Feliz Naw Ruz!!!

Happy Naw Ruz everyone! As much as I missed going to the Nazeryans the first day of Naw Ruz for what is seemingly the most amazing batch of Gormeh Sabzi I would have had in my life. I actually had a great Naw Ruz. Panama City did it big! I was quite impressed :) Put some of the Naw Ruz parties in the States to shame!
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So to begin, our Naw Ruz began with a visit to the Temple on Sunday. Aside from our obvious intention of going to say prayers. There was a memorial held for Senora Raquel. Families, friends and members of the community had gathered to share their fondest memories of her, and to send off her soul with prayers. Prayers, writings, messages on behalf of the National of Panama and the National of El Salvador, stories, songs, and a video about the construction of the Temple in Panama. Turns out she was one of the first, and oversaw the construction of the Temple from beginning to finish. Pretty amazing stuff! Such a fulfilling life! A life of service.

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After the memorial, we headed home to get ready for a Jr. Youth class, but then with all the construction they've been doing on the roads, there wasnt enough time to do all that and get ready for the Naw Ruz party which was way back in the city. By the time we got home it was like 3:30. And we had to leave the house again at 4:30 to be in the city at 5:30! Eeeee. Ok so sit down, catch your breath. Try to stop sweating. Chill for a few minutes. Shower, AGAIN. Straighten hair, AGAIN. Try not to sweat while straightening hair. Make up, clothes, shoes, and BAM! Damnnn we look good ;)

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No but actually, we did look pretty damn good. Hahaha. So we squeezed 4 people in the back and turned up the AC and made our way back to the city. The Naw Ruz party was for dinner, and was being held at a private club in one of the high rises in the city. Lets just say it was fannncyyy shmanncyyy. Looking out over the city, and on to the ocean, watching the sunset, the view was really breath taking.

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We made our way through the dining area, greeted some familiar faces and some foreign ones! Panamanians, Persians, Gringos, (oh boy was there one ridiculous gringo there that night or what?!) Bahai's and non-Bahai's alike. All gathered to celebrate Baha'i and Persian New Year! As we took our seats, we were offered some tropical bebidas, and waited to be ushered to dinner. Buffet style? While fasting? You can expect people to wait too long! But before we were served dinner, there were prayers, music, and a presentation about the significance of Naw Ruz from the Baha'i perspective. And it was actually a really great teaching tool.
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But alas, the food! Oh and the dessert! I wanted to have it all, but ofcourse, the beauty of fasting is that you're starving and as soon as you eat a little you're already full. But we did try a little bit of everything.

Watched the sun set on the skyline. Enjoyed each others company and danced the night away. Salsa, Marengue, the Panamanian version of the "Electric Slide". What a great way to celebrate your Naw Ruz especially when you know you're missing out on Khanum Nazeryan's Gormeh Sabzi!
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The next day, we made our way to a family friends house to celebrate the first day of the New Year. Felt kinda weird to be able to eat during the day! But we enjoyed some good grub, and quickly made our way to the beach! We didnt wanna waste any time, or sun light! Which brings me to reveal to you all this beautiful view. They call it Rio Mar...

We trecked across a warm river, from the black sparkly sand to the hot white sand of the tropics. We had the place all to ourselves. We spent the day swimming in the ocean, which by the way was pretty warm, "cold" to the locals. And clean and amazing! First time I felt pure happiness since I first met my little kiddies here in Panama.
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Hoping you all had an amazing Naw Ruz! In one form or another!

Upon your request: “A blog update…or ten”

I apologize everyone for getting lazy on the last post. The truth is things have been pretty mellow around here because of all the national holidays and vacations people have been taking. It’s the end of summer, school has started for all the kids and youth, and with Carnavales kicking off the new school year, I almost felt like I didn’t have any updates for you guys. 

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But as a matter a fact, a lot has happened since I last wrote to you all. I’d like to take a minute and explain all the events going on nationally here in Panama and also, a series of Holy days that have also been a huge part of my Bahai activities most recently. I’d like to proceed in chronological order, so you all get a sense of what my schedules been like and what I’ve been up to.

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So first of all, we are amidst the Bahai fast. A period of 19 days kicked off by the 4 intercalary days I told you guys about a few posts ago. This is a special time for Bahai’s as we use it to spiritually and physically cleanse our bodies. If you don’t know already, the fast is obligatory in the Bahai faith and has a few exceptions, based on age, health, and in the end, personal discretion. However once March rolls around you can bet your bottom dollar that your friendly Bahai neighbor is most likely not eating from sunrise till sunset. Sure its tough, but you satiate your hunger by taking this time to deepen and grow steadfast in your faith and bring yourself closer to God. Its really all about growth, sacrifice, and detachment. If you come out knowing these things, you can consider yourself golden. 

