Day 1 - June 20th
In the wee hours of this morning four CHS students and one CHS teacher boarded a flight in Grand Rapids, headed for Atlanta and eventually Panama City, Panama. Pictured with wide-eyed smiles are Spanish teacher Ms. J, Adriana Federico, Zach MacPhee, Mia Hilty, and Josie Balliet at drop-off at the Grand Rapids Airport. Our CHS international travelers will arrive in Panama today. They will spend one week visiting Panama and experiencing life outside of the US. Wish them luck and safe travels!
Day 2 - June 21st
¡Bienvenidos a Panamá! - Welcome to Panama!
Viejo - Old
Biomuseo - Natural History Museum
Supermercado - Supermarket
¡Bienvenidos a Panamá! Students started today visiting Panamá Viejo, the ruins from pirate attacks on the original Panama City. Next they explored Casco Viejo, the old part of the city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to buy some souvenirs and have an authentic Panamanian lunch. They finished the day at the Biomuseo to learn about the biological and ecological history of the country. After dinner, Miss J and the students checked out a local supermercado to get some snacks!
Day 3 - June 22nd
El Valle de Antón - Anton's Valley
rana dorada de Panamá - Panama gold frog
Today students ventured about 3 hours from Panama City to visit El Valle de Antón. Their first stop was a market to explore works of local artisans and native fruits/vegetables. Next up was El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center Foundation (EVACC) to learn about conservation efforts, the rana dorada de Panamá (Panama gold frog), and other amphibian species in the country. They finished up the day with a trip to a museum to learn about the geography of the region, followed by a youth folklore dance performance from the indigenous Embrá people. Zach and Josie were actually able to participate in the dancing! The Comets also got a true taste of Panama’s rainy season :)
Day 4 - June 23rd
Soberanía - sovereignty
Miraflores - "Behold the flowers"
Feria Nacional de Artesanías - National Crafts Fair
The Comets had an early start today on their way to a motorized canoe ride on Gatun Lake, which is part of the Panama Canal. While on the lake, they were able to see Panamanian wildlife, like monkeys, birds, and iguanas! After the lake, students took a hike through the rainforest in Soberanía National Park. Next they went to the Panama Canal Miraflores Lock to learn about the history of the canal and see some cargo ships making their way through. They finished up the day at the Feria Nacional de Artesanías to check out local crafters, musicians, artisans, and other artists!
Day 5 - June 24th
The Comets had a great day 5 of exploring Panama. They started the day touring a local farm and comparing Panamanian agriculture to our own! It was very cool to see all the crops grown like pineapples, coffee, citronella, dragonfruit, yucca, and turmeric. Students were even able to sample some AMAZING pineapple! After the farm was lunch at a local restaurant and a stop by the famous Panama sign on the Amador Causeway. They finished the day hiking 400+ feet of elevation for an awesome view of the city and canal.
Day 6 - June 25th
fútbol - soccer
The Comets were immersed in the indigenous culture of Panama today! A community of Emberá people welcomed them to their home and allowed the Comets to experience their way of life for the day. Students were given a presentation about the Emberá people, saw their local school, played fútbol, saw some traditional dance, and were given traditional Emberá tattoos (temporary). They also ate a delicious traditional lunch of fried plantain, fresh tilapia, and local fruits. The Comets finished the day with a dinner in Casco Viejo!
Day 7 - June 26th
Porto Bello - "Beautiful Port"
It was the last full day of activities, and definitely one to remember!! The Comets started the day with a bus ride across the country (2 hours) to get to Colón on the Caribbean side for a snorkeling sesh. The students and Miss J took a boat to a nearby beach and snorkeled in the beautiful blue waters of the Caribbean sea! They saw fish, sea urchins, corals, and many other little creatures. Don’t worry, no one was eaten by a shark! Afterwards, students stopped by the ruins of a Spanish fort in the town of Porto Belo.
Day 8 - June 27th
Ancón - "Anchorage"
The Comets made their way back home today, but not before getting in one last amazing hike! Zach, Adriana, and Miss J woke up early to hike Ancón Hill for one last beautiful view before heading out. They even saw two different kinds of sloths not far off the trail! After the early hike, the Comets packed up to head for the airport. They made it back to Coleman after a quick sprint through the Atlanta airport, and are all safe and happy at home!
Final Thoughts:
Adriana: "My favorite part was snorkeling and going on all the hikes and seeing all the different places."
Zach: "My favorite part of the trip was being included into a different culture and way of life and seeing how everyone lives their lives in different parts of the world."
Mia: "I don't have a specific one but I liked being able to do so much in so little time because of the structured tour."
Josie: "Having the chance to try all of the new experiences that I don't get in Coleman!"
Miss J: "My favorite part was seeing students trying new experiences! Two of the things that make me feel most alive are dancing and traveling, and I had the privilege of sharing both with students on this trip. Latin America is my favorite place to visit, and I adore the lifestyles and cultures found in that region. Being back was amazing!"