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.

Last day in panama!!!

Today was our last day in panama and I can’t believe three weeks went by soo quickly! I met 14 amazing ladies and 1 gentleman. This has been a worth while experience and can’t even name all the things we did. I gave more shots than I could have ever imagine. I would like to say Happy Birthday one more time to Melissa and Jessica being that there birthday was tonight. Caitlin, lydia, Melissa, Tania, Jessica, Christine, Christina, Lexa, Erin, Lindsey, Jessica, Courtney, Tara, and James (oops I mean Jason ) it was such a pleasure be able to get to know you guys better and making this trip so awesome I wouldn’t change it for the world. If I could do it all over again I would. Thank you so much Dr. Johnson and Mrs. Gottel it was wonderful having you both as my instructors. Goodnight.


Shadae llewelyn

Last class

Wednesday was our last class and I want to congratulate the ladies on doing a wonderful job on the hopscotch/red light green light game. It was very creative!

Shadae

Last class

Wednesday was our last class and I want to congratulate the ladies on doing a wonderful job on the hopscotch/red light green light game. It was very creative!

Last class

Last Day!

Well today is Saturday and it is the last day here in Panama! We had another fun filled day: we presented to Universidad de Panama about our experience here and how the health care compares to the U.S.'s, went to the mall, shopped at the local art market, and went out for a group farewell dinner. We will be heading out around 10am to the airport. I can't wait to be back in my own bed tomorrow! 

Tania Cruickshank

Last Day

Today is the last day we will be spending in Panama. I can’t believe it’s already here! It has been a pleasure spending my time in Panama with 14 fantastic people. New friendships were started and old friendships grew all forming a little nursing family. This has been quite the amazing experience and I can’t wait to go home to share all of my memories with my family and friends. I would just like to thank everybody from the Panama 2008 crew for making this such a remarkable life experience.

Love you guys!

Cristina Penzabene

This amazing experience

This has been one unforgettable trip! Here we are, the day before we go home, and when I think of everything we did it leaves me somewhat speechless. Surprising because we had so many busy days. I had one main thing I wanted to accomplish while on this trip and that was to gain a better understanding of who I am. I would have to say I accomplished just that and more. I got to spend time with 16 other amazing people and get to know them for who they are. When you spend every waking day with these people for 3 weeks their true personalities do come out. I have had the opportunity to learn about myself through them and through the experiences here in Panama. It has definitely helped me grow up and appreciate the wonderful life I am fortunate enough to live.

Dr. JM and Ms. Gottel: Thank you for coming with us on this trip. Without you and your assistance it would have been one big mess. If it wasn't for your willingness to put up with 14 girls and a chief, how would we have gotten to this point.
Team Mental:
Caitlin, you are my little sass-a-frass and your great personality helped me to let loose a bit and not take things so seriously. Thank you!
Melissa, my little bargain girl! You take charge when it needs to be taken and you are going to be one great mom! Thanks for the most amazing pancakes ever!
Lydia, thank you for the knee to you know where and I will never forget your kindness despite that. P.S-I will always drink water!
Shadae, you have made me laugh so many times and taught me to let loose and have fun! Strike a pose! Thank you!
Tania, you are one fearless leader and know what you want in life. You will go on to do many things in your life through your determination. You have taught me to always stay determined! Thank you!
Team Maternal:
Jessica M., I thank you for all of your great wisdom. I feel as if I could talk to you about anything and you would always give the best advise. Thank you!
Courtney, My little miss quiet one. I am such a loud person and you have taught me to tone it down a bit. You are so kind and shy, I love that about you and thank you for your friendship! It was great getting to know you!
Lindsay, you have such an opinion and are not afraid to say...I love it. Thank you for all the great times and laughs!
Erin, you are also my little shy one but yet you are so funny. Thank you for teaching me to take life for what it is and enjoy the ride.
Tara, you have so much to offer this world. You enjoy everyday of life and always have a smile to give! Thank you!
Team Pediatrics:
J, you are my boy! I have had the chance to know before this trip and you are no different than before. You have a leader quality that is much appreciated. You have taught me to listen and not assume from the first word! Thank you!
Jessica: My little motormouth! We have so much in common we could be sisters! Thank you for all of your insight! You always have an opinion too and without it where would we be. Thank you!
Cristina and Christine, you both have been great friends on this trip and I know that it will always stay true. You both have been there for me in times that I am frustrated. You have allowed me to vent whenever and have never judged me for what I have said. You have given me your honest response and I thank you for that! You have taught me to keep on going no matter how my feelings have reacted to certain situations. Thank you for your friendship and helping me grow up. GO team tres! : )

To all of you. I sure there are things that I left out that I wanted to say to you in the previous comments. Bottom line, you have all helped me to accomplish my goal of this trip. I have not only been able to learn about myself but been able to grow through all of you. If there is anything at all that you guys ever need, I promise I will always be there for you. Please do not ever hesitate to ask for anything at all. I love you all and thank you again for this incredible and unforgettable experience!

Time to depart Panama

Today is the 6th of June and we have finished our final task of presenting to the University of Panama. During our presentation we share our experiences here in their country. After our presentation to the students and faculty the USF students and faculty presented the University of Panama with lecture and labratory materials, that we hope they will be able to benefit from. The journey has been one that we will appricate for the rest of our lifes. The memories made here will soon not be forgotten. This is my final post so I would like to say Thank You to all the girls here for putting up with me (the only guy). You all have been wondeful to get to know, to learn from and to share this wonderful experience with. I hope that all of your dreams come true and you have wonderful and fulfilling careers as nurses.

Jason - AKA (James o Jaime)

Santo Tomas

June 4, 2008

Is this real? (pinch…ow! Yep it’s real alright ) I just saw up close and personal a baby being delivered via natural birth. TLC does not do labor and delivery justice…Today we had the unbelievable opportunity to visit Hospital de Santo Tomas, a very large public hospital that serves nearly 80% of the Panamanian population (500+ beds). I learned from the nurses that the services are not free at the hospital but social work is willing to consult with the patient about a payment plan where the patient can pay up to the next pregnancy. The price for a sonogram here is 15 dollars compared to $400 in the U.S., so it seems reasonable. Our group focused on the maternity ward, where we toured and observed the waiting areas for the expectant mothers, the delivery rooms and postpartum area. The most exciting part of my day was when we got to witness Kimberly, a 6.1 pound bundle of joy come shooting out into the world much to my exaltation/horror; there were so many emotions going through me at once that it was hard to describe. One thing I know for sure is that I really appreciate my mother for letting me hold her body hostage for 7 ½ months (I was a preemie) and I truly respect the beauty of child birth.

