This blog is coming to you very late because we had a FULL day of CULTURE here in Las Tablas. We’ve all just returned from the Dia de las Polleras celebrations, a once a year festival that brings traditional music, clothing, and dancing into our sleepy town.

We began our day with a Culture Seminar and Workshop with one of our Program Coordinators, Arleen. Arleen spoke to us about the importance of tradition in Panama to frame what we would see outside of the hotel later in the day. After lunch, we continued with a Lider del Dia (LDD) Seminar, meaning that beginning tomorrow night, parents and families, our students will be writing the trip blogs!

Before dinner we explored the town in smaller groups, hitting supermarkets for snacks, checking out local soccer courts, and exploring outlets for business casual clothing (because tomorrow night we will be teaching English!) Everyone was happy to be out of the hotel, even if it did rain on us!

When the festivities began in the evening (a casual two hours later than expected), our groups went to see matadors escape angry bulls, tunas play traditional music and las reinas de la pollera dance on elaborate floats through town. Our jaws dropped when the fireworks show began nearby, too.

Todays’ Question of the Day was: Why is it important to preserve culture in Panama?

By the end of the evening, we had a collective answer: “Culture is something that brings people together. Look at this small town of Las Tablas, it’s currently filled with fun and joy, and families are together laughing, celebrating, and living.”

It truly was a special night. Enjoy the pictures below and the last blog from me, Nathan, the other Program Coordinator. Tomorrow theme is “Working Like a Local” and we will be very busy!

xx