End of Stay in Panama City

Sorry for not having kept updates quite as well in teh city. Life has been crazy and I really have been running around a lot! Had a lot of meetings about support with the olympic commitee, talked to the fencing comission, had a bunch of interviews. There's actually about three articles in different papers about me on newsstands righ tnow. La Prensa just ran an article abou tme as well and I'm gonna try and go pick up a copy of that. The El Siglo article was actually full page and really nice-- but doesnt look quite as snazzy on the internet version. Both of the titles are more or less "olympic dreams" or "olympic hope". Last night I ate dinner with MArtha Purmalis and some of her friends before seeing a modern dance performance in the national theater. It was beautiful and amazing! I always thought I hated modern dance...



Today I go to Las Gias to the Finca, and I wont have internet.

Long Afternoon

All in spanish. Lots of politics. Lots of concentrating. A really cool gift that made me happy but made me wonder whether I'll get support next season. An interview. Where they asked me my sign and my best virtue. (Leo! I fight for what I want!)

HA

Eileen

Hitting the newstands on the COP Website...

http://conpanama.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=110&Itemid=0

Eileen GRETCHEN gets bronze... will these immigrations stop messing with our name!!!!??? LOL

Damn.

Panama with a stomach bug

Not to bad, but annoying!

Went to eat at Niko's Cafe for lunch, was tasty. Brought home baklava. Sounds like I'm meeting with the federatino tomorrow and the COP Wednesday. Still havent heard from Martha Purmalis and I'm going to call Yesika again. Got in contact with Julio. Looks like they might come say hi and we can hang out somewhere.

My plan for right now is to take a shower, turn on the AC and relax in front of the tv a little. I'm hoping I an find a dinner date, but in any case I'll try to make a run down to the chino and the YMCA to look for mom/grandma stuff.

I'm write next to Balboa Union Church, betty!

Love,

Eileen

Hello from the airport

Well, everything yesterday was a rough ride but I made it to my goal-- final four. I was angry I didn't beat Schneider but what can you do. I wasn't feeling perfect and I fought my way through, which hey-- i can't be too upset with. It was hard to fence in 85 degree heat anf 100 percent humidity without AC hahaha. I won all my pool bouts, and won my first bout against a Dominican friend of mine 15-5 or so, then beat a girl from San Salvador 15-14 (EEK!) and afterwards, beat Benitez from Venezuela in a much contested bout 15-11. I had three or four touches turned over by video and she went crazy because the ref was american (but the one assisting with video was latino..sooo?). After she went to the bout comittee and they had refs all changed around and much anger was had I pulled ahead 15-11. It was close until the 10th (at the 8 touch break she was leading 8-4) touch where I had my last turnover and she went crazy--- well-- I think she got so riled up her fencing got worse for the last part of the bout. Lesson of the day; keep your cool.

Hung out at the mall last night, ate at a salvadorian Benihana (habachi chain), and went to sleep because I had to get a bus in the morning at 4(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) had a lot of fun with a big group of latinas. I guess im the person to make fun of but now a semi-official latina fencer lol. I had a lot of fun, and theres lots of fun pictures to go along with the good times. The whole tournament, the dominican team was cheering for me and supporting me, they really took me under their (very young) wings and hung out with me etc even though i could never understand a thing they said. hahahaha...

So anyways, I'll put up some pics if I have time before my flight.

Love,

Aylin, Ailin, eh-lee-een?

PS. Using my Panama passport today, and confusin gpeople with my name again lol

Hello everyone!

Checking in from El Salvador. Yesterday jesika lost to make top 4 by one point (15-14). I'm watching mens epee right now but gonna go say by to jesica.. here are a fw more pics of us and argentina etc.

Hello from El Salvador!!

Hello everyone. Well I have found reallyreally iffy internet in the venue :) Today I've watched Yesika's pools and am watching mens sabre pools while watiing for her DE to start. I'm in the room with Belen and Yesika and have been hanging out with the Dominicans (hard for me to understand-- its so bad they think i hardly speak spanish), and have seen my friend from Mexico. Last night I trained with the Guatemalans and Dominicans and tonight am probably going to do the same. Would've like to train with the canadians but they're doing so in the morning. Been having a good time, the place is relaly nice. Good food, lots of junk shows in english on tv (my guilty pleasure at fencing competitions) and people to hang out with. El Salvador is actually really pretty with a lot of rolling mountainous terrain etc but I haven't gotten a chance to get out really. Me and Belen want to go to some mayan ruins that are supposedly near here but will hav eto ask for an army escort hahaha. Right now Yesika is in the 16 waiting for her next bout. She let me borrow a pan shirt so i feel so official. Sorry if this blog is jumping around a lot I've been writing it between bouts and off an on in the venue today. I love you all and when i find better internet i'll start to upload some photos I've taken!

BIG HUGS!

Eileen