Being abroad makes you think about the little things in your life that you have always taken for granted. You also discover that somethings stay the same no matter where you are in the world. One of these things for me is spending my birthday with my friends and family. Growing up I always had some sort of Halloween themed party but my friends and family were always there. Even in college, I threw Halloween parties and invited all of my closest friends and then their roommates and their brothers and their dogs.... regardless, I was always surrounded by the people that mattered most in my life, and a few others. I was unsure how having my birthday in Panama would live up to these expectations, especially when I have been feeling so homesick lately.
But I was surprised in a great way. I not only had a great birthday but I had a great birthday weekend. My professor came to check on me over the weekend and so the party started on Thursday when we went out for dinner in my favorite part of the city, Casco Antiguo. I got to show her around and after a weekend of being a tourist and shopping for souvenirs for my loved ones back home, I felt refreshed. It was a much needed break that reopened my eyes to appreciate the magic of the experience I am having. Not only am I a tourist, but I am actually living here. I am experiencing this place in the most inclusive way possible.
My professor left Sunday morning (my actual birthday) and I was ready for a lazy day in my house here. I went out for a traditional Panamanian breakfast with my landlady which was really nice. When we returned, I watched movies and chilled out. Then I was randomly invited to the Casal's house for a birthday lunch with them. After we ate a meal together, they pulled out a surprise birthday cake and they sang me all of the Panamanian birthday songs- there are a lot of birthday songs. The candles were almost completely melted by the time I got to blow them out. That evening, I went with one of my students and his family to a folk presentation at his school. It was a beautiful presentation that demonstrated the folk music and folk dance of many different regions in Panama. At the end of the day I was still surrounded by my friends and family, just not the ones I expected. I was surrounded by my friends and family here in Panama.
This experience has opened my eyes to different ways of living and I now feel like I can get up and go anywhere if I wanted to. I was pretty independent before this experience but now I am definitely capable of living on my own. I have the confidence in myself to do anything without needing the approval of someone else. And most importantly, I am content with hanging out with myself. This is something that I was not exactly comfortable with before this experience though I would never have admitted it then. I am learning so many unexpected lessons because of this experience and for that, I am truly grateful.
Dr. Bartolome and I went to my favorite coffee shop and enjoyed some really good java.
A night out with the girls-complete with a delicious Panamanian Steak. I had some trouble telling them that I wanted my steak rare. I had to settle for what I would call medium-well.
Birthday night out "selfie". Evidently I do not belong in this generation because my selfie skills are quite lacking...
Walking around Casco Antiguo. We stopped to take a picture of all of the boats waiting to go through the canal.
Hello boats!
Google knows my birthday!
An awesome birthday dinner at the American Trade Hotel in Casco Antiguo. They have great soap in the bathrooms. When I looked it up to buy some for myself I discovered it costs $39 a bottle...Yikes!
Delicious birthday deserts. mmmm. The best one was the milk chocolate mousse with lemon grass ice cream. So good!
Here is where my landlady, Ms. Daisy (don't you just love her name?), took me for a birthday breakfast- Panamanian style!
Thank you Ms. Daisy for letting me live in your house. You are the best landlady ever.
Surprise!!! Happy Birthday to me! Thanks Casals for being my family away from home!
Feliz Cumpleanos Jessica! (only one "s"- Jesica- haha)
Me and Rianier. He likes to teach me Spanish when I come over to visit. Too cute.
Me and my violin student, Pedro, at his folk presentation. What a great end to a great birthday!
Panamanian folk dance differs per region but I have to say, I love the dresses. They are very beautiful and you can see the Spanish influence.
I especially like it when they are as ornate as these dresses. Sometimes I wish I could go back in time and visit the time with these became the traditional dresses. How cool would that be?
Here are some devils- lady version. There was some really great dancing by these young performers this night.
Kids are truly amazing. I really think they can do anything when given the opportunity.
Here is a video of one of the folk dances. It features the live band in the background playing traditional folk music as well.
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