Greetings from Costa Rica.
We arrived home late last night to the cold (early) December winds from the North. Our travel day to Heredia yesterday was long because an intense wind storm created huge waves, and we could not leave the island on a normal taxi boat, so we had to take a huge ferry. Leaving the Island of Bastimentos was a melancholic experience because we were sad to end our academic trip and leave a precious paradise, but at the same time we felt happy to return home.
A highlight of our time in Bocas del Toro, and the entire trip, was our snorkeling day on Monday. Can you imagine 29 people snorkeling in the open ocean for a couple of hours?!? Then we went to a tiny island in the National Park that does not have any human development and played on the beach for a couple more hours. No words are sufficient to explain our experience, but beautiful, spectacular, magical and colorful attempt to describe our day.
Overall, this trip was a total success because we had a safe time and we ALL learned so much about a wide variety of topics. It is amazing to see the personal growth of each individual and the group as a whole. For many people, Panama was an insignificant country that they only learned about due to the canal, and now Panama is a dynamic country full of history and cultural diversity. This trip succeeded in changing people’s perspective about the world.
For me, I am surprised about how often the topic of GLOBAL WARMING came up in different talks. From an economics lecture to an oceanography lecture, global warming is becoming an increasingly important concern and it overwhelms me because I am realizing how serious this problem is, and will be. The planet must unite to stop it, or else, and I wonder if we can change.
THANK YOU ALL FOR READING ALONG! As you all know, it is important for me to reflect and document, and I appreciate your support. I will send pictures out soon.
=)
PS, do you know that Panama has used the US dollar since 1903, when the US “helped” them become a country? They never had enough gold to create their own currency.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Culture in Bocas, Panama
I am here on the main island called Colon, of the Bocas del Toro archipelago. Christopher Colombus came to these islands and he actually named them. "Colon" in Spanish means "Colombus."
Yesterday we went to the indigenous community called Ngobe-Bugle. Wow! It was awkward at first because we stared at them just as much as they stared at us. After receiving an informal lecture from the leaders, which I translated, we listened to the kindergardeners sing some songs and then we sang some kids songs for them. Then we all played cat-and-mouse with the children. The best ice-breakers in most activities are the kids. We then were able to walk around the community and see where and how the people live. That small community only has 516 people and their greatest worry regards the future of their children. There are so many kids and there is not enough land to sustain their needs, (just like anywhere else in the world). When we left, all of the children ran to our sides to hug us and walk hand-in-hand to our boat. It was an amazing day because we formed friendships quickly and learned from each other.
Today we had a lecture from an Afro-Caribbean lawyer that is a descenant of one of the founding families on the island. We learned about Afro-Caribbean history and culture, which is extremely unique in the Bocas del Toro region due to their mixing with other races of people. After our lecture, an Afro-Caribbean children´s group danced for us and it was so beautiful to see youth with very very black skin dressed in white cloth moving to traditional calypso music.
Oh, and yesterday morning we hiked to the other side of the Bastimentos Island and swam in a totally secluded beach paradise.
We return to Costa Rica on Tuesday and I will write when we get back. Tomorrow we are going snorkeling.
Yesterday we went to the indigenous community called Ngobe-Bugle. Wow! It was awkward at first because we stared at them just as much as they stared at us. After receiving an informal lecture from the leaders, which I translated, we listened to the kindergardeners sing some songs and then we sang some kids songs for them. Then we all played cat-and-mouse with the children. The best ice-breakers in most activities are the kids. We then were able to walk around the community and see where and how the people live. That small community only has 516 people and their greatest worry regards the future of their children. There are so many kids and there is not enough land to sustain their needs, (just like anywhere else in the world). When we left, all of the children ran to our sides to hug us and walk hand-in-hand to our boat. It was an amazing day because we formed friendships quickly and learned from each other.