~Tara Casimir

The Cockroach

Cockroach and bed are two words that I never like to use in the same sentence but unfortunately to tell this story it has to happen. It all started the other night when Jessica, Jason, Lexa, Christine, and I were working on our project. I happened to glance over in the direction of my bed and to my surprise I saw a huge cockroach crawling on the wall. After a few screams, Christine grabbed one can of Off bug spray, threw the other can my way, Lexa moved the bed, and Jason got his shoe. We were all ready to conquer this monstrosity of an insect. As soon as the bed was moved we all went into action. I started spraying the cockroach, Christine started spraying Jason, and Jason smashed the cockroach with his shoe. We successfully killed the bug. On that note, we quit working on our project for the night hoping that there wouldn’t be any more buggies coming our way. Thanks to Christine, Jason didn’t have to worry about any bugs for about a month.

Good night don't let the bed bugs bite = )

Cristina Penzabene

Hospital del Nino

Today we went to Hospital del Nino where we spent time in the neonatal center. There were a total of ninety beds which were divided into two sections, intensive care and intermediate care. Babies who weighed 5.5lbs or more were considered normal and able to go home after one day of observation. If the baby weighed 4.4lbs or less, the baby had to stay in the neonatal center until stable enough for the mother to take the baby home. Currently the smallest baby present weighed around 1.1lbs. The length of stay could be anywhere from a couple of days to months depending on the diagnosis. Parents of the baby were allowed to visit for one hour each day while the grandfather was allowed to visit for one hour on Wednesdays only. Overall, when you looked at the babies in their incubators, they looked so small and delicate as if they were baby dolls.
Melissa Skrzypek

Hospital tours-6-5-08

Today sadly was not as exciting yesterday, but still interesting. We visited the Hospital de Nino (Children's Hospital) and we visited the NICU. There were no kidding about 90 tiny newborns in critical, or intermediate care. It was something out of a movie. The nurse ratio???? 10:1, Again! Those nurses are some dedicated, hard working people. In the States I doubt any nurse would ever be able to keep up with 10 patients on any floor. We should really appreciate what we have. I have a learned a lot from both the Panamanian people, and the nurses and medical professionals. My community clinicals here, were more than I ever could have hoped for. I know that this experiance will stay with me throughout my career as a nurse. Still, I can't wait to be home on Saturday!!!! Tampa here I come!!!!!
>Jessica Meerbott

Christine and Jason - babies!

Christine Doherty - June 4, 2008

We only have 3 days left in Panama!! It has been going by so quickly! Monday night we went to the USF reception and had a great time and a great dinner!! Last night we went out to dinner with our whole group, Dean Burns, and Dr. Cadena. This was also a great dinner again and a fun experience to spend the evening with the Deans! We were able to watch the ships go by in the Panama Canal as we ate dinner. It was beautiful!! Yesterday we visited a mental health hospital, and Santo Tomas Hospital. Today we visited the maternity ward, which everyone has already written about. I LOVED this experience!! It was the first birth I have ever seen, and it was miraculous!! Tonight room 4 made us a delicious dinner, and team Volusia County taught the class! We ended with a version of red light green light...spanish style!! Tomorrow we are going to the children's AIDS clinic. I am very excited for this!!

Pictures to come...

-Christine Doherty

Kimberly!

Today was a special day and one that I will never forget. We spent the morning in the maternity center where some of the students and I witnessed our first vaginal delivery. The process began slowly with a group of women in one room under observation until they were fully dilated and ready for birth. Next, they moved the mothers into the delivery room where within minutes the baby was born. Once the head was in vision, everyone’s eyes were glued to the baby, until the whole body was out and you heard the first cry. Tears were brought upon everyone’s eyes when the mother and baby had their first interaction, and the child was given a name. The birth I witnessed was a baby girl named Kimberly, weighing 6.16 lbs. Overall, I feel until you see the process, you never truly understand the beauty of a baby being born.

Melissa Skrzypek

Labor and Delivery

Tomorrow we will have our last clinical observation day here in Panama, which is hard to believe. We've really learned so much while we've here and I can't wait to go home and share all of my experiences with my family and friends. Today was an especially exciting day for me, I got to witness a live birth! I have always loved watching labor and delivery shows on TV growing up, so having this opportunity to see it 'live and in person' was very thrilling to me. We changed into our clean scrubs and were given shoe covers, hair covers, and masks and then went and scrubbed up to our elbows. We got the opportunity to go hold some of the babies that were in the nursery while waiting for someone to go into labor. Finally, two women did go into labor and we all filed into the different rooms to see the births. I figured the experience would be similar to watching it on TV, but I was so wrong! Watching the baby come out and watching the mother through the whole process was one of the most emotional experiences of my life. I didn't know this women or have any emotional attachment to her, but I was tearing up throughout the process, even while holding her hand while the nurses cleaned her up. It was a very beautiful event and I feel very privileged to have witnessed it. I will never forget this experience, or any of my experiences in Panama for that matter.

--Caitlin Brock

San Fernando private hospital

Well, yesterday was a very interesting experience. Although we have been in a few hospitals already since we have been in Panama San fernando hospital has thus by far has been the nicest. Our day started off by first going to the mental health hospital touring the hospital with Dr. Cadena and Dean burns. It was located on a beautiful property that was donated years ago. Some of the student purchased beautiful srt that was created by some of the patients. then we went to San Fernando hospital that was really nice and is not something you would expext to see in a third world country. There was a flat screen T.V. in almost every single room. The were very update with techology and even had some machines that I have never seen before. It was amazing just to some it up.

Shadae llewelyn

Our Last Class

Tonight was our last Community Health Class here in Panama. Five students: Cristina, Christine, Jason, Lexa & Jessica discussed a few chapters in our textbook and how they pertained to our roles as future nurses. Dr. Johnson-Mallard & Miss Goettel helped them tie together the textbook information (that applied primarily to the United States) to what we have seen here in Panama over the last 2.5 weeks. Through our group discussion, it was amazing to see & hear how much we have all learned through this experience. Not only have we all learned more about our healthcare in the U.S., but also about healthcare here in Panama. We are all definitely coming back as smarter nursing students and as more well-rounded individuals! Great job everyone!

