Admin

In the past, I’d filled various roles in my work here. Rio Clean-Up Day, afterschool programs, water testing, health care interviewing, overseeing a full house to name a few. But the most I’d ever taught ESL was to Kinder students for a few weeks and a few days of assisting or subbing in San Miguel classrooms. But when September came and I faced the first week of teaching all of our ESL classes, running all our afterschool programs, continuing to work on research and being a resource for health and wellness, and managing operations in San Miguel, all while living in the house alone – I just about went and hid in my room. Of course, I didn’t, and instead faced my fears.

2 months later I could not be more thankful for the challenges that initially scared me so much. Standing alone in front of class after class trying to teach English was the single most nerve-wracking thing I have done since moving to Panama – turns out it was also the best way I could have improved my Spanish and gained confidence in myself. Knowing in the past only about 25 students meant I spent a few weeks learning the names of about 175 more. However, when I was dragged by the hand to meet more than a few mothers during parent-teacher conferences I was able to show I was paying attention to every student. I’ve learned just how much I can push some classes and how approaching things differently completely changes situations. The San Miguel 5^th/6^th class, notorious in the last years for filling teachers with dread and resulting in a lot of frustrations, is now my all-time favorite class. Their jokes and complaints and smart-aleck ways are still there – but they share space in the classroom with attention and respect and hard work because I asked more of them. And then of course there was working with teachers and working within the educational system in Panama and in this area. Through my time in some classes I learned what an incredible difference a good teacher makes in the education of a child; through other experiences I learned how badly hurt a student can be by structural violence or a teacher who doesn’t care.

Above all, the most important challenge I faced, and still face everyday, is that of long-term relationship building. I asked myself for a while why exactly that was a challenge. Of course, this semester was difficult. But it’s much more than just the long days and workload of the last months. I realized it’s been the most challenging part of my work here because most of what I do really just boils down to making myself vulnerable day after day. Community outreach is a daily exercise in breaking yourself down; it is making the decision to allow cracks in your own foundation of values and beliefs and what you know to be true, so that you can really see the world from someone else’s perspective. If you can’t be vulnerable and open to making mistakes or feeling wrong you will not be able to learn and see through another’s eyes; if you can’t learn or see you can’t understand; if you can’t understand you can’t build relationships; if you can’t build relationships you will never begin to really become a part of a different community.

Continuing to do this work in the future and future semesters means facing new challenges – being vulnerable all over again. Right now, we’re looking towards the likes of expanding our ESL programs to the Los Lotes secondary school, attempting to set up a market in San Miguel to foster local business, adapting to students changing grades and classrooms and to changing Kalu Yala interns. Regardless of what the unknowable future brings as we head into November and to the end of this semester and year here in Panama, I will be thankful for what I have in the present, easy or challenging. As I leave to spend Thanksgiving in the States and look at returning to spend Christmas in Panama, I will be grateful for these two worlds I live in and travel between, will count my blessings as the many people I now call family spanning thousands of miles, and will appreciate the strength and happiness that I’ve gained from allowing myself to be vulnerable and embracing what scared me the most.

The farm continues to take shape through the blood sweat and tears of the Ag team, led by fearless director Alex Goff. Sadly, we are still mourning the temporary absence of Joanne and Josh, on the farm. Though gone for different reasons, both of them are dearly missed, especially right around hole diggin’ time. Even without some key members Ag team was able to make some major additions to the farm. The weeks emphasis started out in the green house. Lets start with the front of the green house, where we cultivated about a 10 by 20 foot rectangle of ground. This was the foundation for the greenhouse extension, which we created by stretching sun cloth from the top of the house to the end of the cultivated patch.

A second addition (which remains half completed)

is a water catchment system on the back end of the greenhouse. When it rains, and it rains often, the water naturally flow off the backside of the greenhouse. To take advantage of this free water delivery service we designed a system that included a gutter system leading into a 75 gallon water tank at the back corner of the greenhouse.  This week, with the help of Brigitte, we constructed a platform strong enough to hold up an overflowing 75 gallon water tank using recycled wood from around the camp. Also, we scavenged some old guttering. Although the guttering has yet to go up, we have enough of it to cover the greenhouse and all that’s left is deciding the manner in which we put it up. When completed this system can be used for the essential watering of greenhouse seeds, and even for drinking water, in times of desperation.

Fellow Ag Intern Dominique, also made some major headway on her own personal project, the “H”erb spiral. The h is not silent in this case. The structure of the spiral was finished this week and by the end of our stint, she had several herbs in the ground. Not only does this thing look sweet, but it is an excellent example of applied sustainable farming.

Fellow Agriculture intern Josh spent his 10-day stint in the capital city. He has plans to develop an aquaponics system in the Hispania house. He plans to begin construction over the next stint.

The great propagation experiment with oversized trimmings of jamaica and Cranberry Hibiscus was a smashing success. Charged with the task of multiplying our stock of these delicious and ornamental herbs, the Ag team planted about 70 of these larger-than-usual trimmings into the ground. Before we left for the city, all of them were still living. Also, in other miscellaneous farm news, the first green house plants were big enough to be planted in one of the plant beds in the farm. 50 new snow pea’s are now in the ground, and with the amount of seeds we have already planted this semester, there are much much more to follow.

[singlepic id=6762 w=320 h=240 float=none]

[singlepic id=6760 w=320 h=240 float=right]

[singlepic id=6763 w=320 h=240 float=left]

Little did I know the people here would make me feel comfortable immediately, get rid of the nerves and start up the excitement once again. I already feel like I’m at a home away from home. Yes, a home where only a small group of people speak English, but that just gives opportunity to learn some spanish. Yes, a home without my immediate family, but less than 3 weeks in and I feel I have already made some lasting friendships. Yes, a home with completely different terrain, but as soon as I start to feel claustrophobic in the mountains we head out to the city where I can see as far as possible across the ocean. There are even friendly dogs to make me feel better when I start to miss my dogs at home in Canada.

So thank-you to all the great people of Kalu Yala for making me feel at home and making the next 2.5 months just that much better.

The Kalu Yala agriculture program will consist of an 8-hour workday.  The first four hours will consist of working in the maintenance and upkeep of the farm including the expanding and growing new and existing crops.  The main goal for the Fall 2013 semester will be working on building up the farm to a level that will sustain interns living in Kalu Yala, which will drastically reduce the outside cost of food.  The second main goal will be to design and set up an irrigation system throughout the current developed farm area for preparation of the dry season, which will begin in December.

The second half of each workday will consist of interns working on personal projects/ideas. Interns will be pushed to test their ideas, which will greatly provide valuable learning experience through a hand on approach. Interns will also be encouraged to continue the work and maintenance of former projects.

The different projects and areas of work in the farm throughout the Fall 2013 semester will as follows:

– Irrigation Design/work

– Chicken Coop Upkeep

– Goat Upkeep

– Maintaining of garden beds

– Weeding

– Planting

– Transplanting

– Maintaining of fruit trees

– Proper Mulching Techniques

– Proper Pruning Techniques

– Proper Planting Techniques

– Graphing Trees

– Creation of Garden Beds

– Specific vegetable garden beds

– Pathways and layout of farm

– How to propagate tropical species

– How to propagate herbs

– Starting seeds in greenhouse

– Different Compost Techniques

– Farm Infrastructure Work

– Starting major wind block

And Much More!

Alex Goff

Agriculture Director

Farm Manager

Kalu Yala Fall 2013

It is an exciting time for us at Kalu Yala and we are looking forward to you being a part of the team and the action!  The current priorities for the Business Program include planning for a 5 day, 200 person camping event to be hosted at Kalu Yala over New Years, and preparing for the initial phase of design and implementation of the first cottage homes to be built at Kalu Yala.

The workdays are structured for interns to work in the mornings on the program’s overall semester project, lead by their directors, and then transition to their independent projects in the afternoon.  Each semester interns are asked to come up with an individual project, and with the help of their peers and director, bring that project to life in a tangible way.  The Fall Business Program’s project, lead by the director in the mornings, will be focusing on the planning, organizing, and implementation of the Jungle Adventure camping event that Kalu Yala will be hosting in December.  Interns are provided with resources and connections that may help advance a project or expand networks, but each intern is responsible for putting in the work to get what they want out of this experience.

The educational aspect of the program focuses on daily group discussions on the required business reading material that incorporates lessons on Business Modeling, Sustainable Business Strategies, Entrepreneurship & Collaboration.

DIRECTOR GOALS & TECHNIQUES

• Communication

  • Monday Group Meetings Discussing ‘Last Week’s Challenges & This Week’s Goals’

  • Individual Intern Meetings on Frequent Basis

  • Open Communication with Other Directors & Regular Meetings

  • Transparency

  • Provide Comfortable Feedback Loops for Interns

• Lead By Example

  • Set Standards and Expectations

  • Be Patient & Encourage Ideas

  • Demonstrate Good Work Ethic

  • Professionalism

• Guide the Interns

  • Inspire Interns to Develop Own Project & Proposal

  • Enhance and Improve Existing Project Design & Implementation

  • Assist Interns in Setting Project Goals & Timelines

  • Be a Resource for Interns and Provide Guidance to Their Projects

• Education

  • Facilitating Daily Conversations on Assigned Business Book Reading Requirements

  • Relevant Articles, Blogs, & Videos to be Assigned Weekly & Discussed

  • Improve Sustainability and Health & Wellness Efforts Within Kalu Yala

  • Provide Networking Opportunities Through Guest Speakers, Workshops, Special Events

  • Incorporate Program Involvement into Local Organizations

• Be Resourceful

  • Read, Research, Study and Demonstrate Knowledge of Material

  • If I Don’t Know Something, I Will Figure it Out

  • Seek Knowledge & Advice from Professionals & Experts

  • Ask for Help When Needed–we are not experts and need to acknowledge our limitations

PROJECTS

• 200 Person Kalu Yala Event Preparation

  • Event Plan & Logistics Execution

    • Recreation Mgmt & Activity Plan

    • Identify Vendors & Suppliers

    • Hospitality Services

    • Volunteer Coordination

    • Communications

    • Infrastructure Management

    • Sponsorships

    • Permitting Processes

• Furniture Business by Kalu Yala — “Align”

  • To continue with this summer business project by getting prototypes of furniture designs made, focus efforts on integrating products into the market, and identifying and securing supply chain

• Eco-Tourism

  • Creating brand awareness to the athletic community in Panama for the existing tourism company, Jungle Adventures by Kalu Yala, by implementing  the event plans for a 1 day Jungle Run event tailored to crossfitters, runners, etc.  for an intense outdoor workout

• Business, Marketing, & Operation Plans for Co-Working Eco-Resort

  • To create a business model and plans for a Co-Working/Co-Housing Development in Kalu Yala

• Agricultural-Business Ideas: Product Development:  Taking an item that Kalu Yala produces on the farm and turning it into a marketable product that we eventually distribute.  Ex: Jam/Marmalade, Composting Fertilizer

• Community Organization Involvement:  Establishing relationships and planning events  with local organizations to further connect the community of those trying to make a difference, live healthily and sustainably

Kalu Yala CEO, Jimmy Stice, also has several ideas for the Business Program this year for those who want to be more directly involved with the Kalu Yala land development company.

Real Estate Related

1. Kalu Yala’s Builders Program

   1. Define builders program structure, including conceptualizing the Builders Guild

   2. Profile potential builders

   3. Create promotion plan to find and attract appropriate builders

   4. Design screening process to vet builders

   5. Design Kalu Yala Builds incubator to aid local and international builders make a successful transition into the world of Kalu Yala

2. Cottage Sales Program

   1. There are 20 special cottage lots in the Founders Village reserved as the only lots for non-investors in that village

   2. Create profiles of target audiences for this special offering (ie people under 35, entrepreneurs, farmers, etc)

   3. Design sales program to find and attract the best of this target audience

   4. Define the cottage product in a way that is of high value to the target audience

   5. Construction Management Plan & permitting processes

3. Securities Sales Program

   1. Learn about Kalu Yala’s financial structure, target investor audience, business model, and current promotional plans/activities, as well as securities regulations in the US and Panama

   2. Create a separate promotional plan for finding and attracting investors to add another prong to the arsenal

4. Investor Business Plans/Pitches

   1. Use the Kalu Yala master plan, share structure, and community model to pick a building type(s) to match a business plan to

   2. Perform a feasibility study and create a resulting business plan

   3. Potentially package that business plan into a pitch deck to solicit investors

Economics Related

1. Define Kalu Yala’s business principles required of all businesses doing business in Kalu Yala or using the Kalu Yala brand (i.e. regional producers who are part of a Kalu Yala co-op).

2. Plan The First Kalu Yala Co-Op

   1. Co-ops are a big part of how Kalu Yala will enable small businesses to compete in a big business world.

   2. Identify opportunities for creating early co-ops that can include already existing regional businesses/producers at Kalu Yala

   3. Define Kalu Yala co-op goals and principles

   4. Use local context and co-op goals to identify comparable examples and blueprint Kalu Yala co-op structure and business plan

3. Local Resource Index

   1. Radiating from Kalu Yala to San Miguel to San Martin, identify and catalog locally available resources

   2. Either choose a particular resource and map its occurrence in the region or work from Kalu Yala outward cataloging all the resources that can be identified in a particular area further before expanding the study

   3. Resource examples include human resources (i.e. political leaders, craftsmen of different types, large local financial stakeholders), natural resources (i.e. extraction industries, aquifer and water resources, timber), and products (ie. locally produced food products, unique crafted goods, medical, educations, etc)

4. Draft Economic Development Plan

   1. Use Michael Shuman’s books The Small Mart Revolution and Local Dollars, Local Sense to identify the required components (guiding principles, institutions, financial and human capital) of a successful local economy that supports entrepreneurs and small businesses at Kalu Yala

   2. Chronologically order the development of these components

   3. Propose development plans for each component, starting with the first

The outdoor recreation program goal is to provide and facilitate safe and fun recreation opportunities for fellow students and guests.

Director Goals:

1. Facilitation of a fun and safe experience for the students
2. Promote effective communication
3. Supervise quality of student projects
4. Instill values regarding correct practice of ecotourism
5. Reinforce protocols for sustainability
6. Educate students pertaining jungle lifestyle, project facilitation, and outdoor leadership

The time allotment for the workday in Kalu Yala is split in half. Four hours are devoted to the director project and base maintenance and four hours are devoted to student projects.

Examples of director projects and base maintenance;

• Maintain vegetation growth on base
• Trail maintenance
• Orienteering
• Participate in lecture
• Work as a group to efficiently complete a project
• Blaze a new trail
• Go on a hike!

Examples of student projects (this part is up to you!)

• Archery/hatchet range
• Blaze a new trail
• Create a survey and analysis
• Facilitate recreation activates
• Build a corral
• Build a horse shoe court or other sport field/court

• Demonstrate leadership by promoting students’ personal growth, self-reflection, and mentorship

• Stay focused, efficient, and consistent

• Facilitate research and continuous learning

• Emphasize and implement adventure, environmental awareness, and healthy challenge

• Promote collaboration

• Create realistic timelines and meet established benchmarks

• Encourage open communication

Overall Biology Program Goals:

• Document biodiversity and research ecological interactions

• Develop and propose a continual, long-term ecological monitoring project

• Collaborate with other programs

• Improve overall sustainability

• Gain more experience and knowledge as a field biologist

Director Led Projects:

• Ecological studies on the farm

• Beekeeping- research and start a hive

• Soil testing

• Weather monitoring

• Develop a working greywater treatment plan

• Create and install species identification signs

Possible Student Led Projects:

• Random plot discoveries to study the surrounding jungle (species identification, density, habitats, interactions, food webs, abiotic environment)

• Begin a rainwater collection system

• Research innovative irrigation and composting methods

• Draft an Environmental Management System (EMS) for Kalu Yala

• Initiate an ornithology project

• Tree identification- build on already existing data

Semester Goals:

1. To turn ideas into action. Finishing the year with the same goal I started with: following through, seeing projects through from start to finish, making the impossible possible.
2. To listen. Working in San Miguel, whether on Community Outreach, Education, or Health & Wellness projects, you are working with people who have their own perspectives, backgrounds, cultures, beliefs, and dreams. Listen more- it will let you learn more, which gives you the ability to do more, and do better.
3. To grow. To increase the quality of education in our programs, to increase the quality of our projects, and to expand personal and professional skill sets for both the students and myself.

Techniques:

• Communication
• Organization
• Follow-through
• Work Ethic
• Positivity

San Miguel Director-Lead Projects

1. Continued ESL classes in San Miguel, Carriazo, and Juan Gill Primary schools
   • San Miguel: 4K/K, 1st/2nd, 3rd/4th, 5th,6th
   • Carriazo: 1st/2nd/6th, 3rd/4th/5th
   • Juan Gill: 4K/K, 1st/2nd, 3rd/4th, 5th/6th
2. Afterschool program expansion to Carriazo and Juan Gill
   1. Programs in San Miguel
      • Futbol & Deportes
      • Arbol de la Vida & Arte
      • Book Club
   2. Programs in Juan Gill
      • Arte
      • Futbol
   3. Programs in Carriazo
      • Arte
      • Futbol
3. Adult ESL classes
   • Continuation in La Mesa and San Miguel
   • Possible expansion to Juan Gill and/or Carriazo
4. Further study of Health Care in San Miguel
   • Work on AAA presentation and journal article
5. Community Wellness Initiatives

Possible Student Projects

1. Aura’s Refresqueria

• Financing for the project
• Construction and building
• Development of products
• Marketing and opening!

2.      Casa Llena Garden

• Increased food production
• Upkeep of work done by Brenda

3.      San Miguel Library Kids Garden

4.      Women’s Exercise Classes

The sun has set hours ago and the warm evening I am sitting in is like the warm coolness of my spirit after a full, deep, belly laugh. A dear friend recently told me that one belief he knows to be True is that when you listen to the birds, your soul will be refilled. I would add to that axiom insects. Even at night, the earth here is teeming with an overabundance of life as the dense explosion of vegetation I am looking at envelops me with an orchestra of song. And my soul is refilled.

Growing up in the northern California valley, I must say that I was pretty well off. The weather was pleasant, the people were pleasant. Life was mild. Safe within the massive protective arms of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, the world’s harshness couldn’t reach me. Yet I was the boy from a different place who was displaced into this valley, in this natural daycare. I never belonged there and I knew it. I never saw myself in the faces of the other children and I never seemed to fit in. That which was valued as normal or desirable in the valley was the antithesis of what I saw in the mirror. I did not come from the valley. I was transplanted there at an early age to be safe, however, I knew that there was a place over the ice-capped ridges where I could be normal and even desirable. I grew restless and was constantly looking for an opening, a crack in the foundation, a hidden tunnel I could escape into. So when I was offered a ticket to live thousands of miles away for the next four years, to see what lay beyond the first hill, I took it. I said yes.

Since then, I have continued to be approached by people offering to take me just past the next hill. I keep on saying yes. I said yes to a professor and a friend. I have spent all summer living in a small town in rural Panamá. I said yes to another friend. I spend several weekends on a tiny, beautiful, black-sand beach, having bonfires with local surfers, swimming under the stars, watching unbelievable lightning storms. I said yes to a smile. I hike 8 hours into the jungle, ford rivers, and skid down muddy hillsides to reach a hidden waterfall nestled in the heart of the mountain. I said yes to a whisper. I meet handfuls of Panamanian professors, academics, medical professionals, filmmakers, and young students.

I said yes to an invitation. I am now the effective international director of the iTeach organization and last week met with department directors of two Panamanian universities as well as one Saudi Arabian university to discuss partnerships with iTeach. I will be spending the upcoming few months studying in Japan and overseeing these projects, incubating an organization that connects youth across the world in a targeted, intentional manner to address economic disparities compounded by English proficiency. I was asked to speak to several university classes about my experience in Panamá, as well as the organization. I said yes, and will be speaking to two classes later this week.

By saying yes, I have travelled far from the valley of northern California. At each invitation, I am guided beyond another hilltop, and beyond each hilltop I am astounded by the love and open arms I am welcomed by.
By saying yes, I have pushed myself beyond what I thought possible and have made bounds in self-esteem and confidence.
By saying yes, I have seen and been amazed by what these hands are capable of. Last night I met a kindly, old Peace Corps volunteer named Bill. After telling him a bit about what I have been up to, he looked at me, smiled, pushed up his circular thin-framed glasses and said,
“You’ll go great places, young man. Don’t ever forget your spirit.”

Before continuing this post, please enjoy a brief interlude and watch this:

After some reflection recently, I was struck by a profound, ground-breaking, and personally revolutionary idea:

If this is how far I have come by saying yes to others, how far can I go by saying yes to myself?
Thus far, I have limited my scope of possibility to what I am told is possible by others. Well, what if I define my own scope of possibility? What if I define my own reality? What if I recognize my own dreams not only as possible, but as a compass to guide me? To what heights can my own dreams take me?

Last semester I was sponsored to attend the Clinton Global Initiative University conference in St. Louis. Although I did take issue with quite a few of the projects my fellow attendees were proposing (what sort of Brown student would I be without critiques), I enjoyed immensely the amazing panelists presented before us including Mohammad Yunus, Kenneth Cole, and Jack Dorsey among others. What I was most profoundly struck by were the words of Women for Women International founder, Zainab Salbi who told us that,

“The world we live in is a product of our imagination, so might as well create the life that you imagine.”

I am going to take a moment to announce my dream. Starting next summer of 2014, I will begin a bike ride for one year in southern South America and will make my way up the continent. Along the way, I will document a network of suitable iTeach partners, and host training workshops for online resources (such as the Khan Academy) at schools and community centers as means of socially engaging the communities I come across. Essentially my dream is to act as a Johnny Appleseed of education, sowing the seeds of self-directed educational growth everywhere I go. This dream is an experiment to push myself to my physical and mental limits by completing the trip on bike. To push the limits of trust by believing in the people and communities I will encounter and possibly stay with. Even more, this dream is an experiment to see exactly what one person can do, to push the limits of the possibility of impact that one year of one life can make.

Although I have certainly enjoyed my experiences thus far, and have been thrilled with each passing hilltop, I have been aware of a much larger mountain range looming in the distance that I still remain comfortably protected by. This dream is of climbing the mountain no one has invited me to, of forging my own path and creating the life I imagine, of being bold, of taking risks, of recognizing the fleeting transience of life, of taking one look off the edge and plunging into the unknown.

And it all begins with one step. I begin now.

Looking back on this semester and all that we’ve accomplished is difficult—mostly because it’s too quiet for me to think straight. I’ve become accustomed to the chaos. The chaos of being pestered with questions about everything from water to blender usage to healthcare in Panama, the chaos of the groggy mumbles or bright-eyed exclamations of “good morning Dad!” accompanying the faces of each of the 17 students as they wake up and fight the line for the bathrooms, the chaos of the smells of banana pancakes and eggs and tortillas and whatever leftover creation Tomas is making for breakfast battling for my nostrils. The stillness left in the wake of a rush of dozens of students making their exodus from Kalu Yala and this summer semester has left me dazed, trying to collect my thoughts, grasping for words to describe just how much I miss everyone already, and trying to wrap my head and heart around the past 11 weeks and all the emotions that have come with it. But I already wrote my letters and read all of mine though, and with them hanging upstairs in my room to remind me of all the students dispersed, I can at least put that part out of my mind enough to focus on making one more list – of projects accomplished, of a summer’s worth of work finished by everyone.

Morgan & Johana became my health fair girls.

