Panama Travel Diary – A personal update

[dropcap]I[/dropcap]’m currently sitting in seat F10 on my Copa Airlines red-eye flight to Panama City. I’m embarking on a two month trip through Panama in which I’ll be attending Habla Ya Spanish School’s full immersion program in two locations, the bustling metropolis of Panama City and the floating island town of Bocas del Toro.

What qualifies as full immersion? Well, my courses are five days a week for 4 hours a day. I tested into the beginning level, and am hoping to become much more confident and capable in my Spanish speaking and comprehension.

Ever since I started traveling more I realized that it’s somewhat selfish to only speak one language and expect the rest of the world to accommodate me. When this opportunity arose I was elated, I’ve always wanted to delete my auto retracted response that I speak “poquito Español” when asked if I speak Spanish.

I haven’t taken Spanish lessons since I attended Central Oregon Community College nearly a decade ago, but growing up I was often surrounded by the language, and to speak it fluently has always been a huge goal of mine.

A new direction

I’m thrilled to be working with Habla Ya and writing about the program and my experience with the school! In addition to my lessons, there are weekly activities that will help me to get out and explore the city!

As some of you may or may not know, this experience was quite a segway from the course I was scheduled to embark on. I had originally planned to transfer to Cal State University, Long Beach to get my bachelor’s degree in journalism. Perhaps I was burnt out from school, but I felt myself being pulled away from school and toward my writing.

Don’t get me wrong, I truly value education, but I also believe that it comes in many forms. Following an academic career in Journalism was my way of trying to fit the square peg that I am into the round hole of conventional expectations. I may very likely return to school to get my bachelor’s when the time is right. Essentially though, traveling and writing are the most important thing to me outside of my family.

Organizing my writing schedule at LAX before my flight.

So here I am, mid-flight, enjoying the luxury of for once in my life having an entire row to myself, sipping on a celebratory rum and coke, (listening to Despacito, don’t judge you know you love that song) and pondering what’s ahead.

Here’s a shortlist of what I’m most excited for:

• Advancing my Spanish
• Exploring Panama City, the nexus for international business and trade
• Island hopping in Bocas del Toro
• Country hopping across the border from Panama to Costa Rica
• Seeing sloths
• Learning how to salsa
• SEEING MORE SLOTHS
• Celebrating my 30th (OMG) birthday in Central America!

Ok, I’m going to stop the list right there because, holy smokes, I’m going to be 30! I know that in the grand scheme of life that I’m still young, but this is just a crazy thing. The unrealistic life I had predetermined myself to be living by 30 is definitely a stark contrast from my reality, but I’m ok with that. In contrast to my plan A, I’m following a path that might not check off the boxes on the outline I made at 23, but then again, I don’t think I knew my ass from my elbow at 23.

But, now I’m rambling. Bottom line is that I’m going to be 30 in a month, celebrating in a beautiful and diverse country while chasing my dreams. I never would have put that on my list at 23, and in that regard I couldn’t be more proud of the life I live.

Arriving in Panama City was a stormy introduction! I was hit with a thick wave of humidity and rain… but I couldn’t be more excited!

Homemade tacos which I doused in way too much jalapeño juice resulting in my sweating off 10 pounds on the patio.

“Every great adventure begins with a first step.”

This trip symbolizes much more than just a working holiday for me. This trip is:

• My first solo trip!
• My longest trip abroad
• My first time attending a Spanish immersion program
• My first time leaving the country twice in one year (I went to Cuba in April).

These may be meager accomplishments to some, but to me, they’re a big deal. I love writing, so the fact that my writing is, in turn, the tool that fosters more traveling makes me very proud.

I’ll be in Panama City for two weeks and then I’ll take the overnight bus to Bocas del Toro, where I’ll stay for a month. Steve will join me toward the end and we’re not sure where we’ll be so stay tuned! Be sure to check back every Monday as that’s when I’ll be posting updates. Here’s a quick peek at my digs for the next two weeks.

The Panama House Bed and Breakfast in Panama City

The owner of the bed and breakfast keeps a watchful eye on his guests.

The common area where guests gather for breakfast every morning.

Safe to say I’m making friends quickly!

Have you been to Panama City? Recommendations are welcomed in the comments below!

If you love Latin America, check out daily life in Havana, Cuba!

xo,

Christina

Christina Lyon

Christina Lyon is a coffee-sipping, word-obsessed business blogger, content writer, and blog consultant. She’s on fire for helping creative entrepreneurs and small biz owners build thriving blogs that enhance online visibility and convert to sales. When she’s not reading or writing, she loves to play music and explore the beaches and wild trails along the California coast with her husband Steve and rescue pup, Clio.