Panama by Jianna Wankel

The Institution of Tropical Ecology and Conservation (ITEC) is a remote and off grid lab where the CofC Panama students and I stayed for 2 weeks. ITEC powers themselves through solar energy and a generator which is used sparingly. Every morning the generator was turned on for 30 minutes in order to make coffee. Every night it was turned on so that we could have our lecture.

Since Panama is experiencing a severe drought due to El Niño year and ITEC is off grid, we had to conserve water. This meant no showers. I was quite thankful that we were not coddled like tourists but were able to live like locals for a short amount of time. Everyday our ITEC guide, Pete, took us by boat through the mangrove tunnel to either Starfish Beach, Secret Reef, Juani’s on Bocas Del Drago, or Bird Key to snorkel and bathe in the sea. There is something very special about that. It is as if we were bonding with the ocean and depending on it while also exploring it. There were a few days that it did rain though. One day in particular, the other students and I were studying, and it started to rain. We ran outside for a rain shower with cups that we filled from water dripping off of the roof. There are so many things that I take for granted. I looked at the rain differently, I looked at the ocean differently, I listened to the birds differently, and walked through the forest differently. I want to live closer to nature, not only because of my experience in Panama but also because that is who I am. I want to live with the windows open and with the AC off. I want to bathe in the sea. I want to get my hands dirty. I want to listen to the birds. I want to get sun on my face every day.

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