I always said I'd start to think about the future in July...

Over the weekend, I successfully grilled two chicken thighs with garlic, onion, broccoli, and green pepper. I made grilled pizza, with a cobbled together pizza sauce made of tomato sauce, Panamanian oregano that I'm growing and barbeque sauce. I splurdged on a block of colby jack, and some mozzarella sandwich slices. Oh, and sourdough crusts. Now, I won't lie that there wasn't definite room for improvement, like putting more coals on at the right time (whenever that is) so that there's enough heat to cook the pizzas completely, but it was pretty delicious!

Tonight's dinner featured more of the grilled chicken mix, reheated with honey and Thai curry sauce, and chunks of mango that one of my co-teachers gave me, and served over tri-color penne. In case you haven't heard, curry + honey, at least this variety of red curry, is AMAZING. And easily adaptable to different levels of heat tolerance; just adjust the ratio.

So, obviously, Peace Corps continues to be a rigorous challenge to body and mind. Mostly yours, as you fight the urge to run to the airport to come visit me and have non-Panamanian cuisine in the middle of rural Panama.

In other news, I am down to 8 months left! 8, by the way, is my favorite number, ever since I was 8 years old, in the middle of a very formative experience of my life, which was the forever known (at least to me) as The '94 Trip. This trip was a courageous venture was a road trip undertaken by my mom and grandmother wherein my brother and I were introduced to the western ¾ of the United States, visiting a slew of relatives and friends and people whom I unfortunately don't remember very well, as well as stopping all sorts of canyons, national parks, landmarks, learning all sorts of things, some accurate and some things, less so. We saw prairie dogs. About 8. On this trip, my brother informed me that I only said that 8 was my favorite number because I was 8 at the time. I don't know if I was determined to prove him wrong, or if the comment was immaterial, but 8 has remained my favorite number consistently from that summer.

(Side note, as I'm writing this in my doorway, I just looked up in this lovely 80ish degree evening, and the sky is entirely a uniform slate blue with minimal cloud definition except for a brilliant magenta streak in the middle of the sky.)

On one hand, 8 months is still quite a while, particularly when I think about how my longest international experience prior to this one was 10 weeks, and that seemed like a long time, and now I feel like I'm on the home stretch with nearly 3 times that remaining. On the other, generally more convincing hand, it seems like an eyeblink, in comparison to the ~18 months I've already had in country. And so, despite my efforts to stay in the present, my thoughts turn to the future, BEYOND THE PEACE CORPS. I suppose I'll have to find another organization/institution that can be abbreviated to PC, since Principia College and Peace Corps served me so well. Anybody know of another good one? ;-)

Seriously, though, as I look to the future, I wonder what to do after this. Here in Panama, I declare that I am not a school teacher. But, if a really good offer came along, something with lesson plans, or guidance, or something, well, I can't make a definite statement. However, I'm thinking I'd probably like to spend some time in the US. So, if you have any suggestions of organizations that make you think of me, or cities where I should look, do let me know. As small as the world is becoming, the US, and the future, are still crazy big. I only ask for a swing scene in whatever city, but happily, that isn't a terribly limiting factor!  For jobs, something non-profit, preferably with an eye on the international scene would be nice ;-)

I'm not looking for an immediate job; actually, I'm looking to start working again in a bit over a year from now. First, I want to honor the memory of that fantastic '94 Trip with another cross-country exploration. Although there are some people from that first trip whom I'd like to include, unfortunately the limitations of this world prevent my seeing them, I have added many wonderful people to my life in the past 19 years- 20 next summer. Yeesh, seriously 20? Woohoo 20^th anniversary trip!

I am particularly in the past 8 (8!) years, as I found friends who have been invaluable in my life since our paths met. Some have continued with various intersections, some have separated into different directions, but each one has contributed positively to my life experience, and I am so grateful!

So, although it's a year away, give or take a few months, I want to visit the various corners of the USA, and invite you to invite me to visit you. Preferably with a couch or floorspace where I can sleep.

P.S. In case you're wondering, yes, I am still working in the schools. I'm working with 7^th and 8^th graders again through next week, and then I'll go back to 8^th and 9^th graders for 3 weeks, before returning to the Primaria, where (si Deos quiere), we'll start a recycling program!

The Coclé volunteers are also coordinating a series of travelling seminars with MEDUCA (Ministry of Education) to take place in each district of Coclé, the first coming up at the end of July. My Fridays are still devoted to the Primarita Arriba, where I'm sure I'm learning much more than the kids are...but they're learning too...I hope. And on Saturday, I'm holding a meeting to plan future community classes. This meeting will determine whether I will continue having free-form time, or will become ridiculously busy running community classes for all of the various needs in town. Exciting, no?

In the 3rd trimester, I'm going to take more time outside of school, try to get a book grant to share between my schools, work on recycling, ballroom dance classes, getting re-educated, continuing the MEDUCA seminars, and running a couple life-development seminars for the 9th graders (they're great pre-packaged seminars called Elige tu Vida, or Choose your Life, and cover goal setting, and personal and professional life choices).