Most teens have no idea what a Notary Public is and most adults don’t know what an Apostle is; but through my preparation to leave, I have had to learn about and request both. I have applied for a passport, and will be applying for a tourist card and visa within the next few weeks. As a part of my Visa regulations, I will not be able to work while I am in Panama so I have created a budget and coordinated ways to have access to my account here in the USA. I found out which credit/debit card would be accepted in Panama's debit system and what cards would be safest for me to use in Panama.
AFS is a cultural exchange program. My "family" will share their culture with me; I will share my culture with them. While I am in Panama I will be expected to host presentations about my family and community’s culture as well as the culture of America. I have made a power point presentation to do this and have decided upon and have collected small tokens of American culture to show and share. I will also be expected to share my Panama experiences when I return. Experiences like the food, language, religion, celebrations, my host community culture as well as general Panamanian culture. I have set up an outline that I will be able to fill in while I am gone.
This, along with all the vaccinations and a mountain of paperwork, is what I have done in the last 5 months to prepare to go. In the next week, I need to pack a years’ worth of life into a suit case -a 44 pound limit including unique gifts and foods to take and share with my host family. I need to say goodbye to my family and friends.
When I look back and think of the work that went along with “apply to be an exchange student” I can only imagine what work there will be to actually being an exchange student. I have learned so much from the preparing process. I have learned, I have grown, I have found answers to questions that just lead to more question. And I have found answers to those questions. I have worked alone, I have organized teams of volunteers, and I have worked with community members, from local business owners to the Secretary of state. I have read and I have researched. I have made decisions. And I have only just begun. My “year” abroad will officially start on July 30th.
