I was glad that the Annual Coffee and Flower Fair was going on while Kaiden was here - it is the hugest event in Boquete in the entire year.  It had started before we returned so we did miss out on the loud music for one weekend.  We went over on Tuesday afternoon it was a nice sunny day and not too crowded.  I was so surprised when we walked into the start of the flower area and he just stopped and said "grandma its beautiful" I can say I did NOT expect that out of an 8 year old!!!
We wandered around looking at not only the flowers but the people and the exhibits.  There are lots of people selling a little of everything.  I introduced Kaiden to the best fresh plantain chips in all of Panama and he agreed.  Hot from the 100% all fat grease to a paper sack then covered with sea salt .... oh YUMMMMMM.
We did some shopping and found him a "man purse" but it is an over the shoulder thing that everyone carries down here and I am hoping it will keep him from loosing everything like he does at home.  We got him a pair of Panamanian made leather sandals ( yep all of $7) and he checked out all the necklaces made from bone, wood, etc . He fell in love the the man all in silver that looked like a robot and when you put money in his jar he stiffly moved around and interacted with the kids. Then the glass blower held both of our attentions. Making glass swans to sell.  I  got a real kick out of the photographers who have stuff ponies and horses that you can put the kids on and get their pictures taken - they have portable  printers and sell the pics right away.

We went to the fair on 3 different days - one day we were able to see the traditional dancing in the wonderful dresses and he loved them. We bought a pineapple that  had been gutted, cored then put back into the shell with vanilla ice cream on top - wow almost as good as the plantains.
It is a fair - many ways so different than in Iowa yet the same.  Food -  fun - vendors - and entertainment.

Oh and yes I did do some shopping to- but this year I knew that the best deals are on the day after the fair closes- many vendors stick around for additional sales and what I found I love - it is an Alpaca cape - it is sooooo soft that I just want to pet myself when I wear it.  The price??? $20 what a deal

Kaiden visits the Orphanage

Finally Friday came- Kaiden has talked so much about going to the orphanage. We had gone and bought a huge sack full of cookies for the kids and he was so excited to be able to share them. 
We arrived and once again were all concerned about the conditions at Trisker.  Their was garbage thrown all over out side the gate and once inside we found it was short on aids.  But this did not deter Kaiden he was all eyes .  Once the kids found out he had cookies he became very popular - I think it was a little over whelming for him though as they pushed and shoved to get to him and the sack and I am trying to tell him and them no you can only have one package - the kids are little con artist about indicating they had not had one as it would be shoved in pockets down pants etc.  It was kind of funny though to see they come back with cookies all over their faces and want another showing they had not had one . 
I had brought back several Dick and Jane type books and also flash cards and Kaiden and I sat at the table and worked with some kids -He was acting very grown and up "teacherish" but loving it.  The kids grew restless and told him if he wanted to go out and play soccer with the the kids he could and off he ran. 
I went in search of the teenage girls and of course Abril as I had taken a pic of her and framed it and wanted to give it to her mom.  The smile was HUGE when she say it - but the other girls show had been at the kids camp were not happy to not have pictures of them that I had taken on Thursday.  I felt bad for that.  Bob and been passing out many of the items that had been sent down with me for the orphanage - toothbrushes paste soap etc - we had decided to give this to the teen girls as they would probably use it the most and be excited to get them.  '

It was nearing time to leave and I headed to find Kaiden- he was not on the soccer area so opened the door to the preschool room and found him slumped over a chair - taking a closer look he had a HUGE goose egg on his forehead and did not look.  Well someone needs to tell this Iowa boy who loves sports but has never played soccer that there are such things as goal posts and they are made of steel and of course anything at the orphanage is made very heavy and sturdy because of the abuse the kids give anything taking out their frustrations.  I got him up and he did not walk well - leaning on me and very wobbly.   My concern was a concussion of course. They had put a cold cloth on it because of course there is no ice and Pat commented that a lot of the swelling had gone down!!!! why no one came to get me I am not sure but he had been taken care of.  I got him home and put ice on it and gave him some tylenol and kept a close on eye him. but all was well and it was accident #2 ( not a good start for Panama)

