A year, a week and a day later, back home

So after a lot of paperwork, a thorough dental exam, and a heated encounter with a Panamanian taxi driver who ended up banning us for life from his 1992 Nissan Sentra (which kept breaking down, thus causing the heated encounter), we arrived mostly unharmed in Kansas City on August 19 - precisely a year, a week and a day after we left. Suffice it to say that it has been an action-packed couple of weeks. Tears have been shed. Some of joy (as when we were reunited with Sophie, who it turns out is still among the world's greatest dogs). Some of sadness (as when the lady at the Copa Airlines counter in Panama City told us that, oh yeah, they had recalculated the fare on our flight to Miami and that we still owed $1,500). Some of relief (as when the Copa lady, who received one of our most brutal brow beatings, eventually relented and let us on the plane for the previously agreed upon rate of $260).

In any case, it turns out that to be a whole lot easier adjusting to life in Kansas City than it was to life in rural Panama. We had some lingering fears that the pace of life here would be overwhelming, that a steady stream of media and technology being force fed into every minute of every day would leave us disoriented and make our reentry a harrowing, Kafkaesque experience.

On the contrary! It turns out that cable television, the Internet and cell phones are wonderful, life-affirming tools. Even the most vapid of popular culture has provided boundless joy. I've found the Kardashians surprisingly easy to keep up with. I sure hope Kourtney and Khloe do okay in Miami!

However, lest we feel the pangs of Panama sickness tugging at our appendages, we need only take a trip downtown to the locally semi-famous "Grand Boulevard of the Americas."

Just one look at the "Stars and Rectangles" dangling majestically from a lamppost...and we're back in the thick of it:

Comments

[Johan]

Hello from Holland

[Brooke]

Hey guys, you don't know me, but I have been following your blog for some time and have come to know you. My husband and I are in the process of applying to the Peace Corps now, and I must say that we've loved reading your stories and appreciate both your humorous perspective and insight into the Peace Corps. Sorry to hear that you had to end early, but it sounds like the right choice for you in your situation. Glad you are now reunited with your pup and are enjoying life back Stateside!

[Johan]

Thanks for visit.

[Mara]

Hi guys, I just stumbled on your site via some untraceable internet pathway that I'll never recall. However, we too live in Panama and we too are heading home in one month after about the same amount of time here. Also, we are SO looking forward to being reunited with our beloved dog, Paddy. Funny huh? I know all too well the conversations you've probably had in the last few months. We've been having them too.:)

We've been here with the UN and have dragged our two small kids with us through it all. It's been quite a year! As, from reading your blog, I'm sure yours was too. Your time in Panama reminds me of us about a decade ago when we did Costa Rica in a similar fashion to you. Enough. I'm rambling. Anyway, hope you're first days back reaffirm your decision, I'm sure they will.

All the best.
Mara www.monkeysjumpingonthebed.blogspot.com

[L.F.]

greetings from brazil !