(Johana giving her final presentation)

(Morgan giving her final presentation)

They put together two health fairs and laid the groundwork for more to be held in the future by sending out e-mails and visiting places like the Johns Hopkins hospital in Punta Pacifica and busing at 5 am to the Center for Health Promotions in Chepo to gather information, brochures and posters and literature on many health issues to be put together on posters for local libraries. They both presented dental information in school classes, including a song about brushing your teeth, and handed out toothpaste and brushes to students. They visited the San Miguel clinic to interview the pharmacist and asked to borrow blood pressure readers to give free screenings during the health fairs, and their work will allow future interns to volunteer at the clinic.

Portia & Cristina became self-titled San Miguel Water Officers.

(Portia during Monday water sample preparation)

(Cristina labeling San Miguel water samples)

They traveled to Portobelo with other interns to work with INDICASAT and learn about water testing in Panama, and brought the techniques and materials back to do routine tests on water sources in the town. They hiked to the municipal tank along with a local tank, different spots on the Pacora river, and took samples from taps weekly to be incubated and looked at for e. coli and coliforms. What they found at the end was expected but still shocking to see, and proved the need for new systems of water filtration or new sources for tap water for all of San Miguel and visually showed exactly why so many illnesses crop up around the area whether in interns or locals. They also showed off their findings at the health fairs along with a poster of information about clean drinking water.

Brenda was never seen this semester without a shovel, hoe, wheelbarrow, dirt, rocks, or plants in her hands.

(Brenda on the right working with Johana putting her babies in the ground!)

She transformed the San Miguel garden from empty space into a mini-farm; she tended to her ‘babies’ day in and day out, growing her seeds into seedlings and planting them in newly created beds, surrounded by new sand paths outlined in hauled river rocks, and collected medicinal plants and herbs from San Miguel to plant as well. Her work will literally fruit in the future, when all of us at Kalu Yala and those living in Casa Llena will be able to pick the harvests of all she’s planted. And of course, no one will forget the day they tried to help her and were the most exhausted they’d been all semester trying to keep up.

Anna was our nutritionist this semester, creating new meals for our meal plan, designing healthier combinations of food for better vitamin intake, standing-in as chef whenever Noris was ill to make us baked broccoli or squash and watermelon tomato salads better than anything I’ve found in a restaurant.

(Anna at the water tank for testing)

She also potted flowers and painted the pots for a new flower garden for the school library that Miriam has always wanted, and was a great assistant for helping hike and collect samples with Cristina and Portia for water testing.

Jasmine was the Health & Wellness runner to Community Outreach & Education’s Lindsey – she was out everyday getting her miles in, and from that stemmed her San Miguel Mile race.

(Jasmine, far right, before the start of her San Miguel Mile)

She mapped out the course, created the finish line and decorations, gathered volunteers and runners, and of course put her own touch on the race shirts. After the mile her focus on having healthy, active fun with the kids and Kalu Yala interns and organized volleyball, futbol, and a big round of basketball.

Last but certainly not least there was Ann.

(Ann talking with our favorite man, Ramon)

Ann spent months before coming down working on getting a study on health, healthcare, nutrition and exercise approved by her university’s IRB, and then worked all summer to interview people around San Miguel and San Martin with her original and follow-up questions. Her honor’s thesis on her research will eventually be published and presented at the American Anthropological Association conference this November. Throughout the summer she also proved to be invaluable in her work as ‘the scientist’ during water testing, working with Brenda in the garden, and helping out at the health fairs.

On top of their individual projects and focuses this summer,

there were chickens to bring home ,

rain to dance in,

afternoon Jason Derulo sessions to break up the work day,

events at Casa Llena like Christmhanukwanzakuh in June,

Co & Ed events to support,

movie nights and skill shares,

happiness lists to be made,

rice and beans to be eaten,

and of course, a home to inhabit.

*Thank you to all my incredible, beautiful, hard-working, dedicated, passionate, crazy, fun, positive, curious, strong and intelligent Health & Wellness girls – you made all the work of starting this program, seeing it through (and managing the house of all you wild childs) more than worth it. Miss you (and all you CO & ED students too!) more than I can say.

[singlepic id=6712 w=320 h=240 float=none] [singlepic id=6710 w=320 h=240 float=right]
[singlepic id=6715 w=320 h=240 float=center]

What does everyone do when they step off an international flight into a whole new world filled with exotic woman, spices and plants? They go to the nearest McDonalds to get a glimpse at the local cuisine. Fortunately, McDonalds is as prevalent here as it is back in the States. Unfortunately, the fast food here is about as fast as molasses going uphill in sub-zero weather. I figure that out the hard way.  Here’s an account.

My first encounter with Mickey D’s was when I escaped to the mall for some much needed air conditioning. Initially, I had no trouble crossing the language barrier to order. All I had to do was point at the absurdly large picture of the Big Mac on the menu and the attendant got the point. She took my money, gave me a receipt and set me up to believe that I would be biting into juicy goodness within the minute. But no, I must have waited upwards of 15 minutes while the McDonalds workers openly chatted away not doing a thing and definitely not preparing my double-pattied, triple-bunned, savory-sauced masterpiece. By the time the food arrived as was very nearly biting into my arm for some sustenance. Slight exaggeration? Maybe. Slight exaggeration on the time? Definitely not. The fast food here is a misnomer. It’s about as fast as a normal restaurant back in the US.

But what Panamanian fast food lacks in expedience it makes up for in convenience.  Who said food delivery was only for pizza and Chinese restaurants? Not Panama. I usually like to justify eating fast food by at least walking to the establishment or at the very least walking to my car to drive to the establishment. Here in Panama though, the most work you have to do to get KFC or McDonalds at your door is a little finger walking on the ole telephone. That’s right! Both KFC and McDonalds deliver. It must be quite popular service too. I see numerous KFC and McDonalds motorcycles each time I go out. BLAH

Continuing with the topic of food, I am curious to what the Panamanians eat before the invention of the fryer. I came into this summer with the romantic vision of eating freshly caught fish tacos from a street vendor just seconds away from our apartment. What I got was fried…everything. Be it chicken or fish, with a side of either fried plantains or fried potatoes, everything here is fried.

Traditional Panamanian food, in my opinion, is rather bland. Mostly everything is seasoned with the same set of spices and then thrown into the fryer. I am unimpressed. For fairness, there have been a few times where the fried chicken has been exceptional. But that’s to be expected, right? If you fry everything, sooner or later you are bound to get good at it. Maybe that’s harsh BLAH

With all the fried food and fast food on the menu, Panamanians have to burn it off some how. Well a large number of them do each night at a spectacle named La Cinta. At La Cinta you’ll find a combination of all the bad fitness crazes of the 90’s with more acceptable workout forms like jogging. Every night around 8 o’clock, it is packed with rollerskating housewives, schoolboy soccer players and juiced-up muscle men. You will see the latest Lulu Lemon outfit on a lady who’s running more up and down than forwards or young kids using the workout equipment like a jungle gym. You will also see sports being played ranging from soccer to ping-pong.

Quite obviously, soccer is a steadfast but, more shockingly; basketball has a huge fan base here aswell. The most surprising fact, I think, is that Basketball is more popular among the indigenous people of Panama, who also happen to be the shortest people in Panama. The native Kuna people are fiends for basketball. All of them, most flirting with five feet in height, scramble up and down the court in a very distinct style differing from the States.  There is a court right outside our apartment, which serves as quite a hotspot for this particular style.  There or no dunks, there are hardly lay ups, I would say the most common shot is a floating rainbow like shot that is hardly effective. It seems to work for them but it is still unlike anything I have seen before.

It is worth noting that when we went to the San Blas islands, a reservation for the indigenous Kuna people, they were having a island basketball tournament. So here we were in a completely isolated chain of islands populated only by short, indigenous people and their biggest form of activity is a basketball court. I just find it funny that the shortest people in Panama have the greatest affinity for a sport that usually requires height to be proficient at.

There are some cultural differences that I don’t find entertaining at all and that is the taxis and specifically their over usage of their horn. In America, I’ll go for most of my drives and never hear a horn the entire way. This couldn’t be farther from the case here in Panama. On a 2 minute ride to Casco, our driver will honk upwards of 10 times and that’s not counting the honks of the other cars around us. Or just walking near the street, nearly every other car will give us a honk. Maybe it’s because we are gringos and they like to give us a hard time but I think it is darn right excessive.

I expressed my dislike for the horn to a taxi driver we had in Boquete. He replied back in Spanish so I am not exactly sure what he said, but I did pick up the general gist and the word “estúpido.” Using my poor translation skills, I think he remarked that there are a lot of oblivious drivers and pedestrians out there so it is the other drivers duty to make sure they don’t swerve over and cause a collision.  I don’t think this explanation does justice to the sheer amount of horns that are used though. Sure they might use it as warnings but they don’t need to warn drivers every two seconds. I think they have a hidden urge to be heard and the horn is their way of being king of the road. I will not be missing this when I head back.

Some other nuances include the lack of lawnmower usage here in Panama. Instead they seem to prefer weed-wacking entire fields in what look like post-apocalyptic suits of armor. Or the commonness of butt implants that often make the women look like oompa loompas. Another small observation is that they don’t say “de nada.” Instead they just say “ok.” At first I thought this was a little rude, but after several times I realized it’s just how they do things around here.

There are plenty more cultural aspects that I have not included but, in all, Panama has given me more new experiences than I could ask for. This place is rich with cultural diversity, rich heritage and fun-loving citizens. From their cuisine to their honking to their weird take on fitness, Panama has been a blast. It has only but sparked my thirst for travel and urge to rid myself of the “American ignorance” surrounding knowledge of other cultures. To the rest of the world, we have the image that we enclose ourselves in a small jar surrounded only by our pseudo-culture and egocentric oversights. I mean, National Geographic reported that 85% of young Americans don’t even know where Iraq is on a map.  This is the sad truth, but I believe there is no better way to bring down this image than to immerse yourself in as many cultures as possible. To be observant; to be open-minded; to be a world citizen. I started with Panama and I can guarantee I won’t be stopping anytime soon.

Bargain before you step in:

Sometimes you have to know when to walk away from a cab.  After you approach a driver and tell him where you want to go, you want to ask how much by saying Cuanto es? or Cuanto será? A short cab ride within the city should be about 2 or 3 dollars, never more than 5.  If you’re with a group, a dollar or two per person.  If the cab driver insists on anything more than that, just walk away and find another.  You could also take the “Brian Clair approach” and let them know you mean business by saying Soy gringo, no soy estúpido.

Use anything to your advantage:

It was gonna be a $5 cab ride from Albrook to Hispania. Cab driver made me wait a minute while he went inside a store to grab something. When he came back I said, Debe ser 4 ahora, no? Porque esperé. He chuckled and said hesitantly said ok. The same type of strategy could be used in many other scenarios. For instance, if there’s no traffic and your cab ride was fast you could say, Como no había tranque, el viaje debe ser (1 or 2 less than the previously agreed amount), no?  This is kinda like throwing a baitless line out into water, but it doesn’t hurt to try, right?  Another good idea is to let them know what you’ve normally been paying for taxis.  The good thing about having a city full of taxis without meters is that the playing field is a little more level.  Also, depending on time of day, there might be lots of taxis driving by, so you can be a little pickier than they can.

Pit vendors against each other:

Bargaining with vendors is in general pretty easy. But a good strategy to take when strolling through the artesian shops is to use the differences in prices to your advantage.  If you have your eye on an item that isn’t particular to just one shop, see which vendor you can talk down the most.  You can often make them come down on the price of something if you tell them it’s being sold for less elsewhere.

Go Panamanian:

You may sometimes find yourself tempted to go for the imports instead of the domestics when making your alcohol purchases.  Take my advice… it’s not worth it.  Stick to Abuelo, Panamas, and Balboas.  For 3.55/b for a 6 pack of Panamanian beer, you have to take advantage as much as possible.  You could also buy the other two Panamanian beers, Soberana or Atlas, but I don’t know why you’d want to.

Take back what’s yours:

If by the end of the semester you find yourself scrounging the apartment looking for any kind of spare change you can find just to get a meal on the weekend, then you can consider this option. If not, I’d advise waiting until you have expended all your other options before resorting to this.  Anyway, there are several places around the city where you can go to make lots and lots of money.  The catch is, you have to spend some in order to make some.  Oh, and I should mention that there’s a chance you could lose a bunch of money too.  These places are called… casinos.  My first three visits to the casino were fantastic.  I was able to make enough money to support my living expenditures for a couple of weeks.  However, I’m sad to say Lady Luck was nowhere to be found during my next two visits.  Long story short, my casino-going days in Panama are over.  I’ll admit, winning became addicting, and greed eventually became my downfall.  If you find yourself up a good amount of money, learn from my mistakes and just go home instead of trying to win big.  Again, use this as your last resort.

Looking back over the summer, I realize I probably could have been a little more frugal with my money.  Having to resort to gambling to fund your last few weeks in Panama isn’t an ideal situation.  Nevertheless, the one thing I realize as our time here nears its end, is that the memories you make mean so much more than the money you lose.  While you don’t have to spend money to have a good time, you also shouldn’t let money ruin your good times here in this great country.

This week, I learned a lot about family. My best friend from high school, whose friendship I have held dear for over a decade, came to visit Panama and see the incredible work happening here in the valley. First, I will say we had an amazing time in San Blas and introducing him to the people in both the city and San Miguel venues… but my real excitement came when I brought him to the valley.

Everyone was so welcoming and warm. My buddy, Steve, was not a stranger here, but one of us. I was so proud of my Kalu Yala family for opening their arms and their hearts during his time here. I knew they would, but it was so nice to see Steve being brought so readily into our culture, welcomed so easily into our family.

I am thankful to have had the opportunity to surround myself with so many amazing people this semester. My KY family has had a huge impact on me. My family here was built on strength and laughter, acceptance and understanding. I am part of a team in which there is neither an all-star player nor anyone who is permanently benched. We are all an integral park and we all work together for the betterment of each other and our Panamanian society.

OOH-RA!

Maddy says: “I’ve spent a majority of the summer learning with and helping others; but, this week, i’ve really had the opportunity to start fleshing out my own project. It’s been a good reminder for me about why I’m here and has instilled once more my passion for outdoor recreation. i’m excited to continue working! Oh, and the Chargres trip was so great- O.R. FO’ LYFE!”

Adam says: “I spent my week cutting bamboo and digging! It was rather uneventful but overall a fun work week. I am at this point going to film a ride down the Chagres trail [next Thursday] and  I hope all goes well with that. Here is to the last two weeks being just as exciting.”

Izzy says: “The past few weeks have flown by. The group came together for the trip to Chagres National Park. We made the hike out in the rain, but the view from the top of the trail was a once in a lifetime experience. As far as the challenge course goes, we’re finalizing the construction of our elements, clearing paths, and generally getting exciting for field day. Valley phrase of the day: ‘Crusty the bio-dog’, a neighbor’s dog that likes to hang out under the ranchos and go on hikes with us. ”

Bonnie says: “Last week we went to Chagres National Park. The hike was super tough but one we got there and the pouring rain stopped it was fun. We had very interesting sleeping arrangements complete with a ‘Tarp City’ and several people falling  out of hammocks. Camping is a test of friendship for sure but we all made it out. This week we finished the seating in the hillside and even held the Town Hall meeting there. It was so amazing to see everyone sitting on our hillside after all the work we’ve done.”

Kyle says: “These past couple weeks have paid off. The challenge course is finished. Now to the city to finish the challenge course manual. OR this semester has really constructed a noticeable building block in Kalu Yala.”

Buddy says: “Often as I see the real world my faith in people have dwindled. Yet as the clock ticks down, my project just begins. My Panamanian family has been together to create our jungle chapel. Please pray for us.”

Calli says: “The outdoor recreation program has continued to prove successful and entertaining. We ventured off into the rain and hiked to Chagres National Park for an overnight trip. Everyone taught educational lesson plans. i taught the crew how to light a fire with petroleum jelly and a magnesium strip. Work the past two weeks has progressed so much. i’ve so far identified 21 tress species on the property. I helped dig Duffy’s hydroponic hole and bring sand from the beach to the volleyball court. I also helped out agriculture by tilling Kaitlyn’s terrace and Effie’s garden.”

David says: “This week in OR we have been able to finish the valleyball court and the seating for the stage! Preparations for field and presentations is at the top of our to-do list.”

Lee says: Went on some cool hikes, tarzan swinging on vines, trail blazing through the thick and building the voodoo lounge- successful week in my book.”

Hatton says: “Finished the voodoo lounge with Lee and Peter. At the end of the week Marie and Tyler, who are scouting for potential zip-line locations, came and I will be their jungle guide!”

I believe in grey areas. I believe in looking at the world from both sides of the gun in order to shake up preconceived notions and narrow perspectives. I believe in karma and paying it forward. I believe that desiring to learn and hungering for knowledge are highly underrated. I believe the mediums of music, art, and literature can save souls. I believe that there is something more out there and something after this life, but that if there isn’t, this world and this life are wonderful enough. I believe that life is actually very basic and it is through a disconnect with the world and with one another that we have created complications. Love one another, be compassionate towards man and earth; I believe it really is that simple.

More than anything though, I believe that we create our own happiness, that we are in charge of our own destiny regardless of the accidents that happen along the way, and that most things and all people are capable of positive change and growth.

To know my beliefs are good, to strengthen them, all I have to do is wake up, open my eyes and leave my room each morning. As an intern, this was to the sight of Elly and Julie sleeping five feet from me in the girls’ bunkroom. Last semester it was to our neighbors’ mango tree and growing fruit—this semester, it’s to ours and ripe ones. If I leave my room and head down the stairs, I would pass through the living room that has been arranged and rearranged more times than I can count, full of posters created for the health week Johana and Morgan planned, the wall that once read “todo bien”, then was stained with smoke, that is now painted a beautiful turquoise by Brianne. I would go through the kitchen with its new stove and Maria cooking her famous banana pancakes, an extra fridge and countless shelves to hold the food of twenty people and the endless fresh produce now part of our once standard meat & comida meal plan. I would walk outside to the patio covered chaotically in shoes, past the table that used to be just one and is now three pushed together to fit our family dinners, where Rayna and Emily might be planning for Carriazo classes or Katie might be discussing book club plans with Esteban. I would pass the garden and see the magic circles created for compost before I’d ever even heard of Kalu Yala, see the vine Lea planted last summer, the full-grown yuca planted by Noris during my fall absence, the raised bed and path and new compost pile I hauled rocks for with Morgan, the new papaya sprouts that Juice accidentally grew from so much raw veganism, and now the garden beds, chicken coop, paths covered in sand, and countless seedlings that Brenda has been working towards. I could walk out our rusty white gate and see the river that I have swum in more times than I can count, which Portia and Cristina are now using for testing to aid water improvements. A ways further I would pass the fonda where I first met Sofia and Sonia with Evans leading the way, and with whom I’ve now talked to about health care in more interviews with Ann. I might walk by the cancha where Jen meets Kathia or Aura at 5 am for exercise class and where Tomas now coaches soccer and where our first fun run was held by Jasmine and where we play nightly volleyball with Jorge. I might stop to see Miriam and the garden being created for her by Anna, and depending on the time see Lindsey speed by on a run, or see Jenna walking back from teaching in the Special Education classroom, or find the library packed with kids for one of Megan’s movie nights.

That five-minute walk is all I need. I see hands getting dirty. I see physical efforts exerted to build upon what already was. I see the concentrated faces of interns mentally problem-solving before they stand up and follow-through with implementing brilliant answers to their own questions. I see friends and family where I used to see strangers, and I see possibility, opportunity and accomplishments where I used to see impossibility and closed doors. I witness life in constant flux and over time, as changes are made cooperatively by positive, passionate people, who take their own beliefs and motivation, mix that with creative critical thinking, and then apply their beautiful individuality to solving the problems of a community. I see people doing, and I see them doing happily.

Jody Williams wrote, “I believe that worrying about the problems plaguing our planet without taking steps to confront them is absolutely irrelevant. The only thing that changes this world is taking action. I believe that words are easy. I believe the truth is told in the actions we take. And I believe that if enough ordinary people back up our desire for a better world with action, we can, in fact, accomplish absolutely extraordinary things.” After the last year here, I no longer believe this to be true. I know it to be.

Recently I heard a quote that resounded with my summer: “I only know myself in relation to a community.” Before arriving to San Miguel I spent two months backpacking by myself. I did not spend more than three nights in one place for the duration of my trip. I felt as though as I began to know more of the world I was simultaneously becoming detached from it. Therefore, when I arrived to San Miguel as a Community Outreach Intern, I was surprised by how overwhelmed I felt about becoming part of a community again.

To get to know a community it is important to know what they value and to appreciate the social capital that unites them. That social investment came unexpectedly for me when I learned that Norris, the lady who cooks for us, held a Bible Study every Thursday on her front porch. On my second night in San Miguel, I wandered over there. At night the pink porch was lit by a single bulb and three benches precariously held neighbors from all around the community. A podium stood on the opposite end. They opened with prayer. When they pray, they all speak at the same time, urgently. It seemed strange, even a little unsettling the first time I heard their breathless pleas and thanks. After the prayer they sang a welcome song for me. Each person in attendance came and shook my hand or kissed my cheek. I never questioned whether or not I belonged at this Bible Study. I was instantly invited to Church services and birthday parties and I began to see familiar faces on the bus. I even had children who would help chase off the neighborhood dogs when I felt threatened. My weeks of being alone melted away as I immediately had a family fussing over me and loving me again.

Every Thursday I make my way back to Bible Study. Without fail each Message mentions the gratitude and amazement that people of two different cultures can sit together and praise the same God. Whoever I sit next to shares their Bible with me and often rescues me from some bug or other that tries to nest into my hair. I’m always greeted warmly with hugs and jokes and smiles. Norris, when giving a message, never fails to mention the inspiration and love she feels at work and thanks God for the opportunity to spend time with Kalu Yala.

Bible Study became especially important in my life a few weeks ago. I received the devastating news that a friend of mine had passed away. I spent quite a few days holding on to the news alone, trying to make sense of it myself. I began to realize that my hands weren’t big enough to hold onto this alone, far away from my normal support group, so I pulled Norris aside, fighting the flow of tears that were still hanging on precariously inside me, and asked if we could pray for him that night in Bible Study. She made the arrangements. She asked me if I wanted to lead it. I was too nervous. Communication in Spanish is never easy but certain things are hard to articulate in any language. So they prayed for me. The chanting prayer that had made me uneasy on my first night all of a sudden provided deep comfort. I have no doubt that the prayer was heard because so many voices and so much love were part of it. The comfort that those words wrapped around me is still tangible. I loved learning how to be alone but being so effortlessly and lovingly accepted into a community has been something far more valuable, especially during that tough time when being alone was not enough.

As the summer comes to a close I reflect often on the community that I have been learning about in San Miguel. Whether or not you believe in God, something I learned in Bible Study is that people around the world believe in Love. They believe in love enough to come together on a porch once a week and sing to it. Everyone in San Miguel has touched me with love: the librarian made me a necklace, a child helped me make a slingshot to keep our rooster in line, we enter school and our students begin to cheer at the sight of us. As I turn over the quote in my head about only knowing myself through a community, I realize that what San Miguel has given me is extremely valuable. It has taught me that I don’t need to support myself alone. I have many hands, many new family members, to help catch pain or give hugs or hold hands on the way to the soccer field. The San Miguel community demonstrates that love is a universal and inexhaustible resource and as I have become a part of this community, this resource has become a part of me as well.

Written by Rayna Healy.

