Panama 10

When I was going from Jamaica to Panama, my flight was delayed for three hours for quite unusual reasons. The Copa plane was coming from Haiti, and eight of the passengers did not have the necessary papers to enter Jamaica. I know that airlines are responsible for their passengers, but I cannot understand why those of us waiting for the flight to Panama was to be punished?

Fortunately I was able to inform my hosts about my delay, but on the other side I really regret that I due to this missed the fund raising event of the year of The Y's mens club of Panama - a wine tasting evening - "degustacion de vinos" - (The Spanish expression certainly covers the activity better). 85 guests paid 10 USD each. This money will be useful for a Christmas party which I'll come back to.

The Y's mens club of Panama is the only one in the country. It was chartered in 1984 and has 17 members at the moment of whom 10 are women. The average is below 50, and with active members this club is not threatened by extinction in the nearest future. The members meet officially twice a month, ordinary meetings on a Tuesday in a member's home and social meetings on a Saturday at a restaurant. It was a spirited bunch of people who seemed to enjoy being together.

The members pay 30 USD a year, and that covers their duties. Bingoes and sales of arts are other fund raising activities. Panama is a country with increasing poverty. So social work is a natural part of the club's activities in addition to supporting the YMCA.

December 1st is the big day this year. The club will then arrange a Christmas party for about 300 children in the small village of Bique - an hour's drive west of the capital. These Christmas parties are a yearly tradition, but the site for the party is new every year. They took me to Bique, and the contrasts to life in the city was great. Basic standard is a diplomatic expression. To talk about poverty in my country doesn't make sense compared to these conditions.

YMCA in Panama inherited a building the Americans built for their Y at the time of the Canal zone. It is an impressive building, but the maintenance costs forced Y to sell it. Hopefully within very short time the Y can move into a building the government has set aside for their disposal. The activities of the Y in Panama are quite similar to those of the Y in the Caribbean. I'll just mention English courses and table tennis. Some of the high class tables were donated by the YMC, and the Y had table tennis players at top national level.

My stay in Panama was concentrated to a long week end where the Monday was a national holiday. Some club members had left the city due to this. On the other side it gave me more time for guided sightseeing. Saturday Manuel Choy, an architect, showed me the two old parts of the city. In the oldest, a new museum was opened just three days ago, so that was perfect timing. The first Spanish dwelling was destroyed by English pirates, but there were still some impressive ruins left. Some recent excavations have revealed indigenous settlements in layers below the Spanish - some in excellent condition.

In the newer old town there is restoration work going on. Many beautiful buildings have been restored already, but there is still much to do. And it's definitely a place I'd like to come back to. Most people think of the canal when Panama is mentioned. On my first visit to Panama 7 years ago, I visited the canal. This time I went to the canal museum. It was very interesting, and I will read more about the history of the canal when I get home.

I addition to all Panama City had to offer, there was also time for trips to see beautiful and varied country side. Panama is far away from Norway and Europe, but it's a place I'll recommend if you look for something different and look for a little bit of everything. I missed the wine tasting, but I was able to meet 9 of the members at El Ranchito the evening before my departure. There I got the opportunity to talk about Y'sdom in Norway and Hinna, in Spanish for a change. Even if my Spanish leaves a lot to be desired, I really felt they appreciated that I used their language.

While in Panama I stayed with Abraham and Aida Maruquel Riega. Abraham was an "extreme" guy who had been a BF-delegate to New Zealand and Australia. I am very grateful for their efforts to accomodate me and show me around.

My BF-trip has now come to an end. I hope you have enjoyed following me on this trip, and may be some of you have got inspiration to apply for a trip yourself some time in the future. I will now leave for the Pacific and continue on my trip around the world.

Y'sly

Arne Augedal (14.11.02)