Site update and new pics...

Greetings, here is my counterpart Jose with his daughter, Marisel.

Here is the corner of my new home, which I affectionately refer to as, `the tree house`.

Hola!
Two weeks in and things are real good. I snuck away today to rejoin civilization so here we go. I`ve been working with the Agro-pecuario program at the colegio. Last week they had a congreso which was a big deal. It was basically high school seniors working on their senior project. In this case, they did power point presentations on subjects like organic composting, water conservation, fattening chickens, and artificially inseminating cattle, among other things. I helped them with the power point the week before and then I was a judge, somewhat. I hit the ground running the first week here: working at the school, bridge fishing for `bobos` which are kind of like croakers, and working with Jose for a day at his farm. The farm is more like a mountain in thick jungle with lots of plantains, bananas, sugar cane, and yucca, and some cows. To get there we had a 45 minute hike at altitude followed by 3-4 hours of machete work. I thought I was in shape until I tried the return hike and about passed out after reaching the top of one hill. And, I am probably going to build my house with Jose. Stoked. Here are some pics:
School kids doing the congo, which is this cool dance with drums, before the start of the congreso. The music is made by two bongos, a chorus of voices and clapping. It was real cool.

These two girls are in traditional dress and ushered the distinguished guests to their seats. I don`t know how I ranked as distinguished, but I went with it.

This is my little host sister Marisel, super cute with an infectious laugh.
This is a freighter about to pass through the Gatun locks. This is the view from the bus when it crosses over this little one lane bridge. Millions of gallons of water is dammed up on the other side and the ship is bearing down on the bridge. Uhhhh, n-n-not scary at all, but I`m not sure the diablo rojos can float.

Until next time...hasta luego!

July 3

The infamous diablo rojo. This is what public transit looks like here. Remember your yellow schoolbus, the ones with the sticky vinyl seats. Panama is where they are put out to pasture. They are reincarnated with fancy airbrush paintjobs, chrome wheels and blaring soundsystems.
Pimptastic!
Another famous citizen of Panama, the threatened Conejo Pintado, this nocturnal rodent is hunted for its supposedly delicious meat. Some PC projects are trying to breed them in captivity. But therein lies the dilemma, how do you tell someone who is struggling to feed his family that it is not right to kill what the campesinos think is the most delicious meat of all. We are trying to find a way to make all parties happy, but these are some of the challenges we face.


"That which we manifest is before us; we are the creators of our own destiny. Be it through intention or ignorance, our successes and our failures have been brought on by none other than ourselves"
— Garth Stein (The Art of Racing in the Rain)

Here we go... I report to site today. It is also my birthday. I think that is a good omen. It may be the best and worst birthday ever. The worst because I can`t be with my friends and family from home and I`ll be spending far too much time on a bus. The best because my present is my site and hopefully I will make new relationships that will be like family. Furthermore, it has taken 31 years but I am finally doing something real. Two years on the job begins today. The blog may be inactive for a while because it is going to be at least a month until I encounter internet again. So here are some thoughts and pictures(oops, pictures above)...

-This Gulf of Mexico oil spill makes me sick. Let`s do something about it. Terry Gibson wrote a very good, informative article on Surfline that gives you ways to contact the powers that be. Check it out. Hopefully, once the smoke clears, this can be a catalyst that brings about positive change. GET INVOLVED!

-Germany just beat Argentina 4-0. What???? It is too bad the talent of Argentina is wasted on the tactical ignorance of Maradona. Brasil is out too, crazy. Holland, Uruguay, Germany, and Spain or Paraguay. Who knows who is going to win this thing?

-Grandma Nancy, thank you for your email. I tried to respond but yahoo is not working at the moment. I appreciate the kind thoughts. I`ll talk to you soon.

-For all my family and friends, I miss you all. I wish you an excellent Fourth of July. For my birthday, please let any of the family and friends who aren`t aware of the blog know it is here. I'm doing it for you guys. Also, if you tried to mail me something make sure it goes out like this:

Cuerpo de Paz-Panama
Attn: Elliott Moore
followed by the address i gave you. If you list my name before Peace Corps it may get lost since the mail is going to the Peace Corps box and not the Elliott box.

I love Y'ALL. Thanks for all the positive thoughts. They are keeping me inspired. Wish me luck.

Swear in pics

Group 65 CEC in front of US Ambassador's house

Panamanian Vice President Juan Carlos Varela

Yours truly with US Ambassador to Panama, Barbara Stephenson

photos, etc.

Dancing the tipico


Beach Bonfire
Soccer

Beach group shot

Swear-In...

On Friday June 25, the aspirantes of PC Group 65 were sworn in and officially made volunteers. This was a big deal for us, but what I did not realize was that it was a big deal for the governments of the US and Panama. How big? The event was held at the outgoing US Ambassador's house and the Vice-President and First Lady of Panama were there. The Ambassador, Barbara Stephenson, got a little emotional and some Panamanians in attendance were shaking my hand and thanking me with tears in their eyes. The Vice President gave a speech and it was heartfelt and thankful. It didn't seem like your typical political affair where the gestures are superficial and the dignitaries always have somewhere better to be. It made me realize that even though we have been in our training communities worried about the next language interview or APCD meeting, what we are about to do will have a lasting effect in our lives and in the lives of our community members. It is crazy to think how real that is. For all the ego clashes and stress of training, that is all over. It is time to go to work. I think this training process has really prepared us well. CEC, at least, I know the other sectors have more trepidation than we do. So THANK YOU, Carlos and Francisco.

