Perspective – Stephen Cox

From starting our program in Panamá for the global business brigades, I have learned so much about a culture that I never considered. Obviously, the beginning of this difference for myself is the language barrier. Within the cities while ordering our food or meeting people, most people do not speak English. However when we went on our company visit to Halliburton, they spoke about the importance of English within the international business community. Aside from the language, the biggest difference would be the food. I have never seen or eaten food quite like Panamanian cuisine. The wide variety of flavors and cuisine has been a great experience. What I have learned more specific to Panamá’s economy, is that it is a very developed economy for Latin America. It has a multi faceted economy with a lot of current wealth and room for growth. Despite all this, there continues to be a large disparity between wealth distribution. This is the main reason why this brigade exists. Centered around the brigade, I learned even more about Panamanian culture. When it comes to the clients, one thing I noticed is their desire to improve. No matter the hardships he has faced, our client Norielle met us with the enthusiasm necessary to grow. When we met with our client, and his attitude and love towards his kids was beautiful to see. From the company visit to meeting all our clients, the love for the community of Panamá has stayed consistent. I’ve seen how important this love is for the country. I love the unity of the culture and the initiative to grow. This desire for growth from the largest to the smallest businesses, is why Panamá will continue to play a role in the international market.  I have gained a whole new perspective on not only Latin American culture but the beauty of life.