The Panama Kid in Mission, Kansas!
It seems that "The Panana Kid" got hisself a repatation in them thar rolling hills of
the Kansas Kountry. Did not take no time atall before he was a Wanted Man
thoughout that fair land. And "Undertaker Bob" was a might scared to be his
accomplish. (Thow they dun some good bidness for sure. The kid plugged 'em,
and Bob dugged 'em.)
the Kansas Kountry. Did not take no time atall before he was a Wanted Man
thoughout that fair land. And "Undertaker Bob" was a might scared to be his
accomplish. (Thow they dun some good bidness for sure. The kid plugged 'em,
and Bob dugged 'em.)
THANK YOU to Worlds of Fun theme park for their great photography and costumes!
Marco's first MEAT in KC... some
choice Prime Rib! Marco isn't so fond
of vegetables, good thing Kansas City
is famous for Beef and BBQ!
choice Prime Rib! Marco isn't so fond
of vegetables, good thing Kansas City
is famous for Beef and BBQ!
We visited First Family Church and
The Rock youth group, even though
Sonja was out of town. We even met
one kid from Marco's school and
soccer team!
The Rock youth group, even though
Sonja was out of town. We even met
one kid from Marco's school and
soccer team!
FFC guys meet and discuss on
Sunday morning. Cullen from SMNorth
soccer team is posing on right. Marco
looks a bit nervous... new city, new
country, new church, yikes.
Sunday morning. Cullen from SMNorth
soccer team is posing on right. Marco
looks a bit nervous... new city, new
country, new church, yikes.
Hey, at least he looked up for this
photo! Marco brought five
Panama t-shirts with him to show
off his home country and show
he is an "exchange student."
photo! Marco brought five
Panama t-shirts with him to show
off his home country and show
he is an "exchange student."
PENSIVE - Marco seems deep in
thought as we get ready to leave
"Hotel Mitch" to register for school.
Note the stuffed Rotweiller that Marco
won at an arcade. The milk bottles
had NO chance against his rocket
baseballs!
thought as we get ready to leave
"Hotel Mitch" to register for school.
Note the stuffed Rotweiller that Marco
won at an arcade. The milk bottles
had NO chance against his rocket
baseballs!
Marco is ready for action!
Shawnee Mission North was built in
the 1920's and is a beautiful old
school. Marco started out nervous,
but now he is making friends.
Shawnee Mission North was built in
the 1920's and is a beautiful old
school. Marco started out nervous,
but now he is making friends.
Hmmmm, Marco got the lovely Sara
for his early morning tour of the
school. She showed him where all
his classes were and how to do the
combo on his locker. Welcome to
high school Mr. Flaco!
for his early morning tour of the
school. She showed him where all
his classes were and how to do the
combo on his locker. Welcome to
high school Mr. Flaco!
Here is our rental
car PT Cruiser and
Marco going to his
first soccer practice.
I bought him a Nike
ball and he promptly
drew the Panama
Flag on it for ID.
Below, Marco and
boys stretch before
practice.
car PT Cruiser and
Marco going to his
first soccer practice.
I bought him a Nike
ball and he promptly
drew the Panama
Flag on it for ID.
Below, Marco and
boys stretch before
practice.
A few action photos of Marco at practice. Many THANKS go to Coach Steve Collins
for letting me hang out at practice and re-live my own 12 years of high school
coaching. As for Marco, he was a bit out of shape (I suspected more strongly when
he threw up out the window on the way home the second day!), and he is more use to
small 5 v. 5 games, but his skills are good and he will get the hang of it soon.
for letting me hang out at practice and re-live my own 12 years of high school
coaching. As for Marco, he was a bit out of shape (I suspected more strongly when
he threw up out the window on the way home the second day!), and he is more use to
small 5 v. 5 games, but his skills are good and he will get the hang of it soon.
Here is Marco working on his part of the
banner that each year's AFS students
make. He only had a little space, but did
some quality artistic work. Marco hopes
to get braces next year (cheaper in
Panama) but every now and then he
smiles big and shows the pearly whites.
banner that each year's AFS students
make. He only had a little space, but did
some quality artistic work. Marco hopes
to get braces next year (cheaper in
Panama) but every now and then he
smiles big and shows the pearly whites.
As you might suspect, the several years that
I have been visiting Panama and helping
Marco prepare to (hopefully) come to the
USA has been emotional at times. I packed
up my room at Orientation and then came
back to see what Marco wrote. Tears flowed.
THANK YOU SO MUCH MARCO. Yes, we are
friend forever mi casi hijo!
I have been visiting Panama and helping
Marco prepare to (hopefully) come to the
USA has been emotional at times. I packed
up my room at Orientation and then came
back to see what Marco wrote. Tears flowed.
THANK YOU SO MUCH MARCO. Yes, we are
friend forever mi casi hijo!
This is what we wrote on the
sheet to say Thank You to all
of the AFS volunteers for
getting on board the Marco
train and the Marco Project.
Yes, the dream is coming true!
Thank you to those who
are helping us.
sheet to say Thank You to all
of the AFS volunteers for
getting on board the Marco
train and the Marco Project.
Yes, the dream is coming true!
Thank you to those who
are helping us.
And here is one of my favorite pix... thanks to
a wonderful artist at Worlds of Fun. We got it
framed for Marco to put in his room.
a wonderful artist at Worlds of Fun. We got it
framed for Marco to put in his room.
DBL CLICK any
photo to enlarge.
photo to enlarge.
Marco's first (and only) car-driving in
USA! Sorry, AFS says no driving a
real car, but Marco sure enjoyed our
day of roller coasters and other crazy
fun!
USA! Sorry, AFS says no driving a
real car, but Marco sure enjoyed our
day of roller coasters and other crazy
fun!
We rode the Boomerang and other
rides at the theme park, Marco's first
such visit EVER. (I'm trying to hold him
still before he runs to the next ride, ha!)
rides at the theme park, Marco's first
such visit EVER. (I'm trying to hold him
still before he runs to the next ride, ha!)
| ALL PHOTOS copyright 2008-2009, Robert Bowling. Email me for permission to download or reprint. |