My new neighbor, Kat sent me an email asking if I would be interested in going on the monthly Birdwatching hike through town with her. I had read about this hike and had always wanted to do it but just hadn’t made the time yet and what better way to do it than with a new friend. We met the leaders of this hike in town , and after introductions all around with binoculars in hand set off to spy birds! (Kat was kind enough to loan me a pair of binoculars) The two women who organize this wonderful hike are very experienced and extremely knowledgable birders and I felt so fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from their vast knowledge of not only the birds but also the plants and flowers and other little animals we saw on our walk. We spotted many different varieties and species of birds and I learned so much about the sport of birding. Not only are they amazing at spotting birds just by seeing them in a tree, on a utility pole, in a clump of plants or way off in the distance but also by hearing a particular birdcall. Their sense of hearing is very attuned to all the different birdsong of all the many different birds. Another thing was their ability to describe to us newbys , just exactly where they were seeing a particular bird as we lamely tried to look with our binoculars for something they so easily spotted. “Look at that second tree, with the vines growing up the center, just a two o’clock, between the dead branch and the third section .” I was very impressed at their ability to help us spot a particular bird and they seemed so pleased when we would say ,”Got It!, I see it!” I learned that I have a lot to learn! And I need to get myself a good pair of binoculars and a bird book to help me identify what I’m seeing. I am hooked! I hope someday I’ll be able to know even just a fraction of what those two women know about the many wonderful birds here in Panama. I think Kat and I have some work to do!
The other elusive thing that I was able to get today was a Bank Account!! Yes! We got a call from the bank manager that we were to meet her at the bank at 11:00 to open our account. Whoohooo! We actually did it! After collecting all the necessary documents and waiting and waiting we went in to Soctiabank today and got it all done. Of course we first had to sit in her office for over an hour and a half while she filled out paperwork and typed tons of stuff into the computer and walked in and out of her office to get copies of more things for us to sign,and lets not forget all the stamping of papers,(they do love their stamps here!). She stressed to us the importance of our signature. Apparently banks here are extremely picky about making sure when we sign any check , our signature must match “Perfectly” with what is on our passport! So if some person at the bank decides that they don’t like how the signature looks they will not honor the check and they will charge us $20.00! So she explained that we should make sure to sign all the checks very very carefully to avoid this from happening. Okay….(eye roll!) Oh, the strange things that they find important…but, no problem, we are just glad to get that milestone taken care of. Now it will be much easier to pay for our construction project. And we are one step closer to feeling even more settled in our new home.
Last night, I tried to be in denial that I was beginning to feel a head cold coming on! I tried drinking an extra Margarita hoping the alcohol might kill off those lousy germs, (it was not an easy thing but I suffered), to no avail. I woke up this morning feeling like a head cold was eminent but I thought maybe, just maybe, if I were able to be in denial just long enough to get outside and get a bit of fresh air and a hike in, maybe I would feel better….Alas, it was not to be…I have succumbed and after bird watching and a marathon bank appointment I cancelled all my social engagements for the weekend in an effort to keep my stupid germs to myself, and went to bed! !@#$ I do sooooo hate being sick! I’m really hoping it’s not a long lasting head cold, maybe a quick one that’s just passing through? It could happen, right? Well, in spite of a yucky cold, I had a great day! A new hobby, a new friend, and a new bank account all in one day…what more could a girl ask for ? Well….possibly to not have a gosh darn cold! Humph!
Let The Adventure "Continue"! 