Today we had a lecture from an Afro-Caribbean lawyer that is a descenant of one of the founding families on the island. We learned about Afro-Caribbean history and culture, which is extremely unique in the Bocas del Toro region due to their mixing with other races of people. After our lecture, an Afro-Caribbean children´s group danced for us and it was so beautiful to see youth with very very black skin dressed in white cloth moving to traditional calypso music.
Oh, and yesterday morning we hiked to the other side of the Bastimentos Island and swam in a totally secluded beach paradise.
We return to Costa Rica on Tuesday and I will write when we get back. Tomorrow we are going snorkeling.
Friday, November 17, 2006
Bocas del Toro, Panama
Leaving Panama City was a long haul on a bus for 10 hours and then a 1 hour boat ride to one of the six main islands of this archipelago. We arrived last night and we are staying in a hotel that was an old-styled afro-caribbean house that is pratically over the water on stilts. We are staying on one of the less developed islands called Bastimentos, and the small town does not have any motorized vehicles. Paradise, once again.
Today we had a lecture from the Smithsonian Research Institute, where we learned about the ecosystems on this side of the country. The coral reefs are in danger, just as the turtles, of going extinct due to uncontroled tourism, environmental exploitation, increase in population and lack of regulations. The main island of Colon has the most important beach for turtle nesting, and every year less turtles come to nest. There seems to be so many environmental problems and not enough social organization to protect the negative impacts, yet.
We lucked out too, because Bocas del Toro is celebrating their yearly festivals this weekend. So, after full days of learning, we will continue to learn through experience about their socio-cultural life. =)
Today we had a lecture from the Smithsonian Research Institute, where we learned about the ecosystems on this side of the country. The coral reefs are in danger, just as the turtles, of going extinct due to uncontroled tourism, environmental exploitation, increase in population and lack of regulations. The main island of Colon has the most important beach for turtle nesting, and every year less turtles come to nest. There seems to be so many environmental problems and not enough social organization to protect the negative impacts, yet.
We lucked out too, because Bocas del Toro is celebrating their yearly festivals this weekend. So, after full days of learning, we will continue to learn through experience about their socio-cultural life. =)
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Economics in the world and Panama
What a day! In a nutshell, we had an amazingly intellectual lecture from a professor from the University of Panama that was an ECONOMIC ANTHROPOLOGIST. He explained to us in basic yet complex terms how the history of economics has arrived to form the global system that we have today. By explaining all of the current problems that the world is experiencing today, we understood the depth of how unfair just the economic global system is for every country in the world except the Great-8 (the most powerful countries). This Academic Professional shared such basic terms with us, (Market of Goods & Services, Market of Resources, Financial Market, Business, Supply, Demand, Price, Conflict of Interest, GNP, Consumption, Investment, Government, Unions, Trade, Imports & Exports, Inflation, Exchange Rates), and he shared with us the dynamics of how and why national markets are turning into international markets, thus the Free Trade Agreements. The common problems of corruption, unemployment, prostitution, drugs, violence, poverty, trafficking are direct results of the current economic system across the world. It is true that the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and the World Trade Center (GATT) attempt to create regulations to create capitalistic equality, but these organizations are controlled by the Great-8. The business world sector is too often more important that the people & environment.
Solutions? According to Dr Barrett, 1. Solidarity 2. Elect better government officials 3. Each country in the world should have equal votes in international organizations (UN, IMF, WB, WTC, etc.).
Our time in Panama City is now over and we are leaving tomorrow at 4am to drive to the islands of Bocas del Toro.
Solutions? According to Dr Barrett, 1. Solidarity 2. Elect better government officials 3. Each country in the world should have equal votes in international organizations (UN, IMF, WB, WTC, etc.).
Our time in Panama City is now over and we are leaving tomorrow at 4am to drive to the islands of Bocas del Toro.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
The Colon Free Trade Zone, Panama
Can you imagine a city that only has stores? A city with no services? No plants or dogs? No restaurants? A city with 3000 stores, to be exact? 3000 stores that only sell in bulk? With merchandise that is shipped to other countries free of tariffs and taxes? A gigantic free trade zone?
