Achievement Award For a Twister

Abdiel, the oldest of the three Twisters, is not exactly what you would call a brilliant student.  He is not the brightest kid in the classroom and his grades are not straight As.  I would say he’s in the middle of the pack, struggling to get a passing grade.  That’s okay as long as he shows a disposition to learn and keep hanging in there so to speak.

Lately Abdiel was having problems with his multiplication tables.  In Panama it’s mandatory for fifth-grade students to learn the multiplication tables from one to twelve.  Then follows the torture of fractions and algebra in fifth and sixth grade.  This knowledge will be basic for Calculus and Statistics in college.  That’s where the stuff hits the fan.  Even though I’m pretty good with numbers, I almost flunk in Statistics and Calculus.  In order to get a passing grade I had to hire a Hindu mentor.  He did a fine job and showed me the way.  I saw the light and the rest is history.

Yesterday, Sunday, March 24, 2013, Abdiel passed the final test on the multiplication subject.  He passed the test with flying colors.  Not a single mistake.  I was already expecting that and had prepared an Accomplishment Award to celebrate the occasion.  Now he’s ready to tackle simple and compound fractions and elements of algebra.  I know he will do well; if not, I’ll be there as a safety net.

Below is Abdiel with his flamboyant Achievement Award.  He’s on his way in becoming a college student.  I hope I’m still around to cherish the moment.  Here we go.

Snapshot of Abdiel, the oldest of the Twisters, proudly holding his hard-earned diploma. Now he’s on his way to tackle simple and compound fractions. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of Abdiel’s Achievement Award. It reads, “In recognition for all the efforts and dedication demonstrated while learning the twelve multiplication tables.” Signed by Yours Truly. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Numbers are not arid or boring.  They can be fun and interesting if you are able to play games with the students showing them creative methods of learning.  I think we succeeded in doing that with Abdiel.  Good Day.

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Nuts

The Twisters are not very fond of nuts.  Aura, my wife, always buys a bag or two of assorted nuts for Christmas.  I’m not really a fan of nuts, but if they’re available, I’ll eat a few.  In my opinion, nuts are for the squirrels.

Anyway, when the Twisters stormed our house the night before Christmas, they sieged the fridge and almost depleted our stock of goodies there.  But there was one thing, they left untouched—a dish of assorted nuts.  They left it intact.  They ate nothing, naught, nil, nix, zero, zip, nada.

So we are enjoying our Christmas nuts as previously intended.  We are adding some of them to our morning Corn Flakes; “they” say it’s good for your digestion or something like that.

Below are a couple of pictures of a heap of remnants Christmas nuts disdained by the Twisters.  Here we go.

Snapshot of a dish with assorted nuts which my wife acquired for our Christmas dinner. The Twisters passed on this one. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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Family Reunion

Snapshot of the three Twisters and their father having fun in the kitchen during their last visit to our home. Paola is the center of attention as you can see. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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Lights…Camera…Action!

Snapshot of The Twisters pretending a Tinseltown scene for the camera. They were delighted to attend the airshow. There was action everywhere. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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Peddling “Churros” at the Air Show

Snapshot of a women selling “churros” during an air show in Panama City, Panama. She made a killing that day, selling “churros” to the visitors. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

If you are unfamiliar with the word “churros” please let me explain the term.  Churros are sausage-shaped, deep-fried doughnuts, dusted or sprayed with sugar.  Similar to a cruller, this Spanish and Mexican specialty consists of a sweet-dough spiral that is deep-fried and eaten like a doughnut.

Churros are usually coated with a mixture of cinnamon and confectioners’ (or granulated) sugar.  The snack gets its name from its shape, which resembles the horns of the Churro breed of sheep reared in the Spanish grasslands of Castile.

They are highly popular in Latin America, Spain, France, Portugal, the United States, and Spanish-speaking Caribbean islands.  In Panama, they are so popular that they can disappear from a churro’s cafeteria faster than the thawing of the polar caps.

The Twisters emptied our pockets requesting a large stock of these goodies.  Cokes were also added to the list.  We gently consented.  Good Day.

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A Twister and a Scooter Kid

Snapshot of Karol, one of the Twisters and a small boy with a scooter, posing for the camera during an airplane show in Panama City, Panama. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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The Graduate

Karol, one of the Twisters, has started her formal education.  This year she started her First Grade classes.  This is the first step towards her long journey of knowledge until she obtains a college degree.

In 2010 she attended Pre-kindergarten, which is mostly a controlled educational play.  Even though the children think they are playing; in fact, they are organizing their social activities geared towards a learning process.  Karol is doing well.  She likes school and is very tidy with her workbooks, homework and other school responsibilities.  Her brother Abdiel, is not as diligent and needs to be constantly pressed to get things done.

In Panama, it is a tradition to organize a graduation ceremony to celebrate the occasion of the end of the Pre-kindergarten year.  The little kids wear graduation togas, caps and receive a diploma.  Many parents cry with joy to see their kids graduate.  It’s a very emotional event.

