My Two Week Adventure

This was a life-changing experience. It was a time of unforgettable memories and many firsts. This trip allowed me to make very strong relationships with those in my delegation - making friendship bracelets, playing card games like Egyptian War and Uno, and walking around the city to hang out during our free time. This trip also was my first time flying alone without my parents, let alone to another country. So, the freedom and independence this opportunity provided were truly impactful on my growth.

We arrived at the San Francisco airport at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 16th, getting ready to check in for our flight at 12:30 a.m. As more people settled in, we had our first Global Glimpse headcount. It was a point of realization that this experience abroad to Panama, what I've been looking forward to all year, had just started. I was nervous, but I was mainly excited. As we lined up in headcount order to check-in bags, one of the Global Glimpse leaders and the first seven Glimpsers, me included, unfortunately, had problems with our tickets. While the rest of the group continued with the check-in process, we were unaware of what happened to our tickets and were soon left behind.

We missed our flight and got another one scheduled five hours later! However, it was a blessing in disguise. While it was unexpected and not ideal, it was a mini ice-breaker that allowed us to bond and get to know each other a little better. We were getting a bit hungry/thirsty, but my parents, fortunately still waiting at the airport, got us food/drinks from McDonald's. Waiting the next three hours at the airport before we could check-in, we colored a coloring book, played Heads Up, and even played Uno. It truly made the time fly by and was a highlight of my trip. We eventually reunited with the rest of the group at the Panama City Airport, ready for our adventure.

Panama is such a beautiful place. Even with the humidity, heat, and mosquitoes, it was so pleasant to see all the greenery from the mountains and nature. Whether it was when we explored the city on our walks or traveled on the bus, it was really nice getting the chance to appreciate the scenic backgrounds without my phone. I was able to cherish the moments and events right in front of me.

We spent most of our nights at Hotel Esperanza, which was an accommodation beyond what I imagined. I remember dropping my jaw the first time I stepped into my room. Each room consisted of about two to four people, but we all had our own beds, AC, and a ton of space. There were times when we didn't have water in our rooms - it's not uncommon to run out of running water in the city - but we were lucky with our accommodation compared to the others. However, I think living in a hotel with the amount of space and AC made me feel more like a tourist than someone trying to experience the lifestyle in Panama.

We had a personal food provider named Angie, who owned her restaurant called La Bruja. She would provide us food every meal, serving us various delicious foods - tacos, chicken, pork, pancakes, and even chow mein - with our daily side of salad, plantains, and juice/oat milk to drink. Everyone loved her cooking and created a strong bond. The last day was emotional, as it was really hard to say goodbye.

During our time in Panama, we explored the city, learned about the biocultural diversity, learned about water testing, worked at a local farm (Finca Pamel), met families from the community, painted doors at this school (Escuela Paris de Parita) for our CAP Project, and saw the Panama Canal. I had fun throughout the trip, but I mostly enjoyed my time at Finca Pamel and Escuela Paris.

During our time at the farm, we learned various agricultural tasks done in the area. We learned how to shovel dirt/rocks, plant beans/cucumber seeds, clean goat pens, and even milk a cow. The animals were super cute, especially Tuki Tuki, a donkey they got in December named after a popular Christmas carol called "Mi Burrito Sabanero". A lot of us were sweating, covered in dirt, and exhausted from the day, but I truly loved the collaboration and hard work we put in as a group.

For our CAP Project, we collaborated with Escuela Paris to help Principle Erika create a better learning environment for the students. They are currently struggling to find more students and teachers, so we discussed ideas to take action. We had three tasks we wanted to finish - paint the classroom doors with different colors/designs, paint the columns with their school values, and paint the floors with games like hopscotch. We misjudged the amount of time we had, so we unfortunately could only finish the doors.

But, seeing the kids pass us by with smiles and the teachers with proud expressions made me feel accomplished. While there was a language barrier that hindered my opportunity to get to know the students/staff, I was happy I was making a difference for the people at the school.

To sum it up, I had such a great experience. Being exposed to a new environment, learning more about the Panamanian lifestyle, and meeting/bonding with amazing people from my delegation by playing cards, making friendship bracelets, and going out during our free time. I made so many memories I'll never forget.

I've grown a lot and enhanced my confidence in collaborating with other young leaders like me. I learned the importance of inclusiveness, the power of diverse perspectives, and the impact of collaboration. I will definitely use what I learned in the future on other team projects like these.

Seeing the differences in lifestyle and resources, I changed my perspective on appreciation and happiness as I compared their living with mine. As mentioned in one of our nightly meetings, we Americans tend to always want more, whether it's money, awards, or other needs (mentioned by one of the Glimpsers in my delegation). Listening and meeting our guest speakers, they all seemed happy and content which was truly impactful. While some have to grow their own food or wake up at 5 a.m. every morning to get to school, they all appreciate what they already have. It's made me more aware of my blessings and appreciative of what's right in front of me, rather than always longing for something I don't have.

These two weeks were truly unforgettable, getting the chance to learn more about myself and the life around me. Thank you to Global Glimpse, my parents, my chemistry teacher, my fellow Glimpsers, my GGLs, my PCs, my food/accommodation providers, and the many others I've met along the way who gave me this opportunity and helped me grow!