Togetherness!

By: Steven and Anna Whitford, OPH and high school student

Due to typical group travel logistical changes, the team spent the night of the 22nd in Puerto Viejo. 16 of us…..2 rooms. While technically a surf hotel with community bedrooms, we did not see a single person surfing, though we did see a three-toed sloth slowly fall in the water (video available). After a group dinner and a couple rounds of mafia, the fumigators pushed everyone into their rooms. While no mosquito was spared, our team leader and the kids in room 205 remained safe overnight due to the vigilance of myself and Mat Johnson. Though we each sacrificed hours of REM sleep, our bunk bed mattresses felt it important to wake us up every hour on the hour for the good of the mission. Some would call us heroes.

Our vision screening day in Sixaola (sexy-oh-la) was much like any other screening day. This time, however, we were within a stones throw of Panama. Many on the trip will return and claim to have seen Panama, but they cannot be trusted. Google Maps had me two blocks north of the border, but the locals sent us west for some reason. Consensus – Panama does not exist.

Our post-workday destination is a traditional palapa-like structure somewhere west of Bribri. Again, due to the flexibility inherent in group travel, we are arriving well after dark and you cannot see a thing….but we can certainly tell you that it is bumpy. We are told that the traditional food served here is good and that there are both moderately cold showers and very cold showers. Andrew Skemp is nonetheless excited for his daily cleansing. The rest of the group is also more than ready for his daily cleansing.

All in all, I give this day a solid 7.6 out of 10. If the chupacabra doesn’t get us tonight, there will be more blog tomorrow.

 

Important Blog Update!

By: Steven Whitford, OPH

Confirmation that Panama does exist occurred on Friday.

Proof:

#1. Cell phone time zone switched to Panama…. Google always knows the truth.

#2. I looked across the river and there it was… PANAMA.

My passport may not say Panama but my heart knows I was there.