Before arriving to Panama, someone told me that we as humans were created with two ears and only one mouth for a reason; it is essential that we listen to what others have to say rather than insisting that we know best. I believe that this lesson is particularly important here because we as westerners tend to assert the belief that developed nations possess a superior way of thinking, but this is definitely not the case. The philosophy of life that I most identify with is this idea that everything in existence is intricately interconnected to another and every being is a continuation of everything else. For this reason it is crucial that we listen and consider the thoughts of others.

While conversing with the people of San Miguel and the other surrounding communities, I have realized that every single person has a unique perspective and a story worth sharing, and always there is something to learn from them. The people of San Miguel live a very different life than we do and I truly believe in the merit of living a humble life not centered on the traditional material items that we deem valuable in the “modern world”. Consequently I am so grateful to have had this opportunity to immerse myself in a completely different culture and I only hope that I have given at least some people from San Miguel some of the insight that they have given me.

Portia: One of my personal goals was to learn to live outside of my comfort zone. Though it continues to be tough, I’ve managed to do it and I’m proud of myself for accepting the challenge.

Ann: One of my personal goals was to become better at Spanish. Although I still face many obstacles, I have been able to learn so much by working with and interviewing members of the community.

Brenda: Anxiety is something that has plagued my life throughout my high school and college years. To cope, I have relied heavily on my friends, family, and especially my boyfriend. I realized that by coming to Panama, I would no longer be able to rely on my familiar support system. Being away from “home” has helped me become more independent in overcoming my anxieties, which has proven to be one of my greatest challenges living and working abroad.

Cristina: My personal goal this summer was to be able to use resources other than the internet. After living in Panama for about 2 months now, I have realized just how easy this goal is. In a community with no internet or ever phone satellite, I realized just how much people rely on trial-and-error/word of mouth. I have come to see how much more convenient it can actually be to just ask someone a questions and get a response based off of actual experience. It can even be more reliable than just punching something into Google; sometimes someone’s own experiences about something can be much more applicable than a textbook answer. I plan to use this method in the future in order to expand my horizons and find alternate ways of approaching and thinking about situations.

Morgan: The main personal change that I have focused on this summer is becoming more independent. Taking charge of my projects and making my own plan on what needs to be done in order for them to be successful has helped me to do that.

Johana:

Haiku:

Working really hard

On a new personal change

Not quite finished yet

My personal goal this summer is to not have any goals. I wanted to just go with the flow. I wasn’t looking for anything specific to change but I knew somehow something would. But I wanted to see what would happen naturally without having a specific goal in mind.

*pictures of some of the former ladies of Kalu Yala. New picture coming soon!

As a Director in Kalu Yala, the best part of your job is the interns. They are talented, deeply intelligent, amazing friends, incredible leaders and hard workers and in my case…almost entirely female. As one of two males in a house with 19, yes 19 girls, is basically like living the plot of an upcoming NBC Sitcom. To put it simply: I live in a sorority house. I live in the middle of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood of Traveling Pants. It’s as if the cast of Ma Ma Mia the musical lived in a house together. It’s the Powerpuff Girls all grown up and living in rural Panama (that would have actually been a great episode). Sometimes the girl stuff rubs off on me…I’ve actually started growing my beard to remind myself I am a man after I teared up just at the thought of Ryan Gosling standing int the rain during the Notebook.

It’s horrible.

Who am I kidding? I love it. I love the dance parties and the songs. I think I’m on my way to doing what was previously thought impossible: kind of understanding women as a man. I’ve learned how girls sometimes give out compliments but they actually don’t mean something nice: “I could never not shower for 5 days like you Esteban, I really admire that.” I’ve learned a dance party to Rihanna can fix most things. I’ve learned that it’s good to hang out in a kitchen when people are cooking cause they tend to share. I’ve really learned to appreciate the TV show Friends. I’ve learned some people actually like Kesha and not in a sarcastic way.

I often get asked by other males in Kalu Yala Internships how I do it. They feel as though I should be awarded a Medal of Honor and Valor for retaining a shred of manliness and masculinity while infiltrating enemy territory.

But the fact of the matter is this: I like it. It’s fun. It’s easy. Girls make cookies. A LOT. Also, males swing by every now and then and Tomas, the sole male intern, and I have developed a bond that can only be developed through times of trials and difficulties.

So I know one day the beard will leave my face, but maybe, just maybe, I’ll remember this summer and still tear up at Ryan Gosling in the rain. Seriously, no one was around to hand him an umbrella?

–Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

At Kalu Yala the business interns embrace failure with the goal of failing fast and failing often and many of us have never experienced more success and growth in such a short time. Failure is usually defined as falling short of an achievement or not meeting a desired expectation and from a young age many of us are taught to avoid failure at all costs. Failure has become one of the most celebrated activities in the past ten years, with the most epic failures being acclaimed worldwide, mostly through social media, with countless memes and Youtube compilations extolling the consequences of poor decision making. Evidence could be showing that humans are failing more than we ever have before. Yet is anyone learning from this failure?

A new era of entrepreneurship preaches the virtues of embracing failure and fast adaptation, where time and efficiency are maximized, risk and experimentation are guided by scientific methods, and finished projects are replaced by a minimum viable product. Failure has become a key building block in understanding the direction of a product where constant iteration and adaptation has displaced a strict business plan and ignoring interesting variables. The failure revolution has seen business plans go from 50 pages to a 1 page Lean Canvas, presentations have become pitch decks, and if you can’t communicate who you are and what you do in less than 60 seconds you are behind the times. At the worst each failure can point to a way not to do things at its best failure can lead you to take a risk that opens new doors that would not have been available without experimentation. Without failure and accidental discovery the world would be without penicillin, microwave ovens, or Corn Flakes. Next time you have breakfast, reheat that meal, or stave off bacteria, take a moment to bask in the glory of failure.

Kalu Yala has given interns the opportunity to create a sustainable furniture company,  develop real estate and venture capital plans, or coordinate a 300 person 5 day jungle event. We have had access to the best resources: The CEO of one of the world’s premier sustainable logging operations, a thought leader for local economic development, a permaculture expert pushing the boundaries of ecological design, and many other creative minds willing to share their knowledge, experience, and failures with us. We control our own destiny and are allowed to fail in spectacular fashion, learning by doing and recalibrating our plans or killing a project and starting over. Failure, confusion, and frustration have led to personal and professional growth as we seek ways to achieve our goals and create value and opportunities for Kalu Yala. Changing the World is not going to be easy and being well versed in failure is going to provide us the skillset to become leaders that have the confidence to make the leap into the unknown, conquer fear,  and make our dreams become reality.

I would like to thank Dr. Sean Lux for teaching me Create, Build, Fail, Repeat and to embrace failure.

Suggested Reading:

The Lean Startup: Eric Ries

Business Model Generation: Alexander Osterwalder

You can take the girl out of Arkansas, but you cannot take Arkansas out of the girl.  The world continues to get smaller…Hogs come to Panama.

Everyone living in Panama knows, hopefully, of President Ricardo Martinelli, but what most people might not know is that he is an Arkansas Razorback.  Martinelli earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at the University of Arkansas in 1973. After graduating, he returned to Panama to run the supermarket chain Super 99. Martinelli continued to keep an active relationship with the University through various contributions such as the recent 100,000 dollar donation to establish the Sigma Nu Leadership Scholarship that will benefit student leaders in the fraternity.

To honor the University’s long-standing ties with the Latin American Nation, officials from the University of Arkansas and Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Science held an Alumni event in Panama. The event was used to renew acquaintances and strengthen the relationships that were established over 60-years ago when the University of Arkansas became the first U.S. land grant university to establish a foreign agricultural mission. This mission was created through the Point Four Program, which helped Panama develop programs in agriculture, extension, teaching and research, and the relationship continues to exist today. The University’s ambassadors celebrated this relationship as well as promoted recruitment for the school with hopes of adding to the number of Panamanian students on the Fayetteville campus.

As a current student at the University of Arkansas I am presented with many opportunities that both further my education and pursue personal goals as a young professional. One of these opportunities was presented to me when representatives from the university visited Panama. I was able to represent the university’s student body and accompany the staff to all their events including meeting President Martinelli. As a group we toured the president’s palace located in Panama’s Casco Viejo and learned all about its’ history.  We all talked, ate lunch, and of course the day would not of been complete without calling the hogs in the oval office. The hogs are called in many places all of the world, but the president’s palace in Panama was definitely a first. Along with the palace tour, the university’s associates and myself also visited the construction of Panama City’s new Metro Line and the widening of the Panama Canal. The Alumni recognition and reception was held on the last evening at the Waldolf Astoria in the heart of the city. Experiencing the global reach of my university’s community and the dedication of notable alumni to remain connected to Arkansas strengthened my Razorback pride.

Although they have plenty of work ahead of them, they are enthusiastic about what lies ahead. Lets be honest, what young scientist wouldn’t be excited about an experiment, in the jungle?

Brenda: Life as a San Miguel intern has been a uniquely special and transformative experience for me. The community members of this town have been very helpful and involved with the progress I am making within the Casa Llena garden. Although may of the locals here live very modest lives, they are some of the most generous people I’ve had the pleasure to meet. They are always more than happy to share seeds or clippings of veggies that I am lacking. Without this generosity, my garden project would not be nearly as successful as it is turning out to be. This has been my favorite experience living in San Miguel.

Jasmine: My favorite moment was watching the downpour of rain and randomly taking Kelly up on her offer to go to the Chino and stop by and see the kids at Art Class. When we ran out in the rain with no barrier between us and the downpour I felt completely and utterly free. We continued on our journey, with huge smiles on our faces, and stopped at the cancha. All of the children were gathered around in a circle, hunched over their tree trunks armed with paintbrushes in hand. That day I felt like I bonded with the kids. I walked side by side a little girl (who due to my horrible memory I can’t remember her name) holding our artwork with outstretched arms, and as she spoke to me in her Spanish and I listened not understanding I realized an important lessons: while we were both separated by language barriers, we can be united by other things, this time like the artwork. I feel blessed to be a part of such an amazing experience, and it is times like these that continually serve as a reminder of all that there is to be grateful for. Whether big or small, every moment invested here makes a difference.

Morgan: My favorite experience in San Miguel so far was when I got to interview with the pharmacist at the clinic. I learned what the main health problems in San Miguel are and from there knew what to focus on for my part of the health fair.

Portia: My favorite San Miguel memory thus far has been spending a blackout night of no electricity in town sipping Froot Loop flavored tea (toronja) on Miriam’s porch. I felt so welcomed and I had never seen a more beautiful night sky.

Anna: Spending the evening at Noris’ house eating food and enjoying conversation and the company of her family.

Cristina: My favorite San Miguel experience was helping a girl with her presentation for English class. Helping her translate and pronounce the words made me feel as if I was making a direct impact on the community while developing my Spanish skills at the same time.

Johana: Going to Bible Study at Noris’ was my favorite experience. Everyone there is really welcoming, regardless of whether or not you are religious it was really cool to see how passionate this group of people were about their faith.

Ann: A few weeks ago, a few of us went to visit Noris and her family. Originally, we just planned on stopping by for a quick visit but she ended up inviting us to Rio Indio to spend time with her family. We went home to change and met Noris and her family for a bowl of soup before heading out. The bus ride to Rio Indio is about 15 minutes or so and then it is a half-hour hike to Alvin’s parents house. We ended up getting offered a ride and graciously accepted. When we arrived at the house, we were warmly received and treated as part of the family. We took a tour of the farm, drank pineapple juice, played with puppies and ate mangoes. It was an incredible experience to be a part of.

Kelly: All of the memories and experiences listed by the girls stand out to me as favorite moments for various reasons – mostly because some of those experiences were times when I was witness to the interns’ happinesses and excitement, witness to the connections happening between them and life in San Miguel. But, to add a new one to the list, my favorite experience this semester was a particular Wednesday when I stopped up at the new sports program to check on how things were going – I will never forget how much fun we had playing baseball with a stick of bamboo, how the kids passed around my apple and ate all but the stem, and how hard we all laughed at them hanging from the bamboo as Tomas lifted it and the kids straight off the ground. And then the next morning while doing laundry, I marveled at how filthy I was able to get the  blue shirt I’d worn the day before – only after studying it did I realize that it was covered in dirt handprints from the hugs of the kids that afternoon.

Brenda: Since my arrival in San Miguel, I’ve been working on planning and implementing improvements to the previous garden in Casa Llena. I started by planting tomato, pepper, watermelon, flower, bean, pea, culantro, lemongrasss, chive, arugula, bok choy, chard, and thyme seeds. It has been a few weeks and many of the plants have started to sprout and are flourishing! In a few more weeks I will be able to plant these seedlings directly into the soil so future interns, friends, and employees of Kalu Yala can enjoy the nutritional benefits of these plants. I also plan on participating in the San Miguel health week. For those interested, I will demonstrate how to collect and prepare seeds from commonly used fruits and veggies within the local community. My hope is that San Miguel community members will want to take better advantage of the produce available to them. With the very high rates of Type II diabetes in many parts of Panama, I believe helping people learn about the nutritional health benefits of organically grown produce can reduce this epidemic.

Jasmine: We are quickly approaching the date of my 1 mile race; July 13^th. I have been working hard with fellow Kalu Yala interns to make this race possible. Some of the tasks I’ve done include talking to local farmers, constructing a flashy finish line, and gathering interest in the community. This race will serve as more than just a race—it will be an opportunity to promote running as being fun and to promote buying local food so that hopefully in the future we can start a farmer’s market.

Morgan: My main project is the health fair. I am focusing on diabetes, hypertension, and sugar consumption. They are all big problems in San Miguel and hopefully by providing them with information on the topics it will help to improve these illnesses.

Portia: My main project is water testing. Cristina and I are testing water tributaries and determining the amount/presence of E. Coli and other coliforms that are in drinking water. We are also researching easy water sanitation methods to be presented during the health fair.

Anna: I am teaching 1^st and 2^nd grade as well as working on the Art program in Juan Gill. I am also putting together material for the health fair focused on food systems, local food, and nutrition for health.

Cristina: My main project is water safety. I am taking water samples of various water sources in oder to assess the safety of the drinking water. I am currently testing for the presence of E. Coli and coliforms.

Johana: I am helping and planning the Health Fair in San Miguel. My biggest interest is preventative care, so I’m planning on implementing those ideas into the fair. I am also hoping to start a sort of blood pressure clinic where people could come and get their blood pressure checked without having to wait in line at the clinic (which can take hours). We would also teach others who are interested how to take blood pressure readings so the service would be sustainable without us.

Ann: The past few weeks have been focused on conducting interviews on public health issues in the San Miguel area. At this point, the two main themes of the research have been focused on the prevalence of diabetes as well as illnesses involving the water supply in the village. I am also actively working with a team that plans on promoting a clean water initiative in the area.

Kelly: The semester and the interns have kept me busy from sun up (actually, before sunrise) until night most every day; but seeing projects I’ve long wanted to start and implement happening, seeing interns developing existing projects or creating their own, have made the hours well worth it. Between 5am exercise class, helping teach in the San Miguel school, continuing soccer and starting a new afterschool program for all sports, helping Ann interview community members about health and healthcare, working on the Health Week seminars and race, visiting the clinic and hospitals for interviews and information, helping with water testing, and then helping run a house of 20 people, time is flying!

One of the talks that especially caught my attention was Sonia Shah’s talk regarding the malaria disease. She pointed out how even though this disease has been around for thousands of years and that we have the technology to cure it, we haven’t found a way to eradicate it completely. Furthermore, the existing cultural disparity results with the people who are most effected by the disease being the ones who care least about addressing and solving this issue. Malaria is so centrally intertwined into their standard of normal life, that most don’t believe that taking measures to protect themselves is worth the time and energy.

This sparked questions within myself regarding the idea that perspective plays in society as a whole. Coming from the United States, eradicating preventable diseases such as malaria seems like something that should be one of the top priorities for developing areas of the world. I’ve even noticed this idea of differing perspectives since arriving in Panamá as well. One of the neighboring towns had $15,000 available for a community project that they had to decide how to use. From my perspective, the most beneficial and practical way to spend the money is by installing filters and ways to ensure cleaner, healthier drinking water for the community. However, from the community’s perspective, building a turf soccer field was what they decided was the best route to take. Their perspective on what is important within their communities greatly differs from what I would deem as important. And yet, part of what I’ve learned during my time in Panamá is that just because these perspectives are different from my own, by no means are they incorrect. They reflect the culture and importance to the people who have and will most likely reside in their local communities for the majority of their lives.

-Written by Emily O’Coonahern

Calli: “This week in outdoor rec proved to be extremely progressive. In the low ropes course, the spider web was completed and the stumps for the Acid River [renamed Pacora Passage] have all been placed. So far there are almost 4 completed elements and the Trust Fall has been started. The help and effort from the whole group has been an excellent representation of teamwork.”

Sean: “Great week in terms of the challenge course! The spiderweb is complete, the wild woozy is near completion, the acid river is done, and the trust fall is under construction. We also hiked to the waterfall on Thursday, which was an incredible hike to paradise in the jungle. Morning workouts with Max (total valley fitness) is awesome! Life goes on, but each week goes quicker and quicker.”

Adam: “Talk about an eventful few days. I finished my trail building in Kalu Yala manual, saw three beautiful snakes; two venomous, fur de lance and one eyelash palm viper, and a baby boa which I relocated from from Base Camp to the rooty and rocky banks of the Pacora. This has been a crazy week, but it made me realize how few weeks i have left in this wonderful place with these amazing people.”

Hatton: “This week I helped David with the amphitheater. Did more exploring with Lee in the hills. Yesterday took initial hikes into Chagres. 10+ miles but it was worth it.”

Sara: “Another big week: I spent some time with Ag on the fram helping Kaitlin with her terrace project. For my own project, I was able to do some crucial research and started seriously collecting wood for charcoal production. I’m very excited for Bonnie and David’s stage and natural seating; Izzy, Kyle, Sean, and Calli’s challenge course, and DuPre’s mini golf project. The rec field is starting to really look like a park. We’ve hit the 1/2 way mark. I’m going to be sad to leave Panama in August.”

David: “This week we have been extremely successful in the transformation and construction of the rec field. Every single project has been able to take a huge step in the right direction, resulting in a universal feeling of success and progress.”

Lee: “Went to Chagres with the elite hiking group. Covered approximately 11 miles, so sore…”

Maddy: “Outdoor Rec has been killing it this week. After spending most of my time helping Kaitlin with her terracing, the changes apparent on the Rec Park (official name to be determined) are literally astounding. I am so proud of all my fellow interns! The park looks amazing!”

Kyle: “This week was quite the eye-opener. The challenge course has two completed elements and two elements that are almost finished. Thursday we hiked through the jungle for a couple hours to reach a beautiful waterfall. It was a much needed day. I can’t wait to finish my projects.”

The Outdoor Recreation team is looking for an official name for our park! Any suggestions are greatly appreciated! Comment below 🙂

Next, we were going to hike in to the valley, but it started pouring heavy rain. It got to the point that the directors (and us) decided that the river would be too high and too strong to hike in safely, so we just headed back to the city. While this seemed like a fairly uneventful day, in my opinion, it reflects on a larger concept here in Kalu Yala; adaptability. A week never goes by without one thing or another not happening exactly as planned. For example, when we were all in the valley for orientation it rained so hard that the tents flooded. We now had an overflow of people without any living space. Instead of aborting the mission and evacuating people en masse with a car and having people hike out, the directors worked their hardest to figure out a way to fit everyone into the ranchos. An even larger example: with the world facing climate change and its dependency on fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources, the entire concept of Kalu Yala is about adapting to our world’s current situation and taking the first difficult step towards the idea of a better future through building sustainable communities.

Entrepreneurship is all about making good educated guesses and decisions based off of incomplete information, and if these educated guesses and decisions end up being sub-optimal, making the next best decision in order to adapt to the new situation. Learning to run is important, sure, but it’s just as if not more important to learn how to pick up yourself after you fall. I see it in action here all the time here, whether it’s with a ex-pat who knew that failure was just a dress rehearsal for success and kept at it, to the founder of a language teaching business here who learned as he went and benefited off of his improvisation skills to adapt to any problems that popped up, to a woman who understands the wood business and saw an opportunity to make an eco-friendly wood-harvesting business using trees submerged in lakes and the Panama Canal.

Of the many things I pick up from various guest speakers, working on my project, helping other interns with theirs, various books from Casa Yala and whatever else I glean from everyday life here during my Kalu Yala internship, I think having a readily-adaptive mindset is the lesson I will value most highly.

With some help from the biology boys and Max, we have weeded and sanded all of the paths in and around the garden.

Maddy has continued to turn her humanure compost every day and is pleased with how it is going. Kaitlin has made significant progress on her terraces despite having to dig at some massive rocks.

Effie and Lisa’s mendala herb garden is underway. Rock are being laid and the design is being finalized.

Maddie and Melissa started the remodeling process for the new chicken coop. Cosette and Jacalyn are finalizing the design for the project and getting together a materials list.

Animal Science had a meeting Tuesday and made a plan to go visit and work with local farmers for the rest of the semester. They plan to make a plan for introducing livestock to the valley in the future.

The garden is looking great with the addition of sawdust over the beds and sand on the paths. Both of these things are to help stop the growth of weeds and it also makes the entire garden more aesthetically pleasing!

There is lots of teaching and learning going on about different farming methods. Here a pineapple’s roots are being found so it can be properly planted. We can’t wait until we can use all of these things in our kitchen!

The new compost station is on the far left, the existing green house in the middle and the framed, new green house on the right. The physical progress of our garden continues to expand and we couldn’t be more excited about the work going on.

It is the rainy season in Panama right now so most afternoons we get a good bit of rain. While this leads to many wet shoes and gloves, the hundreds of new plants are loving the attention they are getting.

The newly sanded paths really change how the garden looks. We are working to get them compacted down so they aren’t slippery when it’s wet and to keep weeds to a minimum!

Lee says, “Action packed week full of adventures! From bush whacking, to the peak of Candy Mountain, to hiking through Chagres with the biology team, I learned a lot about the rainforest and the land in which I am surrounded.”

Buddy, Duffy, Hatton, Lee and Carter went on a great hike to the top of Candy Mountain. Each of these hikes teaches us more and more about the area we are living in. Buddy holds an assassin bug we found on the hike. By taking its picture, we were able to go back to camp and have Aaron identify it for us.

DuPre says, “Week went extremely well. Lots of manual labor and tired, happy faces. The honeymoon phase continues in my mind and seeing everyone so positive in the morning always starts me off right. More bamboo is needed and more bamboo will be recovered. Outdoor Rec for life.”

Kristen says, “A torrential downpour on this short week set back construction on the valleyball court. Fortunately, this provided the opportunity to think over and redesign the trench/mote system so that it lasts in the future. Planning, designing and implementing in the rainy season has proved to be challenging but also a great learning experience.”

Forming a congo line for the dance party that we had on the valleyball court. There is no better way to compact sand that to be jumping around with some great friends and wonderful tunes!

Bonnie says, “Lots of projects have been in the works this week. The low ropes course has really taken shape. I was playing around on one of the elements with Sean the other day. It was hard with only two, so I’m excited for when all of us can try. The stage literally broke ground. Posts are in the ground and the foundation should be done this week. The valleyball court is so close to being done. We thought it was finished, but a massive rain storm showed us that is not quite finished. It’s been an exciting week for projects!”

