Students Protest

Today I didn't go to the University because it was closed for the day. Classes were canceled and the gates were closed. The annual University protests have started up again and it was looking pretty crazy. But all of this started yesterday at noon when all students all over the university were dismissed early because of the protests. The student groups involved were Fer-29, Pensamiento y Acción Transformadora and Movimiento Juventud Patria. These groups started out chanting and waving flags but it soon became a rock throwing frenzy. Well, I guess it was more like a throw whatever you can find at the police, objects ranging from classroom chairs to Molotov Cocktails. Fortunately, we had made our way out of the university way before any of that occurred, in time for the Panamanian Police force to launch a clear cut response to all of it using their objects of choice that included super powered water hoses, rubber bullets and tear gas. The front entrance of the university looked like a war zone, something considered rare back home in Canada, but for Panamanian University students this wasn't considered abnormal. Just another day of classes cut short. Yesterday as we left the University, I could really feel the normality in all of what was happening. There was no fear in the eyes of the students and there was no urgency to leave the grounds, it was just another one of those days which Fer-29 started protesting again. I didn't fear for my life or anything like that, but I did realize that I was in a foreign country where certain events and experiences are foreign to my own experience and memory. I realized that I wasn't in my own country and that at any moment, if these protesters mistake me for being an American (These guys really don't like the USA) it could create problems for me. I pretty much realized that I had to be careful with where I go and what I do. Panama isn't an innocent playground, nor is any part of the world an innocent playground. Two nights ago, I was talking to my girlfriend on the phone, and seven gun shots went off outside my apartment building. One of my neighbors got his new car stolen at gunpoint, but as the guys were taking off with his car, he responded with his own gun! Those seven shots I heard two nights ago were from the robbery victim's gun. I thank God that my neighbor was ok and that nobody died, but while I'm here in Panama, I can never forget that I'm not in my own country playing by my country's rules or anything like that. This is a foreign place that I love, but I'll always be considered a foriegner and unless I spent the rest of my life here, I won't know all the rules of the road. These are days where I'm reminded that I ultimately need to rely on God for protection and I need to use the brain he's given me to play it smart here and not get into any unnecessary situations. Don't get me wrong, I'm not fearing for my life right now or anything, the neighborhood and area I live in are safe, but I'm just acknowledging the fact that I don't know how the street works here in Panama and that I must ultimately make smart decisions of how I live my life here. Here are some photos of what's been going on. I hope you enjoy them :)