Our Farewells...

Our Farewell to UP Our Farewell Dinner

a farewell photo of Panama City from the Maternity Hospital

Farewell Panama

America here I come

The Big Event: The Health Fair

Sunday, June 4th, 2006

I am sure I can not articulate myself as well as my fellow classmates, but today did give me a different perspective on life. I have been left almost speechless, just thinking, and reflecting on what I saw today. First, I must say it was awesome! I was able to help people who had so little. I was able to give flu shots and vaccinations, I must have taken over 100 blood pressures, some girls were able to do pap smears, and we all had the opportunity to walk through the surrounding area telling everyone about the health fair. The most astonishing sights were while walking through the indigious village. One family sharing a one room shack, the piles of garbage outside, the water in buckets, a sink outside, one bucket to bathe in, and the faces of the children. Even as the nurses told the people about open water attracting mosquitoes, they people had nothing to cover the water with. Jewell found a child that had a respiratory problem and sent them to get assistance from the doctors, and on my tour we saw a children that had dermatitis on her legs and her face. I could not quite understand why it had happened, but it was due to renal failure and medicine. They were not seeking help from the people at the health fair. There were mothers with 8 children and pregnant living in conditions that were unsanitary. We questioned the University about possibly adding birth control and contraceptives to the fairs, but the indigious people do not believe in these practices. Well, I will let my colleagues tell their stories and I am sure this blog will have pictures that might shock you.
A picture of the town of Nueva Esperanza ("The New Hope")














A bedroom for 8.














Kuna Indian family.














Administering flu vaccines.














Some nursing students and faculty that made the event possible.

Day 13 - A Trip to a Beautiful Beach!

How can it get any better?
Dr. Cadena ...........relaxing!
What a BEACH!
Our cute feet in the BLACK sand!!!

Unlike my classmates, I have no clue how to post pictures, so I apologize. They would help greatly in describing the wonderful beach some of us visited today about an hour and a half outside of Panama City:) One of the professors at the University of Panama invited us all to her ¨weekend house¨ a short drive from the beach. There were about 10 Panamanian nursing students, 10 professors, and 7 of us students. We headed there early this a.m. and spent a couple hours at the beach itself. When we arrived, it was high tide and the water came all the way up to the wall at the back of the beach, so we had to wade through water to a spot with some actual sand. And the sand was black! Amazing. I have never seen black sand before and it was stunning. The water was very refreshing, especially since the beach was so warm with a strong sun today (finally!) and the black sand and all. After staying on the beach a while, we returned to the professor´s house for a Panamanian BBQ - chicken, chorizo, salad, potatoes, and sangria. Very yummy. We spent time with the students and professors, some playing volleyball and some laying around in the many hammocks, before driving back to the city. Saturdays don´t get much better than that!!:) (Original Post by Jess N. I just added the pics)

Random pic's from Panama

on our way to Isla Grande













Kellin and Victoria showing some much needed love to a Panamanian puppy













cultural celebration at a church













All dressed up in rainforest Gear












Casco Viejo (the old city)














A traditional dancer at Tinajas restaurant


















The Golden Alter at the Church of San Jose

FAQ's

Frequently Ask Questions of our Panama Trip:
1. Who has the computer lab key?
2. ¿Donde esta el Baño?
3. Can we stop at the grocery store?
4. Does anyone have toilet paper/ hand sanitizer?
5. Where’s Angel? (Our bus driver that is always late)
6. Who has the stove? (The place we are staying at doesn’t have stoves/oven so someone let us borrow a 2 burner stove)
* All these questions are at least asked 2 times a day *

My first posting.....

So, this trip has been amazing. It has had its ups and downs, yet we will all walk away with something so wonderful and different that we may never experience again. We have learned so much, seen even more, and the thoughts, feelings and emotions that we have all experienced is unfathomable! We have been so blessed to have this opportunity and I think we all have a new perspective and appreciation for nursing!