Today we went to the city of Colon, which is a port city located on the Caribbean side of the Panama Canal. We went into the Free Trade Zone and walked the streets with our mouths open. It is like a huge city, only for shopping. And big time shopping.
We went into several stores, of all sizes, and every single store had tables with calculators and clip-boards on them. Most stores have a minimum amount of merchandise that buyers can ship to their stores in another country, consequently retail sales are not permitted. For example, a small shoe store would only permit sales of a minimum of 33 pairs, and the most that store ever sold was 3000 pairs. Another example, a huge department store, with no dressing rooms obviously, only permits the sales of a minimum of 7-dozen of each item. They looked like regular stores, displaying their products, but there was no cash registrar.
And all of these items leave Panama free of charge, thus no exporting fees, but the recipient country does charge import feeds.
The Free Trade Zone employs 14000 Panamanians.
How can I describe the Colon Free Trade Zone? A city purely based on buying. Materialism. Commerce. Capitalism. Trade. Money. Corruption. Weird. So weird. Just so strange.
Hmmm….
Today we went to the city of Colon, which is a port city located on the Caribbean side of the Panama Canal. We went into the Free Trade Zone and walked the streets with our mouths open. It is like a huge city, only for shopping. And big time shopping.
We went into several stores, of all sizes, and every single store had tables with calculators and clip-boards on them. Most stores have a minimum amount of merchandise that buyers can ship to their stores in another country, consequently retail sales are not permitted. For example, a small shoe store would only permit sales of a minimum of 33 pairs, and the most that store ever sold was 3000 pairs. Another example, a huge department store, with no dressing rooms obviously, only permits the sales of a minimum of 7-dozen of each item. They looked like regular stores, displaying their products, but there was no cash registrar.
And all of these items leave Panama free of charge, thus no exporting fees, but the recipient country does charge import feeds.
The Free Trade Zone employs 14000 Panamanians.
How can I describe the Colon Free Trade Zone? A city purely based on buying. Materialism. Commerce. Capitalism. Trade. Money. Corruption. Weird. So weird. Just so strange.
Hmmm….
The Colon Free Trade Zone, Panama
Can you imagine a city that only has stores? A city with no services? No plants or dogs? No restaurants? A city with 3000 stores, to be exact? 3000 stores that only sell in bulk? With merchandise that is shipped to other countries free of tariffs and taxes? A gigantic free trade zone?
Today we went to the city of Colon, which is a port city located on the Caribbean side of the Panama Canal. We went into the Free Trade Zone and walked the streets with our mouths open. It is like a huge city, only for shopping. And big time shopping.
We went into several stores, of all sizes, and every single store had tables with calculators and clip-boards on them. Most stores have a minimum amount of merchandise that buyers can ship to their stores in another country, consequently retail sales are not permitted. For example, a small shoe store would only permit sales of a minimum of 33 pairs, and the most that store ever sold was 3000 pairs. Another example, a huge department store, with no dressing rooms obviously, only permits the sales of a minimum of 7-dozen of each item. They looked like regular stores, displaying their products, but there was no cash registrar.
And all of these items leave Panama free of charge, thus no exporting fees, but the recipient country does charge import feeds.
The Free Trade Zone employs 14000 Panamanians.
How can I describe the Colon Free Trade Zone? A city purely based on buying. Materialism. Commerce. Capitalism. Trade. Money. Corruption. Weird. So weird. Just so strange.
Hmmm….
Today we went to the city of Colon, which is a port city located on the Caribbean side of the Panama Canal. We went into the Free Trade Zone and walked the streets with our mouths open. It is like a huge city, only for shopping. And big time shopping.
We went into several stores, of all sizes, and every single store had tables with calculators and clip-boards on them. Most stores have a minimum amount of merchandise that buyers can ship to their stores in another country, consequently retail sales are not permitted. For example, a small shoe store would only permit sales of a minimum of 33 pairs, and the most that store ever sold was 3000 pairs. Another example, a huge department store, with no dressing rooms obviously, only permits the sales of a minimum of 7-dozen of each item. They looked like regular stores, displaying their products, but there was no cash registrar.
