2014

“During our free weekend I organized a trip to El Valle for my son, seven of the undergraduates, and myself. While there we hiked up a mountain, zip-lined down four platforms to a waterfall, and then swam in a natural lagoon that forms at the bottom of a stream. This was an amazing experience for everyone.”
–Karen Battoe

“The Panamanian Culture class has been one of my favorite classes that I have taken in a while. Learning about Panamá directly from Panamanians has given me a one-of-a-kind insight into their culture from their view, which has made the information even more fascinating. We were able to ask our teacher many different questions about Panamanian culture that he was all too eager to answer for us.”
–Lauren Benz

“Although I have traveled abroad a number of times- including a short visit to Panama last winter- this has been my first true ‘study abroad’ experience. It was wonderful to explore the country on the planned outings and informally with smaller groups, and combining the ‘fieldwork’, as it were, with the material from the Panamanian Culture course has been great in terms of contextualizing the information.”
–Angie Carlson

“Something that really surprised me about Panama and that I was not expecting is the diversity found within the country. The peaceful coexistence between different communities and the mutual respect they feel for each other was something that caught me by surprise. I was able to learn about these different communities and their traditions and way of life through Professor Acosta’s class, which made me more aware of it and made me observe and look for it every time I went around the city.”
–Amanda Coca-Venegas

“This trip has been a life changing experience. It went beyond my expectations. I have learned a great deal on this trip. I was able to practice speaking Spanish with Panamanians and to get to learn about their culture. I enjoyed everything on this trip. I especially enjoyed visiting the Emberá village. I saw many different animals that many people only see on TV. The people there were very kind and I was able to learn a lot about their culture. They were very eager to teach our group about their way of life. We learned about their medicinal practices, the way they grow their food, make shelter, and earn a living. The village was amazing to me, because it was the opposite of what my way of living is. It was enjoyable to experience a lifestyle so different from my own.”
–Elizabeth Cushing

“The fun excursions like the Chiva Parrandera, Isla Grande and Decameron also let us experience the more laid-back lifestyle of Panamanians. They live on the more relaxed Panamanian time and enjoy social activities. Many of the students at QLU invited us to hang out with them and showed us around Panama City! Another cool experience we had was the opportunity to take salsa lessons taught by a dancer from Dancing with the Stars Panama! We enjoyed watching him on the show and learning fun dance moves.”
–Alice Darling

“This has been the best experience of my undergraduate career and I am truly thankful for such an opportunity. Panama has welcomed me so well, just as the professors, other students, and locals have. They all have been able to show me how life can be different and fun while I am away from home.”
–Andrew Dennis

“My Spanish speaking skills have grown immensely because of this trip. I have pages and pages of new vocabulary from class and around town that I have already begun integrating into my conversations with people. The hardest part for me during conversations has been the speaking part. I have always been able to listen and comprehend the ideas being conveyed, but when it was my turn to speak the words would never come. Speaking with the Panamanians has helped break down this dam and my Spanish is flowing much easier from my mouth.”
–Jessi Dietrich

“My experience in Panamá has been the defining moment of my entire undergraduate degree. The Panamá Study Abroad Program was more than educational and worthwhile; it was life changing.”
–Jesse Graves

“These past few weeks in Panamá have produced some of the best experiences of my life. It is my first time studying abroad and I am thrilled to be learning the language and culture of Panamá and Central America. I have a renewed motivation to become fluent in Spanish. In just three weeks, my Spanish comprehension and speaking skills have improved tremendously, but more importantly, I now have a better understanding of my weaknesses and what needs to be done to improve my Spanish speaking abilities when I return home.”
–Alex Haydon

“My favorite excursion had to be the visit to the Emberá village. We were greeted by the indigenous group on their land, and despite our differences, I felt very welcomed. They all had smiles on their faces and I could tell they were genuinely happy to have us as guests. During that day, we learned all about their culture, took a tour of their community, ate a traditional Emberá meal, danced with the villagers, and got Emberá-style temporary tattoos. I enjoyed this experience so much because it was a complete change of what we see in the city and resort. It’s a definite culture shocker when you have to get in a carved-out boat and ride in a river with crocodiles to the middle of nowhere and have to eat with your hands out of a plate made out of a leaf and no electricity, but I loved every second of it!”
–Temis Jiménez Anaya

“From an early age, I have known that language, and its uses to express ideas and emotions, was my greatest passion. I find a comfort and a certain drive from learning Spanish and being able to be touched by, and to touch, so many people and stories that I would not have been able to do without it. Spanish was the driving force behind my primary decision to apply for this program and without it I would not have been able to grow so tremendously, both mentally and spiritually, over the past few weeks.”
–Tyler Mercer