By: Tania Cruickshank

Womens Hospital

What an amazing day we had today. We all woke up, packed our scrubs, and headed off to the womens hospital. Once we got there we were greeted by a few of the hospitals nurses and they were happy to answer the numerous amounts of questions that we had. At this hospital each floor has 68 beds with only 3 to 4 nurses per shift. Crazy right? We were then able to tour the hospital and meet all the wonderful staff. Then the time came...we changed into our scrubs and headed off to the labor and delivery ward. We all couldn't wait. All of us hoping that someone would give birth while we were there. We entered into the prepartum room where there were approxiamtely 15 to 20 beds many of them filled with women in labor. The hospital on average gives birth to 12,000 babies a year and approximately 30-35 babies a day! We then headed off to the delivery room, where we all waited anxiously for something to happen. We ended up waiting a while and we started to get discouraged. During this time some of us were taken to the nursery where we were able to hold newborns. They were so adorable, I didn't want to give them back! Then finally the moment happened, it was time to deliver a baby and not just one but two women were ready to deliver. We all stood around in awe of how amazing the miracle of life truly is. Some of us even got a little teary eyed, especailly when we got to see the mother hold the baby for the first time. It was an experience that words can not even come close to describe. We all were very lucky to be able to see a baby being born. This was my first time ever seeing a delivery and it is something I will remember the rest of my life. We learned that the husbands are not allowed in the delivery room, in the public hospital, and they can only visit their baby and wife during visiting hours, which is between 6pm and 7pm! The day finished with a tour of the Nursing Association where we all bought nursing hats to bring back to the states. It was a long day, but definetly one of my favorites since we have been here in Panama.

Babies!!!!! 6-04-08

Today was one of the biggest highlights of the trip, by far. We went to the Panama maternity hospital. We had a tour and a q&a session with one of the head nurses, and then it was off to the labor and delivery floor. At first it was very slow, which normally they have around 80 births a day if my memory serves me correctly. They have four beds in rooms connected by open doors for the deliveries themselves, and about 10 beds for women in active labor. These 10 beds are all in the same huge room with a nurses station in the middle. Yes, there were multiple women screaming and vomiting at the same time. For the first hour no one was close to giving birth when suddenly, 2 women were! Half of our (15) students went with one woman, and the the other half with the other. I was within four feet of the bed, and yes I saw the entire vaginal birth. It was very easy for the mom, as she had already been in labor for a couple of hours and she had 3 children. I must say, the placenta being massaged out of the mother's belly was surprising, as I had no L&D knowledge. The baby's name was Kimberly and she was just over 6 pounds. I shed some tears in the whole process. The baby girl was just such a beautiful sight. This trip has been great to a estudiante de infermeria!
>Jessica Meerbott

June 3, 2008-Miraflores dinner/hospital tours

Today was a very different view of health care in Panama for the group. On one hand we visited a public Psychiatric "hospital", and on the other we visited a private hospital affiliated with Tulane University in New Orleans, LA. The contrast between the two was pretty astonishing. Like many buildings in Panama we were lucky to find air conditioning in any of the four or five buildings at the psychiatric hospital, including the patients rooms.
The rooms included 35 male, and 20 female beds, separated of course. They had no ac, no pillows, no sheets to cover themselves with. Those buildings even equipped with multiple ceiling fans, were hotter than the asphalt in Clearwater beach on a day in August. Yes, THAT hot! On a positive note. They did however, include family therapy on a weekly basis. Which is much different in the US, where sadly many families are often not involved in the treatment process. The grounds were very beautiful and most of the patients were allowed full access and an open door policy, everywhere. Quite different from the States where everyone is always on lock down if they are admitted to a mental health facility. Also,the patient ratio for the nurses was an approximate 10:1, can our little minds fathom this number?
The private hospital was one of the fancier medical facilities that I've seen. It was very well "kept" and included some very detailed decorating. The (medical) floors were very comparable to those of the States, machines and all . (This was the first time I had actually seen an electronic machine, or a computer!) The private rooms on one of the med-surg. floors, and on the mother and baby floor rivaled any in the greater Tampa Bay area. The kicker is that the most expensive room there was a whopping $200.00 a night. And for mom? $30.00 per night and another $30 .00 for new baby. This private hospital accepts private insurance, but most often patients end up paying out of pocket. Heck, $200.00 doesn't even cover the ambulance ride to the hospital, crazy right?
Later on in the evening, after our tours of the hospitals we went to the Miraflores locks for dinner. The have a very nice restaurant on the second floor of the museum, right next to the canal. There were ships passing the entire time that we were eating dinner, and the food was great. The best part was that along with our 15 students and 2 teachers, we had both the Dean, and the assistant Dean of our very own USF College of Nursing at dinner with us. I was delighted to sit so close to them and be able to have excellent conversation throughout the evening. I graduate in Dec. and I doubt that I will be given such a great opportunity to sit with our Deans like that again! Thank you Dean Burns, and Dr. Cadena for such a lovely evening!
>Jessica Meerbott

"Oh DARIO"

From reading the many postings on our blog, I realized that the one person who has yet to be mentioned, but who fills a very important role during our time here in Panama, is our wonderful bus driver DARIO! Wells it’s pretty obvious that without him, our destinations would be extremely hard to get to, but the few things that stand out are, regardless of how crazy we “Americans” act on the bus, how long are clinics take to get to, or the fact that he sits and waits on the bus with no AC while we are busy at work during the day, he always has a smile on his face. Dario makes sure to count everyone before departing each and everyday, and I must add that he knows NO ENGLISH, but somehow with the very little Spanish we all know, we manage to communicate with him and he always makes sure to provide a very safe ride regardless of how chaotic and crazy the Panamian’s drive. Ms. Gottel was kind enough to present Dario with a Tampa Bay Devil Rays hat, which he wears everyday, and all of the students presented him with a key chain of his name bought in El Valle. As the title states, “Oh Dario” is our famous way of greeting him, which we like to say with a crazy Spanish accent. A sentence doesn’t do it justice, it’s actually quite hilarious. We did happen to gather some information on his life; apparently Dario only gets to see his family once a week, which is a two hour drive away from where he resides during the time he works as a bus driver. Overall, we couldn’t have asked for a better bus driver; he has made our trip very special and will always be remembered.