And all of these items leave Panama free of charge, thus no exporting fees, but the recipient country does charge import feeds.
The Free Trade Zone employs 14000 Panamanians.
How can I describe the Colon Free Trade Zone? A city purely based on buying. Materialism. Commerce. Capitalism. Trade. Money. Corruption. Weird. So weird. Just so strange.
Hmmm….
Can you imagine a city that only has stores? A city with no services? No plants or dogs? No restaurants? A city with 3000 stores, to be exact? 3000 stores that only sell in bulk? With merchandise that is shipped to other countries free of tariffs and taxes? A gigantic free trade zone?
Today we went to the city of Colon, which is a port city located on the Caribbean side of the Panama Canal. We went into the Free Trade Zone and walked the streets with our mouths open. It is like a huge city, only for shopping. And big time shopping.
We went into several stores, of all sizes, and every single store had tables with calculators and clip-boards on them. Most stores have a minimum amount of merchandise that buyers can ship to their stores in another country, consequently retail sales are not permitted. For example, a small shoe store would only permit sales of a minimum of 33 pairs, and the most that store ever sold was 3000 pairs. Another example, a huge department store, with no dressing rooms obviously, only permits the sales of a minimum of 7-dozen of each item. They looked like regular stores, displaying their products, but there was no cash registrar.
And all of these items leave Panama free of charge, thus no exporting fees, but the recipient country does charge import feeds.
The Free Trade Zone employs 14000 Panamanians.
How can I describe the Colon Free Trade Zone? A city purely based on buying. Materialism. Commerce. Capitalism. Trade. Money. Corruption. Weird. So weird. Just so strange.
Hmmm….
Today we went to the city of Colon, which is a port city located on the Caribbean side of the Panama Canal. We went into the Free Trade Zone and walked the streets with our mouths open. It is like a huge city, only for shopping. And big time shopping.
We went into several stores, of all sizes, and every single store had tables with calculators and clip-boards on them. Most stores have a minimum amount of merchandise that buyers can ship to their stores in another country, consequently retail sales are not permitted. For example, a small shoe store would only permit sales of a minimum of 33 pairs, and the most that store ever sold was 3000 pairs. Another example, a huge department store, with no dressing rooms obviously, only permits the sales of a minimum of 7-dozen of each item. They looked like regular stores, displaying their products, but there was no cash registrar.
And all of these items leave Panama free of charge, thus no exporting fees, but the recipient country does charge import feeds.
The Free Trade Zone employs 14000 Panamanians.
How can I describe the Colon Free Trade Zone? A city purely based on buying. Materialism. Commerce. Capitalism. Trade. Money. Corruption. Weird. So weird. Just so strange.
Hmmm….
The Colon Free Trade Zone
Can you imagine a city that only has stores? A city with no services? No plants or dogs? No restaurants? A city with 3000 stores, to be exact? 3000 stores that only sell in bulk? With merchandise that is shipped to other countries free of tariffs and taxes? A gigantic free trade zone?
Today we went to the city of Colon, which is a port city located on the Caribbean side of the Panama Canal. We went into the Free Trade Zone and walked the streets with our mouths open. It is like a huge city, only for shopping. And big time shopping.
We went into several stores, of all sizes, and every single store had tables with calculators and clip-boards on them. Most stores have a minimum amount of merchandise that buyers can ship to their stores in another country, consequently retail sales are not permitted. For example, a small shoe store would only permit sales of a minimum of 33 pairs, and the most that store ever sold was 3000 pairs. Another example, a huge department store, with no dressing rooms obviously, only permits the sales of a minimum of 7-dozen of each item. They looked like regular stores, displaying their products, but there was no cash registrar.
And all of these items leave Panama free of charge, thus no exporting fees, but the recipient country does charge import feeds.
