Hey everyone! It’s Aldene and Abigail, we were the leaders of the day for “Working Like a Local”. It’s day 5 and it is as hot and humid as ever.

View all the pictures from today’s adventures here!

Today was our most physically engaging day yet. We began the day by waking up and going to La Bruja, having a traditional Panamanian breakfast of bistek, tortillas, camarillos, empanadas, and tortillas. For lunch, we had some delicious arroz con pollo y jugo de pina (rice with chicken and pineapple juice). Finally, for dinner, we had some Panamanian soup with chicken and rice.

Following breakfast, we headed on over to Finca Pamel, where we worked on a farm, doing various tasks like milking a cow, feeding a calf, cleaning animal pens, and gardening. We took a break to have lunch before having a little tour. The owner’s son Pablo then led a tour up a steep hill to an indigenous burial site where we learned about its history. Following that, we got back to the hotel and showered after sweating so much. We had some free time after that where some people slept and others grabbed some snacks at a grocery store. Ending the work day, we had a presentation about the main project we will be doing on this trip on how we will be able to help a local school.

Working like a local today truly helped us understand how hard these people have to work and how truly skilled they are at what they do. While working we thought about what the struggles of working may be, and the different things people may have a hard time with. Along the trail to the top of the burial site. We learned about the lifestyles of the indigenous, giving all of us a new sense and perspective of the land. We also gained a new perspective on possible answers to our question of the day. We discussed these answers at the Nightly Meeting, where some mentioned how this local culture contributes to the overall thriving of an entire population.

Overall, today we gained not only a deeper sense of purpose in this country that’s accepted us so warmly (literally), but a deeper sense of appreciation for the land, clothing, and generations of people all around us.

Aldene cleaning the goat pen!

Abigail milking a cow!

The crew at Finca Pamel

P.S. mumsy, dad, lexi, dahyun, and I GUESS kyle, yall better miss me and bring me flowers when I’m back.

P.P.S. Skeeb, Daddy, iimiro, Moony, +the fam, I’m alive, thinking of you, and can NOT wait to talk your ears off when I’m home. I love y’all!!!

…..+, flowers would also be appreciated 😉