Rachel says, “Our valleyball court is almost complete! Kristin has some final details to complete, but the net is set up and we’re all stoked. On Tuesday, I went with the biology team on a hike to the Chagres National Park, a park that is not what you would see in the states. The hike was amazing – we saw Tucans, a bunch of crazy bugs, had lunch with a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains.. It was epic! And with the San Blas trip coming this weekend, it’s been an exciting week!”

Calli says, “Visually seeing the progress in the Outdoor Rec Park is completely overwhelming sight. The transformation from Week 1 to Week 5 has manifested from a barren field to an arena filled with community building activities in every corner. The knowledge and ideas behind the implementation of the recreational activities has so far proven successful!”

David says, “This week has been extremely productive! Not only have we been communicating better as a team, but also as a family. One of our members has returned from the states and everyone is ecstatic about it! We would continue this AWESOME week of hard work, but it is time for a small break. Until next time… one love, one heart, one Kalu Yala.”

Sean says, “Yo soy muy feliz porque aprendé mucho espanol en las sietes clases! Yo practicaré mucho mas en el futuro! I’ve been learning so much in Spanish class, which is wonderful. Every morning and afternoon I get to work on the challenge course. We are getting the elements completely fairly quickly and more are to come! San Blas is this weekend, which will be a great mini vacation and relaxation session. Then more work next week! All is going very well.”

Maddie says, “This week was short and sweet. We learning a lot through trial and error and our new park is finally on the map! We had a visit from the architecture interns and are feeling very confident with the changes to our projects! Although I’m excited to be learning Spanish, I’m sad to be missing our on some of the fun and work, but it seems like things are going very smoothly and can’t wait to get back out there full time!”

Adam says, “Even though this week of work only lasted three days I can honestly say that I have accomplished more on designing and planning for the mountain bike trail than any other week. With the map I retrieved from the city, I designed the rough trail loop and hiked to look at the second property where I am proposing construction of the trail. This week is a win in my books as far as work is concerned.”

As you can see, the interns are learning lots and our projects are on the forefront of our minds. Making sure we have lots of fun with all of the hard work – the community we are building is just excellent!

We decided to start our workday earlier (8:30 am) so we could have longer lunch breaks. Now we have time for a card game and a jump in the rio if we want to. Still trying to see if this works better than ending the workday earlier and having that time at the end of the day. Will probably be determined after next week, but regardless, it’s great to know that we are getting up early and ready to start the day off working hard!

Now let me explain. About a week back while listening to a visiting group of three discuss their idea of founding a creative center for the arts and sustainability, I had an epiphany: the Kalu Yala internship program is much more than an opportunity to help create the world’s most environmentally sustainable co-working eco-resort and community. It’s an environment where those passionate about the environment gain the skills and experience needed to become the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

Like those three, we all have our own projects. This includes the creation of our own investment bank for the future community of Kalu Yala, the development of a Kalu Yala furniture line, designing and building a custom water filtration system, organizing our own TEDx event, developing an entire economic plan for the community, and launching the cottage sales and organizational plan.

What is so amazing about this is that each one of these projects is self-selected. Here at Kalu Yala we are allowed to let our own unique interests guide our work and the contribution we ultimately have on the community. Because of this, all of us wake up each morning excited to work and excited to be a part of Kalu Yala. In addition to the freedom to pursue our own project, we are also given the freedom to fail. Fail you ask? Yes, fail. But failure isn’t entirely bad. In fact, it’s good. It’s encouraged here! Not only does it allow us the opportunity to learn from our mistakes, it emboldens us to embark on projects that we may think are beyond our grasp or Kalu Yala’s as a whole.  It motivates us to go far beyond what we think is possible and accept the risk that comes with ambition.

While the straight-laced advice of “move up in the corporate ladder” tells you to play it safe, Kalu Yala is providing us with an entirely new set of advice. What advice is this?…“RISK IT FOR THE BISCUIT.”

If you have “Big Ideas”, those world changing ideas that have never been done before (or have, it doesn’t really matter…but being the first is a lot cooler), they aren’t going to build themselves. There is inherent risk that is needed to accomplish them. In the past three weeks, Kalu Yala interns have met countless people with the “risk it for the biscuit” attitude. They are entrepreneurs, architects, farmers, land developers, artists, and travelers. They are people that followed their passions and are working tirelessly to build their own “Big Idea”. They understand that the end result of their vision is worth the risk that it requires. It just so happens that most of these people are extremely successful in their respective fields as well. The few people that we have met that aren’t…well they’re still happy, and that ain’t a bad deal at all. It’s almost like there’s a correlation between working at something you’re passionate about and being happy and successful. Well who would have thought that?

Now you could join the first company that hires you. Congratulations. The economy is rough and you have security. Loans gotta’ get paid. I understand. But that doesn’t mean your ambitions have to be buried into the deepest parts of your soul never to see the light of day again! You always have time for your idea; you just have to make it. Just understand though, as long as you’re working for someone else, it will never be your dream or your way. Find your own “Big Idea” and have the courage to pursue it. Risk it for the biscuit.

Now you may be thinking to yourself, “I don’t have my ‘Big Idea’ yet. What should I do?” Well, don’t worry. I’m in the same boat. And while it may sometimes feel that we’re frantically shoveling water out of our sinking vessel to avoid sinking into the depths of the corporate workforce –a 9 to 5 job at a company that has nothing to with our passions – that should not be the case. You might want to start something big and meaningful, but not know what that is yet. That’s okay. If you keep doing things that interest you, you will eventually find your “thing”. Unfortunately, I don’t know how long that’s going to take you. In the meantime though, start by helping build someone else’s big idea that you yourself believe in too (cue Jimmy and Kalu Yala). You’ll be doing rather than waiting and more importantly, you’ll be learning. Whatever you do, do not just sit around and let your ambitions and passions rot and dust over. Keep them primed and ready, prepared to build your “Big Idea”.

I’m 21, it’s 2am, and I’m leaving at 5am to go to San Blas for the weekend. To be honest, I don’t know much about the world and I am in no way claiming all of this to be the only way. There is no one best advice to give anyone. The best advice is the advice you give yourself after the fact. But, being that I am given this soapbox to rant on, I’ll make one last statement.

As the impending “real world” begins to evolve from just an ongoing joke to our everyday life, we as young adults are at an amazing stage in our lives and careers. We have the opportunity to make mistakes, the stamina to slave away at tasks till the wee hours of the morning, and most importantly, the belief that we can make a difference in the world. Whatever your biscuit may be, that one lingering idea in the back of your head, go for it. Risk it for the biscuit.

But the attachment of blood, sweat, and tears to something that lasts may be a missed opportunity.

For one, there are the limitations of our craft, resources, and unfamiliarity with our surroundings. Experience begets quality, and many of us are just at the stage of flirting with certain careers. What we are able to produce in the unforgiving terrain of the valley will encounter unforeseen problems, especially as we are driven to compromise with the restraints imposed by our modest scale of production; the labor is completed by fellow interns, the materials primarily procured from our jungle site, and our funding for intern projects is modest in comparison. But can’t these restraints spur innovation?

As urban planner Allison Arieff said in a 2011 NYTimes opinion piece, “…there is undeniable opportunity in the temporary: it is an apt response to a civilization in flux.” The temporary enables testing new technologies in the public realm, implementing needed innovations more quickly (giving rise to positive technological leapfrogging that harnesses scientific advances to transform communities on a steep learning curve), and responding to the fluidity of environmental and social circumstances, or as Arieff describes, “the mobility of demographics and information.”

It is hard to deny the innate dynamism of impermanent architecture and its corresponding potency to improve our interactions with the built environment. As Kalu Yala Land Development President & CEO Jimmy Stice has often reminded, the first iteration of our composting bathroom was the most important – but where is it now? It has been replaced by a better model. It was the most important bathroom because it initiated a progression of improvements, not because it still stands today.

We need to embrace impermanence. There is beauty in this aesthetic of perishability – it arises out of a marriage between design and climate. One of the best examples of this aesthetic is the Ise shrine in Japan, an evolving monument that honors its own temporality: the structure has been systematically rebuilt every twenty years since the 17^th century as its structural integrity breaks down. The rebuilding enables a ritualized interaction with the shrine – an experiential register that eludes many Western monuments. As Noboru Kawazoe wrote of the Ise shrine, “It was the style, not the actual structures embodying it, that they sought to preserve for posterity. Everything that had that physical, concrete form, they believed, was doomed to decay; only style was indestructible…what the Japanese wanted to preserve was not even the style as such in all its details but something else, some intangible essence…” [Ford, Edward, “The Theory and Practice of Impermanence,” Harvard Design Magazine, 1997]

Likewise, some have found elegance in the aesthetic of expedience – of acknowledging the relationship between development and need, and the tenderness of rebuilding in the wake of natural disaster. Author Gretel Ehrlich, whose book “Facing the Wave” reported on the redevelopment efforts of Japanese citizens affected by the 2011 tsunami, spoke to The Economist of how geophysical events force an improvisational approach to building: “These are eight islands in one of the most seismically active places in the world. I felt an earthquake every day that I was there. As a society they could respond by fortifying everything, or by going with the flow—making paper doors and emphasizing shadow and light. That’s what they did. They framed society with impermanence; they feel it from their feet up. The geophysics shapes the culture.” Cultural acceptance of an instable built environment will help prepare for and work in conjunction with a changing landscape.

Impermanent building also enables us to engage with our land as a living charrette and provide feedback and modifications in real time, as suggested by Dallas Group “Build a Better Block.” This group engages in temporary urban demonstrations that rapidly alter a neighborhood to induce walkability, mobility, and sustainability in local calibrations. The Better Block events focus on the performative aspect of building – of setting up pop-up food stands, outdoor pavilions of pallets, dumpster pools, and “chair-bombing.” They’re grass-roots retrofit projects come and go in few short days and show a community how a block can live and breathe according to temporary demand. Better Blocks’ installations have helped cities rapidly implement infrastructural and policy changes.

Similarly, Magma Architecture’s London 2012 Olympic shooting pavilion plan responded to the need for a highly-specialized recreation space that would be used for just three weeks. Magma utilized an inexpensive steel frame covered by white PVC tents that stretch between colorful “dimples,” or tension nodes that provide ventilation. The unusual, evocative structure allowed an event that is usually relegated to the countryside to be right in the thick of the Olympic spirit for the first time. The pavilion’s “pop-up” design gave athletes a chance to perform before spectators and bring more immediate attention to their sport. It also realistically approached the problem of designing structures for temporary sporting events. As the ongoing riots in Brazil have brought into somber relief, the frustrations wrought by disregard for communities that stand in the way of redevelopment for the 2014 World Cup & 2016 Olympics are a major problem for countries hosting international sporting events of this size. The need to develop temporary infrastructure on a massive scale with plans for easy dismantling and repurposing of materials and space is crucial for Brazil’s successful tenure as host.

While Kalu Yala will become a lasting presence in Los Tres Brazos, it is, and will always be, a civilization in flux. At its best, it will be a development consistently responding to its environment. At its worse, it will be a real-world laboratory that will occasionally make mistakes through experimentation – but will have the good sense to maintain an elastic, dynamic structure enabling the abandonment of practices proven wrong. And that’s a very good thing. Embracing impermanence in both our built-environment and in our policies will enable a built ecosystem that can grow and shrink according to necessity.

So, as we go forward, especially welcoming new intern classes each semester eager to make their contributions, let’s reconsider our role as designers and builders. Detaching ourselves from the sentimentality embedded within our physical structures will liberate a more innovative and responsible building ethos.

Running makes me tick. It is my preferred mode of transport, and my most serene state. It is my proverbial vessel, which enables me to navigate through unknown waters. Running is the foundation for my inner-equilibrium. It is the best method of discovering a new setting. I take in the new scenery and culture while completing my workout of fartlek, long distance or tempo runs. These runs offer me with unparalleled insight into diverse cultures. As I run through the “lomas” y “montanas” of the Panamanian countryside, I exchange smiles with the locals, greeting them with “buenas”. I feel the warmth and congeniality of the Panamanian people as I lock eyes with them, even if just for a fleeting moment. On my runs, I have encountered a plethora of animals: horses, snakes, lizards, iguanas, cows as well as stray dogs. The people and the animals alike appreciate that my running is a foreign spectacle, but are welcoming nonetheless. As I run through the Panamanian panorama, I feel like a pioneer, conquering unexplored territory.

One day, a nine year-old boy stopped me as I was running. He inquisitively asked, “Qué estas haciendo?” (What are you doing?).  I eagerly responded, “Estoy corriendo!” (I am running). The boy followed up, “Y porqué?” (And why?). I quickly responded, “Porque a mi me encanta correr.” (Because I love to run.). The boy responded with a nod and a coy smile, and sent me on my way. For the rest of the run, I pondered the boy’s profound “pregunta” (question). Why do I run? Running is my tool for experiencing new environs. I am an avid runner, who runs out of passion and curiosity for the unknown.

*each week an Education/Community Outreach intern will write a guest blog. Today’s comes from Rayna Healy also known as “the girl with the golden laugh.”

Enjoy!

A Dog’s Tale

It’s been a big week for us fauna in San Miguel, Panama because we have a gaggle of new chicks in town. (*and also 3 males.) My name is Candy and I’m the dog who lives in Casa Llena, the house that Kalu Yala interns inhabit. I wanted our 18 new interns and 3 staff to feel welcome here so I laid out a plan with some strict ground rules for my San Miguel Friends. First of all, Rex, the rooster, has instructions to keep time by cock-a-doodle-doing every hour on the hour. Unfortunately he is over eager and is often crowing. He puts his whole body into it and it would almost be beautiful, the commitment he displays, except that it often wakes up/disturbs/scares the unexpecting. I’ve asked a group of animals to make sure the bathrooms are nice and orderly. The gecko held the first shift and he arguably succeeded because no one went in to mess anything up. One bat, overly enthusiastic maybe, wanted to get to know a girl by jumping in the shower with her. Maybe he should have gotten to know her a little better first. It’s all trial and error here. Last but not least I’ve enlisted the frogs. They are pretty big and congregate outside on the porch at night. They watch over the sleeping girls. To be honest I’m slightly worried that under the right leadership they could organize and we’ll all be in trouble. But we’ll worry about that when the time comes (*hopefully never.)

All in all, I think I speak for the entire animal kingdom of San Miguel when I say that we like the new group. And they like us. Most of us. Maybe not the bat. They probably even love us. They pet me all the time, despite my fleas, and bring out my famous grin with their banter, dance parties, and tangible passion. I wanted them to know how much I love and appreciate them and since my army of protectors was having mixed results, I decided to do one big demonstration of my love. So today, when I made my big entrance , I was expecting the screams. I knew they’d be overcome with emotion. I felt so proud. When I deposited said gift in the yard I realized that the screams may not be purely from pleasure. Then came the unexpected scolding, cries of disgust, and faces frozen in disbelief. I learned an important lesson. Perhaps bringing my new friends a dog’s tail was something I should have saved for the last week.

Attempt 1: Nobody goes to the movies on Tuesday nights in the US. This time should be spent with families watching sitcoms or board games. Not yet the middle of the week, Tuesdays are the most mundane of days. Mondays stink, Wednesdays are in the middle, Thursdays one can taste the weekend, and Fridays rock. Apparently nobody shared this with the people of Panama. Arriving 30 minutes before the new Star Trek: Into Darkness, we quickly abandoned the thought after observing the football field length line. Later we learned that this was also pay day for Panamanians, go figure.

Attempt 2: Unfazed by our defeat the previous night we attempted the next night. This time we put a little more forethought into it and arrived an hour early. The line this time was just as long if not longer. Befuddled we turned around and ahead to the cheesecake kiosk and drowned our sorrows in milk and strawberry cheesecake.

Attempt 3: After giving the movies a week to cool off we decided to attempt a third time the next Wednesday. We arrived a good hour and a half early and were unfazed by the moderate line length. The problem was our group of 12 or so decided that they didn’t want to have to be sprawled out in individual seats throughout the theater. Also a factor was that nobody had eaten so it didn’t to much for the smell of the food court to disband the group.

Attempt 4: Success. After hearing of how exquisite the VIP movie theater seats are in Panama, I can attest to their comfort and greatness. If you want to go to the movies in Panama then Saturday afternoons are the time to go. Seeing the new Superman movie, Man of Steel was too easy. After only being out for one day there were still open seats in the theater. Popcorn was ridiculously affordable with the largest size under three dollars.  The only complaint I have is that the seats were too comfortable if that is even possible. Luckily the movie was action packed and captivated my attention throughout.

Though it took awhile, we finally got a chance to go to the movies here in the city. And after sitting in the VIP theater I don’t know if I can lower my standards to the regular theaters. A word of advice to any potential moviegoers which we found out after the fact-you can go online and buy tickets to save yourself the trouble.

Organic Composting:

After adding some much needed cow poop and critters to our old composting unit, Matt Duffy took the liberty of mixing and enclosing the location in order to begin the time consuming process of developing useable compost for the farm over the next year. Meanwhile, Maddy Partridge has led our team to the completion of Kalu Yala’s very first ‘humanure’ composting scheme! She has revamped our current composting toilets, implementing an ingenious system that will turn all human waste, food scraps and toilet paper into useable compost for the farm. She also has plans to use the compost as a natural and organic pest control in the future. A huge thank-you goes out to all valley interns who have jumped (excitedly) on board to doing ‘their business’ in buckets for such a worthy cause!

Extending Garden Beds:

Throughout the afternoons this week, the entire agriculture team came together to extend the garden beds surrounding ‘Fonda Largo’, making room for the abundance of veg that is ready to be planted from our greenhouse seedlings. The team also completed the weed deterrent mulching of several beds, with sawdust harvested from fallen trees on the property. Rick Sholander also got his hands dirty this week, creating a trellis for our (already) flowering cucumber plants!

Animal Science: Learning from the Locals!

The animal science crew has been hard at work finalizing project proposals. We have an incredibly diverse group of interns and there have been talks of bringing a wide variety of livestock and poultry to Kalu Yala by the end of the summer semester! In particular, proposals have been developed for rabbits, goats, cows, and horses… and yes, even pigs! Animal science also has plans to revamp our current chicken coop to make room for even more poultry.

In order to aid in the finalization of livestock and poultry plans, the entire agriculture team came together this week to begin tours of campasino properties in the area. Kalu Yala is founded on the belief that local knowledge is extremely valuable to the growth of our community. Thus, we started our ventures by touring Ramon’s farm property, in addition to receiving insight into his current livestock practices. Ramon has been a dear friend to Kalu Yala for the past two years, and succeeded once again in bringing a wealth of knowledge to the ag team this week. He was even so kind as to donate several plant trimmings to add to our current collection…KY hot sauce is now in sight! Thanks Ramon, WE LOVE YOU!

Other Projects: Terracing & Medicinal Gardening

Kaitlin Johnson has been hard at work clearing the hillside of farm section III for her terracing project. She has plans to implement several garden beds of varying soil compositions to test their effects on tropical plant growth. Connor Egyhazi brought both her muscles and vocal abilities in aiding Kaitlin in rock removal and clearing of the area. Kalu Yala interns always rock out in style, and these ladies are clearly no exception! Way to go girls!

Lisa Pope and Effie Mantzouranis have also begun the tedious task of clearing and weeding farm section IV for the implementation of their medicinal herb and butterfly garden. They have plans to create a meditative space, perfect for relaxing the mind and healing the body. We will keep you updated on their project throughout the coming weeks. Savasana ladies!

I have officially been living in the jungle for four weeks and I am proud to call it home. As I grow closer with the biology team, I am continuously inspired by their passion and interest in the world around them. Our shared sense of curiosity of the natural world enabled us to develop focused projects and goals. As a team, we strive to better understand not only our surroundings, but also the impact our activity is having on all other organisms that also call the Tres Brazos watershed home.

The two main branches of projects are species cataloging and water quality testing. Specifically, we will be surveying trees, amphibians, insects, and reptiles in the area surrounding base camp. Although this task is a vast undertaking, it will prove to be important for a number of reasons. First, knowledge about these species will allow us to better understand the valley and to try and embrace the immense diversity of organisms that live and thrive here. Second, when we begin to solidify species lists there can be subsequent comparative studies into species behavior, interactions, and  anthropogenic effects that will be of interest to future biology interns and important for the progression of this sustainable community.

The water quality projects are designed to test both swimming and drinking water in the valley. We will be carrying out tests for E. coli and colliform contamination at seven specified testing stations including sites on the Iguana river, the Pacora river, and the tributary we pull water from. Since the study is still in it’s preliminary stages, the primary semester goal is to collect continuous data for later analysis which includes temperature and precipitation measurements every six hours. In the future, this data will be an important indicator that will aid in the development of water filtration systems. Overall, I feel this study is beneficial to the future inhabitants of the Kalu Yala community as well as the local Panamanians living in San Miguel.

These project goals have developed and become more concise over the past few weeks. Thus far, the team has spent a great deal of time exploring the property and surrounding area. Our Biology Director, Aaron Prairie, has strongly encouraged the team to develop our observational awareness through avid Grinnell-style field note-taking and poignant discussions about our observations. I can honestly say that this team motivates me to constantly question everything, challenging me to develop my ideas and pursue more knowledge. Our exploration has provided me with a heightened awareness and appreciation for the complex web of biological interactions taking place in this environment. Overall, I am greatly looking forward to the progress our team will make over the semester. The group dynamic and shared passion that drives us to pursue these projects is extremely motivating. I am proud to be a member of this team at Kalu Yala.

Probably one of the first differences we saw was on the roads. Use of stop signs and turn signals has been replaced with use of the horn. Also, since taxis here don’t have meters, the price you pay for one depends on your negotiation skills. Pedestrians have very little rights, so we’re lucky to have a grocery store within a couple blocks.  In any other city, buying a bicycle would seem like a great idea, but here, you’d pretty much be asking for an early funeral.

Here are some other noticeable cultural differences:

-the food

-strong police presence (some strapped with automatic weapons)

-hundreds of little places to eat on the street called fondas

-tipping done occasionally

-saying thank you isn’t always necessary

-kissing on the cheek when greeting

-barking/hissing at girls on the street

-lots of kids playing soccer

-punctuality and “fast” food non-existent

Our ability to adapt to this new culture will ultimately lead to our success in the city. Although some of these new ideas may not be in line with our own personal beliefs, it is essential to acknowledge them and become informed in order to be more well-rounded individuals. Two months of living amid Panamanian culture will definitely give us new perspectives on each of our home cultures.

Buddy says, “This week the outdoor recreation team has made great leaps on the forming of the volleyball court. The determination of the team is fascinating and soon we will have a fully operational court. This week I am working on the design of the chapel. I am currently seeking approval for the project and hope to see its creation.”

David says, “Week 3 has been another very productive week in the valley for the Summer 2013 Kalu Yala interns. We have done a great job organizing our projects into a concise schedule/timeline. Communicating our thoughts and ideas with each other has been one of our weaknesses. Improving communication skills within the group is something we will work on next week, as well as in the future.”

Sean says, “This was a good week, filled with learning, hard work, and fun. So it was just like every other week! Spanish lessons are going very well, porque yo puedo hablar en español un poco. The valley all court on the rec field is really starting to take shape, but there’s still a long way to go! Kyle, Izzy and I are beginning to plan out our low ropes course and we will begin construction next week! Last night I built a fire and we all sat around it. Playing music, chatting and just enjoying each other’s company. We are really a family out here!”

