Well, I suppose we could use...

Hello, Hello!

Sean and I  made a quick trp to the US to see my brother Brian and his (now) wife Tyler get married. It was a beautiful ceremony and a great time to see most of my family.  We were so happy to be able to be there for such an important day!

It was also nice to eat Chipotle (hands down the food I miss the most) and get random things we have been missing down in Panama. It was also a short enough trip that we didn`t get too used to the hot shower/comfy mattress/ access to everything and anything we needed/ wine, etc. while we were in town. That means heading back to Boqueron will not be too much of an adjustment.

During the weekend I chatted with many people who asked if there are things we can use in site.  Now, I know that it costs a lot more money to send packages of things over 4 lbs down to Panama, so I have been trying to think of light, inexpensive things that could be used in our projects, etc.  Here is what I have come up with so far:

• Friendship bracelet string
• Kids books in Spanish
• Coloring books
• Markers and Crayons
• Jacks
• Dominoes
• Other lightweight toys ...they have lots of marbles, though
• Bananagrams (ok I might use this one as much as the kids, but I could definitely make it a learning tool!)
• Beads and Jewlery making things
• Stickers
• Old magazines (these are more for me for classes- pictures and paragraphs I can cut out)
• Any lightweight outdoor things- jumpropes, hackey sacks, frisbees...other things I cannot think of
• Connect Four
• Any kids easy game ideas you have that do not require many materials

You guys get the idea...I do not want to ask anyone to go and buy lots of things or spend lots of money, but just because many people have been asking me if they could send things... these are examples of things I know the kids would love and would not be too heavy to send. The address is on the righthand side of the screen and we would be very thankful for anything you had.  I should stress the importance of Books in Spanish...the children do not have access to many books ( I am working on that!) and any books you had in Spanish would be absolutely amazing. I have enough low level reading books in English. Again, we are thankful for anything anyone wants to send but please don`t feel pressured to send anything!

And...things Sean and I would always love:

• Jolly Time popcorn (kernels in a bag we cook on the stove..no microwave!)
• Propel, Gatorade or other drink packets that do not need sugar
• Magazines with current events (not entertainment magazines...)
• Pasta Sides
• CANDY
• Pictures of our friends and family
• AAA and AA batteries (for headlamps and camera respectively)
• 'Votive' candles...maybe about 2 inches. We burn through these wuickly!

Obvioulsy this list is less important...but another one that has been requested :)

OK, time to head out. Finally bought a camera so the next blog post will have pictures. Promise!