Peace Corps Panama Host Family

This was our last week with our host families before we go to our sites for the next two years! This week I just spent some time with them and drank coconut water from coconuts sliced open from our machetes. Also we went to El Choro, which is the waterfall in the community to relax.

Before leaving, we had a water feria to learn about different ways you can store and clean water for drinking when we all go to our sites. This is a ferrocement, which is a method to store and filter water made of cement. In the bottom half, their is clay, sand, and rocks to filter the water before drinking and lasts a lot longer than the big plastic tanks that many use as well.  

Also, you can filter water by the use of the sun and a water bottle if you do not have the tools to make the ferrocement. However, it will depend on the day so if it is really sunny out, you would let the water sit in the sun for about 6-12 hours but if it is cloudy, then about 24-48 hours. Of course over time, the plastic bottles will need to be replaced because of the toxins that can be released from constant use.

On our last weekend, the community had big performance for use and danced their traditional dance in these cute outfits!

These pots were huge! Over the fire outside, we helped to make the food for the celebration!

 We also learned how to make empanadas.

 Finally, we sang "This Land is Your Land.." but in Spanish so they could sing with us. Sometimes we forget that we are not only here to volunteer, but to assist in a cultural exchange. Peace Corps really encourages us to also have fun with our communities by sharing parts of American culture through songs, dances, and food!