Cuando menos piensa el galgo, salta la liebre

Cuando menos piensa el galgo, salta la liebre translates to "Things often happen when you least expect them to."

I've been reminiscing on my experience in Panama, and over these past seven weeks while putting this video together I found the above statement to be quite true.

I never expected to go to Panama. I never expected to fall in love with Panama, its culture and its natural beauty. But, I did. I never expected to meet the most amazing people and never expected to like pineapple.

Let me tell a small side story. Before I was old enough for pre-school, my mom took me to a daycare at her work. They forced me to eat pineapple and I hated it. I even remember thinking everyday after, if I hid in the hall closet and when mom couldn't find me; I would get off Scot-free and wouldn't have to go to daycare. This proved to be wrong, but until Panama I hated the fruit.

Anyway, this video depicts some of my favorite moments of my trip and a big thanks to Blanca for helping me find the Panamanian music for this video. The song is titled, "La Vieja Jodiona"(The Annoying Old Woman). Yeah, I know kind of awkward for this piece, but I think it works because honestly, I didn't get to taste any coconut while in Panama.

Here are the songs lyrics in English:

Singer: An old lady gave me a coconut and told me to peel it

Chorus: ayorelele lelelelelele lele lola

Singer: And when I peeled it she told me to break it in pieces

Chorus: ayorelele lelelelelele lele lola

Singer: And when I broke it she told me to throw it away

Chorus: ayorelele lelelelelele lele lola

Singer: And when I threw it away, she got mad at me

Chorus: ayorelele lelelelelele lele lola

Singer: I want my coconut

Chorus: Now

Singer: I want my coconut

Chorus: Now!

Singer: Here comes the old lady

Chorus: Annoying!

Singer: Here comes the old lady

Chorus: Annoying!

I titled this video "Hablamos un poco espanol" because as a group, we could speak very little Spanish (except for Amanda) without 'liquid courage.'

Also, while we were there we were introduced to the song, "We speak No Americo" by Yolanda Be Cool & Dcup. Some group members had heard the song before, however I had not. After being introduced, we heard this song everyday during the two weeks we there.

Enjoy and let me know what you think.

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I'm feeling a call-to-action

"Thinking is easy, acting is difficult, and to put one's thoughts into action is the most difficult thing in the world." -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

View of the Shenandoah National Park on the fire on Feb. 19, 2011

I think everyone has this conflict within themselves with thinking and action that Wolfgang von Goethe described. I view this conflict similar to hiking without the knowledge of which color blaze to follow.

One color, lets say blue, looks promising, and seems from a distance to be easier. You can see the end of the trail from where you stand and your surroundings stay the same. This trail, in my opinion, is similar to thinking an idea or talking about an idea, but not having one of the following in the mix: time, energy, resources, desire to pursue.

The other, white, looks to have a steep incline from where you are standing, and no end that you can see. You have no idea where this trail leads. This trail, in my opinion, is similar to hearing a call-to-action.

Before I reveal what I believe my current call-to-action is let me provide you with some background information. The Shenandoah National Park was hit hard by wildfire that consumed about 2,000 acres and caused the park service to close part of the Skyline Drive.

This is a picture taken on Feb. 20, 2011, of The Shenandoah National Park on fire.

As of Feb. 23, 2011, The Shenandoah National Park is reporting, in the North District of Shenandoah the Skyline Drive between Front Royal and Rt. 211 is closed. They have closed the following trails until further notice: Mt. Marshall Trail from Skyline Drive to the intersection at the Bluff Trail; Appalachian Trail between Compton Gap and the Browntown Trail; Lands Run Gap Fire Road; and the Jenkins Gap Trail.

My idea, once the park is safe, is to help reconstruct the Appalachian Trail from Compton Gap and the Browntown Trail along with organizations at Shenandoah University and other community organizations and possibly the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

Not only do I find this essential to preserving our environment for future generations to explore, but I believe this is the perfect opportunity to take some pride in our home land.

Reply to this post or e-mail me at kmitchel@su.edu if you are interested in helping.

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Secret to Success by Eric Thomas

"Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today." -Benjamin Franklin

I'm not one for fooling around when there is work to be done and especially when there is a deadline involved. I mean come on, I'm a journalist for goodness sake.