Sara says, “Outdoor Rec had a very productive first week. We broke ground on our new volleyball court and all of the Or interns have begun mapping and planning their spaces. It is going to be a great summer. We are really excited about different outdoor rec activities that are beginning to take shape. OR has broken up into two teams to plan hiking trips to Chagres National Park and I am super stoked about that. Bry, Megan and Brig are fantastic directors. They have really proven their leadership and communication skills this week. It is such a pleasure to be a part of Kalu Ayala. I’m grateful for this whole experience.”

Kyle says, “Yhis week was the official start of outdoor recreation. We started planning where and what exact activities we are planning. We also started building the volleyball court. Even though its hard work, everyone was staying positive and active. Sadly I had a headache that drained my energy and motivation, but I trucked through it to the end. I have finished all the lesson plans for the low ropes course. Next week in going to write about challenge courses, the facilitator and facilitator preparation. This will bring the challenge course closer to the completion of the manual. I believe the directors should slow down the group to the pace of slowest walker – ‘you are only as fast as your slowest.’ Dr Steve Guthrie.”

Hatton says, “Thi nweek I got to explore the jungle. Briggette took Peter and I on a trail blaze to the top of the tributary. We drank crystal clear water straight from the source – cold and clear. It was delicious.”

DuPre says, “the nitty gritty has begun. The construction of the new volleyball court in the rec park is well underway. The drainage trench flows with the sweat of the hole diggers an heavy rock carriers. The stars have brightened and the morale continues to flourish. The time here has flown by and I saw some monkeys- it was dope!”

Peter says, “This week was a long, hardworking week. We started diving up projects, but mainly worked on the new volleyball court. Briggette’s showed us a cool spot up from the tributary and the next day Hatton and I went up it. Found a turtle a the very top and many cool frogs along the way. Also saw howler monkeys trice this week. Saw five shooting stars Wednesday night and another Thursday night. Strength of the week was helping other people out and biting my tongue at certain times. Weakness of the week was still not knowing where the trail is going. Oh, and I GOT CORNROWS!”

Kristen says, “Ee broke ground on our new recreation park this week, starting with my design for the new sand volleyball court. It was difficult getting everyone on the same page since the project is such a large scale, but I enjoyed learning how to take criticism and input from other interns. Managing the project has been the best experience ai could have asked for here and we’re only half-way through!”

Bonnie says, “This week I had Spanish class every morning. I’m going to test it out this weekend. Hope I get less strange looks when I’m ordering food! After Spanish I’ve been helping make the new volleyball court which has really taken shape in the last few days. There has been a lot of wildlife around the camp this week. A herd of cows have made it in our fence, butterflies were mating on the volleyball court, there was a bat in the hen house the other night, and a friends dog has been hanging out with us all week. Welcome or not. Exciting things are happening here at Kalu Yala. I finished writing this after four horses came running through camp. Never a dull moment!”

Lee says, “This week has been fun! We have so many great ideas and I can’t wait to implement them. I am going to put an observation deck at the top of the honey creeper and a shelter for people to escape the rain. Cool.”

Maddy says, “This week I’ve learning a lot about the people I’m going to be working with for the next two months and I am extraordinarily privileged. The other Outdoor Rec interns and directors are intelligent and hardworking people and I know I am going to learn so much from everyone on my team. We’ve only just started our new volleyball court and everyone is already altering and bettering plans as well as rolling with the punches. My team makes me so certain that our new Rec park is going to be a success!

Rachel says, “Despite every muscle in my body feeling sore and tense, this week was filled with some awesome group and personal experiences. First, we’ve broken ground on the new Rec field and the first project we’re tackling is the “valleyball” court. It’s been a lot of manual labor, but the outdoor rec team is amazing, so we’ve gotten a lot done in only three days. Second, I witnessed the most amazing shooting star I’ve ever seen. If I hadn’t known better, I would have thought it was fireworks! Lastly, I miss my family and friends terribly, but it feels good to be alone. It’s been easier to reflect on who I am, where I come from and where I want to be. But with that said, can’t wait to skype with them this weekend! Boom.”

Adam says, “So the first three days of this week went swimmingly. Monday through Wednesday were spent working in the rec field. Clearning a space for the valleyball court, marking out territories for individual projects, digging, digging and more digging. I started research for the mountain bike loop, but this side of the property yields little to no area usable for bilding a sustainable trail. Hopefully when Kate returns with a large topo map I can figure out a better option.

Izzy says, “This week we’ve been working the new valleyball court, as well as our personal projects and our trip to the National Park, Chagres. For my personal project, myself and my team members have staked out our ropes course and have ordered the supplies for the first element. This week I also had a gauanabana for the first time, which was delicious, and saw my first capuchin monkeys! Living in the rainforest is grand. Valley phrase of the week: Valleyball – intense valley, style volleyball.”

After finishing up our agriculture orientation on Monday and Tuesday morning, we desperately needed a substantial rain.  Our soils were dry and clumpy and we feared for some of our crops. The sun was beaming relentlessly Tuesday morning and a good rain seemed like a distant dream. Sure enough, after lunch the rainy season lived up to its name and the largest storm the Summer 2013 interns have yet to see in Panama hit the valley. We all rejoiced as all of our things got soaked.  Galvanized to maintain high energy and productivity on the farm, the agriculture program kept up the hard work and began to craft a more focused vision of the future of the farm. This week we:

• extended the chicken area

• created more beds

• made trellises for massive cucumber plants

• cleared areas for projects and trees

• worked on our new greenhouse

• began extending our fence line in order to plant new plants and incorporate some exciting new projects being taken on by some of our interns

[singlepic id=6646 w=320 h=240 float=center]

The agriculture interns will be keeping Kalu Yala’s followers posted throughout the summer on our progress on the farm and with our respective projects. All of us are extremely excited for what this summer will do for the farm. The farm has boundless potential and our project ideas will come to fruition soon. We have a great team who knows it will be Kalu Yala’s most productive semester yet and we are blessed to be a part of it.

That’s how I found myself here in Panama, blazing my own unique trail to find that fire.  So now you might ask me, what is Kalu Yala? Kalu Yala is innovation. It’s more than a community or destination, it’s a lifestyle.  It’s creating a new way to live your life- healthy & sustainably. These values are what the interns and directors instill in their everyday lives. This community preaches what we all should practice- that you’re not on this planet for a long time, but you should make your stay a positive one.

I’ve only been in Panama for two weeks, but the business team and I have already been infused with a wealth of inspiration. The people we’ve met are from all walks of life. They are successful entrepreneurs, TEDx representatives, permaculture experts, and innovative furniture creators. They are travelers, explorers, comedians, and humanitarians. In the end, I noticed one common trend these success stories shared: at a certain point each had to take a great risk. Now, we as interns are taking our great risk in the projects we aim to complete in the upcoming 8 weeks. These projects range from preparing a functioning budget for a lux-camping TEDx event on the Kalu Yala property, designing a sustainable cottage marketing plan, creating an economic development plan specifically for Kalu Yala and the local area with Michael Shuman and CEO/President of Kalu Yala-Jimmy Stice, and working with George Moreno and Partners to source materials and finishes for the eco-resort.

The great Walt Disney once said, “Whatever you do, do it well. Do it so well that when people see what you do, they will want to come back and see you do it again and they will want to bring others and show them how well you do what you do.” This is what we’re doing, and will continue to do as a community here at Kalu Yala.

The Valley

Time is like a clock without hands in the valley.  The days are long and without any of the conveniences of the modern world, you are forced to become creative in how you spend your time.  There is plenty of opportunity for reflection and lots of time to rediscover who you are without having the crutch of technology to steal your time.  If you are not careful, it is easy to forget that you are camping in the middle of a jungle.  That error is quickly corrected, however, when you look up and see the dense forests that surround you.  It truly is an experience that could never be duplicated in words.  Despite the hardships that are endured, there is this feeling that you are being filled in a way that could never be obtained in a concrete city.  It is pretty incredible.

The City

The next morning we get up early and head to Casco Viejo.  Casco Viejo is one of the oldest towns in Panama and is absolutely remarkable.  Many of the buildings are in various states of deterioration: scores of them in the process of being rehabbed.  Graffiti is scribbled on various walls and countless roads are sectioned off, giving you a feeling of being lost in a maze. The streets are saturated with the culture of Panama; various churches, produce and meat venders, shops and restaurants line the streets.  The feeling of poverty is nearly as profound as the beauty that is threaded throughout the town.  One man sits on a stoop, his feet and legs covered in open sores.  A handful of women, modestly dressed in traditional clothing, artfully maneuver themselves through the chaos of the streets.  Armed military police stand guard at almost every street corner in town.  Their presence is intimidating and strong.  Laundry hangs from the porches and feral dogs wander the streets.  The excitement you feel upon entering the town is soon replaced with a feeling that the beauty you see is somehow weaved into the calamity of the people who inhabit it.  The visual representations are a poignant contradiction of everything beautiful and heartbreaking that exists in Casco Viejo.

San Miguel

Perhaps the most difficult experiences to articulate are the ones involving San Miguel.  How I represent the town, and my role in it, is a fragile process.  This town is so many things.  It is beautiful and modest.  It is humble and perhaps slightly suspicious of the house full of gringos that live down the road in the comparatively large Panamanian house.  It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.  The process of assimilating into this world is delicate.  I am hesitant to reveal any of the details of this town as of yet.  I want to ensure that the words used to articulate this village are as complex as the qualities within it.  More to come soon…

-Ann Vitous

The first few days of arrival consisted of interns flying into Panama City, going out to San Miguel, then making the trek out to the valley site. We arrived in small groups and quickly got to know each other. All of us felt accomplished as we made the hike into the valley, and then cheered for the next group of people that came out.  Once the whole group finally trickled in, we began orientation out in the valley. The site out there is beautiful. It is located right next to a river, and nestled in between the large green covered mountains of Panama.  Everyone slept it tents, ranchos, or hammocks (until the heavy rain came, then everyone stayed in or under the ranchos). The experience forced a large group of people from all over to get to know each other and work together. After being out there for 4 days, all of the interns who were based out of San Miguel or Panama City made the hike out to finally put their bags down somewhere a little more permanent. Being in the architecture program, we have been so lucky to be staying in the beautiful apartment here in Panama City.

The bright pink building we stay in is funky and rustic, but beautiful and comfy. The Kalu Yala interns of the business and architecture programs inhabit the entire top floor of the apartment and really appreciate city life after living in the valley for a little bit. Taking a shower or doing laundry is now seen as a luxury. We lived it up the first weekend by taking a boat out Isla de Taboga. It was about a 30 minute boat ride through waters infested with large tankers making their way to the canal. It was a great way to feel small, but also to go to a beautiful island to swim and hang out on a beautiful beach all day. We were motivated to do this by the song “Vamos a la Playa” by Loona.  I’m pretty sure we have listened to it over 100 times by now.

The architecture program works directly with George Moreno & Partners, a third generation and well-respected architect who has done many beautiful designs here in Panama City. We take a cab to his office every morning where we cross a bridge that goes over the entrance to the Panama Canal. Life here has been amazing, but very busy, ever-changing, and productive. Everyone here in the City as well as the entire Kalu Yala program is hard worked and dedicated, and very exciting to see we can produce in the months to come.

Bonnie says, “So far this has been a huge learning experience. Learning how to along with everyone, learning the rules and expectations here at KY, and learning from Steven. It’s been tough and we are all working hard, but it’s been great to see everything we’ve been able to do in such a short amount of time.”

Kristen says, “After moving to a new place that gives me  new roommates, two adorable puppies, a river to shower in, and bugs galore, even after two weeks, I can say el Valle is my home. It’s been a rough two weeks nonetheless but everyone seems to be adjusting and projects are finally in the works. We’re lucky to have time in the city on weekends to utilize the internet for research and reconnecting with family and friends, and honestly it’s nice to have cold drinks at hand and air conditioning.

Sean says, “This past week has been a week of work, fun and bonding. With Stephen Brooks here, we planed 200 new trees and hundreds of small plants, transforming the landscape of the valley in the process. At nights we had great moments around the campfires with great music from people in our group, as well as from everyone’s iPods. It’s been a quick week, but there were many memorable moments and I am looking forward to the many more weeks to come.”

John says, “Steve. Paul. Plants. The first two weeks at Kalu Yala have been remarkable. I have been basking in the honeymoon phase and a group of us went late night swimming so I know this crew is a fun bunch. I feel 10 lbs lighter, but my heart feels much heavier with how much I care for the well being of this group. Outdoor Rec for life, Kalu Yala for life. Tropical Cowboy lifestyle.”

Maddy says, “My first days here have been, quite literally, wild. Everything about this place excites me and keeps me on my toes: from helping to build an entirely new garden to scaling rocks only to jump into a crystal clear river. With days filled with adventure and nights filled with campfires and games, I can’t wait to see what the next weeks have in store. I’m most looking forward to breaking ground on the new outdoor recreation park!”

David says, “In just 2 weeks, the summer 2013 Valley interns have: gone through orientation, become a family of caring individuals and completely transformed the farm. Creative minds across North America have come together and jumpstarted one of the most beautiful communities to reside in the mountains of Panama. Growing and learning from each other are just the beginnings of what these students will undergo in the Kalu Yala Valley.

Adam says, “After my first weekend in Kalu Yala, I find myself tired and refreshed all at the same time. Spending 4 days with Steven Brooks preparing, planting and finishing the garden and farm really opened my up to just what the Agriculture Program is getting into. As far as Outdoor Recreation goes I have started my research on the topography and vegetation to the Kalu Yala land in order to design the first three-mile mountain bike trail in the valley. I also recently decided to build a pump track in the recreation field, as this will be a way to get non-cyclists into the sport.”

Sarah says, “After spending the week focusing on permaculture under the guidance of Stephen Brooks and Paul Zink, I am so ready to begin envisioning Kalu Yala’s recreation park! We planted so many amazing trees and nitrogen-fixing plant varieties; it is really going to look fantastic here in a few years. The key will be to organize circulation and drainage for the space and I look forward to helping with the monumental task. We are creating healthy, beautiful spaces for people – and that is something to really be proud of.”

Rachel says, “Adjusting to the jungle lifestyle was more warmly welcomed by myself and those around me than I thought. Bathing in rivers and switching to a mostly vegetarian diet certainly isn’t my norm, but the opportunity has been worth it so far. I am, however, excited to get to the city for the weekend and enjoy some carnivorous food!

Izzy says, “I’m still getting used to waking up to howler monkeys howling, but so far living in the valley has been awesome. This week we had the opportunity to work with leading permaculturist Steven Brooks, which was very educational. I’m excited to get into our individual outdoor recreation projects. While in Panama City, I’ll be budgeting the low ropes course and planning retreats that will be based around the ropes course.

Peter says, “It was a crazy week. We had a plant smuggler come in. We did a lot of planting, but it really brought everyone together. We played a lot of valleyball (and won!), which was really fun. We split teams into north vs. south. I’ve been getting plenty of sun and exercise, so I’m looking forward to the transformation by the end of the summer – physically and mentally. A snake found its way into the rancho and I was surprisingly the only one that wanted to catch it. Thought it was pretty weird that all of these people living in the jungle are afraid of snakes.

Hatton says, “The south won in valleyball. I’m getting used to the veggie-heavy diet. My hands are becoming one big blister. I’m looking forward to going deeper into the jungle.”

Brian says, “It is here in the Jungle of Panama that I have found Home, Connection, Love and Determination. It is from the ever-striving Desire of my new Family that drive me each day to endure the heat, humidity and insects. Each day is met with Adventure and Hugs and it is here I hope to one day LIVE.”

Kyle says, “My dream has come true. I am in the beautiful jungles of Panama and surrounded by amazing people. Everyone is intelligent and passionate in what they do. This past week we had the privilege to have Steven Brooks visit and planting close to 300 exotic plants, trees and herbs. I learned many ways of organic farming and how many of these flora can be used either for food or medicinal uses. The garden looks completely different. It is much more aesthetically pleasing. It has been great out here in the jungle of Kalu Yala. I can’t wait to see what other accomplishments we all will accomplish next week.”

Stay tuned for next week’s blogs post to read more about the adventures of the Outdoor Recreation team.

Director Semester Goals

• Collaborate with Architecture for Humanity to learn about how to create projects geared toward design for San Miguel

• Continue Flash Seminars project for Business + Architecture Program, and help facilitate seminars for San Miguel + Kalu Yala-based programs

• Develop a useful curriculum for students with a wide variety of interests and lead weekly discussions on an aspect of design (to be defined liberally) that will hopefully foster mindful collaboration between interns

• Personal project: work on a short web series on architectural/design elements of Panama City & the area

List of Architecture Intern Projects

1.     Create plans for a building in the founders’ village- Plans will be created for potential future implementation and be reviewed by members of George’s team at the completion of the internship

2.     Creating future plans for our first structure, a ‘learning building’ (potentially for an interiorarchitecture intern)

3.     Analyze an element of the regulating code

4.     Research another part of the form-based code, such as public space standards, environmental-resource standards, etc.

5.     Hydropower project [to work with Bill Wilson]

6.     Work with Aaron + Biology Program on setting biodiversity goals in planning/codes- How can we secure a more ecologically-responsible development plan?

A)  Mission Statement:

The agriculture program will be working to further expand the size of the farm and work to create the base of the future Kalu Yala village and through that have an actual hand in the physical creation of part of the village.

My vision for the farm right now is to see it as a living lab/example area.  What this means is that there will be many different types of farming methods being used, composting techniques, different style chicken coops, etc.  The idea is that either a new intern or visitor (eco-tourist?), can come witness plethora of  agricultural methods being used.  I believe this is inevitable since every semester agriculture students will come down and have projects that add new elements to the farm.  As well as the farm being what I have just described the end goal will be that there will be food from all these different methods.

B) Techniques:

• • “Lead By Example”
• • Set standards and expectations
• • Demonstrate good work ethic
• • Professionalism (maintain “boss” status, express concerns)
• • Provide tasks to each intern throughout entire semester
• • Have list of projects to be started/completed over semester
• • Break down each project into tasks to be assigned to individuals on daily or

  weekly basis.

• • Have consistent group and individual meetings
• • Openly communicate with all other directors, meet on a regular basis
• • Designate time for each individual intern (meetings or work days)
• • Program Group meetings on regular basis
• • Valley Group meetings (beginning/end each stint?)
• • Be resourceful
• • Research and have plans/ideas ready for interns (demonstrate knowledge of

  projects/tasks)

• • Be ready to help interns/ guide them in right direction (ex. with personal projects)

D) Agriculture Projects:

1) Irrigation system:

• -Design/create basic system for current plants
• – Make it simple to expand during semester and future semesters as more crops areas are created

2) Clear/Clean up farm within fence:

• -Clearing out all grass and brush
• -This will allow easier movement throughout farm
• -Make planting, setting up of new areas, and work easier
• -Makes area look neat and organized

3) Expand Current Crops: (Plantain area is a perfect permaculture example

• -Group discussion on Permaculture.  What is Permaculture?
• -Increase the area and amount of plantains and yucca.
• -Set up a more organized orchard scheme for more fruit trees near agro forest area.
• -Plant more herbs, quick growing items in garden beds.
• -Expand current garden beds.

4) Prepare areas for more crops:

• -Clear areas for more crops.
• -Create more garden beds for quick growing crops.
• -Create space for larger mass growing of crops.
• -Create special garden beds for kitchen herbs
• -Determine if we can build a steppe type garden bed on slope.
• -Design/create space for crop rotation.

• -Create farm map/layout of crops, specific areas, where things are.
• -Work with outdoor rec. to create paths and designated walking areas throughout the farm.

6) Work in the mature fruit orchard:

• -Clearing out and cleaning up the orchard
• -Prune/manicure fruit trees where needed
• -Harvesting fruits.
• -Teach proper pruning techniques.
• -Teach proper harvesting techniques.

7) Create experimental fertilizer/potting soil:

• -Create organic fertilizer using resources found locally.
• -Collecting pumice stones for smashing.
• -Collecting sawdust.
• -Collecting rotten leaves.
• -Collecting cow/horse manure.
• -Collecting magic circle muck.
• -Collecting soil from our soil mound.

8) Look into potential/immediate Agro-Business possibilities:

• -Work with business program to develop an agro business.
• -What can we do with the fruit from the orchard?
• -Marmalade, jelly, juices, etc. MORE  MORE MORE????
• -Fertilizer/potting soil: this is my secret recipe.
• -Market to upscale ex-patriots/friends/Casco crowd.
• -KY marmalade $14.99 a mason jar 100% organic.

9) Joint SM/ESL/CO/ Agriculture project:

• -Work with San Miguel team to develop agriculture lesson plan to be taught at school one day or more.
• -Teach a class about different local crops and their health benefits/affects.
• -Teach the English name of local plants/crops: Platanos=Plantain.
• -Afterschool farming workshop.

10) Beautification Projects:

• -Plant ornamental plants around ranchos, farm fence line.
• -Plant ornamentals along designated walkways in farm.
• -Line driveways/roads inside property with ornamentals/trees
• -Head out into the jungle to explore and find exotic plants/flowers to transplant into farm.

11) Replanting hardwood trees:

• -Replant at hardwood trees that were cut for rancho construction.
• -At least 4:1 ratio(4 trees planted for every 1 that’s cut)

12) Expand Farm Perimeter:

• -Put in more fencing to increase the size of farming area.
• -Keep in line with development designs

13) Fence Work:

• -Repair/rebuild any property fence that is damaged or non existence.
• -Keeps neighbors cows/horses out of property.
• -Teach proper barbwire fence construction techniques.

14) Build new Chicken Coop:

• Design new chicken coop
• Build chicken coop
• Copy old chicken coop
• Have 2-3 chicken coops

E) Tasks:

These tasks are specifically for agriculture interns who may at some point during the workday find themselves with some free time or nothing to do. They are open for any other programs interns to do as well if they find themselves in the same situation but must speak with me before setting out to do certain tasks. This list will change and be updated as time goes on.

• -Machete Work: Clearing grass brush from inside farm perimeter and outside around ranchos, volleyball court, bathroom
• -Weeding in garden beds, the small trees, and other crops to make sure nothing is getting choked out.
• -Collecting worms for vermin compost.
• -Collecting grass/brush for compost.
• -Collecting saw dust for garden beds and bathroom.
• -Collecting wood for fires.
• -Collecting logs and river rocks for lining garden beds and paths.
• -Collecting pumice stones from river for fertilizer.
• -Uncovering and finding more areas of the awesome soil mounds created by Catalino.
• -Gathering and transplanting more plantains. (Authorization Required)
• -Gathering wild ginger for transplant.
• -Collecting and keeping all seeds from anything we eat: fruits, vegetables, anything Largo cooks with.
• -Walk fence line to look for damage.
• -Collect soil from around from/property to do basic soil tests.
• -Measuring and documenting weekly growth of plants.
• -Collecting cow/horse manure.
• -Finding and transplanting wild ornamentals (Bird of paradise)
• -Cleaning chicken coop every other day
• -Watering plants
• -Always putting tools back after you use them.
• -Keeping an eye out for any tools left out in the farm.
• -Checking everyday on all plants in farm and their condition
• -Taking notes on plants in farm. (Height, Leaf discoloration, insects, etc)
• -Harvesting wild Culantro for Largo to cook with.
• -Harvesting anything that is ready in the farm for Largo to cook with.(Authorization Required)
• -Interns are free to go and speak with Camillo about any opportunities to help him milk his cows.

Summer 2013 Business Program Goals

MISSION

To provide interns with an inspiring and hands-on environment for individuals to learn, grow, connect, and create value by pursuing opportunities within a growing entrepreneurial ecosystem.

