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!!!!