June 2nd- Our dinner with the USF Health facility

President Judy Genshaft and our famous "GO BULLS!"


Honored and awe struck are the two words that come to mind when describing tonight's dinner. As we headed to dinner at the Holiday Inn we had no idea the amount of honored guests that would joining us. We were blessed tonight to have the privilege of attending the gathering of USF Health as a whole and their presence in Panama and the City of Knowledge. Among the many distinguished guests were the deans from the USF college of Nursing ( and our assistant dean), Public Health and Medicine. The President of USF, Judy Genshaft, was also in attendance. Countless other USF Health facility were also represented tonight. It was wonderful to be able to sit and talk to these intellegent professionals from our USF Health program. Its pretty rare to get such a collaboration of colleges to work together for the greater good of their respected university and the community at large. We all left enriched by the experience and felt quite honored to be a part of the global aspect of USF Health.

Jessica Dorey

Christine Doherty - June 2, 2008

A lot has happened since my last blog!!
I turned 21 on Tuesday, and I had a great day!! I woke up to some of the girls making some pancakes, thanks to Melissa and her mix that she bought!! They were delicious! I really appreciated this treat! We went to the Arraijan clinic that day and I was able to observe some of the pediatric assessments and vaccinations. I decided that I love kids, and I would love to work in Pediatrics! Later that night I went to the Hard Rock Cafe with some of the girls for dinner. It was nice to have some American food!! This was also a wonderful treat that I appreciate! :)

Wednesday we went to the same clinic, and I was able to give vaccinations to children. This was a great experience because I have not been able to work with children yet in our clinical setting back in Florida. On Wednesday I was able to experience Occupation Health with Tania. This day was so exciting because we were able to go to different farms and give vaccinations to the workers. The workers were very appreciative and gave us gifts!! They gave us eggs, mangos, and lemons! I also enjoyed it because we got to ride in a truck and see so many different animals, such as monkeys, bulls, cows, goats, sheep, horses, and more!! It rained, I got very dirty, and it was very smelly, but I still had a great time because it was such a different experience!!

Friday we helped out with a health fair at a local school. At the health fair I gave more vaccinations to children, walked around the community to give vaccinations, and I gave my first Pap smear!! It was an interesting experience!! Some of the other students also took blood pressure and surveyed the homes in the community at the health fair. All of the children were very cute!!


Saturday was a FREE day!! This was amazing because we went to Isla Grande, which was beautiful! We took small boats over to the island and we relaxed by the water. I was able to snorkel for the first time, which I enjoyed, but it was very difficult!! The mask did not fit right and I did not actually have a snorkel because they ran out. I was scared the whole time, but it was an adventure!

Yesterday we went to see the Emberja tribe, which was also on a island where were had to take a boat in order to get there. This was very interesting because we got to learn about their culture and their health care. On of the women had a cut, and she had a leaf wrapped around her leg. She said that it would heal the wound. This is different than what we would do in Florida.

This week has been exhausting, but today was a free day until tonight. I have just been doing homework and getting organized. We will have a dinner tonight at a USF reception!

Hello to everyone back home!! I miss you all and love you!! xoxo


-Christine Doherty

Here are some pictures from our day at Isla Grande and our mobile clinic!!!!

Isla Grande

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Courtesy of Cristina Penzabene = )

Isla Grande

So I know it's a day late but I just had to talk about my amazing experience at Isla Grande. It took us a little while to get there but boy was it worth the wait. It all started with a breath taking boat ride to the island. I've never seen water so perfect. We arrived at the Banana Resort where we spent the day basking in the sun, eating amazing food, snorkeling, and just relaxing. I couldn't have asked for anything better. I only wish that my friends and family could have been here with me.

Best wishes from Panama!

Cristina Penzabene

Embera Village

Today was definitely an unexpected treat. We had a different tour guide named Juan, a well informed Panamanian who even spent some time with the natives from the Embera tribe and he knows their dialect as well as english thank goodness ;-) The day in Embera village was a far cry from the Panama city life. After a bumpy ride 1 hour ride out of the city we ended up in the Jungles off the Chagres river, a very important water source in Panama. The place where they lived is actually in a national park that is protected by the government, which means they have a permanent residence free from the fear of deforestation. The people from Embera looked different from any other population I have seen in Panama so far...and that says alot because Panama is such a melting pot of people. They wore short loin cloths made with brightly colored plastic beads they buy in the city and their skin was a tan clay colored tone, similar to the soil that was on the ground. It was kind of unreal, almost like I was in a national geographic documentary. We hiked through the muddy slopes of the mountains to a secluded waterfall were we met other travelers from different countries. After the hike to the waterfall, we made a pit stop to the main village area where the embera tribe lives. The huts were large and well made, from palm trees, I think. The villagers danced and sang for us and had a little presentation about their culture, translated by Juan our tour guide. As I looked around, I wondered how could they have proper access to health care when they live so far from the city. By appearances they looks healthy and well nourished; the children looked clean and happy, even though everyone was barefoot and barely clothed. I found out that they would travel to the city for major medical events like births or serious injuries. Other minor health care needs would be treated by the medicine man who is the oldest sage in the village. I was amazed by things they made by the natural materials they had at their disposal. They carved figurines from coconuts, and rosewood as well as amazing intricately weaved baskets and face masks. These pieces of art were their main source of income because they sell them to tourists like ourselves to survive. I found out that the government would not let them hunt for game other than fishing and they even had to ask for permission to cut down a tree! It kind of made me feel that their way of life is controlled and not organic in a sense. They did not seem to mind because the people were gracious and very warm. We were treated to a meal of fried plantains and fish, as well as bananas and the sweetest pineapple I have ever eaten. Then they performed tribal dances with drums and flutes and they even got some of us to participate. I am so thankful I got the opportunity to be in Panama to do my clinicals because it has been such a rewarding experience. Time flies by sooo fast here, I can´t believe we have less than a week left...

Tara Casimir

Isla Grande

After an awesome week of clinical experience and learning so much, the group took a trip to Isla Grande today. It was a few hour bus trip and then a quick boat ride and we arrived at Banana’s resort at Isla Grande. It was like we were arriving at something straight out of a travel catalogue—the view was absolutely beautiful! The water was clear blue, there were hammocks to relax in, there was a wonderful pool…this blog definitely doesn’t do it justice. We spent the day tanning, snorkeling, having lunch, and swimming. Everyone had a great day soaking up the sun! We are now back at the hostel and getting ready for our day of visiting a Embera Village tomorrow.

