Day 1 – Stay in Panama City & Travel to Las Tablas

We made it! First of all, these young adults are so full of courage, compassion, and curiosity!

After a few flight delays due to storms in Houston, our incredible PCs Paco and Zayari were waiting to pick us up at the airport with a pizza dinner ready at the hotel and a quick night’s rest.

Following a breakfast buffet with some Latin American staples like Arepas and Empanadas, our team traveled to Casco Viejo for a walking tour designed to help orient us to the old and new of Panama.  Paco and Zayari prepared cards with fun facts along specific stopping points where glimpsers volunteered to read with the group key facts about important places in the plaza area like the Metropolitan Cathedral and the President’s Residence.

To further understand the context of past and current Indigenous Influence in Panama, we visited the Museo De La Mola. Glimpsers were able to see many artistic and spiritual artifacts, a timeline of Indigenous relations, and the ongoing impact and contributions of the Guna peoples of the San Blas Territory. Our next stop was the original engineering headquarters of the Panama Canal now restored as the Museo del Canal. As Glimpsers engaged in their guided tour of the Museum, they were challenged to reflect on the following questions to develop their own insights:

1-What facts regarding the relationship between Panama and America that they have learned or haven’t learned before, and why do they think this might be?

2- Considering the historical relationship between Panama and America, what perceptions and values might they need to keep top of mind for questions and interactions as they engage with those we meet throughout our trip?

3 – What did the acquisition of the Panama Canal represent as a geopolitical and economic strategy?

4- What gaps do you still want to understand in the history of Panama and their relationship with America or the World?

Students had Subway Lunch and an opportunity to shop briefly before loading the bus for a 5-hour ride of rest to arrive at our accommodations in Las Tabas this evening.

Upon arrival to Las Tablas, the sun had already set so we will explore the town tomorrow.  We are staying at Villa Tablena.  We put our bags in our rooms with our roommates for the next 13 days.  We then had a meeting as a group about the Lider de la Dia (leader of the day).

Dinner was here at the hotel, provided by the very accommodating and gentle cook, Ilka.  We ate pasta and fish and students shared a table together with all 22 students sharing their first meal in our location.  Dinner ended with some fun and lots of laughs as students (thanks to Mikey’s idea) and adults went around and introduced themselves.   Kennedy put it out there she could name everyone’s name and she proved she could do it.

The leaders then prepped Fatima and Joselin for their Lider de la Dia tomorrow as students bonded playing UNO on the hotel balcony overlooking the pool.  Fatima and Joselin presented the daily activities for Day 3 – Culture and City Tour!   We finished the nightly meeting went over some house rules and shouted out big loves to people who did something positive today for our group.

TO KNOW:  Students will have opportunities to call home on the following days around the 1-2 pm hour:  Tuesday, July 16, Friday, July 19, Monday, July 22, and Tuesday, July 23.

Big Love to you all for your support.  Feel free to leave comments so we can share them tomorrow!

Kristen and Chris