The Free Trade Zone employs 14000 Panamanians.
How can I describe the Colon Free Trade Zone? A city purely based on buying. Materialism. Commerce. Capitalism. Trade. Money. Corruption. Weird. So weird. Just so strange.
Hmmm….
Today we went to the city of Colon, which is a port city located on the Caribbean side of the Panama Canal. We went into the Free Trade Zone and walked the streets with our mouths open. It is like a huge city, only for shopping. And big time shopping.
We went into several stores, of all sizes, and every single store had tables with calculators and clip-boards on them. Most stores have a minimum amount of merchandise that buyers can ship to their stores in another country, consequently retail sales are not permitted. For example, a small shoe store would only permit sales of a minimum of 33 pairs, and the most that store ever sold was 3000 pairs. Another example, a huge department store, with no dressing rooms obviously, only permits the sales of a minimum of 7-dozen of each item. They looked like regular stores, displaying their products, but there was no cash registrar.
And all of these items leave Panama free of charge, thus no exporting fees, but the recipient country does charge import feeds.
The Free Trade Zone employs 14000 Panamanians.
How can I describe the Colon Free Trade Zone? A city purely based on buying. Materialism. Commerce. Capitalism. Trade. Money. Corruption. Weird. So weird. Just so strange.
Hmmm….
Monday, November 13, 2006
THE Panama Canal
HOLA!
Greetings from the metropolitan capital of Panama. When so much happens in one day that changes my life, it is hard to summarize and fully captivate my experiences and lessons. Do you know what I mean? Reflection and documentation, and sharing...
Leaving the Tent Camp in Drake Bay, Costa Rica was like leaving paradise. Our time there ended nicely because we had a final meeting with marine biologists and a non-profit organization leader that is working towards creating a sea sanctuary in the bay so that all of the marine life could have a protected space to live and travel. Thus, we ended our time of learning about all of the environmental problems and oceanography's challenges on a positive note because we talked with people that are trying to create social, political and environmental change.
Driving to Panama was long. This country is very long and crossing the border took too much time. Bahh!
We have only been in Panama City for 2 days and we have learned about the overwhelming importance of the Panama Canal. This whole country circulates around that "commerce artery of the world." Ever since the US “helped” Panama gain their independence from Colombia in 1903, the US has maintained a very strong presence in this city. In my opinion, and most of the students would agree, Panama City looks like Brooklyn and the zone around the Canal looks like the USA. Considering that the Panama Canal zone belonged to the US from 1903 until Dec 31, 1999, and Panamanians could not even enter this zone, it continues to look like a modern US Military base. In a city that has a plethora of modern skyscrapers and neighboring shacks where the poor inhabitants do not even have running water, contrast is obvious.
Yesterday we took a tour of the Miraflores Locks, which are the biggest locks in the Panama Canal. We walked through the biased museum, watched the propaganda video and watched 4 HUGE cargo ships pass through the locks. Amazing. The largest vessel to pass through the canal just passed through last week, and that ship paid $250,000 in fees and the average passage time is 8 hours. The Panama Canal is like the Singapore of the American continent.
After learning everything possible about the Canal, in one afternoon, we went on a tour of the city. We drove through the poorest neighborhood that received the majority of the bombs during the 1989 US invasion to get the dictator President Noriega out of power. We drove through the old city where the capital was originally established by the Spanish. And we drove through the modern metropolitan area of high rises and colorful stores. This city really is an excellent example of contrast.
Today we went to the University of Panama and had a lecture from the largest Student Group about their perceptions of their country. I translated and it was hard due to the different in regional accents. The Question-and-Answer part of the meeting was interesting because college students learned from college students about the complexity of a country that maintains the richest economy in Latin America (so they say) and where 40% of the population lives in poverty.
This afternoon we went to the US Embassy Consulate and received an outstanding and educational talk from the Diplomatic Public Relations Representative. That charismatic and intelligent man shared everything he knew about Panama-US relations from a governmental viewpoint, along with his opinions as a private citizen. He answered our dynamic and profound questions completely and left us feeling semi-satisfied about the “good intentions” of the US government in the world.
