After breakfast, we loaded up for a major buying spree in David. After a couple of mild arguments, we settled down to a pleasant morning.
If the pace is slow, the ride is enjoyable.
When we first arrived, I would go 100 kph (62 mph), tearing down the highway, careening around obstacles, slamming on the brakes to avoid slow buses. After a few weeks, I slowed down to 80 k/hr just to survive. Now, I drive 60 to 80 kph, a pace that is actually sustainable and safe.
It is amazing what a little time will do.
We stopped at Franklin Jurado for paint. We watched a clerk meticulously select our color, making sure he got it right. We couldn't believe how much care he used.
Paint is not cheap here. We paid $525 for 20 gallons of it.
Now, we confidently, well just a little sheepishly, march into stores and ask for help. We are starting to get over our reluctance to engage with the locals even though they know little English and we know less Spanish. It all works out. Hand gestures, broken language and help from a bilingual clerk gets the job done.
Just an aside. I called the doctor's office for an appointment but the lady didn't speak English so I hung up. I called back and got the same lady. This time I cobbed together enough Spanish to learn that an English speaking person would be available at 3 pm. I didn't know I had it in me to come up with the Spanish but it just popped out. Hurray! Necessity is the mother of invention and, I guess, language too.
We looked for gas hot water heaters, handles for drawers and cabinet doors, humidifiers, microwaves and such.
Before we headed to David, we stopped by the house. The iron worker was finishing up the burglars bars and the cabinet maker was finishing up the woodwork. A few corrections were requested but for the most part, things were going well.
I have been here for 6 months. A lot has happened in that short time.
Mainly, I have been acclimating to the culture. Sometimes well and other times poorly indeed. The last few days are an example of the latter.
Panama has a message for us North Americans: SLOW DOWN, QUIT BEING NEUROTIC, IT WILL ALL WORK OUT!
At times, this is one hard message to digest. I talked to a guy who has been here 10 years. He reports that it took him 3 years to get it.
Now he says he really likes it.
Something to look forward to.
As long as I'm not charging after some accomplishment or trying to get something completed, life is damn pleasant in paradise.
4 comments:
I have been going around with a challenging attitude proclaiming that "there's no inherent virtue in being slow". That's probably true as far as it goes, but it's also because I live here and slow people usually means incompetent people, at least for me. But I like your line, "if the pace is slow the ride is enjoyable." We were in the 425HP boat at Table Rock Lake last weekend. One brother drove it like a water-ski challenge, the other brother kept in slow and easy. Everyone, even me and the teenagers, liked it better slow. So, now I have to get off it. Damnit.
Slow...hummmm? A hard concept in any context. I have to admit, the last few days have been a delight. All by dropping expectations and slowing down. I know this cannot be sustained forever, but it sure is good for a while.
Burglar Bars? Are there bandits in the area? Not to make you homesick but the wife and I were biking in the mountains around Twin Lakes and the wild flowers were spectacular. But then you are used to flowers.
I saw some pictures of Colorado mountains from this summer on Facebook. I had a pang of homesickness...but then it passed. Whew!
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