“There are so many aspects to this program that I have enjoyed. One of them being the classes I took. Panamanian culture has been a very engaging class in which I learned how different Panamanians were from Americans. For example, they choose to live in the moment, are very collectivistic, and have different social customs. All of the teachers were also very friendly, and I felt I was able to approach them whenever. What I am also thrilled about… is how much I have improved in both speaking and translating Spanish. There is only so much Spanish one can learn in a classroom environment, and here in Panama I have had to learn this language every day in order to communicate with others. This has helped me speak Spanish on the spot in that I have gotten better at being able to hold a conversation with someone, and infer what they are asking if I am unsure.”
–Rupika Narain

“I love how I am learning so much from Professor Acosta in the Panamanian culture class because I realized that I knew very little about Hispanic cultures outside from what I have learned in the United States. I learned that people in Panamá are so warm and loving. I love how they welcome you as you are their own. It amazed me how living in a country with a different culture and being immersed into their lifestyle has given me a more vivid understanding of life outside of the United States.” –Katia Saunders

“I mainly wanted to take this trip because I am studying Spanish. I am an English major and a Spanish minor. I am not sure what I plan to do with my minor yet, but language in general fascinates me. Being able to emerge myself in the Spanish language and culture is amazing, and I have taken advantage of every minute by talking to people, exploring, and trying new things.”
–Samantha Schaefer

“So far, this trip has taught me a lot about myself and about my outlook on the world. I have learned that I am very lucky to have what I do and that sometimes I am too high maintenance. After meeting with my orphan, Nancy, my heart was left with her and I wanted to do more for the Aldeas Orphanage. The children were so happy to be receiving the small gifts that we gave them and they were so excited to spend the afternoon with us. I left wishing I had bought her a lot more knowing that she needed the things more than I would.”
–Lauren Schmitt

“Learning different aspects about the Panamanian culture and actually living it was the highlight of my trip. It was incredible to see so many different groups of people in just one country. As a Latina, I felt at home in Panama. People were very welcoming and the food was great. Classes were fun and interacting with the Panamanian students was a great way to study intercultural communication, as we saw different ways of learning, testing, interacting, etc. This opportunity to study abroad benefited me in many ways and I know it will enhance my performance in my upcoming goals.”
–Greter Sierra

“The visit to the Emberá indigenous village was also a highlight of the trip for me. At first I felt slightly uncomfortable with the visit, as though we were intruding on the culture, but the Emberá people were very welcoming and passionate about their way of living. Visiting the indigenous people, for me, is extremely important for an intercultural experience because it is so distant from the way of living the North American students are accustomed to. The amount of respect that Panama has for its indigenous people and the freedom they allow the tribes to govern themselves speaks volumes for the respect that Panamanian culture has for individuals.”
–Courteney Smith

“One of my favorite parts of the trip was the food. I love trying new food from different cultures and Panamá had so much to offer in that aspect. We got a chance to try a variety of different Panamanian dishes. Whether it was the meal that our professor made us or the meal that we got on the island, everything tasted so fresh and delicious.”
–Cassidy Teague

“I am so blessed to have had this opportunity. Not only have I improved my Spanish through my daily conversations, but I have also learned a lot about the people themselves. This memory of my time in Panama is one that will stick with me throughout my life. Everyone should have an opportunity like this and I would like to say thank you for giving me the chance of a lifetime.”
–Makayla Uebelhor

“The most difficult hurdle that I faced on the trip I found to be my most memorable one, and I learned the most from it. As a graduate student, I was expected to lead a research group and present our findings to the class. This group was mixed with North American students and Panamanians. There were significant cultural boundaries between the two groups and working together was a struggle. I had to use my critical thinking skills to come up with different ways to communicate messages so that both groups understood and no one was offended or out of the loop. Having to think and communicate differently was good experience for me and I will use that experience in the future.”
–Kate Vance

“Looking back on all the activities we have participated in over this short period of time, I have realized what a blessing it has been for me to be able to do all of these things that many people may not be fortunate enough to do during their lifetime. The classes I am taking at QLU have greatly informed me about the Panamanian culture and lifestyle, and I feel as though I could live here knowing all that I know about the country of Panama now. All of our excursions and tours have allowed us to experience different aspects of the Panamanian culture that we have been learning about in class, from its environment to its history and just everyday living and nightlife as well. The citizens of Panama are some of the most accepting people I have ever met, and have a completely different outlook on life than those of us living in the United States. They have been so patient when I am speaking in Spanish and enjoy helping me become more and more fluent in the language.”
–Kaila Westover

“I have learned countless aspects about the Panamanian culture. For example, their view of time is drastically different from ours. As we worry about the future constantly, they live in the present. While we are a very individualistic society, Panama has a collectivistic one. They always consider the community before the self. They have very different social customs than we do, like cat-calling. Also, Panamanians are very straight-forward and they don’t hold grudges. I have learned so much about the history of Panama and its relations with other countries, especially the United States. But even more, I have learned a lot about myself.”
–James-Dean Wood