It´s hot in Panamá. Hot. Mac and I are sweating in an internet café in our regional capital, pounding out our first quarterly reports for the Peace Corps.

A photo of nostalgia for cold and for home. This is a picture from a visit home last year. Me and my first horse - almost 30 now - still fat and happy in his retired years.

Snow is already flurrying around the Great Plains. Shaggy horses with their winter coats turned tails to the wind.

Off to the best restaurant in town for lunch: burger, fries and an icy coke for $1.60.