I’m having a great time in Panama! I’ve really experienced so much! But, I miss everyone back home! Love you guys!

--Caitlin Brock

Health Fair

Today was the health fair! We were escorted by policeman to a school named February 13th (many of there schools are named after dates) with a mobile clinic to deliver vaccinations, Pap smears, take blood pressures, and inspect homes. My first activity of the day was to inspect homes for stagnate water. Stagnate water is a huge problem down here in Panama. Many of the homes do not have running water so people leave hug barrels outside their houses to collect rain water for washing clothes and cleaning. The problem with this is, though, is that standing water is a breeding zone for mosquitoes which carry dengue!!! Many of the homes we went to today had stagnate water and we educated the families on the importance of not leaving the water outside. Many of us today were able to assist with Pap smears and vaccinations. Many of the vaccinations were influenza shots for the children. The children were not too happy about this, but they were all good sports! We had a blood pressure stand where we took peoples blood pressure and educated them on the importance of healthy eating and exercise (well we didn’t exactly do it because we don’t speak Spanish very well, but the Spanish speaking nurses were a big help). The health fair went really well and we had an amazing turnout. Many families from the community came out to get their free screenings and vaccinations. The last half of the day we visited the University of Panama to par take in some of their festivities. They had a gathering for the crowning of the senorita enfermeria; I guess you could describe it as the “Queen”, like prom queen, of the nursing school. There were three girls in the running, each with their own section decorated and their friends cheering them on. There was music playing, people playing the drums, and dancing around! We were unable to see who was crowned because we had to leave, but I am sure we will find out when we visit the university again.
-Erin Smith

School Visit/Mobile Clinic

We went to the school called "February 13th". Yes, that's right, a date is the name of the school...it's a Panama thing! Each student had a different experience, with hands on experience with at least two or more of the following: gave Polio, Influenza, Pentavalente, Hepatitis or MMR vaccines...visited the homes nearby to educate people about where mosquitos breed and how to prevent various diseases...did (our first) Pap Smears...conducted surveys about HPV (Human Papilloma Virus)...and/or checked blood pressure. What a day! We really made a difference today =)

"When you're a nurse you know that everyday you will touch a life or a life will touch yours." 

For pictures from today, go to the link below:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2280924&l=6ed3&id=5124385

Posted by: Tania L. Cruickshank

clinic

Today we attended the clinic we have been at all week. We were divided up into pairs and rotated throughout mental health, growth and development, maternity, injections, blood pressure, and HPV teaching. Two students were also sent to a highschool where they administered injections and two students participated in home health nursing.
In the mental health group, students were able to listen to a psychiatrist speak to paitents about their mental illness and issues with their medications. Some clients were here by court order and attending their routinely visits.
Students who attended growth and development gave injections to children and the polio vaccine which is administered orally. For babies who were eight days old, students weighed their body and measured their head circumference.
In the maternity section, students performed and assisted in Papsmears where they were able to locate and identify the cervix and witness what it looks like to have an infection.
Two students gave over 200 influenza vaccines that were administered for free to anyone who desired and had a social security. By the end of the day we felt like pros.
In home health nursing, two students traveled to farms to administer vaccines to the local farmers. Each student administered at least twenty vaccines. When asked to describe their experience, they stated they felt like they were traveling through the jungle because they saw wild animals like monkeys and bulls. The farmers were very nice in return and provided the students with eggs and fruit which helped to make our delicious lunch of scrambled eggs.
Lastly, we provided the patients in the sitting room with a display on HPV and passed out questionaires to be answered on their knowledge of the disease. Over fifty surveys were completed and the patients were interested in the material we provided.
At the end of the day, we attended an orphonage, which contains children who were abandoned and abused. The orphonage was run by nuns and contained girls and boys up to the age eighteen. On their campus there was living quarters, a church, a school, and a play ground. The houses were divided between the age groups. The toddlers stayed in a two bedroom house with a play room and kitchen. There were two bedrooms with about nine cribs to a room. In the other houses there was the same kitchen, play room, and dining area plus two bedrooms. In both of those bedrooms contained bunkbeds, seven or eight to a room. Most of the girls were shy but some had smiles on their faces that made you melt. Their conditions were clean, they were fed, and clothed. You would think they would be so unhappy in this situation, but when you asked, they were just so happy to be in a place where they felt comfortable and loved.

Melissa Skrzypek

Panama 2008

To me time seems to be going by so fast, To think we have been here for a little over a week and a half and to think about all the wonderful things we got to experience is quite amazing. The first week was a sort of meet and greet week, with a lot of touring and letting others know we were in country. The nursing experience really started taking shape when we were able to visit El Valle. For those who don´t know El Valle sits inside a concave mountain top that was once a volcano dating back three million years ago. Yes, the place was beautiful to say the least. The over night experience was one that will soon not be forgotten. I do have to say thank you to Mellisa for taking care of the zipp lining experience and Jessica M. for getting the majority of us on a horse back trip. These activities really increased the whole El Valle experience. We got back to our hostal on Monday and were to get ready for the next experience at Arraijan. We are spending the next four days there. Monday night was a interesting one to say the least, put 15 intelligent nursing students together to make a poster for teaching and what do you get. Well three card board boxes, eight colorful folders, lots of large print (in Spanish), a roll of duct tape and one bed sheet later our presentation was ready. Well just have to see if the people we get to teach enjoy the display. As for my personal experience I have been able to give vaccines and test peoples blood sugar, the experiences have been eye opening due to the procedural differences between the U.S. and Panama. It is exciting to listen to each other at the end of the day when we try and describe the experiences we had that day. It is difficult to understand if you have never experienced it but it seems that everyone is having some sort of eyeopening situation that helps them look at themselves and others differently. It is almost time to depart for the clinic, I hope that all the family and friends are doing well and I'm sure the girls that you sent over here can not thank you enough.

To my family and friends I am so grateful for all the help and support you are giving me back in the states.

- Jason Merry -

Photos!

Here are some pictures from El Valle!