WELCOME!

It is an exciting year for us at Kalu Yala and we are looking forward to you being a part of the team and the action!  The current priorities for the Business Program include planning for a 500 person summit event to be hosted at Kalu Yala and preparing for the first phase of construction towards a Co-Working Eco Resort. Interns aren’t required to participate in the above projects, and are welcome to propose their own project which I will help facilitate.

There are two directions an intern can pursue with their project.  One being an independent project with various opportunities to accelerate entrepreneurial skills, or working on director led projects with the Kalu Yala Land Development Co., which are focusing on the initial phases of the community’s development.  Interns are provided with resources and connections that may help advance a project or expand networks, but each intern is responsible for putting in the work to get what they want out of this experience.

DIRECTOR GOALS

• Communication

• Consistency

• Leadership

• Education & Inspiration

• Expertise

• Project Development

• Sustainability

TECHNIQUES

• Communication

  • Monday Group Meetings Discussing ‘Last Week’s Challenges & This Week’s Goals’

  • Individual Intern Meetings on Frequent Basis

  • Open Communication with Other Directors & Regular Meetings

  • Transparency

  • Provide Comfortable Feedback Loops for Interns

• Lead By Example

  • Set Standards and Expectations

  • Be Patient & Encourage Ideas

  • Demonstrate Good Work Ethic

  • Professionalism

• Guide the Interns

  • Inspire Interns to Develop Own Project & Proposal

  • Enhance and Improve Existing Project Design & Implementation

  • Assist Interns in Setting Project Goals & Timelines

  • Be a Resource for Interns and Provide Guidance to Their Projects

• Education

  • Facilitating Weekly Conversations on Assigned Business Book

  • Relevant Articles, Blogs, & Videos to be Assigned Weekly

  • Improve Sustainability and Health & Wellness Efforts Within Kalu Yala

  • Provide Networking Opportunities Through Guest Speakers, Special Events, Etc.

  • Incorporate Program Involvement into Local Organizations

• Be Resourceful

  • Read, Research, Study and Demonstrate Knowledge of Material

  • If I Don’t Know Something, I Will Figure it Out

  • Seek Knowledge & Advice from Professionals & Experts

  • Ask for Help When Needed–we are not experts and need to acknowledge our limitations

PROJECT IDEAS

• Construction Management

  • Planning, organizing, and executing tasks necessary for construction of venue

  • Permitting Processes

• 500 Person Summit Event Preparation

  • Event Plan & Execution

    • Recreation Mgmt & Activity Plan

    • Hospitality Services

    • Group Services Mgmt

    • Communications

    • Entertainment

    • Food & Beverage

    • Transportation

    • Security

  • Sponsorship Packages

    • Local & Regional

  • Permitting Processes

• Business, Marketing, & Operation Plans for Co-Working Eco-Resort

  • To create a business model and plans for a Co-Working/Co-Housing Development in Kalu Yala

• Agricultural-Business Ideas

• • Product Development:  Taking an item that Kalu Yala produces on the farm and turning it into a marketable product that we eventually distribute.  Ex: Jam/Marmalade, Composting Fertilizer

  • Communications, outreach, marketing, operations, design and distribution of this product

• Community Organization Involvement

• • Establishing relationships and planning events/fundraisers with local non-profit organizations to further connect the community of those trying to make a difference, live healthily and sustainably

• Eco-Tourism

  • Furthering development of existing tourism company, Jungle Adventures by Kalu Yala, by expanding products with new revenue stream ideas, marketing, etc.

Kalu Yala CEO, Jimmy Stice, also has several ideas for the Business Program this year for those who want to be more directly involved with the Kalu Yala land development company. I will put these in front of our interns as well:

Real Estate Related

1. Kalu Yala’s Builders Program

   1. Define builders program structure, including conceptualizing the Builders Guild

   2. Profile potential builders

   3. Create promotion plan to find and attract appropriate builders

   4. Design screening process to vet builders

   5. Design Kalu Yala Builds incubator to aid local and international builders make a successful transition into the world of Kalu Yala

2. Cottage Sales Program

   1. There are 20 special cottage lots in the Founders Village reserved as the only lots for non-investors in that village

   2. Create profiles of target audiences for this special offering (ie people under 35, entrepreneurs, farmers, etc)

   3. Design sales program to find and attract the best of this target audience

   4. Define the cottage product in a way that is of high value to the target audience

3. Securities Sales Program

   1. Learn about Kalu Yala’s financial structure, target investor audience, business model, and current promotional plans/activities, as well as securities regulations in the US and Panama

   2. Create a separate promotional plan for finding and attracting investors to add another prong to the arsenal

4. Investor Business Plans/Pitches

   1. Use the Kalu Yala master plan, share structure, and community model to pick a building type(s) to match a business plan to

   2. Perform a feasibility study and create a resulting business plan

   3. Potentially package that business plan into a pitch deck to solicit investors

Economics Related

1. Define Kalu Yala’s business principles required of all businesses doing business in Kalu Yala or using the Kalu Yala brand (i.e. regional producers who are part of a Kalu Yala co-op).

2. Plan The First Kalu Yala Co-Op

   1. Co-ops are a big part of how Kalu Yala will enable small businesses to compete in a big business world.

   2. Identify opportunities for creating early co-ops that can include already existing regional businesses/producers at Kalu Yala

   3. Define Kalu Yala co-op goals and principles

   4. Use local context and co-op goals to identify comparable examples and blueprint Kalu Yala co-op structure and business plan

3. Local Resource Index

   1. Radiating from Kalu Yala to San Miguel to San Martin, identify and catalog locally available resources

   2. Either choose a particular resource and map its occurrence in the region or work from Kalu Yala outward cataloging all the resources that can be identified in a particular area further before expanding the study

   3. Resource examples include human resources (i.e. political leaders, craftsmen of different types, large local financial stakeholders), natural resources (i.e. extraction industries, aquifer and water resources, timber), and products (ie. locally produced food products, unique crafted goods, medical, educations, etc)

4. Draft Economic Development Plan

   1. Use Michael Shuman’s books The Small Mart Revolution and Local Dollars, Local Sense to identify the required components (guiding principles, institutions, financial and human capital) of a successful local economy that supports entrepreneurs and small businesses at Kalu Yala

   2. Chronologically order the development of these components

   3. Propose development plans for each component, starting with the first

The summer 2013 is an exciting time for Kalu Yala as San Miguel will have the largest number of interns in San Miguel that it has ever had. What an exciting time to be a Director!

I’m a big fan of goals, of dreams and of themes. This Summer Semester I would like to focus on two big themes, as well as detail a few goals.

The first of the themes for this summer is to turn ideas into actions. One of the largest struggles in San Miguel is when interns realize that perhaps doing things in San Miguel is slightly more complicated than they originally thought. I want every intern (and myself) to accomplish a great amount but the foundation of that is turning ideas, no matter how simple, into action. These ideas can be something big like starting and creating a vegetarian restaurant. These ideas can also be small such as grow closer to the interns. Either way, I hope that people act on their ideas. Too much of my own life has been sent living in my head with great ideas, and I want to start acting on them. I hope San Miguel as a whole can work to turn ideas into actions. The theme will be to just do something. You might fail, but then keep trying. Keep doing something. Keep learning and growing and sharing your idea with the world!

The second theme is to listen more than we speak. By that I don’t mean we should actually measure our words to listening ratio (I’m working on that technology) but rather have that sort of mentality with the town. Something that San Miguel certainly does is humble you. You realize that perhaps the best way we can help the great people here isn’t a crazy innovative-would-work-in-the-USA idea but rather just listening and working with them. I would like our philosophy to be one of empowerment and working with them rather than helping or teaching them. I think a good way articulate this is with the phrase listen more than we speak.

With those two themes, I can detail a few concrete (and a few abstract) goals for this summer semester. Lets get started!

Goals:

1) Continue building relationships in school, implement MEDUCA (official Panamanian) curriculum into our ESL classes and develop more sustainable and lasting lessons

but why? Kalu Yala has been teaching in the schools for a few years. However, we have never developed a strong (and lasting) relationship with MEDUCA (what would be the equivalent of the Education Department). This past semester we received the official national curriculums for all grade levels in terms of English. A big goal is to begin the process of implementing those and adjusting our curriculum to fit the National standards. In that, I think working with the teachers more in the San Miguel school is imperative. This can be as simple as starting conversations with teachers and listening to why they became teachers, the reasoning behind their pedagogy in the classroom and how they think we can be more effective teachers. To start this shift in the way we approach teaching in schools will help Kalu Yala be seen as both more credible and more willing to understand and learn from the San Miguel culture.

2) Build Casa Llena culture

but why? Casa Llena, the house in San Miguel where the staff of Kalu Yala lives is a beautiful large yellow house. As an intern, the culture was one of reading, watching TED talks, writing and going for walks. I loved my time there and think that we can add more to it. Kelly and I have already added a work/study/quiet room with an awesome whiteboard that was painted on (thanks Kelly’s parents!) I would love Cass Llena is to have a great vibrant culture that reflects the internship. I would love for there to be late night discussions on topics both silly and serious. I would love there to be be programming and sharing of talents , skills and recipes. I would love to see interns get 10 minutes every month to teach the rest of us how do something if it’s yoga to breakdancing to building a chair. I know the Directors living in San Miguel (Kelly, Maria and myself) all have grand plans to make Casa Llena an awesome place to live.

3) Start working on Vegetarian Fonda

but why? One of my favorite moments of my internship is when we asked this fantastic lady in San Miguel (love you Aura!) what her dreams were. She responded that she would love to open a Vegetarian Fonda (fonda means restaurant). We thought this was an amazing goal and perfectly aligns with Kalu Yala’s mission. Working together with the Panamanian government through AMYPME, a government organization that lends out microloans, we can find sources of external funding and make this a reality.

4) Build Adult Class and start Conversation Coffee Hour

but why? Our adult classes in San Miguel have traditionally not brought too many adults, although there seems to be interest in just about everyone to learn english. However, this last semester we worked to build the classes and bring in more students. By the end of the semester we still had a small, but yet very committed group. An idea that came from asking one of our students in his class how we could better serve him came when he told us he would love a conversation hour where he practices english through conversations. A Kalu Yala idea in the past has been to do a “coffee conversation hour” and with the genuine interest coming from the students in San Miguel and with an absurdly awesome group of interns, I think we can make this happy.

5) Continuation of successful San Miguel projects

1. After school programs

2. Rio Clean-Up  Day

3. Video pen-pal project

4. Casa Llena chicken coop and garden

5. To expand the definition of the Education program beyond ESL classes

Welcome to my final journal chronicling my work at Kalu Yala during my sixth stint here (from Apr 2, 2013 until Apr 8, 2013).

The highlight of this stint has been the things I learned at the Smithsonian’s Barro Colorado Island (BCI).

This picture depicts the entry sign into the STRI (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute).

During my visit to this institute, my biology team met an entomology research specialist named Ernesto, who guided us through the area.

This picture depicts our STRI guide, Ernesto.

During our walk through the BCI region, we had opportunity to establish contacts with various researchers at their 64-person capacity facility. Through Ernesto, it will be possible to email and request research collaboration with their researchers to help further Kalu Yala’s understanding in ecological sciences, to either improve our ability to do species identification in Tres Brazos or to build a genuinely sustainable water system.

Prior to the start of our guided walking tour through the wilderness of the BCI, the guides presented to our team a professional powerpoint presentation of many significant facts regarding this place. Examples of the information presented included the history of BCI’s starting date in 1923 after the Panama Canal was completed in 1914. The name of the founder was James Zeter, who eventually led his field station to become the first most famous ecological research base. Nineteen other prominent labs throughout the world have been designed as replicas inspired by the original model of this BCI STRI.

This picture depicts the BCI STRI’s lecture hall.

Among the wildlife shown in the presentation that we actually did see later included the golden-orbed spiders, agoutis, leaf-cutter ants, and howler monkeys. Also, the Ceiba pentandra tree about 3 kilometers from the field station base proved to be a marvel on the island, being 53 meters tall and 300 years old. Although the fauna either moved too quickly or were too small to be easily photographed with a standard camera, the trees and flora gave us a decent source of pictures.

This picture depicts one of our team members posing with “Big Tree.”

It will be my hope that Kalu Yala will flourish and soon have a rivaling lab station in the near future at Tres Brazos that can publish quality research as efficiently as the BCI STRI.

Other valuable things that I will have done beyond my Barro Colorado mission during this stint six time frame (including the off-stint before and after it) will have included the installation of hummingbird feeders in Tres Brazos, photos of my best raft in action, lectures about the uses of bamboo, and a possible report on the medicinal herbs in the Kalu Yala farm.

Here is a photo of Adrian Valverde, a specialist in architecture using bamboo:

Mr. Valverde came to our Kalu Yala office and presented about the theoretical knowledge of bamboo, and the possible applied uses of it. Some of the most interesting facts he claimed about bamboo includes that a full moon will cause the water in the bamboo shoots to rise up throughout its body. So, it would be unwise to cut down bamboo under a full moon, because insects will be attract to the sugar cane fluids and quickly cause decay of the newly acquired bamboo. It is best to chop it down on a new moon. Some of the greatest structures designed with bamboo include bridges for cars and entire church buildings.

So, I started to think, all of those things are nice and important, but for what? Warning: I’m about to get philosophical. Living in the Valley has shown me things that I didn’t even know existed, and now I couldn’t imagine a life without them. I have formed bonds to people around the globe that will surely be a part of the rest of my life.

But, most importantly I have realized the fundamental difference between a journey and a quest. A journey is simply the path you walk and the things you accomplish along the way; a quest is a search, a longing to find something (social, spiritual, emotional, etc.) and the reason for progress. Crap: I need a goal…I need a reason to continue. I need the thing that makes you thrive, not simply survive. I need the thing that gives you goose-bumps and keeps you awake at night planning (in the good ways). But lucky for me,life in the Valley incubates an inert need to move forward, climb higher, breathe deeper, and laugh harder.

[singlepic id=6584 w=320 h=240 float=center]

So this stint was very introspective, but I followed the pull of the Valley and of nature and allowed myself to climb higher, breathe deeper, laugh (and cry) harder and it brought me to the top of the honey creeper tail, where I sat for a few hours. And this is what I figured out:

My life quest is to change the world, and bring out the best in every person I meet. Yeah, I know it’s cliché and grand but, dream big right? So, I started a list. With the help of the beautiful Jen, I’ve created a list of all the things that give me goose-bumps. I’ve created a list of journeys. I won’t share the whole thing, but it ranges from learning acupuncture to reading the 100 American Classic books.

I know, it sounds like a bucket list, but Jen also suggested that I evaluate every activity to see what area of my life it is engaging (emotional, mental, spiritual, physical, or social). This will allow me to really see what it is about each little journey or idea that is impacting my life and balance out each of the 5 parts. *This is an extremely basic summary, Jen has spent many years doing this and developing a lot a awesome things and progressing her life.

So the big summary, I have no idea what I am doing with my life. I have no idea where I will be in 6 months, I have no idea what the next journey is.. but I have a goal: Change the world, and living in the Valley helped me realize that.

[singlepic id=6581 w=320 h=240 float=center]

*  DISCLAIMER: I hope you enjoy the pictures of the beautiful scenery that has almost nothing to do with the content of this blog.

For myself and the Community Outreach program, I couldn’t have asked for better interns – Morgan and Britney dedicated themselves to their projects and completed so many that they actually had to choose which ones to write and present about. Above and beyond projects, they were both beautiful people whom I’m going to miss dearly. I know that the future looks bright for them both though, and they are going on to bring their intelligence, humor, kindness and many talents to other people and places.

https://kaluyala.com/community/documents/kinder-curriculum/

Britney’s Kinder Curriculum, complete with songs and activities, some of which could be used for the Art & Music class Britney also lead this semester.

https://kaluyala.com/community/documents/spring-2013-garden-renovations/

Morgan’s write-up of all the garden projects completed by her, Britney and myself.

https://kaluyala.com/community/documents/intern-interpr…nd-impressions/

Morgan’s impressions of San Miguel, hopefully a future dialogue between interns.

https://kaluyala.com/community/documents/spring-2013-arbol-de-la-vida/

Morgan’s Arbol de la Vida program.

It’s also refreshing that an internship always ends, and that you can return to school where you delay adult life for a little bit longer. I’m hoping adult life can be tackled with the same strategy of organizing my room. I know it’ll happen eventually, but I would like to push it back as much as I can until it is absolutely imperative. I’ll keep coming up with excuses, “I would clean my room, or I could play guitar and use the pile of dirty clothes as a couch” or “I could be an adult, or I could run across the country Forrest Gump style.”

Instead, I’m leaving this internship energized. The last few nights I have not been able to sleep, from meeting people, reading articles, and being in an environment that challenges you. I go to sleep and think questions like “Who am I and what is my place in the world?” Basically, small questions that can be easily answered or Googled.

After consistently Googling “Who is Esteban Gast” for a few minutes and finding out I really need to delete some embarrassing YouTube videos (a Single Ladies dance seemed like a good idea at the time…), I know that these questions can only be answered internally. Being in my generation and neglecting to realize that technology sometimes doesn’t immediately provide an answer, I panicked.

When I stopped panicking (after watching the Single Ladies dance) I knew why I felt energized and why these questions are good.

During my Kalu Yala internship, I had a chance to really articulate and define my passions and dreams. I also learned something incredibly valuable: “whatever my dreams are, I should take them seriously.”

If you only read one thing, let it be this: Whatever your dreams are, take them seriously.

Jimmy started Kalu Yala because he wanted to create a better world and took that dream seriously. There’s a feeling in Kalu Yala that anything is possible. Throughout my time here I have realized that if I really do like media so much, I can go down that path. I’ve always considered a career in education (perhaps disrupting traditional education models), and that was encouraged. I am currently launching a social business with my brother (more on that later…details are not released) and saw that being an entrepreneur is simply saying YES to the adventure that is life. I was a comedian back in the States, and had never taken the possibility of being a comedian seriously, until I was encouraged by everyone here. I’ve had dreams of walking on to a stage and telling jokes for a leaving, but thought that was a just dream shared by any attention-seeking 5 year old who grows up, not something legitimate and something that (gulp) could be achieved.

It’s not blind optimism, it’s just an acknowledgement that perhaps there is a reason I have so many passions. Perhaps there is a reason why I get that feeling in my stomach that says “THIS is where you’re supposed to be” when I’m being silly or making a video or teaching kids or hiking through the mountains. Also, if there is anything Kalu Yala tells us it’s that we are young, and with incredible amounts of hard work, we can most likely achieve these enormous dreams. So let’s go for them.

So, I finish my internship energized. Energized to chase my passions. Energized because I have understood that I should take my dreams seriously. Energized because there is coffee in the kitchen and I had a cup.

I have no idea where the future is, but I’m going to try to push off this whole adult thing for a little while later and find a way to keep going on adventures in the meantime.

Until then, keep an eye out for my socially-conscious products, my revolutionary education idea, latest web-series and comedy skits. Because I’m taking all those pretty seriously now.

Welcome to my fifth journal of what happened during my fifth stint in the Tres Brazos Valley where the Kalu Yala field station is. This past fifth stint had been from Mar 20, 2013 (Wed) until Mar 28, 2013 (Thurs). Of the three teams out in the jungle (agriculture, outdoor recreation, and biology), I’ll try to focus writing about the specific achievements the biology team made. Nonetheless, I shall include highlights of my interaction with the outdoor recreation team in my effort to build better rafts, and my collaboration with the agriculture team to develop a medicinal herbs project.

The water system had been completed by our biology team last stint (during stint four) and we have been maintaining the system. The system has failed to produce consistent water flow since the first two days it became operational. It has been our team’s diagnosis that having reductions are the problem. If we remove the smaller 0.5″, 1″, and 1.5″ pipes in favor of all 2″ pipes, then reverse pressure would be avoided and the water would flow all the way to base unhindered. The team has been on standby to swap out the pipings as soon as approval is received from our headquarters in the city. Until then, the only outcome of constantly keeping the water system active is to have the pipes burst along the Iguana River, causing mud and pollutants to wash into the fresh water there.

A brighter news report comes from the progress made on my second raft. This descendant of the original prototype is twice as wide, two feet longer, and equipped with more than four times as much surface area of hollow pontoons to keep the raft afloat.

This picture depicts a clean-edge raft that is 8′ by 8′ and much more superior than my first raft.

Additionally, this second raft has been tied up with paracord, a superior alternative to standard (polyethylene) rope. It shall be our vision to set this second raft onto the water in the Pacora River by the start of our final stint to evaluate how well it keeps people aboard afloat.

Besides my raft construction, another project I have been trying to expand on is our biology team’s efforts to do ornithological studies on birds in our valley region. This project has become more clear with the construction of bird feeders that may catalyze the appearance of birds in our region.

This picture depicts a bamboo section that can be filled with sugar water to feed hummingbirds.

It shall be my hope to attract a substantial number of hummingbirds (and other species as well) into our field research station in order to receive the benefits of their presence. Two important factors include their positive impact on ecotourism (as guests love to see exotic wildlife), and their pollination ability to improve the floral health of flowers and plants nearby. It is likely that the farm and agriculture team will receive great benefit from the progress made on this biological research project.

Finally, it has been my vision to see the agriculture team become self-sufficient to grow a larger number of medicinal plants out in the valley, especially for daily use as it is difficult for valley interns to purchase anything from a nearby pharmacy when in need of remedies. My idea was to have the agriculture team cultivate aloe vera for soothing sunburns, and ginger for energizing interns with a proven stimulant to grind into their drinks. Hopefully the plant garden collection at our San Miguel location will be transported to the valley for further research of their potential value in the farm.

It shall be my hope during the final sixth stint to see this medicinal herb project flourish in the valley, as well as to attract a significant amount of pollinators to our farm and to set sail our sturdiest raft possible.

Life is surreal. Happiness engulfs me. Everything is the way it should be.

These feelings come from a place, San Blas. A tropical paradise that exposed my eyes to a colorful dream I never thought would exist in my own reality.

Endless blue sea, turquoise and electric, underneath, brimming with life. Schools of fish stretch onwards for eternity above coral abodes, where life darts in and out. Predator prey chaos, creates its own perfect balance.

For dinner the taste of fresh lobster, mixed with my salty lips, and salty air. Sun sets, and silhouettes appear against the yellow and purple streaked sky. A fire of burning palm leaves in the sand, lights the faces of good friends drinking from a bottle of rum. We talk and mostly laugh, peacefully stranded on an island under the starry sky.

I returned to the city and tried to hold onto these images and feelings fresh in my mind. I tried to turn them into something concrete, I could own forever, like a silver locket worn close to the chest. Unfortunately a photo can’t fully capture the way the sun reflected against the white sand beneath the crystal clear water. A memory can only grasp at the feeling of being sun kissed, sticky, sandy, and surrounded by friends in a tropical paradise. At least I did my best to embrace those feelings while they lasted.

Although I have spent time with doing some kind of something with just about everyone at camp, my most recent “side project” has been helping one of the outdoor recreation interns, Bryann, with the Honey Creeper Trail. She has some awesome ideas for giving the Honey Creep a face lift and a management plan (read her blog about her plans!). The trail is about 1.1 km and it’s a lot of uphill climbing. Until recently, it had become pretty overrun. We have painted the big rock that is at the entrance of the trail and are currently working on taking the path back down to dirt and marking the trail better. It’s dirty, sweaty work but we’ve learned we make a good team and we feed off each other’s energy. Two girls, a machete, and a rake. Jungle simplicity.

