Megan Unbounded

So it has been a crazy week! It already feels like we have been here for a month when it has really been a week and a few days! I got to meet my host family this week and they are so sweet and patient. I thought it would be awkward trying to communicate with them but in fact, they are easy to talk to (in Spanish of course!) because they understand we are still learning the language and want to help us learn! Also, it has been an adjustment to the way they live, for example, each morning I wake up to a rooster call (since my family has like 60 chickens!) at like 6:00 am each day. Additionally, the food is going well and at first I thought I would have more difficulties than I do now with the type of meals I could easy since I am vegan. Actually, it has been a lot more easier than expected! Their diets do consist of a meat but mainly they eat rice, beans, lentils, fresh veggies, and fruits which has been helpful. My mother even agrees with me that I am much cheaper to cook for since ...

Today it was exciting to see one of the volunteer's sites to see what type of environment and lifestyle we would have once we get to our sites in about 3 months! First, we visited a nearby farmer that needed help preventing soil erosion. These were some of the handmade tools used to measure a straight line to plant grass. Also, there is a hoe/shovel type tool that we used to dig holes. If you can see in the background of one picture, the farmer used slash and burn techniques which is not the best method for the environment. That is one of our projects, too educate them about the consequences of slash/burn techniques and offer more sustainable practices.  This is a fish tank that Peace Corps volunteers hand dug with the farmer a few years ago. It has helped the community have another source of food to reduce food insecurity issues and improve their nutrition! This is the house of the volunteer about 1.5-2 hours away from Panama City. It has a water tank, ...

This week my group and I have been in intense training meetings at The City of Knowledge, or  Ciudad del Saber , and it is such a beautiful community in the middle of the city! It is one of the few gated communities near the city and has places to jog, play soccer, etc. During training, we went over safety and security, language tests/class, and important health topics. Also, women have to get a pregnancy blood test and any volunteers that did not get all these specific vaccines in the United States (Hep. A, Dt, H1N1, MMR, Hep. B, Typhoid, & Yellow Fever) will be vaccinated at training. Additionally, we get our Malaria pills -_- Now we will be visiting a current Peace Corps volunteer for the weekend to learn more about the things to expect when we go to our sites.

I arrived in Washington DC yesterday (and it just so happened I was on the same plane as congressman James Clyburn!) and participated in a long day of training upon arrival. At the session we learned a few things about safety, culture, and a few more pieces of important information needed for the trip. All day, I felt so overwhelmed, excited, nervous, and anxious to meet my host family and country coworkers, while trying to soak in that I will not see my family and friends for two years! (unless they come visit me! ^.^) I am sad I am leaving my loved ones at home but I am more thrilled to be in Panama as a PCV. When I applied, I knew that it will be a challenge and I cannot give up on the end goal. The organization expects you to adapt and become flexible in unfamiliar situations. Also, they stress that a person's Peace Corps experience is all based on how the volunteer wants to engage themselves with other volunteers, their community, and others. Later that night/mornin...

***READ FIRST!! UPDATED 2017- Since being in Panama for about a 2 years, I brought way too much stuff! Bring things that would be expensive abroad, like quality hiking gear, electronics, and a good backpack. Even getting clothes from a GOODWILL/CONSIGNMENT shop would be better because your clothes will get pretty dirty in the jungle! If you want to splurge on some things, I would say like 3-4 good hiking pants, pair of waterproof hiking sandals (not too much hiking boots..most do not find them useful. It is too hot and humid here..), and gear (like headlamp, swiss army knife, sleeping pad, ENO type hammock, backpack, etc.--no tent! you can buy those cheap here).  Otherwise, do not bring it because you can end up buying a lot of things in Panama due to the canal, which has many options to buy from all around the world (Zona Libre-Free Trade Zone ), and the same stores you would find in the USA. Pack as little as possible and of course, pictures from home for those days you ...