Getting stuff done!

We have been hearing all sorts of horror stories about how hard registering a child with the Department of Education (MEDUCA) would be and what other people went through. These stories came from expats like us as well as native Panamanians. Well, today was the day we finally went to the building expecting the worst, but hoping for some progress of some sort. My wonderful husband had no faith that we would get anywhere and opted to drop my son and I off, while he did the rest of our errands. 

Yes...nobody in the office that we had to deal with spoke English. Slight problem, but easily fixed. I had my wonderful neighbor who had offered to translate over the phone if I needed him. So, yeah...4 phone calls of translations throughout the process....not sure he had volunteered for that many. Maybe next time he will be more specific on how many times I can call him...haha

But, it is done! The first time we went there, we actually accomplished it! There is a little cheating on that number though....I had the same wonderful neighbor drop by a week or so ago and ask them what I would need to bring with me. Luckily, we had everything on the list, so 1 visit by the neighbor and 1 visit by us. Normally, things take 3 tries with us, so this was a HUGE win!!!

After all of our errands were done for the day, my son and I made limeade. Actually, we make it all the time and always have fresh limeade available. Limes are plentiful around here and my son will go pick some of them every few days. Notice that they are orange inside and green on the outside. They look a little different than the ones we were used to in the States, but they taste the same. It was my son's favorite drink until we realized that if you do 1/2 limeade and 1/2 7-Up, it is even better!

Since Tambi complained about no bug of the week last time I posted.....Here is a Whip Spider from a few weeks ago. I have only seen 1 since we moved here, but we would see them on vacations when we would come down here. At first, we flipped when we saw them. They are large! They also look like some cross between a scorpion and an alien, now they are just cool to see.

Here is the information from Wikipedia: 
Amblypygi is an ancient order of arachnid chelicerate arthropods also known as whip spiders and tailless whip scorpions (not to be confused with whip scorpions and vinegaroons that belong to the related order Thelyphonida). The name "amblypygid" means "blunt rump", a reference to a lack of the flagellum ("tail") that is otherwise seen in whip scorpions. They are harmless to humans. Amblypygids possess no silk  glands or venomous fangs. They rarely bite if threatened, but can grab fingers with their pedipalps, resulting in thorn-like puncture injuries.

The pictures underneath mine are from the web, to show you a better view and how big they are. Tourists have been known to put them on their faces and get their pictures taken.

Tambi, still wanna see the bugs each week??? haha