Sure, I have fun and somewhat of a social life. Though keep in mind there is this grad school thing as well as this thing called work which at times can be a bit of an obstacle. Though I think it's the challenge I live. But, all card on the table I honestly believe I have a pretty stable social and work life. (If you look at the bigger picture.)

This video is something one of my friends sent to me and quite frankly, I try and live by these similar words everyday. Among others, of course. ;-)

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Tomorrow can wait...

David Guetta & Chris Willis - Tomorrow Can Wait

I couldn't help myself, I had to share this video. I think the chorus line is something we could all take to heart.

"Live life given now, tomorrow can wait

Dance all through the night, sleeping all day

Stuck inside a box, you gotta get out!

Stand up, get up, live your life now come on!"

Here's to wishing everyone a great rest of February! Come on spring.

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Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by...

Above: Mark Snipe, Doris De Navarro, Greta Andersson, Emily Laubscher, myself, Amanda Mittlekamp, Faith Alexander,

Representative from Panama Pacifico, Dr. R.T. Good, and Director of Communications at Panama Pacifico.

“Every time you leave home, another road takes you, into a world you were never in … when you travel, you find yourself, alone in a different way.” -John O’Donohue, an Irish poet

I found this to be true on our GEL Program business seminar to Panama. Now, I’ve studied the Spanish culture throughout my higher education career though nothing compares to being immersed in the culture for two weeks. There’s something different from learning strictly from a textbook in a inclosed classroom and those hands on experiences within the pages out in the real world, at least in my opinion.

I’ve heard of the Panama Canal though never really gave thought to visiting the country nor did I ever think I would be studying there. But, I was dumbstruck when I was learning about the history of Panama from the local Panamanians and how little I recall from my history classes about the influence of the United States on Panama. Influence through our military, the building of the Panama Canal, our currency and accessibility to technology.

I also observed some American influences which didn’t stick For example, quick and immediate customer service. If you walk into most restaurants in Panama you might as well forget the expectation of being waited on hand and foot because nine out of ten times you'll be disappointed. I’ve learned through my studies that the Latin-American culture, including Panama, tends to be less in a hurry and time isn't so strict. Funny side joke when we were at the Chamber of Commerce our presenters said if there was a meeting in which had to start exactly at a certain time, they would say be there at 9 o'clock American time.

Meanwhile, I saw the opposite concept in other places of businesses like clothing stores and souvenir stands that sell to the general public and most importantly, tourists. They really wanted to help you with anything you needed and sometimes even approached you with a “deal” or a “steal.” Most of the time we got a deal, or so we thought.

Through speaking with locals and listening to each of the representatives from each location I noticed there was more of an indication we family not so much outsiders who get snarled at. I recall an instance where Sonia, the director of marketing for the Colon Free Trade Zone, said point blank, “If you need anything … let me know, because you are our family and we will take care of you.” Doris, our tour guide, has the same attitude and she even allowed us to visit her home.

Above: Taboga Beach, Panama. This is the dock we had to wait on for the ferry, so we could get back to Panama City.

It became apparent throughout our trip that tourism, ecotourism, and the Panama Canal are the driving forces of Panama’s economy, society and business. “The Crossroads of the World” is what Panama is referred to and a common business concept was to more focus on bringing outside investors to Panama and keeping them there. This concept was very apparent at businesses like at Panama Pacifico and Colon Free Trade Zone. Both offer such good deals with rental or leasing agreements and supplying most of the logistics that a business would have a no brain answer of yes.

Now growing is what I did a lot of during this trip and I think this relates back to the latter part of O’Donohue’s poem when he said, “When you travel, A new silence, Goes with you, And if you listen, You will hear, What your heart would, Love to say.”

Even though this was my first trip abroad, I didn’t feel awkward nor that disconnected from what was going on around me. I didn’t shutdown and hide in my shell. (Though sometimes I just didn’t say anything it only because I was observing and absorbing.) I’m really surprised at how much I absorbed.

I think O’Donohue summed up my experience with Panama at the end of his poem when he said, “Return home more enriched, and free, to balance the gift of days which call you.” (Which I most definitely did.)

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