Day 23: Christi Gets Caffinated

Why, hello there Panama. It's so nice to finally get to meet you. After feeling like a mosquito sucked my brain out yesterday, I was finally able to be officially introduced to the beautiful Panama City. And it is gorgeous. Like shut the front door, smack in the face, draw dropping gorgeous. Okay. Maybe I'm a little in love with the city because after a day like yesterday everything seems amazing. Whatever the reason, I'm constantly sneaking second glances at the city.

Today was our second day of vocational visits. Christi, Parker and I would all be visiting two universities together. Christi and I started with a delicious breakfast prepared by our host Jesus. It was some sort of decadent French, fluffy pancake-y, fruity, soufflé thing. If a person is only allowed so many delicious meals in one lifetime, I have definitely used them up in Central America.

We were picked up by a Rotarian and went to our first visit at the University of Panama. And this is where I added to the collection of lost or broken sunglasses. I had already sold my spare pair to Christi. I think the sunglasses graveyard is up to around seven now.

At the University, we met with a few areas, but again, Christi lucked out on this visit while meeting with the agriculture department. Lots of great information was exchanged and we had a fun visit with the department... and even received some Panamanian honey in exchange for the honey sticks we gave!

After the university, we went to lunch at La Posta and met up with Jimmy and his host for the day.

We had a super charming lunch at the cafe. If there is one thing I ask of Panama, it is to stop it with the food already. Tuna tartare, camarones, ravioli de hongos, risotto, octopus, plantains, pastel de tres leche... shut up already.

After the second decadent meal of the day, we went to the Universidad Tecnología de Panama.

Most technical universities in Central America can be compared to Missouri S&T. Lots of engineering types. This university was similar in that aspect, but also provided associate's degrees, the first I have heard of in CA. Also, at public universities in Panama, tuition is very minimal... as in, maybe $100 per year... including cafeteria charges, registration charges, etc. I still do not grasp the funding models, but I'm considering going into engineering for my next career. :) The most they students pay is for books. One of the faculty members we visited with said he had just bought the Spanish and English text of a book. In Panama, it was about $30. In the US, $150.

Probably the best part of our trip to this university was our guide, Humberto Alvarez. This university is very young and most staff and faculty actually attended undergrad here and then went to the US for their master's and doctorate programs. This is the only university of its kind in Panama, so it's very important for faculty to continue education outside of the university (to avoid stagnancy). Our guide actually attended Mizzou for his post-grad work. He was a lot of fun and super interesting to talk with. After our meeting, we were able to walk about campus... and a campus built by engineers and architects is pretty incredible.

After this meeting, we drove back into the city.

Christi and I live downtown and close to most things we have visited this week, so we have been lucky enough to not hit any crazy traffic that the others have had to deal with. Knock on wood.

I think this building is a favorite of all of us.

When we arrived back in the city, we met as a team to prepare our final presentation. When we walked in Jimmy was waiting for us... with Red Bulls. I can not explain my delight when someone greets me with caffeine. Christi isn't quite the caffeine junkies that Jimmy and I are, but I guess she was desperate because for the first time she also welcomed a Red Bull. Well, a half of a Red Bull. And... wow. Christi turned into toddler who just ate 20 pixie stix crossbred with a cheerleader on speed. It was maybe the most humorous thing I have seen this entire 23 days. I am confident for the rest of the trip I am going to lace all of Christi's drinks with a few drops of Red Bull.

We had to leave our presentation work to go meet with our Rotary of Panama North. We had a great informal dinner with them at yet another beautiful restaurant called Roma Antiques... or some word play on Romantics. When we were leaving, Christi (still in super Christi mode) tugged on my arm and HAD to tell me something. I was finishing a conversation and she was off before I knew what she needed. When she crossed the street back to me I soon found out why she needed to tell me how funny something was. Yet again, we (she) knows one person in Panama City... The screw worm (flesh eating bug) dude Christi met with at the embassy the day before happened to be across the street from us at that exact moment. Another strange moment.

So... needless to say, day two in Panama has been infinitely better than yesterday. We all had a great day with great vocational visits (and clearly too much great food). Tomorrow, Christi has a visit to a coffee plantation and the rest of us have some fun tours of the president's house, the old city, and a museum we are all interested in before the district conference kicks off tomorrow night.

We are super excited about the start of the district conference and getting to reunite with all the faces we have met over the past month. I know it will be overwhelming (in the best way possible) to see everyone who gave us so much of their time, opened their homes, their offices, their cars and their lives to us. We can not say thank you enough.

 

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