Panama City, Panama

Panama City, Panama is a modern and busy city on the Pacific coast of Panama adjacent to the southern opening of the Panama Canal. The city is so much more dynamic, however, than the common known view of sprawling skyscrapers, such as the one pictured above. From the Spanish colonial architecture of Casco Viejo, to the preserved pieces of green space and rain forest in the Metropolitan Natural Park, to the lively mealtime hours in the fresh catch Seafood Market, and to the ever present remnants of the US Panama Canal Zone and the US Invasion of Panama,  this city is full of surprises, full of history, full of culture, and most importantly full of life.

The primary focus of the visit, the Panama Canal has served as a prominent and defining feature in the storied history of the country. A true engineering wonder of the world, it was such an eye opening experience to witness the ships passing through the locks, a cornerstone of world shipping and trade. Even more interesting is the presence of the impacts of the canal beyond its physical waterways. Throughout the week, it became clear how Panamanian industry, governance and lifestyle have all been shaped by the history and development of the canal, as well as the trade systems that rely on it to connect the world.

During the week, we visited several companies around Panama City to develop a greater understanding of the nation's economic and industrial systems. These visits demonstrated the fast growing economy of the country, and the passion that their people have for promoting the small country as a leader in each of their respective industries. This picture was taken at the Panama division of EmergentCold Latam, a regional leader in cold storage solutions. As an important location for both international and domestic trade, the need for temperature controlled and frozen storage and transportation solutions are paramount.

During the trip we also had the opportunity to visit the Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá. One of my favorite parts of study abroad is the opportunity to see differences in education in different countries. As a part of our visit, we took a campus tour, attended a lecture with a Panamanian professor, watched a demonstration of traditional Panamanian music, and shared a dinner with UTP students. The picture above shows our group with a group of UTP students teaching them how to do the Gator Chomp. 

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The center of life in many Latin American countries is considered to be outside in the streets, and this could not be more true in Panama City. During free time, I enjoyed strolling through different parts of the city and interacting with the people I met along the way. One of the coolest interactions during the week was with a street vendor selling raspao, a popular Panamanian shaved ice treat, as pictured above. After teaching and allowing us to make our own raspao, this seemingly small interaction turned out to be one of the most defining of the trip.

On the final day of the trip, we journeyed across the isthmus to the Guna Yala Comarca on the Caribbean coast. The comarcas in Panama are provincial level governmental areas in which the Amerindian populations can govern with autonomy from the central government. Guna Yala is home to the San Blas Islands, and we were able to take a day boat tour to several of the islands. Interacting with the Guna people, experiencing their lifestyle, and enjoying the beautiful views of the islands was one of the biggest highlights of the trip.