Chiriquí Chatter

Just a short note. Tonight we take Natalie, to the Panama International Airport, for her departure to Switzerland. Her adventure is about to begin. I hope to get some photos at the airport and if I do, I will post them when I return to. David

By the time this posts, I should be in Panama City. I will probably not be posting much until I return. I will try to keep up with comments and emails, but other than that, don’t expect much. Remember, absence makes the heart grow fonder.

I just thought I would let you know that I have added a new blog the the Link list for Panama. It is just getting started, so you can get in during its early stages. It is always nice to welcome new neighbors, so let me introduce you to Panama Notes.

If you are interested in Linux, HERE is an interesting interview with Linus Torvalds, the father of Linux.

Tags: Linux

I am trying to ward off a touch of bronchitis. I went to the doctor yesterday. It was $5 for the consultation, diagnosing bronchitis, and $55 for the three medicines.

Yesterday was Natalie’s last Sunday in David and she got to choose what restaurant to go to. You guessed it. We went to Renegados. The food was as good as always.

I was supposed to help Dario with another class this evening, but I have canceled because of the way I feel.

I have an individual that wants to install Linux and have burned a couple CDs, and just need to figure out how to get them to him.

There is probably more that I am forgetting, but I need to go eat some breakfast and take my medicine.

I guess today was my day to watch videos on the Internet. Below is a link to a Google video that I think is important.

Today, when the world is crying about not having eco-friendly cars and also about the dependency on foreign oil, it makes you want to cry when you see that the technology has been there and bad judgment is the reason that it isn’t in your hands to day. This is a 90 minute video, but it is worth watching.

After watching it, maybe it is worth sending the link to your congressman and asking him what he has done for you lately besides sleeping on the job.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7202740060236675590&q=Who+killed+the+electric+car&ei=DW2CSM_qBoP8rQL24fC_Ag

Tags: Technology

Back in March of 2007, I took a trip to the Chiriquí Grande area to have a look at some construction work that the US Army was doing in Panama. Today as I was searching for something on the Internet, I stumbled on some videos that were made on a subsequent project of the Army.

The videos are pretty good. They give you an idea of the difficult life that many people in Panama face. And yet, when you see the smiling faces of all the young Panamanians, you realize that it doesn’t take much to make children happy.

Many American’s move to Panama, hoping to find paradise for themselves, without ever thinking about how they might possibly help their new found neighbors. I have a good friend that used to live in Boquete and while he was there, he got involved with a small Indian school. He went every day and made himself useful. He painted. He bought bags of rice and vegetables to help the children have a meal while they were at school. He simply gave of himself.

He didn’t throw money at problems hoping that it would be spent well. He didn’t try to advise the school system on how to make it better. He did it on his own, not wanting any recognition for what he was doing. He just did what was in his power and small budget, but he made a difference.

Many of the children he helped were just like the ones in these videos. His reward was similar to the reward that I am sure each of the army personnel felt by spending time in Panama on this 4 month project.

Here are a series of 8 videos that were taken during that four month project.

Beyond the Horizon (Ep. 1)

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Tags: Children, Reflectng, Videos