"Do not go where the path may lead..."

I have a two burner gas stove to cook on, and that is it. I have been cooking for myself on it for almost a year now and have neither blown up my house nor starved to death, two things I am sure anyone who knew me before Peace Corps assumed would have happened by now. Instead, it appears that I have learned to cook! And not just rice with ketchup or boiled noodles, although I will admit to making meals out of both of those. I have a pressure cooker, 2 pots, 1 skillet, a big spoon, a metal spatula, strainer, cutting board, and a large kitchen knife. I have no access to refridgeration or the products that need it. (Except eggs. Panama doesn't refridgerate their eggs.) In the last year I have managed to teach myself or be taught by Panamanians and PCVs how to make: Fried Rice Fried Plantains Fried Fish Patacones (twice fried plantains) Thai-esque Peanut Sauce Stir Fry Honey-Balsalmic Sauce Stir Fry Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce French Toast Regular...

I remember thinking Panama was the hottest place on the planet. A year later, I still do. However, it has come to my attention that I am officially broken. My inner thermometer, at least. A Definition of Temperatures by Amber, Pre Panama I AM GONNA DIE HOT- 97 HOT- 90 PERFECT- 72 CHILLY- 55 COLD- 40 I AM GONNA DIE COLD- 0 A Definition of Temperatures by Amber, 1 Year in Panama I AM GONNA DIE HOT- Not sure, the thermometer melted somewhere around 125 HOT- 105 PERFECT- 90 CHILLY- 82 COLD- 74 I AM GONNA DIE COLD- 65 Like I said, this Nebraska girl is broken! Danielle called me the other day and asked me if I was cold. I told her yea, it was pretty chilly so I was wearing long pants and my hoodie. She told me it was 82 degrees. I give up.

1. As mentioned in the previous post, most importantly, Find the Love. 2. Don't assume anything. Expect nothing. Don't just lower the bar, dig a trench and bury it. That way you are always pleasantly surprised when things work out better! 3. Seize the moment. When you go down the river to bathe and an 8 year old girl asks you to help her and her grandmother skin a crocodile, say yes. It doesn't matter that it wasn't in your plans, that is an epic opportunity for bragging rights! 4. Be as weird as you have to be. It doesn't matter what other people think, do what you need to get through the day. Spend half your living allowance on phone cards or keep a poop log so you feel confident you don't have worms. If it helps you sleep at night, go for it. Just maybe keep that log to yourself. 5. Say the important stuff in phone calls first. You never kniw when the signal will drop, the battery will die, or the minutes will run out! 6. Smile ever...

In daylights? In sunsets? In midnights, in cups of coffee? In inches? In miles? In laughter, in strife? In 525,600 minutes, how do you measure a year in the life? How about love! Measure in love. Seasons of love. 525,600 minutes, 525,000 journeys to command! 525,600 minutes, how do you measure the life of a woman or a man? In truths that she learned, or the times that he cried, in the bridges he burned, or the way that she died? It's time now to sing out, though the story never ends, let's celebrate, remember a year in the life of friends! Remember the love! Oh you've got to remember, remember the love! You know that Love is gift from up above, Share love, Give love, Spread love, Measure your life in Love! Seasons of love. (insert appropriate credits here to Rent, the musical for the lyrics to Seasons of Love) One year of service. One year of love. Many jungle sunrises, sunsets, sleepless nights of uncertainty and cups of oversugar...