Above Photo: What it is all about. Playing soccer with schoolkids and cowboys from somewhere in Veraguas. Pics of US Ambassador and Panamanian VP in next edition. Peace.

USA, USA, USA!!!!!!

In sports news, the US won and advanced in the World Cup. Thank you to, Raul, the director of training for allowing us the opportunity to watch. I haven't had a World Cup entry yet. Here it is: congrats to Sam's Army and their ballsy performances. I have been critical of Bob Bradley and Landon Donavan, but they proved me wrong today. Shout out to A. Ma who is there watching. I'm jealous but I hope you are having the time of your life. Be safe. Right now, Uruguay and Argentina look real strong to me. Diego Forlan has been my player of the tournament so far. I've been watching what I can. Brazil, Argentina and Spain are hands down the most popular teams here in Panama. However, Spain lost some street cred when they lost to the Swiss. They should still advance though. That's all sports fans. Back to reality...
It has been an emotional week here, everyone is getting back from their site visits with stories to share. We lost our first aspirante, but Mark, best wishes to you man. Hope you find what you are looking for. Some are shocked and awed by their sites. But I feel really lucky.
Last week, after our site entry conference, we left for our sites. I was happy to meet my counterpart, Jose, before I went to Colon. Jose is an amazing character. He is constantly laughing and joking, but when he told me what his plans for the community were I knew he was legit. I accompanied him to his house and met his wife and the rest of his brood. His wife has an outsized personality to match Jose and a wonderful philosophy on life. She told me I was one of her kids now and if anyone messes with me they'll see how brava (English trans. ANGRRRRY) she can get. Look out Colon! Maribel don't play. The rest of the visit was an introduction to people and projects. I saw the youth group working on beach clean-up and prepping for mangrove reforestation. I worked with the agro-ambiental group. We started the vivero, which is essentially a tree nursery, gringos. I was really excited to do it because a. it was my first day there and we got work cracking right away and b. I can watch it grow from start to finish. I met school teachers and directors. And I am comfortable knowing it will be my home and work for the next two years. It is not the idyllic beach side community I pictured. It is a little 'hood fo' sho'. But Jose and is counterparts are on the brink of changing their community and their environment. I am the first Peace Corps volunteer there but they are overjoyed to have me. Not because of my wit and charm,surprisingly, but I think because having a development worker there gives their effort legitimacy. They deserve to be recognized though, and I hope I can be a bridge to get them the resources they need to have long term sustainability. Here is a journal entry from the visit (it rained a lot): The cool, heavy rain is a blanket on the loud and hot Panamanian night. The sound of water falling on a tin roof is a white noise that drowns out the ever present music and loud voices. The fresh stormy breeze blows the clouds of humidity to tomorrow. And I sleep peacefully knowing I've put in a hard day's work.

June 6... extraordinary tasks

6.05

“There was nothing good men and true could not accomplish when committed to a Noble Task. He saw them all as figures in a romance, embarked on what he was to call The Great Adventure of Panama. They were more themselves, better men, in this wild field of combat.” -David McCullough

Sometimes it seems as if the task ahead is impossible. I’ve discovered where my site is. It is all I could ask for: coastal, four hours from La Ciudad (Panama City for you gringos), running water, electricity, bus service, cell phone signal, and most importantly, ambitious community members. Why am I so nervous for the work ahead? Perhaps nervous is not the right word. A month from now, mas o menos, I am expected to go into this community as the first Peace Corps volunteer they have encountered. I am taking my ever expanding Spanish skills (which don’t seem to be expanding fast enough) and my life, which is conveniently able to fit into a couple of backpacks and entering into a foreign community that will be my home and my work for the next two years. Not only do I have to become a part of the community’s social fabric, I have to get them organized and working, and I have to pave the way for future volunteers. I know I am prepared for this, but, damn, it still seems daunting.
It is going to take an extraordinary effort. I do not mean I a pompous “Real Men of Genius” level of extraordinary. I have been wondering lately about the nature of this word extraordinary. Plenty of people do extraordinary things. I have always had this theory that before one reaches success (real success, not instantaneous winning the genetic lottery type success) life gives you one epic trial to see if you are worth the trouble. Where my theory keeps going wrong though, is I always thought it was a one-time thing. Do your diligence, suffer, pass go, collect your winnings at the window. I am learning now that the trials and travails never stop. It is exhausting, but every now and then I have to remind myself that the work is the reward. I see the volunteers that are two years down the road and they are so relaxed. I worry I’ll never be that relaxed, but then I realize that two years ago, mas o menos, they were showing up in a strange pueblo with limited language skills, a binder full of training tools, their lives on their backs, a shiny new machete, and the hopes that they could do something extraordinary.