Embera Village

In terms of cultural experiences and activities that we've had here in Panama, today had to be the best experience I've had. The scenery, the beauty of God's creation, and a proud and beautiful people in the Emberas' truly made it a unique experience. The journey began with the traversing of the Chagras River in long canoes from the drop off area to first a pathway to a waterfall and natural spring pool. The water was cool and soothing, perfect balance and feel and the waterfall added sound and aesthetics to the scenery. After that we made our way back in the canoes to go to the village itself, where we were greeting warmly and brought to the gathering space of the village. We were then served fresh fruit including bananas, pineapple, papaya, watermelon, the fried tilapia and plantains, all served in banana leaves. After the feast, we were treated to some traditional dances...the monkey, the eagle, and a couple's dance and then we were able to buy some of the wonderful pottery and arts and crafts that were made by the Embera people. On the way back to the bus, it poured down raining, but that just made the whole experience sweeter.

Panama ( the non-clinical side)

ARRIVAL
So we have been in panama for quite sometime now and I have experienced many enlightening and different experiences in both the culture and the healthcare setting. I have been to Honduras almost every summer since I was a little kind so coming to Panama was not going to be that different for me. Once i arrived in Panama though I was surprised that there was a noticeable difference in their culture here. We spent the first two days in Panama City at the city of knowledge and I enjoyed the time that we spent there. We got to go on a tour and see the canal which is such a great experience and I loved the way the panamanians talked about it with such great pride! I feel like I did accommodate to the culture very well because I am latino but it was hard for me to watch others struggle with the food difference and language barrier.
The Panama Canal

THE FAMILY
Once we arrived in Chitre I knew that it meant we had to get down to business. I got to meet my host family and everyones else's as well when we got there and I was actually surprised that many on the families did not speak english so I was not sure how that was going to play out. When me and Renee meet our host mom she was no nervous because she doesn't speak english but when she heard me speak spanish to her she told me it was like a weight was lifted off her shoulders. My family consists of the mom, Yasmin, the dad, alex, their four year old son, alex ivan , and the nanny, natalie. Everyone is super sweet and super accommodating. For the longest time i never really got to spend anytime with my family because we would have clinical and then seminar and then for a couple night we actually had activities planned like a sports day, pizza party, going out to a dance and stuff like that. And then most the free time i had was spent sleeping or working on my seminar. But then one day the actives were cancelled so i actually got to go out with the family. So they took us to the pottery stores so we could buy gifts and then they actually bought us one and put our names on each one! it was so cute! we also went to clothes stores, two parks that both had really pretty churches and then also an artificial beach that still confuses me. So my family is been so nice and warm to me and me and the mom always have so much to talk about. the dad always tried to practice his english while renee her spanish so that is always a trip to watch. I also like the area that my family lives in because there are four other families that are close so we tend to all get together at Lilya, Caitlin and Melissa's house when we can so that we can hang out. one of Liliya's posts actually has a picture of all of us at their house.

THE UNIVERSITY

As for the university of Panama they have really nice and helpful to us. They are always inviting us to actives and always trying to bring our nursing school and their together . So far we have had a pizza night with them( which he had invited them to) an we had a really good turn out and everyone really mingled with each other. Also there was a party at a club called the break that they invited us to and only half of our group went but i had a lot of fun with the students. oh yea and we had a sports day where we were supposed to play soccer but then it turned into volleyball some how so we did that and they had an egg relay and egg toss. Then also this past thursday we went to a queen party that they held but we weren't there for too long because we did have clinical in the morning and it was so packed! Tomorrow we are having a cultural fiesta with the students and they are going to do a traditional dance and song for us and we are supposed to do the same. so we are thinking of doing the Cha cha slide and the cotton eye joe. so ill let you know how that goes.

So far I have been having a great experience with the family home-stay and the connection with the panama students and I have made it this far with only a week left!until Next time!

Cultural Night

Tonight was so neat! The University of Panama nursing students planned a cultural event to share various dances, songs, acting, and traditions of the Panamanian culture. They first performed what appeared to be a popular dance to modern music. They then acted out a mime-style play. The actors wore black, red, and white and had painted their faces white. The next couple acts seemed to be traditions of the people. Each act involved a single guy donning an ornate costume and dancing a unique style. The first guy wore an orange outfit with a dragon-like face mask and feathers. He had wooden shoes on and wooden clappers in his hands that he shook to the beat of the music. The next guy resembled a pirate figure and danced around with a cane. He was clearly the comedian of the group! There was also a traditional dancing involving a girl and two guys. The girl wore a hand woven white, flowy dress that was accented with green, red, and yellow. The two guys wore white long sleeved shirts with straw hats and black pants. They performed two dances that told a story. The first was of the two men vying for the attention of the lady. They ¨fought¨ for her affection by having a dance-off. After she had made her pick, the succeeding dance was of two intimate lovers. In addition to these acts, there was also singing and a slide show.
After their presentations, it was our turn to show them various dances that represented our culture. We started by explaining to them that the U.S. is composed of various cultures. There is not a single predominate culture with long standing traditional dances or songs. We then performed the electric slide which the Panamanian students instantly recognized and participated in. Next we did the cupid shuffle and encouraged the students to dance along with as well. I had so much fun. It was neat to experience the traditions of the Panama people and it was also neat to include them in on our dances. I enjoyed witnessing and partaking in the integration of two very different cultures.

