Our Final Week

Our last week in Panama was an unforgettable one for many reasons. On Sunday we went to the Embera Village which was quite an experience. Some of us took the chance to swim in the waterfall which was amazing and when we reached the village several members of the tribe welcomed us with music. Most of us got “tribal tattoos” but not everyone got the memo that these tattoos could last up to two weeks. Monday we went to a dinner to celebrate USF Health officially becoming part of the City of Knowledge. We were surprised to see the amount of important people from USF there that night. On Tuesday we went to dinner with Dean Burns and Dr. Cadena at the Miraflores Locks. This week we also visited the a mental health hospital which was a far cry from the facilities that many of us spent our psych clinical, a private hospital which seemed similar to hospitals you would see in the states, we saw a couple of babies being born, most of the group got to go the nursery to hold and feed the newborns, we saw a NICU with incubators as far as you could see, and we also visited the Nursing Association of Panama. Friday we presented maternal, mental health, and Pediatric information that we had learned along the way to some nursing students and faculty at the Universidad de Panama. That night we went out one last time to celebrate Melissa and Jessica’s birthdays. Finally, Saturday came. We left the hostel around 10:30 and spent the rest of the day in airports and planes. When we got to the airport we found out that probably about half of us did not have connecting flights to Tampa (this was eventually figured out). Getting through customs in Miami was a bit of a nightmare and took forever. On a better note, I met up and catch up with an old friend for the rest of the layover. It was a stressful day but we were all just glad to be going home. I have had the most amazing experiences and have made some amazing friends on this trip and would not change it for anything (except for maybe the part where my wallet was stolen on Thursday). Now I am in the process of fixing all the problems that arose when my wallet was stolen, but happy to be sleeping in my own bed again!

Finally Home!

Finally after 12 hours spent in various airports we arrived home in Tampa. Although everyone was excited to be home, we all reminised about all the experiences we shared together. From the ziplining, the mud baths, to the horseback riding, and all of our clinical activities our time spent in Panama were all things we will never forget! This trip to Panama made me realize how lucky we all our to be living in the US with the luxuries of food, water, and shelter. The trip as a whole was a very humbling and unforgetable experience. I truely feel blessed to be able to say that I was apart of this trip and everyone who went along with it. And as a side note I would like to say, it's good to be home and I will miss all the good times we spent together!

Lydia Pendino

Bittersweet goodbye :-)

The day is finally here!!! In about one hour we will leave our beloved hostal amador to our respective homes, but I think everyone will leave a piece of themselves here ( okay, maybe just the snacks are left behind but you get the point). It´s funny now that I think about it, I was probably destined to come to Panama. To my suprise I ended up having a mini family reunion here last night. My father´s cousin owns a restaurant in the middle of Panama city this whole time and I didn´t even know it! I also have cousins my age studying in the University Latina were I had visited just weeks before. Even though I didn´t get to spend much time with them this time around, I´m now obliged to plan future trips here :-) I feel so blessed to be chosen by chance to be on this trip. I have gained the self-confidence and affirmation that I needed to know that nursing is the only career choice for me. I want to thank my professors Dr. Mallard and Ms. Gottel for your guidance and support. I also want to thank Dean Burns and Dr.Cadena for the wonderful dinner we had at the Miraflores restaurant as well as all the staff involved for making this trip possible. And lastly I want to thank all of my fellow nursing peeps for your friendship and encouragement, especially my roommates (group maternal child health 4 life!) for dealing with my battiness :-p Bon Voyage and hasta luego Panama!

--Tara Casimir

We're coming back home!!!

Three weeks later our trip is coming to an end. There's not enough words to describe what an experience this trip has been. We all learned so much about Panama health care and working in the community. I know none of us would trade this trip for anything! We all have gained a new understanding for world health care. USF Health is going more and more international and its very exciting to have been able to be a small part of it. We heading to the airport in just a few short hours. Goodbyes are going to be difficult but all of us are overjoyed to see our families again and be in our own beds!!! To all who kept us in their prayers during this journey I personally thank you. We'll be home tonight!!!!!

"NaNaNaNa Hey Hey Hey Goodbye"

I can’t believe the time has finally come; our journey here in Panama in over, and what a journey it has been. I am more than grateful to have been chosen (out of a hat) among close to 50 other people who had a strong desire to travel to Panama for community clinical. This has most definitely been a once in a lifetime experience, one which created so many unforgettable memories, enhanced several clinical skills and build friendships that will last forever. Being immersed in another’s culture for 3 weeks truly lets one understand how much they have at home, and Panama was more than just an eye-opening experience. First off, I want to say THANK YOU to both my mom and dad. Without you both this trip would not have been possible and I want you to know, it was worth every penny spent. I can’t thank you enough for allowing me have this great opportunity, I have close to 900 pictures to share and am very excited to fly home to see you.

To all my fellow nursing students and teachers, what a time we have had. From the beginning, 4 meetings prior to our travel date, I know I can say for myself that I had no idea I’d feel so close to each and everyone of you, much less consider you my family within my family. I won’t be saying “goodbye” because I will be seeing you soon. Thank You so much to everyone for everything!!

ALMOST DONE!

Yesterday was our very last clinical day which we spent at the Universidad de Panama. There we presented our final project to the university`s nursing students and faculty. Our presentation included the three different topics of mental health, maternity, and pediatrics. The presentation covered everything we have learned in Panama over the last three weeks and described various events and procedures we took part in. Later that evening everyone went out to celebrate two of the girls birthdays (Melissa and Jessica M) at La Cerveceria`s. We all had a blast and said this was the perfect way to spend our last night together in Panama. :)

Lydia Pendino

Second Week

(I know this is a little late, but I still wanted to talk about it.) During our second week here we traveled to El Valle for a couple of days. On our first day there we went ziplining, most of the group went horseback riding, and we did natural mud masks. On our second day there we went to the clinic. It was another eye-opening experience. The emergency room had only two beds, and they seemed to give Penicillin for just about everything. For the rest of the week we were in Arraijan at the local hospital. Here we all had different experiences spread out throughout the hospital. Tara and I went to a local Walmart type of store to take blood pressures on the first day. On the second day Jason and I gave probably about 200 influenza vaccines. On the third day I did some more blood pressures and a pap smear. On our last day in Arraijan we took a mobile clinic to a local school where we did more blood pressures, vaccinations, pap smears, and handed out surveys. On Saturday we went to Isla Grande and had an amazing time. The ride there was a little rough (literally and figuratively) and took about three hours. Once we got there it was absolutely beautiful and well worth the long bumpy ride.