We are learning so much about politics, international relations, social problems, US world relationships, trade & commerce, free trade agreements [ =( ], university life, environmental issues and, of course, THE Panama Canal. Our schedule and brains are full, and our world perceptions are expanding. Just like the Panama Canal is going to do within the next 10 years.
Greetings from the metropolitan capital of Panama. When so much happens in one day that changes my life, it is hard to summarize and fully captivate my experiences and lessons. Do you know what I mean? Reflection and documentation, and sharing...
Leaving the Tent Camp in Drake Bay, Costa Rica was like leaving paradise. Our time there ended nicely because we had a final meeting with marine biologists and a non-profit organization leader that is working towards creating a sea sanctuary in the bay so that all of the marine life could have a protected space to live and travel. Thus, we ended our time of learning about all of the environmental problems and oceanography's challenges on a positive note because we talked with people that are trying to create social, political and environmental change.
Driving to Panama was long. This country is very long and crossing the border took too much time. Bahh!
We have only been in Panama City for 2 days and we have learned about the overwhelming importance of the Panama Canal. This whole country circulates around that "commerce artery of the world." Ever since the US “helped” Panama gain their independence from Colombia in 1903, the US has maintained a very strong presence in this city. In my opinion, and most of the students would agree, Panama City looks like Brooklyn and the zone around the Canal looks like the USA. Considering that the Panama Canal zone belonged to the US from 1903 until Dec 31, 1999, and Panamanians could not even enter this zone, it continues to look like a modern US Military base. In a city that has a plethora of modern skyscrapers and neighboring shacks where the poor inhabitants do not even have running water, contrast is obvious.
Yesterday we took a tour of the Miraflores Locks, which are the biggest locks in the Panama Canal. We walked through the biased museum, watched the propaganda video and watched 4 HUGE cargo ships pass through the locks. Amazing. The largest vessel to pass through the canal just passed through last week, and that ship paid $250,000 in fees and the average passage time is 8 hours. The Panama Canal is like the Singapore of the American continent.
After learning everything possible about the Canal, in one afternoon, we went on a tour of the city. We drove through the poorest neighborhood that received the majority of the bombs during the 1989 US invasion to get the dictator President Noriega out of power. We drove through the old city where the capital was originally established by the Spanish. And we drove through the modern metropolitan area of high rises and colorful stores. This city really is an excellent example of contrast.
Today we went to the University of Panama and had a lecture from the largest Student Group about their perceptions of their country. I translated and it was hard due to the different in regional accents. The Question-and-Answer part of the meeting was interesting because college students learned from college students about the complexity of a country that maintains the richest economy in Latin America (so they say) and where 40% of the population lives in poverty.
This afternoon we went to the US Embassy Consulate and received an outstanding and educational talk from the Diplomatic Public Relations Representative. That charismatic and intelligent man shared everything he knew about Panama-US relations from a governmental viewpoint, along with his opinions as a private citizen. He answered our dynamic and profound questions completely and left us feeling semi-satisfied about the “good intentions” of the US government in the world.
We are learning so much about politics, international relations, social problems, US world relationships, trade & commerce, free trade agreements [ =( ], university life, environmental issues and, of course, THE Panama Canal. Our schedule and brains are full, and our world perceptions are expanding. Just like the Panama Canal is going to do within the next 10 years.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Whales, dolphines and turtles, oh my!
Greetings from Corcovados Tent Camp Bilogigical Reserve!
Here are a few words to describe our experience so far in this small corner of Southern Costa Rica: "Paradise on Earth!"
Arriving here was an adventure, as we floated down a wide river on a small boat. Breaking the waves and crossing into the ocean was thrilling and yet scary. Viewing actual camping tents surrounded by tall palm trees was exciting and relaxing.