It’s awesome to work next someone whose career goals and passions are so different from my own. I’m almost literally “walking in her shoes”, and the outdoor rec team is showing me one hell of time in letting me experience what outdoor rec is really all about.

No day in the Valley is ever over until you’re covered in dirt and sweat. Bry’s enthusiasm for whatever she does is inspiring and renews my own enthusiasm for my work.

I’m definitely finding my alliances are becoming more and more divided between bio and outdoor rec… Thanks to Bry they’ve both got pieces of my heart.

I wanted to showcase that the amazing people here are more than interns, and that Kalu Yala offers more than an internship.

Check out the link below:

More than an Intern

CONVERSATION BACK HOME:

CONVERSATION AT KALU YALA :

Aside from the minor exaggeration, I want to be clear that I am not slighting the south; I have met plenty of amazing people in Texas, and Kalu Yala itself is comprised of half ‘southerners.’  I am speaking in terms of concentration.  Kalu Yala, by nature, attracts a generally intellectual, liberal, independent, well-traveled and adventurous crowd—which is awesome….and intimidating.  I never realized  how much my identity is wrapped up in cool things I have done, places I have travelled, books I have read, history that I know and the general intellectual persona that I try so hard to cultivate, until I met a bunch of people that outdo me at it.  They have read all the right books, listened to all the right TED talks and This American Life episodes, and are politically and socially informed.   Most are well-travelled, some are fluent in Spanish, others are starting their own business or pursuing a Masters degree, and they all want to change the world.  I often find my confidence waning around such impressive peers, which makes me wonder if it is confidence at all if it is so dependent on the people around me, which then begs the question: what is confidence?

To try and answer this, which I am quite literally figuring out as I write, I must first digress to the Dark Knight Trilogy (where all life’s lessons can be traced back to).  I love the quote in Batman Begins when Rachel tells Bruce Wayne, “It’s not who you are on the inside, but what you do that defines you.”  Rachel is telling Bruce that he can’t claim to care about justice, about the people of Gotham, if all he does is run around playing eccentric billionaire, no more than I can claim to care about health and then eat at McDonalds every day.  If there is no outward expression of an asserted inner reality, then that ‘inner reality’ is no reality at all.  My life, what I ‘do’, is the evidence that defines who I really am, and defining who I am, that is, expressing my inner values outwardly, is the foundation upon which real self-confidence is built.

Fortunately, Bruce is batman and gets to drop this bomb on Rachael while jumping off a building into the night in the most awesomely dramatic exit scene ever.  I’ll have to leave you with something a bit more mundane.  I recently began taking Spanish classes and have gained so much confidence, not only because I am getting better at Spanish, but because I am putting my time, energy and money into something that I value and have wanted to learn for a long time.  I am doing something that reflects my values and am building real self-confidence because I am defining myself, validating who I am by taking my inner reality and transforming it into an external reality.  And I know it is real because neither the validation nor disapproval of others has any significance.  Unfortunately, it is rare that I do something that doesn’t need at least some external validation because it is rare that my values are pure, or that I even know what my values are.

I’ll continue that thought in a few days with a new post that is almost finished.  I just wanted to split it up a bit.

But for all of our trepidation, we were pleasantly surprised to find George and his group of talented architects to be very down-to-earth. In my mind, I was expecting a long business meeting where I would simply sit back and listen to all the people who knew way more than me talk for a few hours and come up with a plan of attack for a final building design. Instead, we began our “work day” with colored pencils, clear paper, and architectural plans, drawing out how we thought each of our buildings ought to be. It felt like a grown-up version of art class in primary school, and everyone was having fun creating and designing.

George’s team guided us through the process of planning the inside of the building, and we spent the day bringing new ideas to the table and making our building better. To my astonishment, George actually encouraged us, saying that the architectural space planning we came up with was one of the more in-depth and accurate ones he had seen. He told us that most people don’t do that much work with it and just expect him to come up with the uses of space within the building. We were pretty proud of our work after that meeting.

Now, after a few more meetings with George and his crew, we have 3d imaging of our building design in AutoCAD, official architectural schematics, and an amazing new view of Kalu Yala’s future. Meeting the architects has been one of the most rewarding professional experiences I have had, at Kalu Yala or anywhere else.

1. Purchase one way tickets, this way you can travel as far as you want and for as long as you want. This could also cost more money and in some cases a round trip ticket might ensure you keep to a timeline.
2. Make sure at least one person in the group can speak the local language.
3. Arrange a place to stay before you get on the plane/bus to a new location. Nothing is worse than looking for a hostel in the rain in a city you don’t know.
4. Bring good walking shoes, chances are you’ll be walking a lot. Unless you rented a car in which case you planned way too far ahead.
5. Ask the locals for places to eat, they will know cheaper places that are less touristy and probably have better food then McDonalds.
6. Ask at the front desk for activities, hostels and hotels know the local tour groups and can provide you with activities that are good for the current weather/ your current energy level.
7. Learn to sleep on the road, many places will offer overnight or early morning transportation this is a great option because it allows a full day in two places instead of spending half a day traveling.
8. Watch your money, it’s difficult to find the best deals when you’re doing everything in the moment so be ready to spend the extra 20 dollars for a taxi if the bus schedule doesn’t fit your needs.
9. Go big, there’s no point in not planning your trip out if you’re going to waste all your time debating how much to do. Do the bungee jumping and eat the second dish of ice cream, it is a vacation.
10. Be smart, it goes without saying but it’s still important. If something seems off about a driver, guide or hostel just leave, it might cost time and money but it will be worth it.

With a rocky start, the green house is finally proving successful!  Seedlings are sprouting proudly regardless of the dry season.  The changes are dramatic with new growth by the hour.  These little plants are strong, which is exactly what we need for creating a sustainable farm.  With daily praise and musical stimulation, the goal is to be able to enjoy some of the fruits of our labor before the term is over.

As a vegan I try to structure my life around principles of nonaggression and non-violence, and I have found much happiness in this. It has changed my life drastically for the better, and all I can hope for is that other people will make similar positive changes in their life. Some people are so aggressive about their standpoints that they forget their own journey to the point at which they are at now. A small percentage of the population is born to vegan, vegetarian or environmentally-friendly households. For the first fifteen years of my life I lived on steak, pasta, cheese and bread. The only fruits and vegetables I ate were corn, watermelon and green apples–ONLY green apples. I didn’t become a vegan until three years later. Who am I to judge others who may be at a different point on their journey of discovering the benefits of healthy eating? I had no idea about the concept of healthy or the harm my diet choice had on myself, animals, the environment and other people.

As a general rule I try not to talk about my lifestyle unless people ask. Even then I am very reluctant to share my viewpoint because I really encourage people to do their own research and draw their own conclusions. Most importantly I try to live in a way that I enjoy and hopefully that is appealing to others who want to make a change in the direction of being a vegan or just healthier in general.

I feel like I’ve seen a shift since being here at Kalu Yala of people being more interested in healthy eating habits. Lately the fridge has been overflowing with half watermelons being eaten “juice style*” This makes me happy not because I want people to be healthy or eat more fruit but because I want people to want to be healthy. I think leading by example is a simple age-old concept, but it is also a powerful tool. If you want to enact change in the world, you have to be someone who others want to be like, and you have to be consistent with your values. It’s not enough to think a vegan diet is best or that you should take steps to green your life. Knowledge is nothing without practice.

*Juice was the name given to me upon a mountain top in San Miguel, Panama

Welcome to my third post regarding my accomplishments in the Tres Brazos jungle area with my Kalu Yala team. In this article, I shall focus on my individual efforts on building rafts from jungle material (this project may be considered an outdoor recreation project, although I am on the biology team). I shall also mention the other achievements of my living systems division.

The first raft that I had built this third stint (from Feb 14, 2013 until Feb 26, 2013) was essentially successful. The raft was able to support up to 140 pounds in the water and maintained tenacity, i.e. the bamboo components all stayed together. Yet, many improvements can now be made after experiencing firsthand the problems of this prototype. The ropes used were standard generic rope*, and therefore lacked the elasticity to hold the pontoons tightly together in real conditions such as when exposed to the Pacora River water. Further, the raft performed poorly while under the stress of actual people boarding it. For example, the raft would tilt upward on the opposing side of the craft and throw a boarding person back in the water (along the coronal axis from that person’s perspective).

The outcome of using standard rope has been the undesirable loosening of the bamboo components in the prototype, to such a significant extent that the deck on top of the raft cannot be completely stood upon (only lain upon), because the deck itself slides around about half a foot along the perpendicular support beams. Notably, the prototype even has unpleasant moments in which each bamboo shaft that comprises the deck flips over, exposing sharp bamboo fragments (the deck bamboo was sliced lengthwise in half, and therefore small splinters abound on the underside of the deck). Another issue with the deck is that it has started to substantially decay in less than a week after being constantly exposed to the Pacora River. It is necessary to keep the bamboo whole, rather than split, to avoid rapid rotting.

Upon boarding this raft, the 6’ x 5’ design fails to support the weight of an adult, such that the raft rapidly becomes tilted to either side. The obvious solution to this problem is twofold: first, the design must be considerably larger (about 10’ x 6’); and second, there must be many more pontoons equipped (the prototype has six pontoons, each 6’ long, but I estimate that about twelve to fifteen pontoons, each 8′ to 10’ long, is necessary for a skillfully designed raft). Another problem with the raft is that the deck itself sinks under the water level by about two inches when supporting my own body weight of 150 lbs. Hence, the greater number of pontoons would ascertain that a person would remain dry while aboard the next raft. Overall, a larger size will resolve rapid tilting and will improve dryness aboard the raft.

Regarding the problems of standard rope, the best possible solution within practical means is to use parachute cord (paracord). The scientific advantage of paracord is a capacity to bear a 550 pound breaking force while still having elastic properties of up to 30% that enable tighter knots. Likewise, there will be less potential for the bamboo components to slide around and even flip within the knots. Although standard (polypropylene) rope has a capacity to bear up to 880 pounds, the elasticity is near 0% and has revealed itself to be ineffective for building the most professional raft possible. Likewise, professional manuals (such as the DK Wilderness Survival Guide, or even the Handy Dad: 25 Awesome Projects for Dads and Kids book) indicate the usefulness of paracord in the making of better rafts.

Here is a closer image of how the knots were made to tie the raft together.

Regarding my personal designing process for this raft, the original plan differed remarkably with the final prototype’s outcome. By my director’s strong advice, I in fact made an original blueprint at all, in which it called for a 6’ x 4’ raft, with no pontoons and all fifteen shafts (for the deck) to be split lengthwise to reduce the weight of the overall raft. Such a design as that would have been most foolhardy, as there would be no buoyancy to support the raft. As the technical construction began, this mistake became obvious, so a pontoon set was added under the deck, creating a 6’ by 5’ raft. The final outcome was two sets of three pontoons on the contours, with nine deck shafts in between the pontoon sets.

My director gave much assistance in the technique of making knots that would support the raft well. The work under the heat of the Panamanian sun doing this nearly made her faint with illness. With great acknowledgment I record her guiding effort. Hopefully I have learned much and will be able to tie knots equally well with paracord for future rafts.

My director who helped to skillfully tie the raft together takes a snapshot of the first raft.

At the end of this third stint, it was possible for us to board the raft and enjoy a ride, albeit laying down on it rather than proudly standing up. Included below in this article is a fine picture of a Kalu Yala director enjoying a ride upon this prototype:

An image of my first raft in actual use.

Besides my efforts on the raft, our biology team was able to further advance the water system to be only within about 100 feet of our base. Likewise, much progress has been made by the agriculture team, as they were able to build an entire greenhouse during this third stint.

Here is an image of our prototype greenhouse. Rather than glass, translucent plastic sheets were used to minimize costs.

It shall be my hope to not only design but build a better second raft during the next fourth stint that will allow us to proudly stand on the raft. Also, I shall hope to complete the water system in its entirety then.
Bibliographical Links
*This is a link to the exact rope type used on my first raft:
http://www.amazon.com/Koch-5000836-Twisted-Polypropylene-Yellow/dp/B002T44UDS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1363630726&sr=8-3&keywords=marine+poly+rope

This is a link to a website that explains the strength of a standard rope (ours was 7/8 inches, so our first raft could theoretically safely support a load of 1440 lb.):
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/nylon-rope-strength-d_1513.html

This is a link to a website with details about paracord, and from this data our company hopes to invest in Type III 550 type cord:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parachute_cord

Here is a link to the book DK Wilderness Survival Guide:

http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Survival-Skills-DK/dp/0756659981/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1363633039&sr=8-2&keywords=dk+wilderness+survival+guide

Here is a link to the book the Handy Dad: 25 Awesome Projects for Dads and Kids:
http://www.amazon.com/Handy-Dad-Awesome-Projects-Dads/dp/081186958X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363633128&sr=1-2&keywords=dads+guide+to+outdoors

1. Fresh water availability. Water system analysis

1.1   Surface water

• Quality : physical, biological, chemical
• Quantity: monthly discharge , temporal and spatial distribution of precipitation
• Mapping: GPS coordinates

1.2   Groundwater

2. Water demand

2.1   Quantity: activities within the development( bathing, cooking, drinking, etc), population size,gauges used in the  system

2.2     Quality: requirements by type of usage: activities within the development

3.  Water supply

3.1   Local water management practices

• supply systems, taps, sewage, drainage, rain water harvesting, waste water
• San Miguel: Miriam
• Tress Brazos: Marcelino, Ramon

3.2   Kalu Kala water supply patterns

3.3   Treatment

3.4     Impact of water withdrawal on ecosystem

4. Waste water

4.1   Quantity

4.2   Quality

4.3   Management: discharge patterns, sewage system

4.4   WW Treatment: facility design

5.Flood hazard analysis

5.1   Land use and topographical analysis: mapping

5.2   River morphology analysis: water levels, sediment flow, flow rates

5.3   Seasonal weather patterns: precipitation: storm design

5.4   Flood risk and vulnerability assessment

6.Infrastructure development

6.1   Rainfall and runoff : volume and spatial distribution, runoff calculations

6.2     Stormwater management facility design: storage capacity

7. Aquaculture

The work so far has been focused on physical, biological and chemical water quality.  We are seeking collaboration with Panamanian national regulators on water quality such as ANAM (Autoridad Nacional del Ambiente) and technical laboratories such as  INCASAT AIP(Institute of Scientific Research and High Technilogy Services-p).  For more specific details check following blogs.

This is part of the letter from Wednesday, 13-3-13.  The original letter exceeds 15 pages. Suggested listening while reading “Peace in the Valley” by Dawes. I have added pictures purely for the readers entertainment.

Dear Marcella,

I hope that in 5 years you haven’t forgotten the beauty of the Jungle. The green in the tress and the dream in your heart. Think of the rest of the Valley Crew that changed your path and shaped your future. Do you see them? What are they doing? Where are the living and how have you shaped them?

Remember pooping in a bucket
and bathing in the river
and singing to the plants in the green house
and ant bites between your toes
and “Spider TV.”

[singlepic id=6593 w=320 h=240 float=center]

Remember everyone around the fire when Ian made a toast
and your first hike in
and your first “honey-creep”
and your first hike to Ramone’s waterfall…
and then remember how you thought you would die of exhaustion in the middle
and you thought you could die in celebration of the top.

Remember that even when you reach the top that might not be the destination, or the end of the journey.

[singlepic id=6587 w=320 h=240 float=center]

Remember the sound of the wind in the trees
and the birds in the sky
and the rush of the river
and the miracle of a rainbow.

Remember Tangbuelo,
and the day running water came to camp
and using hot sauce and cigarettes as currency
and the warm rock on the beach.

[singlepic id=6591 w=320 h=240 float=center]

Remember the dreams of the Duende
and bedtime stories in the hen house
and the healing power of tea
and the fights with the chickens
and the importance of checking for eggs before you crawl into bed.

Remember the taste of mandarins off the tree
and manzana de aqua
and  tamarindo
and guanabana
and guava.

Remember waking up to the howlers and Alejandro,
and watching the sun set behind the mountains from a hammock
and the debate between hammock and ham hock
and jungoogle.

Remember lizards
and the bat tree
and Chicha Fuerte
and base burns
and full moons in the Valley
and  remember what it feels like to use all of your senses.

[singlepic id=6592 w=320 h=240 float=center]

Remember the faith this put back in you for the future of humanity. Remember the strength each person shared and the hope for tomorrow. Remember the passion in a group of 21 people free-ranging a community in the jungle.

Remember the fear when everyone realized they had to figure out life, and the day we realized it didn’t matter? Incidentally, I hope you still haven’t figured out the meaning, it will ruin all the fun. Remember the spring in the Valley and the love for the place the people and for the dream.

Remember the dream and protect it with your life.

Remember it all because it will never happen again. Remember it because life can be difficult the more things you attain, but remember that until you accept the things you cannot have, the things you can have will never change and never grow. Remember the change when you connect with nature and with people.

Remember, because life is too important to forget the light bulb, aha!, come to Jesus moments. Life is too important to forget the sting of blisters and the mighty winds. Now go out and make sure your life is in line.

Pura Vida,
Me

Ramone. Oh, where to begin about this sweet soul of a man!

Living about a 15 minute walk from the valley, Ramone, the REAL jungle cowboy, is a one of a kind human being. He takes daily trips down to base camp just to say “Buena”, and sometimes comes barring with gifts. Ramone lives with his older brother Dario who is also as sweet as can be.

No one really knows the age of Ramone, so we all just assume he’s about 65. But,talk about a beast of a 65 year old! The first experience I had in the valley, he was nestled in a tree on the Honeycreeper Trail whispering one of the director’s name. It was kind of creepy at first, until he jumped out of the tree and lead us to the top of the trail. Last time I climbed a tree in the valley, I fell out! The way this man moves is unreal.

Kalu Yala became friends with these campesinos years ago. They have been hired to help out around camp in the past to help build the ranchos we sleep in and currently help us machete all the grass around the property. What takes us about 4 days to cut down, Ramone can finish in about 6 hours. Not only do they do work for the company, Ramone and Dario have welcomed us to their home.

Ramone’s house is your typical indigenous home of Panama, his roof is made of palm leaves, the floor is cemented sand, the chicken coops are built from hand woven baskets and are also shared by the horse stable, and last but not least is home to his parrot. This guy has been around in Ramone’s family for about 22 years. Not only is he the cutest talking parrot, he flies away every winter to warmer areas of Central America and returns back to Ramone’s in the summer. One of the best things about visiting Ramone and Dario is watching them climb at least 50 feet up their palm tree to get everyone coconuts. I wasn’t a fan of coconuts until I had a fresh one straight off the tree, talk about refreshing.

When I leave Panama, I am truly going to miss this man. Even though I can’t speak a lick of Spanish, I can still understand what he is trying to say. He has a great soul and has really created a strong bond with my fellow interns and especially our directors.

[singlepic id=6569 w=320 h=240 float=left]

Although they know who we are, and what we are doing, being an outsider in San Miguel still attracts some attention. Behaviors that are “normal” in my American life, stick out quite a bit in a Panamanian town.

One of the first nights in our San Miguel house, when we found out we were living with a skilled yogi, we did some yoga out on the driveway. Halfway through the practice we had an audience of kids outside our gate, giggling and doing the poses with us.

Another attraction for the children of San Miguel, is going for a run. No one here seems to jog (maybe a good move due to the massive hills and 90 degree weather). A few times when I was running along the river I gained a following of barefoot, shirtless children that ran along side with me, totally amused, and maybe confused.

I’ve been working on building a garden path for our house and in an effort to use local materials I have been lugging rocks from the river. This certainly earns some curious stares – I can only imagine what the people relaxing by the river are thinking -why is this crazy girl filling up a bucket with rocks? One man walking by asked our cook Noris if I was “playing”… carrying heavy loads of rocks in the Panama heat is no game to me!

One of my favorite moments was a group of girls on the chiva to San Miguel who told me I had pretty hair (blonde stands out a bit) then asked me where I was from. When I said New York all the kids surrounding me got wide eyed, saying “Wow!!!!”

It can be an uneasy feeling when you realize just how much you stand out. When people look towards you with strange curiosity, it gives you a certain sense of awareness about your actions and behaviors that you would not have otherwise, and teaches you more about yourself. The benefit of being an outsider in a foreign rural town, where tourists do not roam, is you learn a lot about yourself and you are in for a really interesting authentic experience.

We just started planting seedlings for our future raised beds, and we are creating raised beds in the hopes that they don’t completely wash away during the winter rains here* It is more difficult to find seeds here, so I bought seeds when I was in the US for just about anything you could imagine.

Morgan and I are heading up the garden effort, and we just planted a ton of seedlings. Taking a seed out of a packet is a weird experience if you have never done it before. A small envelope no larger than an index card houses the seeds. Peering into the envelopes, some seeds are no larger than a small freckle. For me it was difficult to fathom that such a small fragile speck begets life. Everything we as humans depends on comes from seed.

It is easy to forget this simple and obvious fact if you grow up in a urban or suburban environment. There is no consciousness what it means to eat an animal or vegetable and the time and effort it takes from seed to harvest. We are just starting to see our first sprouts, and I was amazed when I saw the first ones emerging from the soil. It seems simple–plant seeds–water seeds– and then they will grow. I don’t know why, but for some reason I was not completely sure I believed they would grow.

Once our seedlings are a little bit bigger we will plant them in our raised beds and hope they grow and thrive.  It will be up to the future interns to care for the garden and make sure it thrives.

*Seasons are reversed here. Summer(dry season) is January through April-ish, and winter(rainy season) is April-ish through December.

Welcome to my second Kalu Yala journal posting. This article is to inform you about our company’s achievements and struggles during our second stint at the valley field station for researching agriculture, living systems, and outdoor recreation in the Panamanian jungle. In particular, I shall focus on the developments in the living systems division, as that is my own group.

The nearing completion of the tributary pipeline system for delivering water to our sustainable community has consumed the majority of my efforts during this past stint (from Jan 28, 2013 until Feb 7, 2013). Our design for pumping drinkable water from nearby freshwater sources is a simple yet effective engineering design that captures the potential energy of moving water near the mountaintops, in order to transport sufficient amounts nearly a mile to our base. Along the pipes, it is our challenge to integrate reduction units that gradually increase the pressure that allow the water to move uphill whenever necessary. Likewise, it has been another challenge to design a water storage tank system where the incoming water can all be gathered and selectively used when needed (i.e. an environmentally friendly faucet apparatus). At the start of this stint, we had about one-quarter mile of piping successfully laid, whereas at the end of this stint, we have now finished three-quarters of the system. Hence, having completed about half a mile of piping may be considered an achievement during this past second stint.

This picture depicts our effort in the valley to set up pipes for a water system.
The greatest challenges of this tributary pipeline project have been the struggle to keep bringing fresh supply of pipes before the end of the stint, and to have the physical strength to scale the steep mountainside to work on the system. Likewise, internal confusion and an initial lack of teamwork caused even greater troubles as well. For instance, one overly zealous director made the mistake of using sealant to permanently hold the pipes together, only to realize that there was no filter attached at the beginning of the system. The significance of this mistake became apparent when many contaminants, such as leaves, sand, and insects, flooded into this half-mile long pipeline and became nearly impossible to remove. Fortunately for us, the extent of our tools enabled us to make clean cuts of sealed pipes to remove debris. Prior to the end of this second stint, our team had been able to implement an efficient filter that has resolved the problem.
Another problem that arose from sealing the pipes too soon was that it was nearly impossible afterward to drag the whole system forward or backward from the mouth of the stream to adjust the water intake. In the end we were able to fix it, and the memory has been quite humorous in fact. The means to that end required me to be positioned in the most awkward place, hanging onto the side of the mountain for dear life to help support the system from one end, while my teammate adjusted the system from the other end. I ended up taking a good beating from the pipes squirming around on the mountainside, as I was perfectly stuck during the whole ordeal. As difficult as it was, I am certain I have developed both brawn and brain to know how to work with tributaries in the future.

