Visiting another country for the first time besides Mexico and Honduras has been one of the most memorable experiences of my entire life. I’m so fortunate to be allowed to visit another country, a place that many people do not visit. I specifically selected this study abroad program because, recently, last year, I visited Honduras for the first time; the program was a medical/dental mission trip. The program aimed to help those in Central America who are underserved, helping them resolve health and economic disparities. When I learned about Panama, I wanted to go to that location and see its biodiversity and community. Not only have I visited Honduras, but I have also visited Mexico, a place where my culture, traditions, language, and part of my identity reside. I have always been curious about other countries in Latin America.

The first location I visited was Panama City; it was ethnically diverse, including the buildings. In one area, you will see much smaller homes away from the city. The homes are made of bricks, and the roofs are cobbled with tin, plastic, or cardboard. Some of the floors didn’t have titles but instead had dirt, which reminded much of Honduras and Mexico. My family is from Mexico, and going to another country, part of Latin America, felt close to home, something I can relate to. Their traditions, culture, and architecture gave me nostalgic memories of my origins. Cities were made of glass and had a much more luxurious style.

The second place I visited was Gamboa, an unparalleled beauty compared to any other place that I have traveled. Gamboa was a tropical paradise, the most Panamanian place I could describe. So green, so exotic, and adventurous. There was always something new to do every day. One of the biggest highlights there was visiting the canopy tower in Gamboa. I encountered many different species. Birds were the highlight of my program, and my favorite bird has to be the toucan. Another memorable experience was snorkeling in Bocas del Toro, where many species were underwater. The variety of colors of the sponges and corals made it so exciting and unique; there was always something to see and explore.

When I went snorkeling, seeing some of the coral completely bleached was heartbreaking. Human activity also impacts biodiversity, resulting in ocean acidification and pollution from industrialization and agriculture from gas emissions. Going to visit a wonderful place and seeing physical damage to the species came to my realization. It's sad to me that I can't physically do anything to help. All I can do is spread awareness and be aware of actions. Even when I propel my career as a nurse and a graduate student, I hope to advocate changes where I can help climate change in different communities that I am part of. It all comes down to being aware of what is happening and realizing how critical it is to our health and environmental surroundings.

Name: Michelle Gallegos
Status: Junior
Major: Nursing
Hometown: Monroe, Michigan
Program: American Colonialism and the Creation of Biodiversity in Panama