But don't get me wrong, we ARE on an academic field trip. We have received some lectures about marine life, oceanography, current problems and efforts to combate these serious situations.
We went on a full-day marine life watch in little boats out on the open sea. Finding huge families of different kinds of dolphines proved to be a beautiful experience because those small mammals love to dive in & out of the water. We swam in the open sea too, which was humbling because the rolling waves were huge. We saw humpback whales. And I got so sea-sick that it was a totally miserable experience and I puked my guts out most of the time. Waiting for the hours to pass by was unbearable because I felt desperate to get off of that small, rocking boat. But I survived.
We are in Drake Bay, which is the only place in the world where humback whales come from both the North and South of this planet to have babies. November is the best month to whale watch because the Southern whales are going back down to Antartica for summer and the Northern whales are coming down from Alaska to have babies. So cool!
Between hiking, kayaking, swimming in the ocean and river mouth springs, climbing waterfalls, we are learning. It seems like there are so many environmental problems occuring in the oceans and humans are the main cause of these drastic and permanent problems. More ocean floor is "deforested" than the rain forest. For every 1 pound of shrimp a boat scrapes from the floor, 5-10 pounds of sea life is killed. ("Think about that the next time you eat a shrimp coctail," said our tour guide.) Turtles, dolphines and baby whales get caught in fishing nets and are killed for no reason. On and on and on....
Yet, there are some foundations that are organizing in order to help the ocean environment. And we are having lectures with those organizations' leaders. Education is the key.
Tomorrow we leave for Panama City. Chao.
Here are a few words to describe our experience so far in this small corner of Southern Costa Rica: "Paradise on Earth!"
Arriving here was an adventure, as we floated down a wide river on a small boat. Breaking the waves and crossing into the ocean was thrilling and yet scary. Viewing actual camping tents surrounded by tall palm trees was exciting and relaxing.
But don't get me wrong, we ARE on an academic field trip. We have received some lectures about marine life, oceanography, current problems and efforts to combate these serious situations.
We went on a full-day marine life watch in little boats out on the open sea. Finding huge families of different kinds of dolphines proved to be a beautiful experience because those small mammals love to dive in & out of the water. We swam in the open sea too, which was humbling because the rolling waves were huge. We saw humpback whales. And I got so sea-sick that it was a totally miserable experience and I puked my guts out most of the time. Waiting for the hours to pass by was unbearable because I felt desperate to get off of that small, rocking boat. But I survived.
We are in Drake Bay, which is the only place in the world where humback whales come from both the North and South of this planet to have babies. November is the best month to whale watch because the Southern whales are going back down to Antartica for summer and the Northern whales are coming down from Alaska to have babies. So cool!
Between hiking, kayaking, swimming in the ocean and river mouth springs, climbing waterfalls, we are learning. It seems like there are so many environmental problems occuring in the oceans and humans are the main cause of these drastic and permanent problems. More ocean floor is "deforested" than the rain forest. For every 1 pound of shrimp a boat scrapes from the floor, 5-10 pounds of sea life is killed. ("Think about that the next time you eat a shrimp coctail," said our tour guide.) Turtles, dolphines and baby whales get caught in fishing nets and are killed for no reason. On and on and on....
Yet, there are some foundations that are organizing in order to help the ocean environment. And we are having lectures with those organizations' leaders. Education is the key.
Tomorrow we leave for Panama City. Chao.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Leaving for Panama for the two-week academic trip with my work (The Friends World Program)
Tomorrow I embark on an adventure with the Field Trip Coordinator Ileana, the Center Coordinator Sarah and 26 students to the dynamic country of Panama. Originally, we were to travel to Nicaragua, but we changed our plans due to potential danger regarding the presidential elections that occurred tranquilly on November 5th, which seems to have unofficially resulted in the election of Daniel Ortega [=(]. I hope to send out emails and update my blog with reflections about this academic trip, so I hope you all learn with me and enjoy my attempts to document these experiences that surely will change my world-view. If you do not want to be on the traveling list, just let me know, and no hard feelings. I pray for safety, success and growth. Here is a list of our objectives, activities and lodgings. I am also attaching our itinerary. Until then, have fun.
