During March, I had the privilege of going on a study abroad program to Panama with Global Business Brigades. We spent 3 days in the city and the rest of the time we spent in two different rural communities.
I learned many things throughout this trip. One of my key takeaways was the importance of being open-minded. This was my first study abroad with Texas A&M and I had never been to Panama before. Therefore, I did not know what to expect. I decided to go on this trip with an open mind and willingness to try/learn new things. Another key takeaway was realizing how reliant Panama is on tourism. When we arrived in Panama City, I saw a lot of diversity from people that come to visit common sites such as Casco Antiguo, the Panama Canal, etc. Furthermore, something that surprised me was seeing how friendly everyone was. People were comfortable, for the most part, walking in the streets of the city at nighttime. Everywhere we went somebody would say “Buenas” which can be translated to say “Hello.”
When we traveled to the more rural areas for the brigade, the community members were overall very welcoming. Despite the heat, I felt very comfortable being around them. I think the fact that I can speak Spanish was very helpful during this trip because it allowed me to connect more to the people and the culture. Most words in Panama are similar to the Spanish that is spoken in Mexico. However, there were a few words that were new to me. For instance, in Mexico the word a lot is translated into “Bastante” or “Mucho,” but in Panama they use the word “Buco.”
In addition, something that the people from the communities taught me is that no matter what conditions you’re living in or the resources you have/lack, if you have the desire to prosper and learn, then that should be no obstacle for you to reach your goals. They inspired me always to seek opportunities to learn to become a better version of myself. The community members were an example of what dedication looks like. Also, something I didn’t expect was for some of them to be educated. One of the clients we had studied in different institutions and several community members were already very knowledgeable in business basics.
Overall, I enjoyed my time in Panama and I’m very grateful to have been able to go with such a wonderful group.
