Submitted by Melissa Lewis on the 2020 winter session study abroad program in Panama sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures…
This week was full of many new experiences. It’s amazing that I can feel and hear how my Spanish is improving with all of my experiences. For example, I am talking more in my home with my hosts and with Pablo (our family addition). The opportunity I have to practice my Spanish at home helps me a lot when I go out. For example, I went to the mall and talked to the people in the shoe store for 30 minutes. I learned my foot size in this country (39). I had a good time.
On the weekend, I went to Casco Viejo with my friend Alyssa. We were exploring Casco Viejo and decided to ask the people who were around us instead of using our cell phones for directions! We met three new people. The first people were Miraña and Rosy in a small shop. We talked a lot and I learned that Rosy wants to travel around the world and Rosy is Cuban. Besides Rosy, we met another Cuban named Robert. He works at the Feeling restaurant and we had a good time. At the end of the week, I went to the beach with all of the students and had the opportunity to speak with more Spanish speakers. I learned how to dance salsa, too.
In the Villages, it was a bit difficult in the beginning to connect with the children. What I noticed is that when children see us students doing something the children want to do the same thing. Since the children are always ready to do something, I have to be prepared with a long list of activities and a lot of energy. This week has confirmed, again, how kind Panamanian people are and I love that. It doesn’t matter to anyone what people look like. What matters is the personality of a person.