Feliz Navidad, prosepero año y felicidad...

Merry Christmas, Happy Channukah, Solistice, Kwanzaa, Jaded Atheistic Nothings, or whatever it is that you are celebrating this time of the year. All is well here in Panamá; I am currently in the lovely throes of a case of bronchitis, which made for a particularly cheery Christmas. It was a pity too, because I was going to play violin for the Christmas Eve mass with Chong, Aleida, Rafito, and various other school friends, but I went to the doctor, who promptly killed that idea. So I spent Christmas Eve mostly just sleeping, until, of course, midnight, when I was woken by a huge and magnificent fireworks display just outside my house and got up to find the family gathered around our cheerfully lit-up Christmas tree, exchanging gifts. I got some jewlery, a set of candles, some Bonny Doon soap, and a magnet for my family, and was kindly recompensated with some brand new underwear (even funnier than it sounds; Maruquel is always on my case about how ugly my underwear is). I don't mind though because more gifts would just mean more stuff I didn't need to have to fit in my suitcase in... just over a month (whaaaa?). As soon as I stop being sick I am going to enjoy summer break to the fullest. My next plan is to watch The Birdcage with Sebastian (I found it at a dollar store!) and bake ¨gay cookies¨ or rather chocolate rainbow chip cookies. Yeah, I love my friends.

I just got back from a super fun AFSy trip to Chiriquí, which is the part of Panamá near the Costa Rican border. We even went into Costa Rica for a few hours. Their side of the border is just as gross as ours! Whoopie! I loved Chiriquí because it was foggy, cold, and gorgeous, although the enjoyment of the cold part was dampered (ha. ha.) by the decided lack of sweatshirt and hot water. It was a good chance to bond with my AFS peeps, although by the end I did want to kill them a little, and I'm glad I went. On the way back at the zoo in El Valle de Anton, I saw a crested caracara, tapirs, and an ocelot! I was so happy. As my mom will tell you, I have been waiting my whole life to see a crested caracara. In a souvenir shop I bought a beautiful wooden braclet with beads carved like roses and leaves with a picture of an angel in the middle. Yay Jesus.

I miss all of you very much but I love Panamá, it is my second home and I feel more at ease here than I ever thought possible. I don't know what I'll do without the rhythms of salsa and merengue and bachata on the radio, or without friends who can dance them with me. I know a lot of you know salsa, but that is the thing we hardly dance here... merengue and bachata are both easier and more popular.

Til next time!
Love,
Laurel

It's been awhile...

So how is everyone? I am quite well; writing in an internet cafe because my computer is persnickety, and also chatting on MSN with a cute guy I met with Maru's group at a resort.

Which reminds me, the resort. It was most completely excellent; HOT SHOWERS. Also, I ate a ton of delicious food and drank many virgin piña coladas, because they were free. How nice. The food included such delicacies as eggplant tempura, something distantly resembling pad thai, and fish fillet in tamarind sauce. My friend Casper from Norway was there too, randomly, so we hung out some. In the evening everyone went to the discoteca, I danced a ton. I danced bachata, merengue, hip-hop, and, uh, reggaeton. Please shield your mental images for your own protection.

For Mother's Day on Saturday, I went to my aunt Dora's house with Maru and la abuela, which was uneventful, kind of boring, and involved a really gay cousin (although no one says anything). The next day I went with Kate and her host sister to a Christmas parade in Panamá, and it was pretty fun, although it involved a lot of waiting, buses, and walking furiously. Also, they are so obsessed with beauty queens here, even beyond the US.

I am currently in the middle of exams. I had my math exam today and it was very easy. School ends, finally, Friday, so I will be free for the summer! Yay! Sebastian has been lending me lots of books in Spanish, so I have at least something to read.

I'll leave you with this short post.

Love,
Laurel