Adiós Chicago, Hola Panamá ✈️ | Day 1 Recap

Hello all! Maykeld and Yadariselt checking in again.

Today has been a long — and very exciting — day for our Glimpsers. As many of you know, their journey began bright and early with a 5:30 a.m. flight, and we’re happy to share that everything went smoothly from start to finish. The group arrived safely in Panamá, and the moment they stepped off the plane, they were greeted by their first wave of tropical heat and humidity. It was a fun and very real introduction to life here, and we’re confident they’ll adjust quickly as the days go on.

We want to give a huge thank-you to our Global Glimpse Leaders, Erika and Pam, for guiding the students through their travel day with so much care and attention. Their leadership made all the difference. Upon arrival, the Glimpsers were welcomed by Maykeld, along with Leydi, our in-country Program Manager, and Angelita, our Health and Logistics Coordinator, who were thrilled to greet the group and officially kick off their experience.

Once we reached the hotel, everyone had the chance to settle in, freshen up, and enjoy a well-deserved meal. For dinner, we shared hamburgers together, which were a big hit after a long day of travel. The energy in the room was incredible—a mix of excitement, curiosity, and anticipation for everything that lies ahead. It’s clear that this cohort is already beginning to bond, and we’re looking forward to watching those connections grow.

After dinner, some of the Glimpsers had the opportunity to cool off and enjoy the swimming pool at our beautiful hotel. It was a fun way to unwind after a busy travel day, and there were plenty of laughs as students played Marco Polo together. It was wonderful to see friendships already beginning to form through these shared experiences.

Tomorrow will be a big day. We’ll be visiting the Panamá Canal, where students will get to witness one of the world’s most remarkable engineering achievements up close: the canal locks. It’s always a powerful moment for our Glimpsers, and we can’t wait to share it with them. After our visit, we’ll begin our journey to Chitré, the community where we’ll be spending the rest of our trip and diving deeper into cultural immersion, leadership development, and service learning.

Thank you for following along on this incredible journey. Day one is in the books, and we’re already seeing the excitement, curiosity, and positive energy that make this group so special. We can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings and to continue sharing these moments with you.

Until tomorrow,

Maykeld and Yadariselt