Arraijan

Today was our first day in the Arraijan clinic here in Panama. When we first arrived we were taken to the director of the hospitals office where he welcomed us to the hospital and the city. Next we were given a tour of the facility. There were so many people there, you could barely move through the hallways. It seemed like every where you turned there was a lobby of some sort with tons of people piled in. Some of us were then split up and placed with nurses throughout the facility. I was sent to observe the maternal/women’s health nurse. Her office was very tiny with one exam room in the back. Each patient was brought in one at a time. I assisted with vitals and communicated the best I could with the patients. Most of out patients today received Pap Smears. I was able to assist with 4 Pap smears; it was really a great experience. (Especially since my clinicals are at the VA, it was nice to have a female patient for a change) Next we took a tour of Arraijan city. It was a big eye opener to see the way people live here. Before we had mainly seen the nicer areas of Panama, and this was nothing like we have seen before. Many do not have running water and have buckets outside their houses that they use to catch the rain water. They will then use this rain water to clean with. The houses were very run down and there was a lot of trash in the streets. We were able to visit a school during the tour. The kids were so excited to see us; they all wanted to have their picture taken. They would swarm us (knock some of us down actually) and gives us hugs. It made me realize how many of us are so unhappy and we have a lot, compared to those children who have so little but are full of such happiness. Today’s experience was a real eye opener and one that I will not forget.

-Erin Smith

First week in Panama

Our first week here in Panama has been quite a unique experience. Day one was incredibly long and exhausting and eye opening. The four-hour layover in Miami was brutal. When we finally landed in Panama and got through customs, we boarded a bus to take us to Hostal Amador (our home base). On the way we got our first glimpses of Panama and it was amazing to see all the poverty right next to new, luxury, high-rise condominium constructions. On the second day we went to the Miraflores Locks, which was very interesting. It was so cool to see the process of huge ships passing through. Next we went on a tour of the old city. We got more up close and personal to the poverty and it really made me appreciate what I’ve got even more. About half way through the old city tour, my camera broke! :( On the third day we toured a couple of local Universities. At the University of Panama we learned that students start the four-year program right out of college, after taking an entrance exam of sorts. It only costs them an average of $50 a semester to go through the program. The Latina University, a private school, seemed to have many more resources. Their program is 3 ½ years long and cost about $1400 to go through it. On the fourth day we went to the City of Knowledge. We walked around for a bit, visited the USF health office and had a meeting in the UNICEF building. The UNICEF meeting was about AIDS in children and was very interesting and I thought it was so cool that USF has an office in Panama. On the fifth day we visited the US Embassy, and the security was unreal. We also had an interesting meeting about disaster relief. It had never crossed my mind that donating clothes, shoes, and other items could end up being a burden. The woman pointed out that people have to actually go through and sort all that stuff and that takes away manpower, which could be used for something else. She said it’s just best to send money to a trusted organization. The sixth day was our free day. We got to sleep in some and went to a couple of artisan markets (where I found some amazing things). Later that night we all met up with some girls form the Latina University and some of their friends for dinner and dancing.

Day 6, 7, 8, and 9

Day 6, Saturday, May 24th, 2008: Today was free day and it was a great time! We actually had a day to sleep in a little bit! A few of us girls went to the pool that was located on the causeway. It rained everyday we have been here but today it was bright and sunny...perfect for a pool day. There was a beautiful view of the pacific ocean behind the pool and it was so relaxing. After that we visited the Artisan Market where you could bargain prices for souvenirs. That was an interesting experience. After that, everyone got ready to go to dinner and dancing with the girls from Universidad Latina which is the private university here. That was a blast! We partied the night away but had an early rise the next morning for the head to El Valle!
Day7, Sunday, May 25th, 2008: El Valle here we come. Today was a day that we got to participate in outdoor activities! We all went zip lining which was such a rush! All of us had such a great time doing it and it was so funny to see the nerves of everyone as they were about to go off the first zip line! There were 4 different lines to zip down all with great views. We also went horseback riding but it was a bit depressing because the horses were so skinny! I felt as if these horses couldn't even carry me! Afterwards, our last stop was at the hot springs where we applied mud facials. We failed to get in the hot springs though because we caught a glimpse of someone with ringworm sitting in it. We went back to our hotel to rinse our masks off.
Day8, Monday, May 26th, 2008: We all went to the El Valle clinic today which was an eye-opening experience. Fortunately, we had a doctor that was able to speak English to us that explained to us about the clinic. It was a hands on experience fulfilled with many shots to patients and Lindsay even got to do wound care! It wasn't a very clean clinic but they did use alcohol before giving injections! The disposal for sharps was what looked like an old, used, plastic bleach jug. They did use the sterile technique when cleaning the young boys wound! After the clinic we visited their market where they sold multiple things like cashews, fruit, veggies, and some souvenirs. After that we headed back to Panama City on the awful 2 hour bus ride that consisted of very bumpy and very winding roads. It was all worth it though!
Day 9, Tuesday, May 27th, 2008: WOW, what a trip today! We visited the Arraijan clinic and the amount of people in this clinic was unreal. There were people standing in the hallway and they were from all walks of life! Meaning men, women, children, teenagers...everyone needed some sort of health care. The part that was intriguing about this clinic when compared to home was all fields of health care were at one place. Including, General health, pediatricians, mental health, women's health, etc. The sanitation was even worse than at the El Valle clinic. The health care personal didn't use gloves for vaccinations and there was no running water anywhere at the clinic! That means infection, infection, infection. The bathrooms were shocking! You could not take a fresh breath inside them and there was actual feces on the grounds around the toilets. We had to take the bus elsewhere just to use the bathrooms. It was a great experience though because it really made me appreciate what I do have available at home!!!!

Monday May 26th - Christine Doherty

Yesterday we went on the zip line and horseback riding! It was a lot of fun, but by the end of the day we were very tired. We went to bed early, and woke up early this morning to work at the clinic in el valle. We saw the difference in sanitation, and it made me appreciate everything that we have in the United States. We gave injections, took vital signs, and observed the physical exams. Tonight we finished our presentation that we will be giving on HPV this week at a different clinic. We all worked hard putting this presentation together and now we are ready for bed. :-)

-Christine

Our trip to El Valle started off early as we headed on our two hour bus ride to get there. After many twists in turns through the mountains we arrived and we’re excited to get our day going. We began by ziplining through the rainforest. WOW is about all I can say. It was such a beautiful view and a huge adrenaline rush all at the same time. We were able to see a beautiful waterfall and lush plant life. After our exhilarating ziplining experience we decided to go horseback riding. We were able to see the mountains and just enjoy ourselves. For some, it was their first time on a horse. We then decided mud facials sounded like a fun thing to do! After all our adventures for the day we ended by having a nice dinner at our hotel together. We ate on the top floor and sat in hammocks and enjoyed our time relaxing. The next morning we headed off the El Valle clinic. It was a small rural clinic. It was such an eye opening experience. We were able to give injections, take vitals, perform wound care, and more. We learned a lot about their cultural practice in the public health care system and we are continuing to enjoy the new experiences we have each day. The doctors and nurses have been wonderful in sharing information about the health needs here in Panama. As we continue our clinical experiences here we hope to be as helpful as possible and take back to the States all that we have learned down here.