A Panamanian Kids Club

To say the time here with Kaiden is flying by is an understatement - he has kept me going and going - I need to be the Energizer Bunny right now.
I signed Kaiden up for Kids Camp here that is held every Thursday from 10-3.  It is open to anyone Panamanian and Gringo but it is mostly Gringo English speaking kids. It is held at a place called Santa Lucia and it has a basketball/tennis courts, soccer field, and pool.  It has worked out great that the prepaid hired taxi van picks up kids right across the street from us and takes them up.  It is a whole $3 for the days activities and that includes the taxi ride and all food.  Kaiden was a little leery to go the first time by himself so I rode along with the thoughts that I could curl up by the pool and read.  He of course hung back a little upon arrival but within 1/2 an hour he was running with other kids.  He first went to the basketball court - well this did prove to be not what he wanted or expected as most of these kids do not play the game and they did things like stand and try to dribble - Kaiden was in the mind to have a real GAME with shooting etc but he survived.  He moved to soccer next and anything that involves a ball and running he took to and had a blast.  Me- well I am sitting and working on some Spanish when a volunteer came up and we visited for awhile.  I looked up to see someone coming towards me and it was Erma and Abril from the orphanage -I have not seen them since leaving in Dec and was thrilled.  Abril has grown so much and has even grown into her chubby little cheeks now.  I learned that donated money goes so that the kids from the orphanage can participate and do they love it.  It was so funny because about the time I had spotted them Kaiden comes running up to me going Grandma the orphange kids are here -he had recognized them from my pics.

Abril is growing so much

Since I know so many of the kids I then kind of joined in and helped out a little. It was also great since I could take all the pictures I wanted since it was not at Trisker. The kids loved the pool - mostly they did not have swimsuits so wore shorts etc.  I kept thinking to myself -oh they are getting totally clean and this has to help with the lice!!!!.  Many recognized me and had hugs.  When it came time for lunch did they ever dig in - imagine real meat in a sloppy joe and jello.  They ate but I did notice a real segregation at tables.  One little gal I knew was later getting to the food and found no place to sit so I led her over to a table with "regular" kids - boy did it get quiet so I helped get started eating and walked away and watched - within a few minutes they were all happily chatting away. 
The kids could do so many things - they had crafts which I noticed that the orphanage kids seemed to go to more than the others - they could put their hands and names on a huge sheet and then the girls got to get fingernails painted and make up put on.  Their colorful nails were so cute!!!
I think I had as much fun as Kaiden did on that day.  I learned that they were short on money for the orphanage kids to attend for the entire summer .........so yes I did find donations to cover some of the costs.

Yes she is from the orphanage ANNA

Yep pushing in the camp counselors is world wide

good old peroxide works in any Panama too

The day was winding down when it was going to be time to leave when Kaiden and some other kids came running up and said Kaiden is bleeding .. any of you who know me know my favorite phrase for this is "it's a long way from your heart: , and I just saw a little blood on his elbow and said go get changed your gonna live and he turned around and I saw his back was covered with blood.  This got me going I found the director and she dug out the first aid kit that had only been used one time in 7 years and she went to work on him.  He was up playing basketball, tripped and slid on the concrete court taking off a layer of skin in oh so many places.
It was a fun day - we were both tired but all Kaiden could talk about was going back again the next week.

Trisker girls

The day ended with us at Amigos and since it was open mic night the entertainment was so great.  And I actually got to hear our friend Randy sing and loved it!!!!

Kaiden and 2 monkeys

Kaidens first kiss????