This tributary pipeline project has clearly become more of an engineering project rather than purely a biological sciences study on theoretical concepts. Nevertheless, some progress has been underway for furthering our understanding of entomology. It has started to become our company’s interest to set aside unused cages to capture various insects for observation, including certain tarantula species. It is our hope to hone our skills in species identification of these specimens and to further discover other previously undocumented phenomena about these Panamanian species for publishing in scientific journals.

This picture depicts a large spider, nearly 6″, that occasionally appear near our base.

Besides the Living Systems team, other achievements have been made by the agriculture and outdoor recreation teams. In the agriculture group, an acre of land has been planted with various crops for cultivation just during this stint. Notable coconut tree saplings have popped up all throughout our research station, and the aesthetic value of protecting our environment has become evident through their beautifying efforts. In the outdoor recreation group, unique achievements have been made, such as the making of handcrafted bows and arrows, as well as completed raft blueprints, as well as collecting all the supplies for it. Yet another accomplishment that the outdoor recreation team has made includes the construction of new signs around the base. That completed project has made it easier for visitors to our base to find their way around.

This picture depicts the tall bamboo stalks (about 20 feet tall) that supply our general uses, including raft material.
This sums up the progress made during the second stint, and it shall be our hope to have completed the tributary system, rafts, and entomology projects by the end of the next third stint.

However, the latest YouTube video most of us have become obsessed with has been a huge internet phenomenon. Someone refers to this video at least 30 times a day, being ,Max Cooper, one of the directors, or my good friend Bryann Hoffman.

Watch the video below to see what all the craze is about!

Trays? Check. Soil? Check. With great care and expectation, we began to sow seeds of kale, swiss chard, arugula. We planted cucumber and watermelon and habanero peppers. We built shelves and filled every square inch of the place with biological potential. And it felt good. I would have been happy just to see dirt-filled boxes covering the surfaces of our plastic house.

And then one morning, just a few days later, everything changed. The first little leaf of an African okra plant poked its head out of the loam and for me, it was all different. No longer was this a finite accomplishment. We didn’t just build a building and then walk away, waiting for life to knock it down. We created something: a refuge, a sanctuary in which we actually sprouted something new.

Since that moment, I now enter the greenhouse every morning like the giddiest child on the snowiest Christmas morning. Every day: new sprouts, new growth, new life. One morning, I persisted through the impossibly humid microclimate inside our greenhouse for hours and watched as every single cucumber broke through the soil and unfurled its light green leaves. I sat and I watched like a proud mama and I knew that feeling of joy, of accomplishment, would not soon be forgotten. And through my own achievement, I am sustained, I am inspired, I am challenged further. Always moving, upward and onward.

Ps. Due to the success (and limited space) of the initial greenhouse, Tylre Bigbie and I have designed a hoophouse which will be built during our next week in the jungle. We look forward to continued growth and success (and lots more late-night greenhouse dance parties).

And so we dug. And we transplanted plantain trees from the jungle. And we built garden beds. And we devised a compost unit.

Maybe it’s because I’m living out in the jungle and observing the infinitely wise and productive patterns of Mother Nature, but something about all this work just didn’t seem sustainable to me. How do we — okay, let’s back up for a second. How can I be more intentional – and more efficient – in every single thing that I do? Do I have the power to harness energy from my own accomplishments? And if I can, is this achievement-generated energy a renewable resource? Can I keep that feeling of deep, hard-earned satisfaction alive?

And so I stopped for a moment. Stopped digging, stopped transplanting, stopped building.

I thought about our farm, about extreme living conditions in the tropics. I observed the singed leaves of young, vulnerable plants exposed to direct sunlight. I wondered if I would ever in my life be able to grow anything besides lots and lots of beans. So I took out a pen, found a scrap of paper and said, today is the day. Today we can harness the goofy, enthusiastic, brilliant energy of the adventurous agriculture team. By transforming our focus from random tasks to building a lasting greenhouse, we invest. We invest in ourselves, in our future, and (not to sound too grandiose, but) in the future of our children.

With a few 2 x 4’s, some scrap hardwood we found around camp, plastic polyethylene sheeting, yards of duct tape and a whole lot of hope, a group of dedicated (if not ignorant) farmers built our very own greenhouse. It may not have been pretty, but we sure did it. And we did it together. And it felt damn good.

The petals covering the ground under the manzana de agua tree. The picture doesn’t even do it justice.

Close up of the blossoms.

One of the many birds that were busy feeding in the tree. I tried to capture more pictures but they were too quick for me and my amatuer photography skills.

Two toed sloth: As is well-known of sloths, they are very slow movers that spend most of their lives in trees, where they feed on leaves. Because their diet is so poor they have an incredibly slow metabolism and body temperature and that is why they are such lazy creatures. Sloths only come down from the trees once a week to go to the bathroom.

Howler monkeys: These monkeys are well known in the valley due to their early morning jam sessions. The Howlers are named for the sound they produce in the mornings and evenings, the Howls can carry over 5 kilometers. The Howlers are rarely seen due to the fact that they spend most of their day sleeping in the upper parts of the canopy but they have been spotted in the trees by the river.

Coati: Coatis are essentially tropical raccoons, they are a reddish brown color with dark, long faces and very long tails. Their main nutrition consists of small vertebrates such as mice and lizards, as well as fruit and insects. They have been seen chasing lizards on the road leading to camp although they generally stay well hidden.

Ocelot: Ocelots are mid-sized felines related to leopards, they are about the size of your average dog. Ocelots are primarily active at night and therefore are rarely seen. They hunt reptiles and small mammals and tend to stay as far from humans as they can.

Jaguar: Jaguars are the largest cats in the new world and can reach lengths of 2 meters with a body height of one meter and a weight of over 100 kg.  These felines are clearly the kings of the local jungle. But they are very shy and avoid humans, so that your chance of actually spotting one is very slim. There have apparently been occasional jaguars that wander down from Chagres national park and cause problems with the local cattle but there is no known sustaining population anywhere near Tres Brazos.

Horse: Most if not all of the local campisinos have horses. They are seen on a daily basis being ridden or simply grazing in a pasture. Occasionally they have been known to get into camp and roll around in the volleyball court or wander through are garden.

Cows: Cows are the second most common animal next to horses. They are usually eating in their pastures along the road to camp or being herded to a new grazing area. Once and a while a few cows might get out of their pastures and come through camp if the back gate is not properly closed.

Are there times when you feel like your useless, have no direction, or just simply lost? If you do let me remind you, it’s completely normal. Each and every one of us goes through moments where we experience these emotions, sometimes short and sometimes even long term. Just remember in the end it’s going to be okay. Remember in the back of your head that you will surely one day discover your place of serendipity. It will happen when you least expect it, and happen when you’re not trying to be happy. It will happen more on the basis of discovering your happiness. You must remember life is a challenge and we all have a different path laid out. If this was not true we would have the same life and it would be living a boring one at that. When you get to this place of serendipity share it with others. Try to help and influence their life so they can reach their state of serendipity. Once more and more people start to share their happiness, it will add value and efficiency to everyone in the whole entire world. Think of it like dominos, an ongoing reaction. Each and every domino makes a difference. Giving that one domino a push so that other domino can have the same impact to the next and so on. Did you ever wonder why the world continues to grow with more and more people?  I believe people are put on this earth so they can add value to the world we all live in. Every person on this earth has impact and is responsible for a piece of the way the world is.

If we all focus on positive energy and positive ways, I can guarantee we will for sure get positive feedback in return. Don’t think negative or think down on yourself because you will bring others down. Remember that you weigh a lot and people are depending on you. You will make a difference on more than one person’s life. The qualities and gestures we are given are so different that every person should get to experience all of these things. So when you’re feeling unsure, or lost don’t go and try to figure it out. Let it be and I promise it will come to you when you least expect it. Just keep in mind when you do find that place of serendipity don’t be selfish. Remember you have a job /task to complete. Rub the positive vibes off on other people and this will bring you in a happier state. Things aren’t always easy, but have faith, hope and some strength and believe that anything is possible. Lend someone a hand and we will all live a happier, healthier lifestyle. A little direction in life is all we need. It cannot be said any simpler than that. In fact don’t they say, “it’s the little things in life”.

So lets make a difference in every person’s life in this whole entire world. Lets be that change. Lets be that inspiration. Lets be that key to open up doors. Lets be real, real genuine human beings. Put on a smile and remember everything only gets better. Start somewhere and wait for your time. It’s always worth the wait.

I realized here at Kalu Yala that I am at a point in my life where there are all plenty of doors I can choose to walk through. I am graduating from undergrad in a month and half and there are already doors to choose to walk through. Who knows which one to pick! It could be right or it could be wrong. It’s all part of the experience and I’m here to put a smile on someone’s face and make a positive impression on everyone I encounter. I’m growing each and everyday here, through hard work, dedication, and friends. This place is making me into the person I am at this very exact second and is opening so many doors for me than I could ever imagine. I couldn’t be happier than to share my happiness with all my amazing friends, or should I say, family I have made here. Kalu Yala is definitely paradise.

One of my favorite memories of being in the valley occurred last stint; it was after dinner and five of us got the idea to have a miniature ceremony in the greenhouse, so we all made our way to the visit the baby plants. The five of us made a funny picture all packed into the greenhouse like sardines, as we belted out the song, build me up buttercup and shook our booties around.  It was seriously a moment of pure unadulterated happiness. It’s moments like those that spark growth.

Welcome to my fourth post about my accomplishments in the Tres Brazos valley with my Kalu Yala team during our fourth stint (from Mar 5, 2013 until Mar 15, 2013). In this article, I shall discuss how I designed and built my second raft. Also, I shall mention highlights about the interview my biology team had with Dr. Cole of the Florida State University (FSU), and with Mr. Osvaldo of Cathalac Company. Lastly, I shall mention other achievements made by my fellow coworkers, including the biology team’s completion of the water system in the tributary (commonly called the “trib” by our director), and my new project ideas I would like to explore in the remaining two stints.

The greatest highlight of this stint is undoubtedly the completion of a basic water system that supplies water from the nearest tributary stream, nearly a mile away, to our base. Our valley divisions have waited a long time to receive running water, and our patience has been rewarded this past stint. At the end of our previous third stint, the pipes had been built to a point only a hundred feet away from our field station. That remaining distance was finally eliminated with the final shipment of forty more PVC tubes (ranging from about .5” to 1.5” in diameter), a water tank, and valves. Simply with this shipment, our biology team had the necessary means to complete the system with all our deliberate speed and thoroughness. The end product has now been a steady supply of freshwater to our base from our watershed, simply with a turn of our faucet.

Here is an image of our biology team having a victory pose with the completed water tank.

Besides the water system, much progress has also been made in making a superior raft. My newly designed second raft made sure to emphasize a significantly larger number of pontoons to support the raft’s buoyancy. Each pontoon was also longer at 8′ long. Fifteen pontoons were lined together, such that these bamboos covered a square area of 8′ by 8′. Although the shipment of paracord never made it to the valley during this stint, the final job of tying the bamboo shafts together shall be done with great expectations at the start of the next fifth stint. In addition to tying the pontoons, there will be four supporting beams arranged widthwise to provide further stability in the final raft outcome.

Here is an image of my second raft. All that remains to be done is to tie the parts together.

To fulfill the goals of the biology team, my team and I had an “off-stint” formal interview on Mar 4, 2013, with Dr. Cole of FSU and Mr. Osvaldo of Cathalac, both of whom are leading specialists in the sciences of sustainability, GIS, and hydrology here in Panama. Both gave us detailed instruction on how to make better use of our GPS unit, the Garmin eTrex 30, to develop our water system. Furthermore, our team made progress in requesting their assistance to improve our cause. Specifically, to make use of their GIS lab was one of our goals in order to analyze the precise altitudes of our Tres Brazos field station and the ecosystem around it. Dr. Cole spoke to us confident words that he could allow us to access the needed resources of the FSU lab here in Panama to accomplish our scientific agenda. As our Tres Brazos base area has nearly no prior research documented about that ecosystem, Dr. Cole’s professorly interest would also be fulfilled to better understand the ecology of Panama through our collaborative research. Likewise, Mr. Osvaldo gave us similar support to extend his laboratorical resources, as well as pointers on how to maximize our use of the GPS unit, including the type of file we should use (.shape files rather than .jpeg files) and the radio frequency types to use (UTP-17). Overall, by knowing the altitudinal data of our jungle region, the more likely it will be for us to maximize the use of water in the area (via a dam project or other related technologies) for the profit of our Kalu Yala company, and for the improvement of environmental sustainability in this Panamanian region.

Here is an image of the Kalu Yala GPS tool, the Garmin eTrex 30.

Here is an image of our biology team having arrived at FSU to conquer its resources.

Here is an image of what the Cathalac company’s building front looks like.

Finally, I would like to discuss with you about my new ideas I would like to investigate in order to make a worthwhile final project report for my Kalu Yala company on April 9, 2013. As a member of the biology team, I have been seeking ideas that were genuinely related to the biological sciences in some way. I have begun to see the possibility of crafting birdfeeders as a way to initiate ornithological studies in our base area, as well as to possibly improve pollination (especially with hummingbirds). Essentially, this bird project would first require me to memorize some of the known species of this Central American region by reading the book Birds of Panama by George Angehr. Although Panama (equal to the size of South Carolina) is only a fraction of the size of the entire U.S., there are so many more avian species in Panama (978 species to be exact) compared to the USA (where there are only 888 species). Due to the significantly greater concentration of diversity here in Panama, I would propose to investigate a specific bird type to narrow the overwhelming odds of producing a meaningful report on Panamanian birds indigenous to the Tres Brazos area. Specifically, I hope to learn more about the hummingbirds (family Trochilidae), as these birds possess unique qualities of interest. One hummingbird quality is their potential as a pollinator that improves agricultural yields, and another quality is their unique flight pattern, making it easier to know at least their family type when sighted in the field during analysis.

In addition to my interest in an ornithological project, I have been interested in investigating the medicinal herbs of Tres Brazos. I have pondered how to even begin such an amorphous task as to find such herbs in the jungle here. I believe the answer begins either with more online research, or to begin by introducing known species of medicinal herbs on the farm and cultivating their ability to survive here in Panamanian soil. Hence, I have had a growing interest in being more closely allied with the agricultural team in order to be able to document floral growth patterns in this Central American region.

I shall be hoping to find answers to these problems of how to research ornithology or botany in Panama during my upcoming fifth stint (from Mar 20 to Mar 28), as well as to build a more perfectly professional raft.
Bibliographical Links

Here is a link to the type of GPS unit our team has been using:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_10?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=garmin+etrex+30&sprefix=garmin+etr%2Caps%2C124

Here is a link to the Birds of Panama book by George Angehr:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Birds-Panama-Tropical-Publications/dp/0801476747/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363651332&sr=8-1&keywords=birds+of+panama

Here is a link to the Trees of Panama and Costa Rica by Richard Condit, which may provide clues to medicinal herbs:

http://www.amazon.com/Trees-Panama-Costa-Princeton-Guides/dp/0691147108/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363651493&sr=1-1&keywords=plants+of+panama+and+costa+rica

Here is a link to the Cathalac company:

http://www.cathalac.org/en/about-us/about-us-cathalac/contact-us

Here is a link to the FSU GIS Lab:

http://panama.fsu.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=101:dr-alex-coles&catid=43:faculty-profiles&Itemid=120

Here is an informative database of numbers of bird species in various countries, including the USA and Panama:

http://rainforests.mongabay.com/03birds.htm

At the end of stint 3 Marcella and I ransacked O.G. basecamp for all that is was (and was not) worth. The scene was an apocalyptic one, and its previous tenants must have run to the first rancho with only what they could carry. We harvested piles of usable wood, metal and plastic pieces, shoes, and tarps. O.G.’s only treatment plan after our raid was a controlled burned, and Jimmy gave us the go ahead with one condition: create a testament to those who once called O.G. home; a gone but never forgotten thing. Deal.

So O.G. Basecamp and all its rundown, rustic glory burned. Very, very quickly.

[singlepic id=6550 w=320 h=240 float=center]

[singlepic id=6551 w=320 h=240 float=center]

[singlepic id=6552 w=320 h=240 float=center]

[singlepic id=6553 w=320 h=240 float=center]

[singlepic id=6555 w=320 h=240 float=center]

To the birthplace of the community before the community- Rest in Peace O.G. Basecamp.

In thinking about Jimmy’s request for a colloquy, I started thinking about all of the other big changes that we’re experiencing or preparing for in the Valley. This past stint we finally completed our campesino-style water system! “Running water” exists in the valley! It’s elementary and simple, but it’s the little things, as I’ve said before.

Kalu Yala as a whole has also been working so hard to finalize designs for the buildings to be built this summer. Interns after this summer won’t know what it’s like to live in a rancho. Weird. That’s a fact we’ve struggled to accept because it’s one of our favorite parts about being in the valley, but we have to remind ourselves that embracing change is essential to growth.

For me, one of the most exciting changes I’ve got to watch over the past couple weeks was the blossoming of the greenhouse! Alex and the agriculture team has been planting seeds like crazy, and everything they’ve planted is flourishing! It has honestly become a morning routine to wake up, grab a cup of coffee, and go see what’s newly sprouted. Most of our seedlings are ones we may not get the pleasure of enjoying by the end of this semester, but we are literally watching the beginnings of Kalu Yala’s farm to table.

The whole idea of endings and beginnings comes back to the fact that all of us, as individuals, are ultimately the ones doing the changing and growing. Kalu Yalans are the ones who make the conscious decisions to move in the directions we’re going and in turn, stimulate the turning of the tables that we talk about and witness. Change is unavoidable and it is real, but as Shane said in his recent blog- we have to make our own reality.

—————————————–

“The only way that we can live, is if we grow. The only way that we can grow is if we change. The only way that we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we are exposed. And the only way that we can become exposed is if we throw ourselves out into the open. Do it. Throw yourself.” – C. JoyBell C.

At Kalu Yala, we demand more out of our free time. We lace up our sneakers to explore our city, treat dog-eared books like currency, and converse into the early hours of the morning on ideas like social entrepreneurship and sustainable connections. Our celebrities are thinkers and innovators. Our laptop screens are primed for the familiar “do-do-do-do-dooo” of a recent TEDTalk geared up in the queue. We’re ready to make the education of Kalu Yala something official – something you can participate in.

Once a week, Kalu Yala invites a prominent guest to lead an educational event called a “Flash Seminar.” Designed as a non-traditional learning experiment (using several models from US universities), a flash seminar is an informal, one-time mini class that brings together knowledgeable individuals with Kalu Yala interns and staff. The goal of these events is to explore topics relevant to our work and living environment in a shared setting that enables our community to grow intellectually outside of our individual work. Flash seminars may vary from traditional lecture-format to collaborative discussions, and we welcome a variety of presentations.

These events may take place in one of three locations: Kalu Yala’s city abode, “Casa Yala,” our house in San Miguel (located in San Martín), or our valley site. Casa Yala and San Miguel offer more traditional spaces for holding lectures, while the valley offers a chance to engage in an outdoor learning environment. Additionally, we will have a projector to use if needed in Casa Yala & San Miguel. The valley is a more rustic environment, inclusive of a common gathering area for communal meals, as well as a variety of recreational spaces. We are happy to work with you to find an appropriate time and place for your event. Flash seminars may take on three different models: traditional classroom lecture, a round-table discussion, or hands-on educational event depending on the topic.

Flash Seminars will be fun, informal events that bring together a group interested in expanding our knowledge and tapping into the intellectual resources of our larger community. Come learn about us, and let us learn about you.

“Learning can be defined as the process of remembering what you are interested in.” – Richard Saul Wurman, founder of TEDTalks and of the “Information Architecture” field.

If you are interested in leading or attending a KY Flash Seminar, please email [email protected]

Of course there is the obvious factor: I just made a massive life change, leaving the world of corporate business for a job in a foreign country that doesn’t pay (see blog post 1: I’m Going on an Adventure!).  I think most big changes, even good ones, can be unsettling at first.  It takes time to adapt to a new life without any of the familiarities of home like family, friends or hobbies. Cultural barriers, such as the inability to communicate effectively in another language, simply add to the restlessness.  It is amazing how many insecurities and fears are revealed in such life changes.  But if I am to be honest, one of the most powerful causes is my rampant imagination.  I have been looking forward to this life change for quite a while now.  From the moment I started work as an accountant I was thinking about leaving, and began taking steps, such as applying for the Peace Corps, almost a year ago.  And though I tried to be realistic about it all I couldn’t help but aggrandize the idea.  It was just so much fun imagining the moment when I would leave the life I knew for a new adventure.  Of course, the image it cultivated didn’t hurt either : Big 4 accountant leaves for the Peace Corps.  Yes, just what I was thinking, what a badass.

But now I am living the adventure, and guess what?  It feels like life.  I still wake up in bad moods and get annoyed with people.  I still have to struggle through work some days, do laundry, work out and be mindful of my health.  I could go on, but my point is that life always encompasses the mundane and imposes its limitations on me.  My job is not to fight those limitations, or think them unfair, but to identify those that are self-imposed, and then live creatively within life’s real limitations.  Not that any of this is revolutionary.  I would have admitted this to anyone before coming to Panama.  Heck, I had a very similar experience while backpacking through Europe a couple of years ago, and wrote a very similar blog post.  Yet I still seem to end up a little surprised and disappointed when what I know to be true proves true in experience.  It’s like my conscious mind has submitted to the idea, but there is something else within me that fights it and secretly hopes I can escape from the struggle.  It’s like I have yet to fully embrace that life is not easy, and that I have to fight for what is good and worthwhile; I want it to simply be given to me.  I find it so interesting that knowing something consciously doesn’t dictate how I will experience that thing.  It is such an annoying reminder that knowing is not being.

I do not mean to paint too bleak of a picture.  I am so glad I left my corporate job to come to Panama for a few months, and can’t wait to leave for Uganda in April.  It is one of the best decisions I have made in my life.  My point is simply to say that I am now on a new path, following my dreams, and am still having to deal with life.  People say the grass isn’t greener on the other side.  I say it very well can be—it just may not be as green as one might hope, and takes work to keep it so.  I need fertile ground if I want the potential to flourish (aka my new job), but potential means nothing without the work to actualize that potential.  I hope it is clear that I am not using the ‘term’ work in the conventional sense as in ‘one must work at a job,’ though it certainly includes that.  I am applying it to life in general: the spiritual, the physical, the intellect.

It is always painful to be confronted with my illusions about life, but I am usually thankful when I am.  Every ‘de-illusioning’ experience presents an opportunity to learn about myself and this world.  It gives me the opportunity to grow into someone more solid, more secure, more real.  But of course that takes work, and that is what makes it so difficult.

Since it took me a whole page to express vaguely that life is still hard but that I don’t regret my decision, I will save the rest, such as what I have struggled with most and how I am working through those struggles, for another blog post.  Until then!

The only door to their small home.

Where Sophia’s father slept

Where Sophia’s 3 children slept

Sophia’s new home being built because of collaboration between Kalu Yala interns and the local government.