Ordinary Life in Panama

It seems like ages since I last wrote only because life has been so crazy around here. If you thought we were moving to a Latin country to take siestas or afternoon tea you are mistaken. Life with three small niños (children)is busy no matter where you live.

Below is some pictures of our apartment... I have captions about each picture below each one. As I have mentioned we are on the second floor of the building. Good thing our walls are cement or we would have been kicked out along time ago from the kids noise :-)

(here is the entrance to our apartment building, this is what we see when we walk in)

(here I am standing at our front door. As you can see we have a sectional couch now and a nice little TV like in the olden days. We have a large patio area that looks on to the pool. We are on the second floor so it is very nice and conveinent to yell down to the pool.

(there is three pools, the right one is the kiddie pool, the middle pool a bit deeper
and the left pool is the deepest. Down under us is a large social area with bar, bbq, more patio sets... it's nice)

(to the right through the door is the kitchen which also leads to the laundry room and maids/playroom section. Down the hall you can see Emma's bedroom then past her's is the boys and ours. Across from Emma's room is another washroom)

(Our very white kitchen. sorry for the picture, a quick shot)

(Emm's room that she loves. Hey Jode look at her feet :-) they were outside and she got in before I washed her feet)

(the boys room, nice and big and usually cars all over the place. Every room has built ins so we dont need dressers)

(our room, we have a king bed, walk in closet and en suite, a good size room)

That's if for our new abode.... so now on with what we do no a day to day bases.

Since last week we ventured out on last Sunday to Playa Santa Clara (the beach). Now Sunday's here are family days and everyone spends time with family & friends either at the beach or at the mall. The beach is just over an hour from Panama City so not to bad of a drive. After a few wrong turns here and there we finally found our way out of the city & on to the highway towards Coranado (for anyone who knows anything about Panama, Coranado is full of alot of retirees)

At the beach we parked and Trent went to find us a spot while I got the kids ready.. ie... full body armor against the sun (white Canadians have to cover up) Trent came back to the truck to tell me that we are at a VERY local beach. Good thing staring does not bother us. The boys were the only ones with head to toe sun armor on and Trent & I the only adults with hats on. The kids make for a good show. The beach had about 600 Panamanians and 5 whities (us) that afternoon. I said to Trent "Oh know, where is Everett", Trent casually turned to me and said "He is not hard to spot"... It was funny at the time.

(This beach was huge. We have been spoiled over the years so we can not say it
is one of our favorite but the sand was nice for the kids. we have been told the best beaches are more north so we have to venture a bit farther)

(full sun protected boys... They must be Canadian)

(Our East... as long as he is free to explore he is happy)

(Everett loved laying on the beach and having the waves come up over him, he is a lot better at the beach this year in some ways but harder in others since he wants to go out and swim on his own)

(here a local boy that came and played with the kids as soon as we got to the beach, kids are kids no matter what language they speak)

(my cute guys)

Our drive home from the beach was eventful though, we got lost like usual, so lost that we crossed over the Panama Canal on the Americas bridge four times. The kids perked up and said why do we keep crossing over the bridge... I told Trent by June we will finally figure out how on earth to get around this place. Emma's teacher just laughs, she tells me it is impossible to get lost in Panama City. It is not that we don't know where we are we just can't find the right roads to get us home.

Our angel Mossy (our contact down here) had us over for a BBQ and swim one night. The kids loved it because we played baseball & soccer. Everett our little slugger hit that ball no problem and had a natural stance. He is 2 & 1/2 and is hitting the ball when pitched at... Now all he wants to do is play bat. Both boys love baseball!!! Our other contact Sharmilla came with her girls and it was a really fun night. We are so blessed to have wonderful people around us, we would be really struggling if it was not for them, instead we are somewhat struggling (haha)

(Easton keeps saying he is going to make it to the BIG leagues)

(You need to see Everett slug the ball, when he connects, the ball is out of here)

(Our kids with Sharmilla and her girls. Angie is the same age as Emma)

The kids had a field trip to a National Park and I joined them on it. It was recommended that the children wear jeans and runners. You know you are becoming a local when you go out in
35 degree C in jeans. :-) Everett is still trying to adjust to the temperature change, Em and Easton seem to be ok with it. Believe me it is warm but not to bad. It was 37C the other day and it was a hot day!(The entrance to the park... very beautiful and lush)

(Easton's class, do you see my proud Canadian red head?)

(Everett with Easton's teacher trying to look at the crocidles)

(Easton's friend Michael who speaks a bit of English)

(Here is Everett's class sitting down for lunch, they are all so cute & the girls are dressed like dolls)

(The kids are competing with me for camera time now, they want to take all the pictures)

The park we went to was the Summit National Park. The whole school went to see a few animals

and to play at the park. Like usual I am disturbed by any animal caged and at this park there was a pregnant Jaguar. The Jaguar did look very well kept but it was disturbing to say the least. Jaguars are rare in Panama but from what I read these is still a good population of them in Costa Rica.

