El Valle, a town of 6000 full-time residents, sits in a dormant volcano surrounded by mountain peaks. The area has several national preserves and nature parks with hiking trails, native animals, birds, flora and fauna to attract more tourists to the area. Which is what Alan's assignment is, to work with and assist the conservation groups to enhance the eco-tourism attractions and build tourist trade. His counter-part, Mario, is President of the conservation group and owns a snake farm; which is why you see Alan with a Boa in one photo.

After several days El Valle, we travel to my old site (Llano Nopo) in the mountains of the Comarca Ngöbe Bugle (Guayami Indian reserve).

The story is too long to tell here, but suffice to say that all my fears that the work we did back in 1967-69 was for naught, were put to rest. The seeds of progress and wanting to better ones self that we planted back then, today are strong, healthy and still growing.

For example, in 1969 as we finished the health center/school building (the first non-native style building in the Comarca), two nuns arrived to start the school. There were 12 - 15 students that first year. Today there are over 500 students in the school, with sleeping dorms for students that travel long distances.

From that first block building in 1969, there are now over 30 block structures with concrete floors and tin roofs on the Llano. They told me that Llano Nopo is now bigger than the capital town of the Comarca. Words are hard to find to express the feeling that "Yes Peace Corps does make a difference in people's lives".

When we left 40 years ago, we couldn't see the seeds of progress we planted because they had yet to sprout. But now, returning after so many years and seeing the abundant harvest from those seeds, we can proudly say that we had a small hand in shaping what is today.

After resting poolside in Santiago a couple of days, we returned to El Valle to catch the Barcelona vs. El Real Madrid soccer match. Then Monday night was the final game of the college basketball Final Four. Seemed strange to be sitting in the middle of the Panamanian countryside, at an American style Sports Bar, eating ham and cheese sandwiches, french fries, drinking ice cold Panamá beer, watching US college basketball finals on a big screen TV. But then there were parrots, macaws and toucans making a lot of noise in the background. Their grunts, whistles, yells and calls made it sound just like a typical college sports bar.

Attended a Coclé regional PC volunteer meeting where I was asked to talk about Panama Then and Now. And what they might expect from "Life after Peace Corps". What we went through readjusting to life back in the states. Lots of good questions and discussion.

A great group of volunteers in Coclé. Peace Corps is doing a great job of screening, recruiting and training our newest volunteers.

My time is Panama was fading fast, so it was back to the city for a sleepless night before heading to the airport and home to Texas.

We celebrated Alan's 28th birthday while I was there. All in all, Alan is doing very well with his new assignment, his new site and his counter-part. He might even stay on as a volunteer leader for an additional time. Time will tell.

While there are many more stories to tell about Then and Now, you will just have to wait until I finish writing about it.

To those volunteers who have not been back to Panama since 1969, maybe now is the time to go. You might be very pleasantly surprised at what you find.

To everyone else, thank you for asking about the trip, for your prayers and best wishes for Alan and his safety. Thank you.......

RPCV Jan Daub