PS- photos to come!!

- Jessica Dorey

My first week

WOW is the phrase that comes to mind when I think of this first week. The amount of places we have seen is somewhat overwhelming but it just puts into perspective that this world is so much bigger than any one person can conquer.

Day 1, Monday, May 19th: Getting to our Hostal Amador was a shock. Walking in to the humidity of no air conditioning made me realize what I had gotten myself into. Then, the bedrooms were assigned and thank God there was air conditioning! This first night we just settled in and got a good night sleep because tomorrow we were starting off bright and early.
Day 2, Tuesday, May 20th: Today was Panama Canal day. We visited the visitors center at the Miraflores Locks which was very interesting. We got to watch the process of one huge ship go through and it wasn't a quick process whatsoever. It was a good experience to actually see the canal rise and fall and see the locks open and close. We didn't get just and ordinary visit though. We actually got to go on the locks as they were closed and take pictures. I felt special because usually only workers are allowed to be at the level of the locks! Then we went to "old town" which was the second city of Panama. That experience was so humbling because there were so many living conditions that you just would never expect people to live in. As we were walking , there was a little boy that came to his door in a diaper, a t shirt, and no shoes. Problem them was there was no door. It was simply an opening. Then I looked up and realized that their roof was roting. It made me think about how blessed I am to have a roof over my head with a door. In that perspective, the air conditioning is simply a luxury.
Day 3, Wednesday, May 21st: This day was a day for us to experience college here in Panama. First stop was the Universidad de Panama. Here, the nursing students start their education directly out of high school and all they take to get in are exams. There is no exit exam which means they have no certification or license. They just start once they graduate and the first to get hired are the male nurses which occupy about 16% of the Nursing student population. The cost of tuition per semester is only $50! We asked about the salary of a nurse and it is only about $600 a month starting out with a CAP of $2000 a month which takes about 30 years to get to. To earn that CAP you have to be a nurse manager. I find that very interesting because there are so many nurse managers in the States that are newly out of college themselves. We also visited the private university which was called Universidad Latina. It only had about 14 students per semester and went a duration of 8 semesters before one could graduate. The amount of credit hours they take per semester is amazing. The amount the first three semesters are about 29 hours and after that the lowest is about 19 hours. The cost of semesters there is $14000!
Day4, Thursday, May 22nd: Today we visited the City of Knowledge which was the old base for the American army when we had control of Panama. This place does so many things for Panama I could talk about it for days. One of the places there was something called UNICEF which has been one of my favorite things we visited. UNICEF main focus is children around the world and the health problems they endure. One of the big problems here in Panama is the amount of children living with AIDS/HIV. Mostly contracted from their mothers while delivering. Prior to recently testing amongst pregnant women was not required but now there is a law for it. It is becoming an endemic here in Panama though because there is just a stigma about AIDS/HIV. Often the health care personnel will not even give the tests and they are not penalized by the government because they do not have a form of regulation like the States do. It is a big problem that hopefully can be resolved. I would love to do work in a field like this and hopefully one day I can contribute to something like UNICEF.
Day 5, Friday, May 23rd: Today we visited the US embassy which I have to honestly say was nothing special. (forgive me teachers) The building and location was quite a site but the lecture we received did not pertain to nurses. The information was informative and was nice to know so I appreciated the experience. We then went and learned about disaster relief through the World Health Organization and I enjoyed that. I noticed that a lot of disasters occurred in 1985 which was the year I was born. I found that interesting because I was born during Hurricane Elaina. That was a busy year for this earth! Next stop was the Smithsonian Institute. I loved it because we got to see many creatures of the wild and plants. The best part was the view of the Pacific Ocean. Absolutely gorgeous. I swear the weather cleared up just in time to take amazing photos. God was looking over us. The tide was low so we got to walk out on rocks and take pictures. There were these pillars sticking up out of the ground that used to have building built on them. Come to find out, they used to be Quarantine houses for yellow fever. People were forced to go there and die and then the bodies were disposed of. Such a beautiful place but yet such unethical things happen there. Yet another humbling experience!

So I can definitely say this was an eventful week that I found to be fulfilled of amazing experiences. I am looking forward to the rest of experiences we will be enduring. This was a very long blog but it is mainly for my parents and grandparents. Without them I would not be here right now.
***Mom, Dad, Nanny, & Paw Paw: again, thank you so much! I will remember this for the rest of my life and am so grateful for the love you provide me. I cannot wait to see you and I love you all very much!

Panama Day 3 & 4

The group is having an awesome time so far! Even though we haven't even began our clinicals, we have already had some events that are changing the way we view things, and like Lindsay mentioned, have made us realize how much we really do have to be grateful for back home.

So for now, I'm just going to give a brief overview of our third and fourth days in Panama. Yesterday (Wednesday), we visited the University of Panama's nursing school (Universidad de Panama, Facultad de Enfermeria) and the Latin University of Panama's (Universidad Latina de Panama) nursing students. The schools were definitely different than our own College of Nursing in ways that one would expect, but what surprised me more was that there was so much of a difference between the two right in the same city here in Panama. The University of Panama is a public university, while the Latin University is private. The students at University of Panama pay less than $500 for the 4 years, while the Latin University students pay $14,000 for their 3.5 year track. We all know that money matters, so the differences in supplies and facilities differ at these two schools. None the less, they were both learning things similar to each other and to what we would learn at USF College of Nursing. We also met some great, welcoming people at both of these schools and have plans to go out on Saturday with the girls from the Latin University--should be fun!!