(My funny girl... she took my sunglasses and did a few poses for me)

(Emma has made a friend in class... This young girl is trying to learn English so Emma is trying to teach her)

(Everett is taking a break from all his soccer playing and running around. The kids drink so much water and gatorade. The teachers were so concerned because Everett was so red... he is just very hot)

(the kids having a great time playing around and being kids)

I had a great time with the kids and interacting with all the teachers. I have to say a HUGE thank you to Senorita Kiss, Emma's Spanish helps us somehow each and every day. She many not speak a sentence but she know the name of things and can get us through trying to communicate somethings. The kids really want to learn Spanish and we are trying to find a way to expose them as much as possible to the language.

So for all you shoppers out there. Bonnie mentioned I need to take pictures of the mall next time I go because she can not in vision what the mall could be like. It is not different than Chinook mall really, just different stores and a bit smaller. It has a full food court complete with McDonalds, Wendys, Pizza Hut, Burger King and many other US food chains. It even has a Merry-go-round.

Anyways I had to get the kids jeans and Emma runners. I bought each kid jeans and Emma's runner all for under $40.00. The clothes for kids are so cute and so cheap. The Panamanian kids all dress to the nines. One day I would love to walk the mall by myself for hours just to look &

compare. I found the Keen sailor sandals here for $75.00 at home last time I looked they were around $125.00, I think. They have so many Converse shoes for kids, all the Little Tyke outdoor playsets, pretty much anything you get at home you can eventually find here.

After we drop the kids off at school each day Trent and I go to New York Bagel relax for a bit, have a coffee and bagel. It is so nice to have a few hours to numb out, then go out and do all our running around. I read a few months ago about a place called KIDZONE and I saw it as we were driving by. It is like a play gym and they can host birthday parties there (in Spanish).. so that was a great find.

(Here Emma & Everett are leaving our building to walk to school)

Also we found a play based playschool for Everett that he is going to start on Monday, I am very excited about that. The director of the school is a Panamanian named Donna. Donna worked with the Americans when they were here until 2000 and saw how vital play is in a child's development. She told us that the Panamanians still do not understand how this could be beneficial, they are used to a more regimented way of learning. Obviously anyone who knows our boys especially Everett knows the regimented way does not work for him. In Calgary at Westside it was play based and Everett loved it, so Monday will be a great day, a new school for Everett. Now the kids are in two different schools and I will be doing the usual Mom thing... being a taxi driver.

We bought a 4Runner here. To rent a vehicle is outrageous. We rented a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado ( which we loved) but it cost $80.00us/day. It would of been $1,700us/month to keep renting it, so that was out of the question. (here is the Prado)

We really lucked out and found this 4runner driven by an American (very important) and it is in excellent condition. It is an older one which is good because now we don't stick out so much on the road. (our 4 runner)

You get really hassled at a traffic light by all the guys on the road selling things from ... phone cards, phone chargers, sunglasses, purses, beans, oranges, movies (which we seem to buy all the time) garbage bags, hammock chairs.. you name it they will sell it. Mossy says they will sell you a house at a red light. It is pretty funny, but there is a lot of dodging people at times.

So now that we have a truck I finally was able to get Everett a car seat. Can you believe it Mr. Jim Drew almost two weeks and no car seat for Everett... haha. We say a man driving the other day with his baby on his lap. Now don't get me wrong Panama quite strict on their laws. You will get a ticket for violations, it is against the law to drive and talk on your cell phone... that is a big ticket.... We passed a cop with a laser gun clocking speeders. Policemen ride around on there motorbikes with their machine guns on their laps. We don't feel intimidated but cops are a round.

Today is Saturday and we headed out of the city to a waterpark I had read about. It was called Jungle Falls and it was a lot of fun. The toddler section was worth the whole day. The kids had a great time on the waterslides and in the toddler section the kids did their own thing while Trent & I watched them interact with other kids. We again were the only foreigners at this place. They say there is alot of Americans & Canadians around here but we sure do not see very many at all. If we do we are quite surprised and happy at the same time. It is funny there is no hesitation to ask "where are you from".

(fun pictures and our surroundings at the Waterpark... fun day!)

Smiles all around here :-)

I have not made it to the Canal yet, this week one morning when the the kids are in school. Trent said they will be really bored or I will take Emma & Easton but leave Everett home with Trent.

We are planning a road trip next weekend to Isla Grande so that should be intersting.

Trent showed me where he would like to live, it is 30min from the city more in the Jungle where monkeys and sloths roam by a lake that has fresh water aligators. It is beautiful and snake country...