On the photo above (that is not showing), please right click and open to new window. This is a photo slide show!!
Enjoy!

El Valle

On March 31st we went to El Valle
This is a valley inside a dormant volcano!
We were able to visit a local community clinic, do some sight seeing and of course go shopping at the indigenous markets.
The best part (besides the community clinic of course) was when we participated in a canopy adventure with a zip line.
We went through the forest, and above a waterfall!
Check out our pictures!

The labor a delivery room.

There are 15 births a month here!

All ready to go zipping through the canopies!!

AHHHHHH!!!!!!

Smithsonian Institution

I think we lost track of the dates, but Tuesday May 30, 2006 we went to the Smithsonian Institute in Panama. The first thing we noticed was the nice beach, but it was only for the research crabs and not for swimming. They have a lot of interesting animals. We saw an iguana, sloth, and many many marine animals. Of course they had fish in tanks, but they compared the marine life of the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea. The Caribbean Sea has a colorful vibrant sea life and best for snorkeling. We were able to hold a star fish and another prickly fish that tickled our hands. But I avoided the outside as much as possible because it was swarming with bees, and I am deathly afraid of them!!!!

The Panama Canal

Touring the canal was pretty awesome!!! The nurses that work occupational health gave us a unique presentation about decades of nursing and hospitals during the canal´s building phase until today. Currently the canal has over 9,000 employees and onyl 11 occupational health nurses!!! They are responsible for a lot! Before they gave us the presentation they told us that some one had an accident today where his leg was broke from being tangled in a rope. The nurses also explained how malaria was the cause of the French not able to finish the canal. It was pretty impressive. Not all of us stayed to watch the ship go thru the lock, but I am sure some one will make sure a picture is posted soon. Well, the locks are pretty interesting as well. The Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea didn´t have the same level of water, so they had to construct these locks. How it works.....The ship enters the lock. It closes. Water from the lock above flows down till the water level is the same at the current lock and next lock. The next door opens and the ship enters the next lock. People might need an illustration to understand and I will find one and post it. Well thats our rainy day at the Panama Cannal.

...passing through Mira Flores locks...Cecilia de De la Iglesia, Occupational Health Nurse

Comments....

I can´t tell you enough how much it means to us to have so many family and friends visit our blog and post comments. Thank you for making this first week of blogging a success!!
Definitely lots more to come!

Maybe driving a bus should be my second career!

Gamboa Rain Forest

Gamboa Rain Forest lies along the Panama Canal. It is beauuuuutiful! Need I say more?

...our friend Joe the water monitor, a species of Kimono dragon

...for a cheap and quick buzz just get bitten by this parrot snake. We heard it´s better than the rum.

...on our way to Monkey Island all smiles...

...the highlight of our trip thus far until...

...this cute little monkey sees our smiles and decides to show us his teeth along with a high pitched scream. We all left with PMSD (post monkey stress disorder).

Coconuts

It took an hour and a lot of muscle to get it open!

Our visit to Cabuyita elementary school!

Cabuyita is located in a small rural town called The 24th of December. The school day is divided into two sessions, one from 7a to 12p and the other from 12p to 5p. The grades are from Kindergarten to 6th grade. We had the opportunity to meet with the principal, various teachers, and students. English is a part of the elementary school curiculum and all of the students took pride in practicing their English with us.















Introducing the elementary school´s newest student...Lindsey.














"Hey, that´s me on there!!!"

...basking in my fame :-)

...teaching kindergarteners hand washing.

...Crystal, Carolyn and Jewell with UP nursing students teaching 4th graders nutrition.

The Laboratory

...in the lab area

...Kellin practicing pediatrics
...some typical ICU equipment
...Professora Lucero de Estrada with a child dummy















At the oncology hospital with the Panamanian nursing students.
















One of the Operating Rooms at the Oncology hospital.