Finally Wednesday came - the day that Kaiden had been waiting for since he knew he was coming to Panama- Hillbilly was taking us to see Bubba his monkey.  Kaiden could hardly sit still on the trip down and did the constant - are we there yet?  If you remember from last year Dave rescued Bubba from some kids when he was only a few days old - the kids claimed they found him but Dave knew they must have killed its mother so he paid them $60 for him and took him home.  He had planned on taking him to a rescue place but fell in love with him and ended up raising him in his apartment for over a year.  Bubba wore diapers - slept inside of his shirt  and became Hillybillys child.  But as Bubba grew older he knew that it was not fair to keep him so a friend offered to let him come to his place where he had other monkeys that he too had rescued but he has  a huge yard - stream etc for them to be in.
We arrived and Kaiden immediately was all smiles when he saw the monkeys just hanging out in the yard.
Dave called for Bubba and out of the trees he comes and into Daves arms.  Kaiden could not hardly wait until he got to hold him but Dave gave him instructions first - let the monkeys make the first move - do not startle them etc.  As you can see from the first pic he did well and evidently Bubba really like him as he immediately kissed him- but then Bubba grabbed his mouth and reached in and took the Kaidens gum.  The look of  shock on his face was priceless and Bubba took the gum stretched it out played with it and then tried to get rid of it but it was stuck on his hands and it was so funny to watch him shake his hands - try to throw the gum etc until it finally came off.  All the while Kaiden is having a fit of giggles

It was then time to meet Lily - Lily is a spider monkey who is 45 years old. She loves to have her arm pits scratched and then will curl up in your lap or in your arms.  You do have to be careful though as she will bite if you do not cooperate with her and Kaiden did wonderful - she would crawl into is lap and just look at him.  He asked if he could share his sweet tarts with them and was told yes and and he would get them out one by one and hand them to both of the monkeys.

It was a lot hotter down off the mountain and Norman just happens to have a pool so Kaiden jumped in clothes and all then wandered around the creek on the side of the land.
He spent  4 hours and most of them with a monkey either on his shoulder or in his arms- me I was in the shade just watching and loving every minute of it.

  It was a great day for an 8 year old Iowa boy. I am hoping it is one he will remember for years.  Learning about monkeys first hand is so much better than a book or a zoo.  His science class is in our back yard for this month.

tKaidens first week in Panama has flown by- He has had so many experiences and I hope he can remember them all.  Monday after finally getting to the apartment I took him and introduced him to our neighbors - he is very good at meeting adults although he is probably getting tired of the question "" do you like Panama". 

We then went and bought the summer clothes that we of course could not find in Illinois in January.  There are several Americana Ropa stores here which sell used American clothes and we were able to get all we needed except the swim suit and we found that at the department store.  We took a short walk around town since he was begging to see Boquete  and he was soaking it all in.  The Indians, the trash on the streets  and he thought the park was pretty.  We went for lunch across the street as he could not wait to get Panamanian rice and chicken. He meet my Indian friend Laro and we bought a sharks tooth necklace that he has yet to be seen without,

Tuesday morning I made him suffer through going to the Tuesday market and then sitting through the Gringo meeting with me - I explained that he did have to do a few things that Grandma liked. But then it was time to hit the Annual Boquete Coffee and Flower fair. This is one of the biggest events in Panama drawing thousands of people from all over the country.  I will have to say I was impressed when he walked in and looked around and said Grandma it is so pretty.  Although shocking that an 8 year old would appreciate that.  The fair is a mixture of flowers and booths much like at a fair in Iowa but they are selling so many things- trinkets, clothes, jewelry  and of course the good old " you can cut anything with it kitchen knives".  I introduced Kaiden to deep fried plantains - my favorite thing at the fair,  He agreed that they were the best. He got to play with the silver dressed 'robot man" - try on goofy hats, find a man purse to keep all his treasures in ( yes it is okay to have one down here as they all carry it and I am hoping he will be able to not loose anything while here) watch a glass blower and see so many Indians in their colorful dress,
That night we introduced him to Amigos - he quickly found the game room and the foosball table and challenged all of our friends to games  and quickly declaring himself the champion.  He also found out that they serve the best chicken strips and fries. 
His first few days had been fun and exciting but the rest of the week would get even better.