I am back home on Long Island after living in Panama for 3 1/2 months. Everything feels strange and familiar at the same time. I
have to restrain myself from saying “Gracias” to people and still can’t quite
get the hang of throwing toilet paper in the toilet instead of the garbage can.
But I am enjoying the cool weather and amazing food. I ate raw cucumber today
and I’ve never been so happy!
As for the end of my adventure in Panama, the last week felt
like finals for sure. I somehow wrote a 40 page paper in Spanish for my
Independent Study Project, gave a successful 20 minute presentation on it in
Spanish, and then gave another 20 minute presentation about Spanish literature
to get upper level Spanish class credit. But after all of our presentations and
papers were done, we had our “dis-orientation” as we liked to call it in Las
San Blas archipelago in the Kuna Yala comarca along the Caribbean coast. It was
absolutely gorgeous and every tiny tropical island we visited felt like we were
inside a post card. It was also incredible to see how the Kuna people lived,
learn more about their culture, and try to decide which beautiful molas to buy
(squares of intricately sewn cloth into beautiful designs made by hand by the
Kuna and used in their traditional clothing). It was exciting to finally see an
indigenous culture benefitting from the tourism in their communities, and
running their own tourism independently: the Kuna controlled the boats, hotels,
and everything.
The church on one of the island communities in Kuna Yala.
It was hard to say goodbye to that crystal clear blue water.
(photo courtesy of Marybeth)
Once back in the city we went out to dinner at a cheesy
Mexican restaurant that gave everyone crazy hats. It was hard to say goodbye to
everyone after being constantly together for so long, but by the time Sunday
morning came around I was ready to go home.
Everyone together at the beach in Kuna Yala
The two Mexicans representin'
Before our flight, a few friends and I made one last trip to
Plaza Cinco de Mayo to do last minute shopping among the artesanias there and
we were lucky to stumble upon a local tipica dance troup practicing in the
courtyard. They were honestly the best tipica dancers I’d seen in the whole
country and it felt like a fitting goodbye to the country to watch them
practice for a while. Then we survived the most terrifying taxi ride ever back
to our community before we made our way to the airport.
And about 7 hours later I was in JFK airport, exhausted and
not thrilled about having to explain that my bag was missing in Spanish to one
of the attendants at the baggage claim. Leaving that airport was one of the
worst feelings because I honestly thought I had lost that bag forever, and it
had every single souvenir I had bought inside it. (Future note to other study
abroad students: spread out your souvenirs when you pack to go home). Then,
miraculously, the bag appeared unharmed the next morning at our doorstep and I
could have hugged the delivery guy.
Almost losing my luggage made me think about what I was
really bringing back from this experience. While it will be nice to have things
to share with other people to reflect my travels, I know that what I really brought
back wasn’t in that bag. I definitely see life in a new light after my stay in
Panama. I know more clearly that I want to remain engaged in community work and
that I love speaking and learning Spanish. I know now that people get by with
very little and yet still have their hearts full. And I have come to understand
better the vastness and wonder that is this world we live in. I don’t know if I’ll ever again have the
chance to snorkel in the Caribbean, or hike a volcano, or talk with indigenous
people in their community, but I do know that I would like to continue
traveling. I have never studied so little and learned so much. I have never
felt more satisfied in my own abilities, but simultaneously so uncertain of my
own culture. Coming home I hope to integrate all that I’ve learned and seen
into my daily life. I hope to live with a more global perspective and to
actively give back to this world which has blessed me with incredible
opportunities.
Thanks to all of the wonderful people who have supported and
encouraged me (both in Panama and in the US) during this semester. Thanks to
everyone who has read my scattered thoughts as I have traveled, and I hope that
I have been able to share a little bit of Panama with each one of you.
