How the story began...

In March of 2018 I got a Facebook message from my Oklahoma friend Kari that said, "call me right away."  I thought something bad had happened, so I was nervous.  Her big news was that she had visited the Pearl Islands and met Lee and Jennifer, a super cool couple with an AirBnB in the Bay of Panama.  Jennifer, a retired Lieutenant Colonel from he US Army was looking for someone to tutor her in Spanish and to try to get an English program started in the small village on the island.  Kari knew that would be right up my alley.  A couple of phone calls later, my husband Scott and I had tickets to Panama.

That summer, we spent 17 days on the pristine, dreamy, secluded island surrounded by jungle and beaches.  I tutored Jennifer in the mornings and hiked, swam and whale-watched in the afternoons and evenings.  It was magical!  I also made my way into the Escuela de Saboga, where I taught English to elementary-aged children.  I truly felt like I was doing something that mattered.  The children were beautiful and inquisitive.  I loved being their teacher and almost immediately started trying to figure out how to get back to Saboga.  I envisioned bringing my students from Naples to Saboga on a service-learning trip.  I wasn't sure it would be possible but I started planting the seeds that August.

In the fall, I shared my Saboga adventure with my classes by using a blog full of photos, videos and commentary from my trip.  https://jimmiandscottabroadinpanama.blogspot.com  A few students expressed interest in traveling with me, so I crossed my fingers and asked CSN for approval for a service-learning trip.  It was approved!

To keep the communication open between CSN and Escuela de Saboga, my students created storybooks for the children.

                 

 The kiddos in Saboga LOVED the books!

And now the story is about to come full-circle as we prepare to return to the island.  The travel group includes three CSN students Abby, Gabi and Allie and their moms LeeAnne, Silvana and Sheri, my husband Scott, my sister Robbi and niece Ella, my friends Serrin and Johnny and their son Erik and my friend and colleague Brittany.  Abby, Gabi, Allie, Erik and Ella, ages 12-15 have planned lessons and gathered supplies to use to teach English to these same students.  I look forward to filling this blog with our newest adventures. Stay tuned!