Day 6: Biocultural Diversity

Hey it’s Yaretzi, Vivian, and Mimi! We had a great day 6 as the LDDs. Our wake up call was 6:00am for an early breakfast at 6:30am, we had yummy hard boiled eggs and traditional Panamanian fried dough. We started our adventure at Finca Pamel which is a ecotourist farm 30 mins away from our hotel. We split up into groups and completed small farm task to work like locals. Yaretzi and Vivian’s group met a man named Vicente and ate coconut from a tree. 

Each group within our own rotation was able to gain experiences. Being apart of Yaretzi’s group we helped rake mangos into a bag from a big tree. As Vicente used a stick to puncture a hole, our group collected a handful of beans and buried them in the dirt. Working like locals was a great olive branch to create new connections as we learned more about Vicente. At our last stop to the petting zoo we met many farm animals. Animals like chickens, goats, pigs, and Corazon! Corazon the cow was a mama cow all the Glimpsers got to milk. Mimi’s group started by helping Euris in weeding a corn field. The third group continued the work after we rotated. Mimi’s group went on to rake leaves for compost and hang out with the goats and sheep. We finished out by planting yuka and taste testing coconuts and mangos.

After a hard day working at the farm we got ice cream! Yaretzi and Vivian got moccachino and Mimi got mint chip, it was very refreshing and delicious. 

Once everyone finished their ice cream cones, we headed back to the hotel for lunch. After lunch we welcomed Braulio, from Molas Katia and his son Johnathan as guest speakers. They told us about one of the indigenous groups of Panama, the Guna Yala. One of the most interesting stories that they told us was of the 1925 revolution when the indigenous people of Panama rose up against the Panamanian government to end oppression. This revolution caused the indigenous groups to be recognized as their own sovereign nations with their own governments. 

After hearing our seminar we self reflected and talk amongst ourselves about biocultural diversity, the days theme. 

Sincerely, 

LDDs Day 6 Yaretzi, Vivian, Mimi