El Valle

On friday we drove to the beautiful town of El Valle. The second we arrived I was mesmorized by the beautiful sites around us. The hotel we stayed at was very interesting in a sence that there were hammocks on the top floor that overlooks the town as well as WIFI in the common area. The village around the hotel had many fruits and vegetables as well as hundred of handcrafted items to buy. On saturday, we all started the day with an all american breakfast and then we went zip linning through the rainforest. Followed by the zip lining we went horseback riding and finally a hike up a mountain. We ended our day at an Italian restaurant which had fabulous food except that it took an hour to get drinks. On sunday, Renee and I decided to take a 3 hour hike up a mountain as well as went swimming in a waterfall. Let just say we are indeed extremley sore. Once again every city we travel to in Panama brings wonderful new experiences and new chances to learn about the history and culture of Panama.

El Valle

This weekend we drove over to El Valle and it is absolutely gorgeous here! Yesterday we woke up early and went ziplining, which was really fun! At first we were all a bit nervous, but we ended up having a really great time and got some really good pictures! After ziplining we went horseback riding for an hour, which was also really fun... but at times I feared for my life! That was the first and last time I will be on a horse! Later on we went for a hike up the Sleeping Indian Women mountain... it was a pretty rough hike, but we got to see the waterfall and that was gorgeous and we got some more great pictures! To relax, we went and swam in the natural spring and got mud facials! The hotel has these awesome hammocks, on the top floor, that overlook the mountains! It is so relaxing up here and a great view! Right now we are all just hanging out on the hammocks, listening to the rain :)

Chitre!!

Well we have less than a week left in this beautiful country and we have all had a great time regardless of any small inconveniences we have encountered during the 2 weeks we have been here! Chitre is a lot different than my home in Florida, but it has been a great experience! Being without the things you are typically use to having at all times, really opens your eyes to appreciate things more! I definitely won't take internet, phone, air condition, or hot water for granted ever again!! The family that I am staying with is very nice.. the mother is a nurse and the father is a medical doctor. They have one little girl that is 5 years old. At first, the language barrier was an issue because they speak very little English, and I speak very little Spanish! Day by day it gets easier and you learn new ways to communicate! This has been a learning experience for both myself, and the family.. as they have had to learn some English and I some Spanish! The picture above is Shannon and I with our house mother Eudy :)

Deliciosas Comidas!

Since food is an extremely major part of each of our days, I thought it would be significant to capture several of the various meals that we've had so far, here in Panama. In fact, I thought it was so important that I figured I would devote an entire blog post to it. Since I stick to a diet mainly comprised of raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, baked legumes + grains (oatmeal, barley, etc.), & chicken + seafood (typically prepared on grill only), I thought it would be a little bit of a hassle to find this type of food in restaurants of a country that typically eats beans, rice, and fried plantains for every meal. So I made sure to pack an abundant supply of nuts, dried + raw fruits, and bars just in case I really had trouble finding food at first. I was pleasantly surprised with how I've been able to find food that accommodates my dietary needs! The following will show a variety of different meals that my classmated and/or I have indulged in :) ...

Sauteed chicken and veggies for fajitas!

Mussels, clams, shrimp in a red sauce on top of spaghetti!

I expected that Panama would have delicious varieties of fruits that aren't readily available in the US, which is most definitely true. For example, they have all different sorts of mangos (I've tried 3 different kinds already) growing all over the place, along with coconuts, guava, and bananas. I love the fact that much of the fruit that is sold in the local markets was most likely just picked off of the tree not too far away. This is great because the fruits that are common here are sold for so much less than in America. For example, yesterday I bought about 20 bananas for less than a dollar! Also, while I was doing my homecare visits during clinical one day, our taxi driver picked a bunch of mangos, grapefruits, and coconuts from the patients' homes (with their permission of course) and gave me a bag full for me to take home. It was great! I had fruits to last me all week! The pineapples here are indescribably juicy and sweet. I wish I could bring some back for everyone to taste the difference.

Coconut!

Mango!

Sauteed pineapple with coco powder and chocolate syrup dessert!

I was a bit disappointed with the flavors of some of the vegetables. I was hoping that they would be equally as yummy as the fruit. However, I have yet to be impressed with specifically the carrots, broccoli, lettuce, or cucumbers. The tomatoes are pretty much the same as ones we eat in the US. I had the most delicious soup and salad at, what I believe has been, the BEST restaurant that we've eaten at in Panama, "Bruschetta Restaurante". It's an Italian place in El Valle. I ordered a Greek salad with grilled salmon (+ yummy Panamanian feta cheese), fresh vegetable soup (loaded with fresh green peppers, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, etc.), and green tea all for less than 10 dollars. Now that was a great buy and nearly impossible to find in the states.

BEST ensalada ever! :D

BEST vegetales sopa ever! :D

*Ohh another meal (that I didn't want to forget to mention) which I've enjoyed for lunch soo much for several days, in Chitre, has been beans (either kidney beans, lentils, or some other sort of legume) and broiled chicken at the Universidad de Panama. It is such a delicious combination; almost like a stew when put together in a bowl! hehe

Mi "Mama's" cooking; fried plantains stuffed with chicken, tomatoes, onions, and peppers and broccoli + grape salad on top of lettuce! :p

How hungry are you now? Come to Panama! :)