Before arriving to Panama this past spring break, I did not know what quite to expect. I knew from our pre-departure class meetings that it would be an incredibly diverse country in terms of quality of life, but nothing opens your eyes better than to experience it first-hand. Most of our time in Panama was spent in communities where we did business consulting for entrepreneurs in rural areas. When I first heard the word “community,” I expected a rural, yet populated areas with multiple housing structures within a relatively close area, yet this was not the case. Because of the terrain in the outskirts of Panama, it is almost impossible to have multiple homes within a close vicinity to each other. Instead, members of said “communities” had to go by foot a considerable distance to visit us in the specific areas that we worked in. I began to realize the word community applied better in terms of ‘family” rather than “neighborhood”. Spending a week in an area that lacked electricity, hot water, indoor plumbing, and many other things we label as necessities in the United States showed me the importance of relationships among the Panamanian culture. When they had almost nothing, they still seemed to have everything they needed because of the love they were surrounded by. It has become abundantly clear to me upon my arrival back to Texas that we take so many simple things for granted, and because of this my appreciation has grown incredibly for the blessings I enjoy every day that are considered luxuries to others. Though the educational and professional experience I gained from this trip is profoundly unique and special, my favorite take away is my new perspective on how I view life itself, specifically my attitude towards slight inconveniences and difficulties. I am so thankful for the abundant opportunities I have as a student a Texas A&M and getting to go to Panama for this study abroad trip has quickly moved to the top of my list so far, providing an experience and understanding that will influence my perspective on life itself forever.