Karol’s mother gave us a small plastic souvenir of this event.  We exhibit it proudly in our living room.  The souvenir has a small caption that reads, “Recuerdo de mi graduación.  Karol Denisse Achurra Díaz, Pre-Kinder, 11 de diciembre de 2010.”  In English, “Reminder of my graduation.  Karol Denisse Achurra Díaz.  Pre-kindergarten, December 11, 2010.” 

Yesterday I decided to take a picture of this souvenir using a patch of tropical flowers in the background to enhance the picture.  I’m sure Karol will like to see this picture when she gets older.  It will remind her, that once upon a time she was a little girl in kindergarten.

This is what the camera captured one Sunday morning in our front lawn.  Take a look.

Snapshot of Karol’s Pre-kindergarten souvenir taken in our front lawn one lazy Sunday morning. I used a Canon DSLR EOS Rebel T2i for this shot.  Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

I shot this picture with my P&S compact Canon PowerShot A720 IS camera. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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Pink Dreams

Snapshot of Paola, the youngest of the three “Twisters”. We babysitted her yesterday afternoon while her brother Abdiel and their parents were in a little league baseball game. As you can see, Paola was beautifully wrapped in pink. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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The Taxi

If you have been following my blog, you already know that my wife has a nephew with a bunch of kids who we nicknamed “The Twisters”.  Every time they came home for a visit, when they left, the house was upside down—just like twisters do.  They are growing up, and their behavior has changed, but the nickname stuck.

Alcibiades, the name of the Twisters‘ father, owns a taxi, and that is how he puts food on the table.  His car is a Toyota Yaris.  After using it for over six years, the poor creature can barely walk.  The wear and tear of driving in the city, has halted the vehicle almost to a full stop.  Something had to be done.  The family was in dire straits.

My wife went to a local bank and asked for a loan of $16,000.00 to buy Alcibiades a brand new car to keep the money flowing in and the Twisters’ belly full.  Alcibiades would repay the loan on a weekly basis—that’s the way taxi drivers pay for their cars in Panama with the financieras.  Every day Alcibiades has to set aside $14.00 per day to pay his taxi.  At the end of the week, he’ll pay $98.00 to my wife until the $16,000 has been totally paid.

Toyota Yaris are the favorite vehicles used by taxi drivers in Panama.  They are small, compact, relatively cheap, and extremely fuel-efficient.  So that is what Alcibiades decided upon—a brand new 2012 Toyota Yaris.

Last week we went to Ricardo Pérez, S.A. to purchase the car.  Alcibiades was over the moon, when he saw the brand new Toyota Yaris at the dealer’s entrance.  Of course I had my Birthday camera with me and captured the scene.  This was a very special occasion for Alcibiades and his family.  Every taxi driver knows that his vehicle is the only source of income he has to provide for his family.  If the car stops, money stops, and the problems start.  We don’t want that to happen.

The car has already been delivered and painted yellow complying with the law.  The checkered tapes have also been placed on both sides of the vehicle and all the paperwork with the transit authorities has been completed.  Starting today, Sunday, April 1, 2012, the taxi is ready to roll.

Below are several pictures of the Toyota Yaris when we were in the process of acquiring it at Ricardo Pérez, S.A. in Panama City, Panama.  Here we go.

Snapshot of the car sales rep at Ricardo Pérez, S.A., José Miguel Quirós, explaining the features of the Toyota Yaris to Alcibiades. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of Alcibiades Achurra, the Twisters father, posing for the camera in front of his new Toyota Yaris. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of a white 2012 Toyota Yaris, which Alcibiades purchased last week. It had a price tag of $15,500 (sales tax included) which covered a car maintenance package for up to 40,000 kilometers. Cars are relatively cheap in Panama, that's why our highways are flooded with automobiles. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of Lina Quirós at her office in Mundo de Seguros, S.A. Lina is the woman who sold us the car insurance for the new taxi. We paid $153.21 for a bare bones taxi insurance. This amount will cover one whole year. I thought it was a fantastic deal. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of Dionisia Broce, the owner of the insurance broker. I have known Ms. Broce for over thirty years. She's one of the best insurance brokers in town. The name of her company is Mundo de Seguros, S.A. She bent herself backwards to get us an amazing deal. Can't thank her enough. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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Children’s Play

Last Sunday, March 18, 2012 we received a pleasant visit from the Twisters and one of their friends.  They were returning from a baseball game at Parque Urraca.  Abdiel and David were very excited because their team won.  Abdiel played as catcher and David as third base.  A trip to play in Miami is in the works for August but the war chest is empty, however the player’s parents are making all kinds of activities to grow the fund.  I hope they make it.

The kids looked dirty, sweaty, and hungry.  After eating, they started playing with an old cellphone one of them had found at the baseball park.  The device wasn’t working, but they were doing all they could to make it talk.  While they sat on the kitchen’s floor trying to resuscitate the depleted phone, I shot a couple of pictures without their knowledge.  Take a look.

Snapshot of the Twisters, Karol and Abdiel, and David sitting on the kitchen's floor trying to make and old and depleted cellphone work. Tried as they did, the phone would not talk. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of David García, one of Abdiel's best friends, and a member of his baseball team. He plays third base and loves the New York Yankees. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of Karol, Abdiel and David desperately trying to make an old broken down cellphone work. Their concentration was intense. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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