Next blog I will have more Panama information or trivia, I have to run the kids are going a bit crazy along with my husband, we need to get out. For whatever reason I worked all night last night on this blog and this moring all the pictures were gone.... ahhh some days.

Email me if you have questions answered or if I am missing somethings. I over look alot because things become normal after a while. Oh I did want to clarify. Yes we are coming back to Calgary at the end of June for a few weeks and then heading out to the lake in BC for the summer. At the end of August we will have our decision as to where we are going to live for the next five years. We are giving Panama a 6 month trial run, because we all know that a place is alot different when you live somewhere than just visit for a few weeks.

I want to say Happy Birthday to Ms. Avery Drew who is 7 yrs. old today... Oh how time is flying.
Here is a picture of Avery & Emma before we left for Panama.


On Wednesday it is our precious, amazing, beautiful niece's Harlow's second birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I hope you are all staying warm and healthy.

It is time to sign off. Thank you again! We send all our love!

Love Trent, Jody, Emma, Easton, & Everett

We have contact with the world.

Oh my goodness is it great to be in the internet loop again.... we just got our internet hooked up in our apartment.

We arrived last Saturday to Panama and checked into the Albrook Inn. I would have to say I would not pass on my recommendation to that hotel. The area of Albrook is a location I would love to buy a house and fix it up if we were to stay, but the hotel was about a 2-3 star if they were lucky.

We did find this interesting giant by the hotel though... don't ask, I have no idea what he is all about, but the kids thought he was cool.

Here we are out for a walk one night enjoying the warm breeze and fresh air. Everett loves his big sister, he goes to her for everything I won't give him. It is pretty cute.

So on with it......all day Monday Trent the kids & I with our most amazing contacts toured Panama in search of an apartment or a house for us to rent until we figure out what we are up to :-) haha.. (still finding ourselves) After many hours of driving, looking and decisions we found the apartment we are taking residence in for a while.

The apartment is 1600sq feet, it is 3bed/ 2bath plus maids quarters and her own bathroom. Bonnie laughed and said "You don't have a maid do you?" No, I am the maid still :-) The apartment management has been very accommodating! We needed a desk and chair for the computers and they sent us to a store to pick it out, as well the bed is to hard for my husband so we go to pick out a new mattress as well. Also I saw a sectional couch I liked in another apartment we looked at in the building which they gave me the option of recovering and let me pick the fabric I liked. They definitely want us to be happy here (we are scared to tell them we may leave in 2 or 3 months)

The apartment is located right across from the school the kids are going to right now. In Central & South America it is summer break here so the kids are in summer school. They go from 9-12pm each day except Everett I am only sending him 3 days/week. The kids love school especially Easton he really wants to learn Spanish. Emma is in Spanish language classes everyday which is exactly what we were wanting.

The school is called "The Oxford School" it is an English based school but most kids in this summer program are from surrounding areas who are trying to learn English. It's good for the kids to be surrounded by Spanish kids to learn faster we hope. The school has a great swimming pool and the kids are taking swimming lessons as well as Drama class. It has been a good transition for them. The teachers are so nice, they just love our kids and have been so welcoming. The 2007 Panamanian school schedule starts March 15th so we have to decide before then what we are doing with school.

Each morning I walk the kids to school and the security guard says every morning "Good morning children" and the kids respond back in Spanish "buenos dias" (goodmorning). Emma said she wants to learn Spanish NOW and she snapped her fingers. I tell her she has to really listen and learn so when we come back to Calgary in June she can go back to her school to talk to Senorita Kiss and to the rest of the class in Spanish.... she likes that idea.

Now the question: DO WE LIKE PANAMA?
Yes I like it, the kids are very happy and Trent, well he says "Happy wife, Happy life" he knows all the right answers.. haha... If we chose to stay here for a few years it would be an easier adjustment than any other countries we have been in the last few years.

Germany, Trent is not ready to go back to Europe. I can't wait to get back there...
in a few years when the kids can appreciate it a bit more.

Maui is Trent's perfect place but the education for the kids is just not there.

Venezuela... everyone is trying to flee from there now, lots of Venezuelans are coming here to Panama.

Hong Kong, just not for us, to many people I would have to say.

Thailand we loved and is still on our list but for the kids it is a way bigger culture shock
and very very far.

Singapore I loved but Trent said not for him.