1. A picture of Shadae, Melissa, Tara, Caitlin, Tania, and Lindsay in next to the welcome sign that the University of Panama Nursing School made us!
2. A picture of the whole group along with the dean of the University of Panama Nursing School's Dean
3. Clinical manequins right in their lecture classroom

Today, we went to la Ciudad de Saber (the City of Knowledge) and had another amazing experience. This is one place that really is working to better the world. We were introduced to the Ciudad de Saber by one of the administrators who had AMAZING English skills. We had the chance to visit the UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund) Office and meet with a representative from UNAIDS (the committee of UNICEF that focuses on AIDS). This conversation was insightful for sure. We heard devastating stats about the HIV prevalence in Panama, but fortunately there are organizations going to better the situation. We also saw the USF Health office, yes USF is in Panama! We met the wonderful ladies that have helped coordinate our trip. The day was a good one and I look forward to going to the US embassy tomorrow!!

--Caitlin Brock

Day 3 Panama- Trip to the Universities

Our day started off nice and early as we headed off to the University of Panama. We arrived and were greeted by one of the administrators from their nursing program. We were blessed by her ability to speak English as she served as our interpreter throughout the day. The dean from their college of nursing then came and spoke to us. We meet in a lecture hall and were joined by fellow nursing students from the University of Panama. It was wonderful to feel so loved and welcomed. They were so excited to show us all of their facilities within the college of nursing. We saw some similarities between their facility and ours and of course we saw some differences. I think its wonderful to get another culture's perspective of health care and observe their way of learning and teaching. One fun fact we found out was the average cost for one semester at the University of Panama was only $50.00!!! WOW! A lot cheaper than in the States! We've all learned so much about the Panamanian culture already and we are eager to continue to learn more!!! After experiencing the University of Panama's nursing college, and their cafeteria food (which was only 50 cents per plate!), we headed off to the Latina University. The Latina University is a private college. Their college was quite different from the University of Panama. A lot smaller amount of nursing students and their technology was more advanced. It's $14,000 for the whole program at their college. Once again we were greeted by their dean and treated with so much respect and care. We were blessed again by some students who spoke English and were able to answer a lot of our questions. They were so nice we're going to be going out with them one night for dinner! Overall, it was an amazing day of experiencing another culture and their nursing programs. I believe all learned and are looking forward to the days to come!!!

PS- I love and miss all you guys back home! ( especially you mom and dad!!!)

Day 2 Pictures

please note the description for the pictures is in the opposite order from what they posted.

Day 2 - Panama Canal and City Tour

Hola!!!
Well Jason did an excellent job at filling everyone in on our arrival, so i decided to take this opportunity and talk about our experience during day two. As scheduled, all 14 girls, Jason, and our two instructors Ms.Gottel and Dr. Johnson-Mallard were ready to go bright and early at 9am for our journey through the city and to the Panama Canal. Our adventure started off with a stop at the Panama Canal. This is one thing I decided to research prior to traveling here just to simply understand the basic concept of traveling a ship from the Pacific to the Caribbean and vice versa, and it was absolutely everything I looked up and so much more. Our entire group took tons and tons of pictures, it was simply overwhelming. The one thing that stands out in my mind from the trip to the Panama Canal is the fact that our group was fortunate enough to get up close and personal to the Miraflores Lock. We were the only tourist who had the opportunity to get exclusive access to the locks, escorted by our new nurse companion from the Panama Canal Clinic. This experience was a once in a life time event and I am so fortunate enough that myself and fellow nursing students were able to experience.

p.s. wear tennis shoes to the Canal, 4 of us decided to wear flip flops, myself included, and we had to borrow a fellow nursing students shoes to have this opportunity.

Hours passed and many memories were captured at the Panama Canal, but it was time to say goodbye and travel on to have a historical and city tour, thanks to the help of Bianca, our tour guide, whom everyone adored. On our way to the old city of Panama to begin our tour, we stopped to grab a bit to eat at a restaurant off the causeway, called Mi Ranchito Restaurante. The food was excellent, I had fried shrimp and french fries, very American I know, but it was delicious. Other students ate either chicken, shrimp, or fish and chose from sides of french fries, fried plantain's, and white rice. Congrats to Shadae who ordered a whole fried fish and loved it!

Now the time had come, it was time to depart to begin our city tour. Bianca guided us through the Old City of Panama, a place that like any other had very run down apartments and buildings as well as newly restored ones. From this bus ride through the city, I felt as though many of my fellow students were in shock over the condition of some of the buildings and homes. Its especially hard to express in words just how run down and dilapidated these buildings were, but I can truly say it was an eye opening experience many realized how grateful we all should be to live in the United States. From the city tour the one point that stands out in my mind was being able to see the presidents home, aka "white house", his quarters, and his families residence. The gates were guarded by individuals I'm assuming were the Presidents security and our group had the opportunity to enter through and take pictures in front of the presidents house with the guards, and see inside his quarters through the front door, where there hung a huge Chandelier.
Moving on in the tour we walked the streets, enter shops and many of us purchased souvenirs to take home.
Overall, this was a very memorable day and filled with amazing opportunities many individuals never get to experience. This should fill everyone in on our time in Panama thus far, theres so much more to come. I know I can say for myself and I'm sure everyone else, We miss all our family and friends and hope all is well.

Buenas Noches (good night) - Lindsay

Pictures posted include: 1. Departure of the Panama Canal. 2. Group shot upon entrance to the Panama Canal. 3. Picture in front of Presidents House with guards. 4. Bridge that connects North America to South America. 5. Lock at Canal.

Team Volusia County

Monday morning came early for us all, very little sleep on Sunday night and an early departure on Monday morning lead to a very exhausting and LONG day. Small little factors such as a flat tire on the way to the airport couldn't stop the Panama Group from leaving on time. 4:15 am was extremely hard for us all, thankfully there was STARBUCKS to the rescue. A short little hop to Miami and then the waiting period began. 4 hours later we finally got to get on the plane heading for Panama. Battling customs in a foreign country was an interesting situation with a group of students that packed A LOT of bags for the trip. A fun bus trip through the city of Panama, and one quick stop off at the grocery store, we were at our destination, hostal amador. Getting situated and settling in for the night, with a quick dinner at the local cafe, leads us into the time for sleep....FINALLY. Good night to the group and all the family and friends involved.

countdown

Hola,

So looking forward to the Panama Experience. Will be so glad to meet everyone. Hoping to have a little booklet (gift) for each one, with some vital Spanish/English information.

We are 19 days away!

Remember to pack your sunscreen!

Marcia