Just coming to grips with...

[chuck]

Lots of people complain that Mariano doesn't do enough for Panama. He never played for Panama in any of the WBC tournaments. And he spends most of his time in the US. He's from a coastal area close to where I am, so people around here and people from the city are more likely to be drawn to him, while people from Cocle are more likely to be drawn to Carlos Lee, and people out where you are are sure to be fans of Carlos Ruiz. I bet if you pay close attention you'll see plenty of Phillies hats around.

I am not a tripe lover, but I do have more than a passing familiarity with Panamanian beer.

Another thing you'll probably run into one day is something that is pronounced 'sow,' but, I eventually found out, is spelled 'sauce' or 'saus.' It's basically pork trotters, pickled. Also not my favorite thing. Although it is often served with a cucumber salad that is infused with the vinegary porky juice of the 'sauce,' and as unappealing as that may sound, the cucumber salad is bizarrely delicious. I personally just don't enjoy gnawing on the fat between a pig's hoof. But that's just me.