Ya he llegado!

I have already been here for 3 days which have gone by quite fast! Our houses are great, simple but we definitely have all we need (except hammocks that we plan to buy and hang up this weekend). It is HOT all the time (30-35C), though we are in the dry season which means we have had no rain so far. I am living with 4 other girls from McGill and one Panamanian named Evelyn who will be joining us in February for the rest of the semester. Our house is in the background on the right! Surrounded by palm trees and toucans.

We celebrated our arrival by having a potluck. The 4 other houses are right across the street.

(Photo Credit Katherine MacDonald)

On Thursday morning we went for a walk in the Parque Nacional Soberania to begin our Biology class and to get a glimpse of this crazy tropical forest. Our professors showed us the way, carefully describing the flaura and fauna from banana trees and mimosa to leaf-cutter ants and Harpie eagles. Unfortunately we have not been able to see howler monkeys just yet. We then went for a swim in the river.

In the afternoon we were introduced to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institution (STRI) where we will have class. STRI will also play an important role in coordinating our internships.  I will be working with two other girls in Pedasi in the Reserva Pablo Barrios with ANAM (Autoridad Nacional del Ambiente). So far we have met one of our supervisors at a cocktail organized by STRI. She is in charge of all the protected areas of Panama and who seems very enthusiastic about us joining her projects.

Today after another meeting at STRI I went to the local market with a friend we we bought loads delicious of fruits and vegetables for only 6$! Though Panama may not be as cheap as many of its surrounding countries, local fruits and vegetables are delicious and much cheaper than back home.


I will hopefully have more photos next time but for now I am going to bed because I must get up at 5 tomorrow to go to the Atlantic coast of Panama. (Not exactly sure where yet) Our professor's son was looking for some people who like to climb to help him install a few ropes on trees to climb in the canopy. Can't say no to that!