2018

16th Annual Study Abroad Program in Panama

“I absolutely love this country, culture, and people. This has truly been one of the best experiences of my life and I know I will never forget it. I wish I had more time here because I am truly humbled by their cultures, values, and traditions. From micro-cultures to their macro-cultures this place is super diverse, but really accepting. I have learned so much about myself and the world outside of the United States.” –Ashley Batliner

“It cannot be understated how much Panama helped with my practical Spanish language learning. I am going into my last semester as an undergraduate at the University of Louisville. As a Spanish major, being able to immerse myself in the Spanish language was a huge factor in my motivation to study in Panama.” –August Wilcox

“The time spent in classes gave me so much knowledge about Panamanian culture and intercultural communication that I was able to apply while visiting different parts of the country. I was able to see both similarities and differences in my culture and Panamanian culture and see how space, time, resources, associations and many other aspects of culture vary in each culture. Through our travels around the country, I was able to see contrast from area to area.” –Lauren Diel

“The entire trip was filled with different learnings experiences; from walking around to attending an excursion. The food was very different from typical American food and surprising really good. I loved everything about this trip and would do it all over again if I had the opportunity to. I am not a LALS or communication major, but I would highly recommend this trip to anyone trying to learn a new language and have an experience of their life time.” –Lexus Little

“My study abroad experience as a 2018 Panamá Scholar has truly deepened my own experience as both a student and a global citizen. Generous donations and support on behalf of the College of Arts and Sciences allowed for my aspirations to study abroad to become a reality. Myself and my fellow peers will be forever grateful for this opportunity extended by the Department of Latin American and Latino Studies and supported by the College of Arts and Sciences to complete the program.” –Maria Shields

 “Even though I was born and raised in Panama, specifically the former Canal Zone, it had been close to six years since I had returned.  This time I returned home as a tourist and viewed Panama through a new set of lens.  I grew up in a treasure and took a lot of the culture and traditions for granted.  Because of this, I was able to zone in on those things which I took for granted such as the foods, flora and fauna.  I especially enjoyed visiting with both local and indigenous artisans selling their handicrafts.  This was invaluable to me.” –Marie-Elena Ottman

“I imagine that every student walked away from this program with a personal gain in some way. I definitely am taking with me great memories, new knowledge, the desire to explore, appreciation for different cultures, and a reenergized soul. I could not have asked for a better way to end my undergraduate studies at the University of Louisville. Studying in Panama has helped me feel ready to graduate and experience all the new adventures that are to come.” –Megan Lenahan

“We got to experience a country and culture in its rawest form, flaws included, and it was a truly authentic experience. If you were to ask what my favorite thing about Panama was, it would have to be the people. What they lacked in monetary riches, they made up for with their rich hearts. Nearly every person I met was extremely inviting and treated me like I was a close friend, even though we barely knew each other.” –Nick Reid

“Overall, I have been positively impacted by my experience abroad. It has always been a dream of mine to travel to a Spanish speaking country in order to practice my speaking skills and learn more about the culture. I enjoyed my time in Panama so much that I am now seeking to spend an entire semester to a year abroad in a Spanish speaking country.”  –Sarah Draud

“Apart from classes, the school related excursions were the perfect supplement to class material. From going to the rainforest to visiting the Panama Canal, I feel like I can say I pretty much visited everywhere in Panama. Some of the places we visited included the indigenous village of the Emberá which even native Panamanians had not visited. The variety and quantity of these excursions was perfect for the length of time. I am grateful to both the program director and the Quality Leadership University for planning such valuable excursions.”  –Sarika Polcum

“I am so grateful I went on this trip, because it allowed me to dive into the diverse culture of Panama in a way that I would not have been able to if I had gone on my own. While taking classes and learning about Panama’s history, the differential intercultural relationship with America, the politics, music, dance, literature, and more; it allowed me to immerse myself.” –Tristan Schifferdecker