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But Bahai’s sure know how to prep for the fast, I mean we kick it off with Ayyam-i-Ha which I will no remind you is the time of giving. Makes sense right? You take time to give to others, you experience detachment and sacrifice, and you end with another bang. Naw Ruz, also known as the beginning of the Bahai New Year, Persian New Year, and Spring equinox. So for Ayyam-i-Ha I enjoyed the company of my host family, their extended family, little goodies, and some coconut pickins. 

That’s right, I tried my hand at the pickins. I was far from successful but highly entertaining. I think being here, experiencing all these new things. I really want to experience as much as I can, even if it means making a goof of myself. Which extends as far as exploring the nature and the wild life!

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Which brings me to explain my next cultural experience: Carnavales. Carnavales is about a week long. It is established every year by the “Church” as the week before lent begins. (In case you were wondering the majority population of Panama is Catholic, accompanied by a large Evangelical community.) So basically what it is, is the church announces every year when lent will begin, and the week before the country holds the festival of Carnavales. Taking place primarily in “Interior” which yes does mean the interior of the country, its about 4-5 days long and you can except that the city you’re in is going to bed dead quiet unless you are in the city center or partaking in the festivities. In Panama, the cities that host most of the festivities include cities in the province of Chirique, including David, Chitre, and many more. Panama city also had a scaled down version of the festivities going on in the city center. What the festival entails, you could imagine would be a cracked out version of Bumbershoot. Musical performances, good grub, masses of people getting hosed down by fire hoses, and choque till your hearts content! So although I was intent on partaking in these activities it was complicated by its interference with the Bahai fast. Its hot, no water, no food. You catch my drift.

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Regardless however, it did serve as a nice little break for me. I had never seen the city so empty and my neighborhood so quiet. Schools close, work gives their employees days off. Its like a NATIONAL HOLIDAY!!! But it gave me a chance to explore the city for a few days, and look at what I found...

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But its safe to assume with schools starting, Carnavales, and fast, my schedule pretty much cleared out for about a week. But its been back on for about a week. And some changes and adjustments have been made.  At the moment, I have all my study circles during the week, and then back to back childrens classes and Jr. Youth groups on the weekends. It’s the only way we can really make it work for the kids. On that note, can I just say kids in uniforms are so adorable! The entire country is swarming with kids of all ages in different types of uniforms, private school, public school, it doesn’t matter. From 6am to 6pm they swarm the streets. When are they in class? I’ll tell you. So in Panama there are two class sessions, which is also why it complicated our children’s class schedules because some kids were in one session and others in another. But the sessions run from 7am-12pm and from 12pm-6pm. Can you imagine being in class till 6pm!?! I mean sure there are the perks of sleeping in, but basically your buddies have a half day every day!!! Pretty sweet if you ask me. But I think its done this way to manage the over populace of children and youth. The schools are relatively small, and their located about every few miles. Some kids however, commute as far as the city, to go to better schools, or private schools, the ones that teach English from K-12. 

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On a bittersweet note. Remember Senora Raquel? The sweet old lady I told you guys about a while back? One of the first!?! She sadly departed this world a few days ago. I think we can all rest assured that she is in a better place, and that our prayers will guide her to her rightful place in the next world. Hopefully she is looking out for us as well…

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Its been a chill two weeks people and fast is kinda draining in this heat. Makes doing your activities and getting around extra challenging. But its definitely possible. Just gotta do your best and God will provide you with the strength to keep going. Only 2 more days and its my favorite time of the year!!! Well except for Christmas, I just love that season to be jolly! But on March 21^st, fast ends, and Naw Ruz begins! Wishing you all a happy fast and an amazing New Year!!!

A La Orden

With Ayyam-i-Ha and Carnavales behind us, in midst of the Fast and Naw Ruz just around the corner. I thought I'd give you all a nice Panamanian playlist to live by:

1. El Choque- Mr. Saik
2. Que Xopa- Mr. Saik
3. Si No Le Contesto- Plan B
4. Danza Kaduro-Don Omar
5. Freaky- Joey Montana
6. La Melodia-Joey Montana
7. Contestame El Telefono- Alexis y Fido ft. N**** 
8. Mujer Amazonica-N2
9. Como Lloro-Mach Daddy
10. Loca- Shakira
11. Tu Unico Amor- Murder Cat

Hope you all enjoy this music as much as I do. It'll give you a little taste of what bumpin on the streets these days, day and night!