Coming to Panama has been an experience that has far exceeded what I ever could have expected. Upon landing, the lush trees and vibrant green palms were the first thing that caught my eye. I thought I had known what a dense, healthy forest looked like, yet the jungles of Panama immediately changed my definition. The climate was humid, which is what I had expected being close to the equator, but was equally warm and comfortable, just like the people. Most people that you would pass on the street, or in a store, would greet you in one way or another, which is very different from those in the United States. Most Americans have busy lives, and in Panama, life seemed to move slower.
When getting to the communities that we worked with, I don’t think I previously realized how simple they are living; how minimal the living conditions really are. There is no air conditioning, sometime no doors, and everyone grew their own food, yet they all seemed very content, and very thankful. Getting to know the client felt difficult at times, mainly due to language barrier, yet they were always willing to share information about their personal lives, family, and hobbies. And most importantly, each client truly wanted to grow their business. They were very receptive to each training session, and they had some great ideas. I noticed that most of these clients had amazing ideas for their small business; however, the only thing that was holding them back was having the means and resources to do so.
The most striking and I think important thing to know about these communities in Panama is that they are not a rarity. They are not a minority, or a small percentage of the population. They are almost everyone who lives outside of the main city. They do not necessarily chose this lifestyle, yet they start their own business because they HAVE to. They have to make ends meet when no other type of job or school is around. Yet the pride they have in their country and the love they have for others is what is most important, and every single person we met in the community said they wouldn’t want to live anywhere else!
