self-awareness with other people.

To not eat meat in Panama would be to not allow myself to live in the moment.  It would say that, although I am traveling in another country, I expect that country to conform to my norms and my way of life.  It would mean that, although I'm here to travel, work, and live, I do not fully trust Panamanians and their way of life, nor accept the few things that they offer me as a guest to their country.

So, while I'm here, I eat meat.

There are many people who don't have the choice-- people who have been vegetarians all their lives and for whom meat makes them sick.  I understand.  There are also people who strongly, in their core, feel that eating meat is wrong and therefore are not comfortable consuming another living creature.  I understand that, too.

But, as a traveler, an explorer, life's student, and honestly just a child at heart, I urge you to allow yourself to fully, completely, earnestly, and respectfully become immersed in another culture with an open mind and an open heart.  You might be surprised how much the simple act of sharing a meal with a stranger can change your life.

I don't pretend to be deep, wise, or even very well-traveled.  However, I am passionate about people, cultures, and learning.  There is always more knowledge in the world.. I'm just saying, maybe some of it can be found in a bowl of Sancocho (Panamanian chicken soup).

Or, maybe not.

Fashionable, F*ckable, Friday!

I know I said that I was temporarily putting a hold on Fashionable Fridays due to the fact that I am no longer fashionable, but here is one more for you!

I show you how to wear the traditional Panamanian dress... the pollera (true Panamanian fashion... of about 100 years ago..):

Step one: (Well, it's not actually a dress, it's in three parts: a white underskirt, the shirt, and the overskirt.) Step one would be to put them on.. duh:

Step two: put on loads of gold jewelry.

Step three: Cover your entire head with large, antler-shaped beaded flowers attached to pointy sticks that you stick into your hair (the more it hurts, the better you look!):

I wasn't joking when I said COVER, folks.. 

Step four: pose for some supercute (or "super pritti" as they say here) photos (yes, this is an actual step in wearing the dress. Ask any 13 year old Panamanian girl):

Note the photo on the wall of the girl who actually owns the dress doing the exact same thing as me.. :P

Step five: learn a traditional Panamanian dance. You can't wear the dress if you don't know the dance!!

Optional Step six: bump and grind, dance like an "American" and don't forget to GET DOWN. You're wearing a traditional outfit respected by an entire country-- why WOULDN'T you taint the experience by dancing to hip hop and making a thizz face?

 As I've said a million times, and I'll say a million times more, I am classy, ladies and gentlemen.

The sights and sounds of Chitré, Panama: Part One: Sights

"What's life like in Panama, I wonder?" I'm sure was the very first thing you thought to yourself when you woke up this morning, right?

WELL, YOU'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT. 

(hint: it's hot, sweaty, AWESOME, and too.much.fun.)

It's been a crazy week living in Panama so far, and I've finally settled in to my new city, Chitré.  Chitré is a city "bien alegre" as they say here (meaning it's very happy and lively) but also "bien seguro" (safe).  Every day there is something new that either surprises me, excites me, or literally makes me laugh out loud. Or all three.

For example, our bright pink house (all three):

Some things that surprised me:

The Machetazo, this huuuuge Wal-mart-sized market that has anything and everything, including...

POTATOOOO CHIPS!

 I was very surprised (and happy) to see these, especially after living in such rural areas in Latin America.

La comida tipica (typical food). 

Some sort of cow tongue stuff..

On the other hand, I was also very surprised by the typical Panamanian food.  It's actually pretty delicious! I was sort of scared to eat meat again, but so far it hasn't been a problem.  Most things in Panama are deep fried (usually not one of my favorite things) and the food is generally very salty-- not very healthy, but yummy!

Some things I was excited by:

Our AWESOME latin american volunteers this year, like Hissar (who's from Chitré!):

Chevre, Mai (cool, man).

We so essited.

Pollitos! Sooooo cute! :)

Cheep! Cheep! Cheep!!

Oh, and the many funny parts of Chitré...

This guy, who lives in our house:

These funny little creatures they use for floats for the carnavales:

This sign in the hospital cafeteria:

"The one that cleans isn't here, the one that's here doesn't clean, so if you don't
clean, just leave everything clean and in order how it is"

..and the fact that parades pass by our house pretty much every day. For. no. reason. WHATSOEVER.

What can I say, Panama's a pretty cool place to live.

Wordless Wednesday

One week from today and the whole team will be together at last!!! :)