Young Nurses in Old Panama

The Panama Viejo (Old Panama) Historic Monumental Complex, and especially the Tower of the Cathedral, is one of the main symbols of the nation. The Old City was the center of the expeditions during the Spanish conquest and colonization, as much as the central point of the trade routes of the times.

Since July 2003, the Archeological Site of Panama Viejo has become a part of the World Heritage list of UNESCO.

The Nursing Crew.














The view from the top of the Cathedral.











Melissa at the top of the Cathedral.


















Me with the black lady...























...and Lizzy with the white man. Celebrating diversity.























The sunset at the Cause Way














Re-inactment of the window falling off the bus

El dia de cuatro

The 4th Day! Each day gets better and better! Today we woke up bright and early and went to a children´s school in the country. The little kids were muy precioso! I was in a group that taught kindergarteners how to wash their hands properly. We taught them a song (en espanol) so Victoria, Melissa, and I just pretended to know what was going on! :) I really enjoyed the day at the school, the kids loved us and even asked for our autographs! We ate lunch at McDonald's and then went home to change into our formal wear to meet the Dean of the University of Panama. After that we went for drinks on Amador Causeway and ate PIZZA for dinner at a local restaurant in la Cuidad del Saber. They even stayed open an extra hour for us. Today was great and I cant wait for tomorrow!!!

DAY TRES!

Day three.....what to say? We have been sitting at the University for awhile waiting for the faculty. The food was better today and we are taking our first tour. The autobus will be touring Old Panama for us.

Our Home

The City of Knowledge within Albrook Province







Home of Lindsay, Melissa, Layla, Jess, and Sandra.

This was the military base, Ft Clayton. Air conditioning works great, but no hot water yet!












24 hour security at the City of Knowledge

Universided de Panama Welcomes USF Students

Universidad de Panama

Dr. Sandra Cadena, Dean of Undergraduate Studies USF College of Nursing

Profesora Elba de Isaza, Dean of Universidad de Panama College of Nursing

Crystal and Jewell in front of the College of Nursing

The Rookie "Pep Rally"

The Rookie "Pep Rally"

Victoria is showing the Panamanian students some American moves at the pep rally!!!

Autobus

Arrival in Panama! Lots of luggage and smiles!

Day One Pics

Welcome to Panama!!!

So I stepped off the plane and all I could say was ´que humedad!´ The humidity!!! Then we saw the little bus and our driver Angel, who was so hospitable and practically loaded all of the luggage himself. And did we have luggage! Panamanians are magnifico!






Our first dinner in Panama: Pencas on The Causeway!

Day One!

A day of travel, toting luggage, and tasting new food!...

Read all our comments to learn more about our first day in Panama:)

DAY 2!!!!!!

So today were at the University of Panama and were on the internet!
hehe its very exciting for everyone!
This morning Crystal, Jewel and I ( carolyn) woke up bright and early and went for a walk around our complex. Its an old army base so there is a path that is about 2 miles long and its great to work out on in the morning. There were parrots outside making lots of noise and the humidity is unreal. I love the weather and were all having such a great second day. Hopefully we will get pictures up soon so everyone can see what were doing!
Carolyn

Our first breakfast on campus.

Doin' it Florida style.

Time is flying fast!

I can't believe how fast May 21st is coming!?! I have been tempted to get a room at the Airport Marriott the night before, just to make it easier on me and whoever gets stuck driving me to the airport at 4am. (Remember I live over a hour away.) Is anyone interested in getting a room?

Also what about the T-shirt and polo that we ordered. I have no way to pick it up. Can someone help with that?

Thanks,

Sandra

ITS GETTING CLOSER!!!

WOW! I can not wait for this fabulous opportunity! Its a vacation and school wrapped into one package! Hopefully leaving with wonderful experiences!

Only 2 more weeks....

I am so excited for our trip! What a once in a lifetime opportunity for all of us to take part in!

USF Nursing Class heading to Panama

 

Beginning

23 days and counting......a small group of USF nursing students head to Panama for 3 weeks as part of the Community Health course.