Final Day in d.r! waterfall, bonfire, dinner and so much love<3
Student Trip Blog
At the Centro de Visitantes, we received a presentation by Robert, accompanied by Isabel from the organization Tortugas Pedasí. Tortugas Pedasi is a community-based non-profit founded in 2012 that serves through environmental education. During this presentation, Robert talked about how the 7 species of turtles– all of which are endangered– 5 are found in Panama, 3 are found in Pedasi; Olive Riley, Green, and Hawksbill turtle. He discussed some threats to the turtles, such as poaching, capture by fishing gear, coastal development, climate change, microplastics, and predators such as coyotes, crabs, and racoons.
Following the presentation, we had a short bus ride to Playa El Toro to clean up the beach and save some turtles! We collected many bags of trash, even finding some hidden gems such as hermit crabs, abandoned huts, and a swing! This experience highlighted how all of the trash that we produce doesn’t always end up where we think it does. Robert highlighted how 11 million metric tons of trash is dumped in the oceans every year, equal to one truck of trash being dumped in the ocean at every minute. During the whole cleanup, everyone was discussing how they weren’t going to use styrofoam or plastic straws anymore.
We headed back to Villa Tableña (the hotel) after the Beach Cleanup where Ilca and Lionela prepared our lunch! Our options were chicken or beef with rice, beans, and salad.
After our delicious meal, we decided to get seconds (as always). Once everyone was done eating, we started to call home! During this time there was an INTENSE game of monopoly, where Zayna is very disappointed she couldn’t get houses due to not having Virginia Avenue.
Some options for free time after calls were to explore the town in small groups, go to McDonalds, or play basketball in the pool.
Many of us chose to visit McDonalds, on the way there, visiting the Las Tablas sign! We were so captivated by the variety of options, the new flavors, and overall experience of McDonalds in Panama. Once we came back, we jumped into the pool with everyone else!
At 6:00 we had dinner, consisting of chicken, rice, plantains, and salad. Afterwards, we had our Nightly Meeting, passing on the torch to the new LDD’s!
Hope y’all enjoyed!
Sincerely,
Lucia and Zayna 🙂
Comments (19)
Iris Alonso
Ahh, so cool!!<3
Maria Acosta
Lucia,
It was great to hear your voice today. We went to church with your abuelos, Tia Evelyn and Adacio so phone was on silent. Thankfully your daddy answered his phone.
I love all the individual images of your delegation. Yes, Lucia loves taking this kind of close up distorted selfie.
Thank you Lucia and Zayna for your snapshot of today’s adventures. I want to hear more when you get home.
Thiago Behrendt
Ok so who’s sending me dinner
Abigail Vibiano
Glad you are all having a good time and learning how to make a change in this world.
Love you Lucy Lo!🥰
Rosario D.
Lovely GG group!
Blessings
Celia Amador
I am so happy to see your having a great time in Panama Lucia. Tia Loves you!!!
Aldy medina
It’s wonderful that you got to learn about turtles and help keep the beach clean! The beauty of the environment you helped protect must have been amazing.
Evelyn Acosta Behrendt
Thanks for helping protect the turtles with the beach clean up! @lucia It was wonderful to talk to you today and hear the excitement in your voice. 🐢💚
Jasper Heart
The self pictures in the beginning are so fun😂
Turtles are literally my favorite animal, love how they came up to learn about on the trip🐢 Going to the mcdonalds there is crazy lol😆 Thank you to the students and everyone for their cleanup work at the beach🌊⛱️
Lizbeth Martinez
Loved the 0.5 picture lol. Ask Jocelyn why she didn’t ask to speak on the phone with me today 🙄
Danielle Fontaine
Looks like another fun day. Thanks for all the updates. Just an FYI watch out for Zayna she is SUPER competitive LOL!!!
Veletta Crawford
Zayna I’m so glad you are having a wonderful trip with your friends!! Can’t wait to hear all about it when you get home. I’ll make sure to have your favorite meal waiting for you! Granny
Ebraheem Fontaine
How does most of the trash reach playa el toro? Is the town generally clean or is public littering a problem?
Stacey Powell
Dear GG ‘s and Family
Each day I read the blogs, there is this emotional tears of joy in my heart knowing the wonderful work and all the work, fun, love and effort that is been made by each and everyone.
Thank you so much for helping taking care of the environment.
I want to make my own pledge: i will take a hand-made shopping bag instead of using plastic bags
I was happy to hear your voice my daughter Miley. Love you!!!
Good Job GG’s
Continue to more beautiful memories and friendship.
Love Stacey
Pop
Salaam, Zayna. I hope your trip is very fulfilling and we miss you and look forward to your safe return home.
Love you!
Pop
Luis Acosta
What great picks!
Denisse
OMG! This looks like such an amazing day! You’re so lucky to be able to take part in all of this, mother nature needs as much love as it can get! Keep up the amazing work!
PS. I think I know whose idea it was to take those crazy looking selfies lol!
Sending you guys a big hug!
Nate’s Mom
(Miss you Papi!)
Beatriz Calderon
Hola!!! Andrea ayer mi corazón se llenó de alegría oír tu voz !!y decirte que te extrañamos en especial sponky🐱pero contesta xq sé que sigues experimentando nuevas cosas dela naturaleza y compartiendo con los compañeros de escuela hermosos lugares tomate muchas fotos📷 😁love you mami👧🏻 😘ayer tu papi👨🏼🦲 también estuvo feliz cuando le dije que llamaste📞 espero pronto verte en casa🏡 mis oraciones para todos ustedes 🙏que Dios los proteja y los traiga con bien a casa🏡Bendiciones
Maria Machuca
Every day I look forward to seeing the pictures and what they did on the day we miss you y rosi tambien 😀