Panama has alot going for it, the economy is pretty strong...the canal will most likely always be here(lets hope). Panama City is quite modernized for a Latin American country, very accepting of North Americans for the most part (no one really stares to much, not like Thailand) Great restaurants, decent shopping. McDonalds, Wendy's, Pizza Hut all deliver (Trent loves that) You also know that you are in a somewhat civilized country when people walk their dogs on leashes (i was pleasantly surprised when I saw this) Funny how small things amaze us now :-)

Driving is a bit crazy but not as bad as I prepared myself for. Shopping is good for the kids, quite cheap, I have not looked for myself yet except for flip flops there are so many, I could go crazy on buying them if I had no will power... but we have only been here for a week :-)

I have not seen to much yet in our week here in Panama City. We rented a truck yesterday for a week until the truck we are buying goes through. Car rentals here are very expensive so it makes more sense to buy one and hopefully we can sell it when we leave in June :-) We love to gamble situation in our life if you have not noticed...haha..

Today is Saturday and we went for a drive. Trent took us up on Acorn Hill, this is the location that the Panama Canal was planned from. Many important people live up here in the hills and the homes are so beautiful. The view of Panama City was nice, it was a bit cloudy. In this picture you can see one of the locks of the Canal in the distance. It was not to hot this morning (only around 29 degrees C) It will be very interesting to get down on ground level to see the Panama Canal and some of the ships that go through... maybe next week.

Also we ventured to the Causeway which is a peninsula that was created from all the foundation that was unearthed when the canal was built. A very cool spot, we are going to go back to rent bikes to cruise around on. There were many quaint restaurants all along the roadway.

A bit of trivia on the Panama Canal

1. On what day was the first full transit of the Canal made?

-August 15, 1914

-April 21, 1913

-May 4, 1914

-November 3, 1914

2. Who was considered the "mastermind" behind the canal?
(Hint - he designed the lock system for the Panama Canal)

-John Stevens
-Ferdinand de Lesseps
-William Gorgas

3. 100 million gallons of water are used in each transit of the canal.

-True
-False

4. 7,800 miles is cut off a journy from New York to San Fransico by using the canal

-True
-False

Answers at the bottom of the page!

I am very surprised how clean Panama has been, for a 3rd world country. The woman dress very nice all the time, I have yet to see woman walk around in their workout clothes and ball caps on, like back home. I look like a hobo most days compared to the lady next to me. Even little girls look like dolls, they have beautiful gold bracelets on and necklaces, no one wears silver.

There are alot of nice new vehicles on the road, not very many scooters at all in the city so far. Gas is $2.30/gallon or $0.65/litter so a bit cheaper. Oh also I was so excited and could not believe it, they have Costco here. It is called Price Smart but it is the same place. I went in it and could not believe my eyes, I got a lot of shopping done, it was great but not many clothes like back home.

For supper tonight we went to a Crepe & Waffle house. DELICIOUS! The food is not much cheaper since we keep eating at great restaurants but we have been eating pretty good when we venture out.

Well it's time for movie night. Trent & I have been watching movies every night since we can buy them at a red light from the guy standing at our truck window for $4.00. Yes they are burned CD's, but what are movie addicts to do when we do not have a babysitter yet, so we can go to movies :-)

Sorry this entry was not to exciting but some info to catch you up on the craziness of the Schmuland crew.

Thank you for taking an interest in our adventure, life for us is an adventure everyday I would say. We can't repeat yesterday so take full advantage of today! There are moments Trent and I say to eachother "We are crazy, what have we done, we sold everything and now what?" Then we see the kids beaming when they come out of school proud they are learning the language. The other day we had guys in the apartment fixing a few things and the kids were all over them asking them if they had kids, where their casa (house) was, how old they were, all in their broken Spanish but it was pretty cute.

Well that is enough babbling for now, I will check in next week. Until then stay warm! All our love Jody,Trent, Emma, Easton & Everett.


Remember if you would like to post a message you may due so here on the blog by clicking on comment or you can always email us at schmulandj@gmail.com we love hearing from you.

HERE ARE A FEW CUTE PICTURES THAT NEVER MADE IT INTO MY LAST
POST FOR ALL OF YOU WANTING MORE PICTURES.


my cute boys playing around at Disneyland before we left on our last day.

Emma showing Easton just how much she loves them at the
airport at 1:00am, what troopers!

I am embarrased to say but we had two carts full like this of luggage, Trent asked me what happened to my pack job I did for Thailand... (we had 4 - 25lb bags nothing like the craziness that was packed for Panama)

TRIVIA ANSWERS

1. On what day was the first full transit of the Canal made?
August 15, 1914

2. Who was considered the "mastermind" behind the canal?
(Hint - he designed the lock system for the Panama Canal)
John Stevens was the so called "genius" behind the construction of the Panama Canal. Unfortunatly, he resigned his post before the completion of the project.

3. 100 million gallons of water are used in each transit of the canal.
False - Only a miniscule 52 million gallons of water are used.

4. 7,800 miles is cut off a journey from New York to San Fransico by using the canal.
True - Obviously, the canal provides immense economic advantages as well
as being much more convenient and safer than the journey round Cape Horn.

Until next week...