Foreign b-day

This last Saturday, Janeth picked me up with three other local girls, dressed up and wanting to go to David to dance. In my raver days, I fancied myself a good dancer, but dancing to techno and house music is somewhat personal (at least to me) so I suck at dancing with a partner. So I show up at this edge-of-town discoteca with four good-looking Panamanian girls and I felt kind of special yet out of place at the same time. The minute I went to buy a beer, six dudes flocked to the table and asked the girls to dance. Some of them accepted, some did not. I am fascinated with the whole "machismo" thing here, and how women respond to it. There were a few instances where a woman with my group accepted an invitation to dance, and returned to the table halfway through the song shaking her head disapprovingly because her partner sucked at dancing or treated her disrespectfully. I danced with each girl, but only to Regaeton or other music that wasn't requiring specific dance steps like Salsa or Meringue. It was a very fun night overall.

So today is my 32nd birthday and it could not have been better. I woke up at 630am to my friend Maru calling me, a call which I ignored because I was SLEEPING at 630am! But, I loved the gesture...she wanted to be the first to wish a happy birthday because she told me she was leaving early for Panama City. Then, Dad and Karen called at 9am, I answered with an allergy-type frog in my throat so I sounded awful, but I was so happy they connected through the phone lines. Then, I talked to my bro, and my Mom shortly after via Skype. Then, I received a call from Janeth during her break at work, Lyn told me to expect to be "kidnapped" at 7pm sharp, and Nilehnna stopped by to wish me a happy birthday. I went into town to run errands and to sign another listing, and it seemed everywhere I went, people were wishing me a HB again...thanks Facebook. At 7pm sharp, Lyn came to get me, put me in a car, blindfolded me, and drove me to Maru's house where I was greeted by a group of new friends and the most amazing Indian cuisine I think I have ever seen! These people went all out and all day, and I found out Maru lied to me about going to Panama City and was cooking all day! WOW! What nice people I am blessed to have met. I feel so loved and welcomed into this chapter of life by some truly loving people. Great day for sure.