PANAMA = Nov 8-21
*DRAKE BAY = Nov 8-10
-Learn about the ocean in the context of the global environmental crisis of the planet.
-Introduce students to the main characteristics of the marine ecosystems in the tropics.
-Learn about the challenges that whales and dolphins face in their survival.
-Compare the situation of marine fauna and the fauna in the Rain and Cloud Forests visited in Costa Rica.
-We will stay in the THE TENT CAMP: www.corcovado.com
-We will go on the tour DIVINE DOLPHIN: www.divinedolphin.com
*PANAMA CITY = Nov 10-15
-Learn about the historical relationship of Panama and the United States and the influence it has had in what Panama is today.
-Learn about the importance the Panama Canal has had in Panama and its role in the future.
-Explore the role of situation of Panama in the global economy.
ACTIVITIES:
LECTURES
-Introduction to Panama
-Panama and the Global Economy
-U.S. - Panama Relations
VISITS
-Panama Canal
-Colon city and Free Trade Area
-Street Children Project
- SAN BLAS ISLANDS - KUNA INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
-We will stay in the INTERNATIONAL HOTEL.
*BOCAS DEL TORO ISLANDS = Nov 15-20
-Learn about the main issues for the Kuna indigenous people in their relationship to the Panamanian State and the non-indigenous population.
-Explore among the Kuna people the positive and negative effects tourism has had in their community and culture.
-Compare the situation of the Maleku indigenous community in Costa Rica with the Kuna in Panama.
ACTIVITIES:
LECTURES
-Indigenous People in the Region
Past, Present and Future
-Afro Caribbean People in the Region
Past, Present and Future
-The Main Characteristics of the coastal ecosystem in the area
VISITS
-Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
-Indigenous Community Eco-Tourist Project
-Bastimentos National Park
*Hike
*Snorkeling
-We will stay in Hotel Bahia: www.hotelbahia.biz
PANAMA = Nov 8-21
*DRAKE BAY = Nov 8-10
-Learn about the ocean in the context of the global environmental crisis of the planet.
-Introduce students to the main characteristics of the marine ecosystems in the tropics.
-Learn about the challenges that whales and dolphins face in their survival.
-Compare the situation of marine fauna and the fauna in the Rain and Cloud Forests visited in Costa Rica.
-We will stay in the THE TENT CAMP: www.corcovado.com
-We will go on the tour DIVINE DOLPHIN: www.divinedolphin.com
*PANAMA CITY = Nov 10-15
-Learn about the historical relationship of Panama and the United States and the influence it has had in what Panama is today.
-Learn about the importance the Panama Canal has had in Panama and its role in the future.
-Explore the role of situation of Panama in the global economy.
ACTIVITIES:
LECTURES
-Introduction to Panama
-Panama and the Global Economy
-U.S. - Panama Relations
VISITS
-Panama Canal
-Colon city and Free Trade Area
-Street Children Project
- SAN BLAS ISLANDS - KUNA INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
-We will stay in the INTERNATIONAL HOTEL.
*BOCAS DEL TORO ISLANDS = Nov 15-20
-Learn about the main issues for the Kuna indigenous people in their relationship to the Panamanian State and the non-indigenous population.
-Explore among the Kuna people the positive and negative effects tourism has had in their community and culture.
-Compare the situation of the Maleku indigenous community in Costa Rica with the Kuna in Panama.
ACTIVITIES:
LECTURES
-Indigenous People in the Region
Past, Present and Future
-Afro Caribbean People in the Region
Past, Present and Future
-The Main Characteristics of the coastal ecosystem in the area
VISITS
-Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
-Indigenous Community Eco-Tourist Project
-Bastimentos National Park
*Hike
*Snorkeling
-We will stay in Hotel Bahia: www.hotelbahia.biz
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