Cultural exchange and lot’s of laughter for SW Washington high school students in Rio Sereno, Panama

The beautiful country of Panama was an amazing place for 25 Courts for Kids volunteers to spend their spring break. The group, which consisted of students and some of their parents and professors, had the mission to participate in a cultural exchange and build a public sports court with the town of Rio Sereno. 

Upon arriving in Panama City, we were welcomed by a typical lunch of fish with rice and ceviche. The walking tour of the historic district that followed revealed some of the rich history of the country and its famous canal. To finalize the walking tour, we were surprised by a crowd gathering around what happened to be an outdoor international competition of traditional dances from Latin America. This experience allowed us to sense the country’s rich culture and national pride.

Impatient to get started, we got on a bus the following morning at the crack of dawn to drive to the Chiriqui province on the western border. We were honored to stay in the town of Rio Sereno at their church right before the catholic holy week while volunteering with them in their effort to grow and develop. The court was one of the first steps toward a community recreational center which was part of a shared vision to give children in the town an opportunity for a healthier future. 

From communicating with the contractors over the language barrier to figuring out how to fix the cement mixer, there were many challenges. Despite this and even falling behind schedule one day as a result, the court was completed in time for us to use it and play basketball, soccer and volleyball with students from the community. 

We were challenged to exchange our culture everyday through a variety of activities. These included learning about local traditions such as traditional dancing and their local government, as well as sharing our own by teaching the locals different games. The Peace Corps, which had helped initiate the project, also helped us complete the challenges by traveling from nearby communities to work on the court alongside us and teach us what they had learned about Panama in their time there. 

After finishing the work for the day, we took the opportunity to learn more about Rio Sereno through their cultural activities. This included a tour of the local lake and coffee plantations, as well as the opportunity to participate in their bingo afternoon. In addition to showing us local activities, the Panamanians were also excited to show off their incredible food which generally consisted of plantain, corn and rice and even invited us to prepare a dinner of empanadas and tamales with them.

The end of the week came with a very difficult goodbye. Everyone was going to miss the beautiful sunrises and even the daily half mile hike to the court. Both us and the Panamanians shed tears after having to say goodbye to our own friends. By the end of the week, we felt like part of each other’s family and had learned something from each other. Whether it be a little bit of language or the value of living in the moment, we were all surprised by the ability of the community to put others first and we will make sure to do the same at home in Washington. 

~ Liam Daily, Student Volunteer

Volunteer quotes:

“You get to experience a new culture. At home my life is very fast paced. I am moving constantly and never get much time to reflect. After this trip I have realized there’s more to life than working constantly. I met so many nice people on this trip, especially in the group. I want to have friends like you guys in my everyday life”. ~ Portia Erickson, Student Volunteer 

“Some stereotypes I had was that the town was very small, secluded from the outside world. Actually, this town is bustling and full of life. They also are very self sufficient and very hard working”. ~ Tucker Holmes, Student Volunteer

“What I learned about the world is that we all have challenges, just in different forms. Despite the hardships; love, service, and connection can be found. It is all about what we choose to focus on”. ~ Melinda Convey, Chaperone

“What I learned about the world is that we are more similar than we are different. We eat the same food, we all dance, we serve others, we like to have fun. These similarities unite us and allow us to connect even if we don’t speak the same language”.
~ Savannah Convey, Student Volunteer

“My high point was when I was laughing a lot, like at dinner, or dancing with the community. For me, it’s a rare thing to experience and I am grateful I’ve been able to experience it in a new place”. ~ Jaycee Le, Student Volunteer

“I learned that I can still simplify and prioritize those things in life that often go unattended when I’m consumed with work and the fast pace of American culture. I was afraid I had lost that. I learned how to reset my outlook on life, prioritize the right things, be present and enjoy moments when nothing is happening”. ~ Micah Rice, Chaperone

“I’ve grown a lot closer to some people that I go to school with but have never talked to, which has given me a new perspective. I also feel like I’ve learned to just go with the flow which I never could do before. This trip has also made me realize how much I’ve been wasting my time away instead of living in the moment and enjoying the people around me”. 
~ Madelyn Page, Student Volunteer

Community quotes:

“A dream accomplished. The community of Rio Sereno in the Chiriqui province celebrates this accomplishment that started with the spark of two Peace Corps Volunteers who connected the community with Courts for Kids. Thank you for their donation and hard working volunteers. This project is now a reality thanks to the joint efforts of the volunteers from the community and the United States.” ~ Eliseo Nuñez, Rio Sereno’s Representante (local mayor)

“Thank you to the Representante, Courts for Kids and the community for this opportunity. When we work together and under God’s love we can accomplish our goals.” ~ Matthew Drennen, Rio Sereno Peace Corps Volunteer

“This project opened the door for a cultural and recreational space for the community. We feel empowered thanks to this project and will continue to work towards creating a space with more facilities, seating area, tables, playground and much more where the community will continue to meet and kids to develop in a healthy environment.”
~ Beby Chavarria, President of Rio Sereno’s Neighbors Association