The joys of family

My host parents are the community grandparents. My host father, Larzaro, and my host mother, Maria.

They have 2 children that live right next door, both which are married and have children themselves. I enjoy being able to practice Spanish with all generations.

My host parents with their grandson

Maria is very reserved, quite, yet sweet and caring. She has great one-liners :“Oh Im so ugly when I wash the dogs. I love feeding my chickens every morning. Are there cats in the US?” Lazaro is 94 years old but is very active and sharp. For the first 5 days I had no idea what he was saying. His absence of teeth and living in the countryside all his life makes it almost impossible for me to understand. After being here a month I can maybe pick up about 50% of what he is saying. After I learned more vocabulary and got used to his accent, I asked him to show me his farm. His farm, like most farms in Panama, look nothing like farms in the states. Around the house there are random fruit trees, cocoa, vegetables, and root plants such as yucca. He sells his harvest to the community after feeding his family. The tell me that he enjoys the winter seasons here (April-November) because it is the rainy season and his farm thrives. Aside from being a farmer, Lazaro is also a man of politics. The presidential elections are in May and every politician that appears on tv he tells me every reason why I should not trust him/her.

The house is small yet efficient. Most houses I have seen are made of cement blocks because that is the cheapest material. My room is small yet cozy. I am also lucky enough to be living in a community that has running water (most of the time) and electricity. My house even has a toilet and not a latrine!

Front entrance to my house 

our "BBQ" area 

I spend my evenings with Lazaro and Maria’s grandchildren, usually playing cards, playing hackysack, or drawing. We have gone on small family outings to a nearby river and into the city.

There have been several birthdays within the family since my time here. A special birthday dish is arroz con pollo (rice and chicken) which doesn’t found fancy but it is quite the treat. The rice usually includes many vegetables which is my favorite part since vegetables are not popular here and not always easily accessible. The rice/chicken concoction is cooked but then simmered with banana leaves over it to hold in the flavors. Another birthday treat is diced potatoes mixed with beats. The beats don’t really add flavor but add a fun purple color to the potatoes.

Cooking arroz con pollo 

With all the birthdays I have had enough cake to give me diabetes for the next 4 lifetimes. Ironically I am not fond of the traditional cake. It is a white cake with a caramel filling in the middle. However it is  always dry and the caramel doesn’t taste like the caramel I know.  My family will always give me a plate regardless if I tell them I am full. The dogs always end up getting about half the slice.  It is very much a cultural trait that Panamanians will feed you and insist you eat until you are about to burst.

Some highlights of family time:

Maria really thinks it unsafe if I leave the house after 830

Maria hates cockroaches. Positive side of this is when I tell her a cockroach is in my room, she becomes invincible and storms in my room with a shoe and bug spray, ready for whatever comes her way.

My first day, I figured out how to turn the shower on but couldn’t turn it off. I had to leave the shower with it running, soaking wet in a towel, roaming around the yard trying to find Maria to help me.

A bat flew into my house once.  I ducked and this reaction made Lazaro and Maria laugh….for days. They still bring up the story.

When I play cards with the children, Lazaro always teases me and asks if we can go to Panama to play black jack.

They really like watching scary movies and movies about US college frat parties. I have very uncomfortably watched an American Pie movie with them.