A group of 22 Merrill students enrolled in Spanish classes embarked in a once on a lifetime experience. They traveled to Panama City, Panama to experience a fun filled educational trip. The main purpose was to provide a unique and challenging experience where students could put to use and develop further the language learned in the classroom. But this experience did more than just that, it allowed students to expand on what they know and to explore the culture.
While in Panama, the group was able to spend a week living with host families in a quiet middle class residential community. In groups of two per family, they lived about 10-20 minute distance of the meeting place where every morning the adventures began.
They went shopping in one of the largest malls in Latin America, Albrook Mall. They experienced Casco Viejo, a unique walled city consisting of 16th and 17th Century Spanish Colonial Architecture- recently named a World Heritage site. They drove by Amador and were among the first to photograph a new Bio-museum designed by Frank Gehry, best known for the Guggenhein Museum in Spain. They went to the Panama Canal and watched history in the making as expansion is scheduled for 2014. Their water boat trip by Lake Gatun was quite an adventure as they enjoyed a wonderful day in 90 degree weather in a house boat. There they went fishing or kayaking and swam. They saw many wild animals and enjoyed nature. Other fun activities done were Salsa dancing, Zip-lining and lots of sightseeing.
They group’s humanitarian project was to spend part of a day with underprivileged children. They donated school supplies to Casa Esperanza, an after school site. They read stories to them, colored and played games.