MC Travel Course to Panama 2026

 What a blur these last two days have been, and March 14 may be one of the longest yet. On March 13 we had the opportunity to do a soapstone carving, and Jesy along with another Global Brigades worker shared some of the crafts their family makes. We also had time to explore the beautiful mountains, river, and trails near where we were staying and celebrate student leader Francisco’s 26th birthday. Around 11 p.m., a student knocked on my door to tell me my son had been stung by a scorpion. They weren’t sure what type it was, and Cameron’s finger had become numb with the sensation moving up his arm, so we headed to a medical center with Olivia, an RN who speaks Spanish. After traveling quite a distance, we arrived at a facility that unfortunately didn’t even have a doctor on site or soap in the bathroom. By the time we were seen by intake, nearly two hours had passed. Cameron remained calm through the pain and eventually signed himself out. The experience opened my eyes to the challe...

  If you would like to see the biggest grasshopper I have ever seen in my entire life here it is:  BIGGEST grasshopper

Today we returned to the Toza district that we visited on Day 2 and spent the day with some of the most family‑oriented, close‑knit people I’ve met on this trip. It was so hot in this school that was transformed into clinic, like standing inside a brick oven . The heat index was close to 100 degrees, the humidity was not helping yet people were smiling, welcoming and kind. At one point we realized we were filling our water bottles (about 3 bottles in for me) from a tank that collects rainwater. That moment definitely made me pause and warn others, but so far, so good. No one is completely dehydrated, and I’m grateful for that. The effects of the heat and lack of sleep are definitely starting to show among members of our group, but overall we’re doing our best to stay positive and find the upside in the experiences. Even in the hard moments, it’s important to remember why we’re here and to stay intentional about what we are trying to learn. This trip isn’t meant to be comfortable, it is...

Wow. I truly don’t know how this work would be possible without our Spanish‑speaking students—and Olivia, RN, a Carle Health ER nurse who are absolutely the MVPs of this trip. Seriously. Watching them move effortlessly between patients, providers, and families made it very clear how essential they are to everything we’re doing. Today we traveled to the Los Pilares region, which involved a very long, very winding drive.To give you an idea of what this ride is like, think Six Flags roller coaster meets manual‑transmission bus. I ended up taking Zofran on the way there and the way back, and I have zero regrets about that decision although it made me VERY tired. The health disparities that stood out to me most today were related to oral care. We saw many children needing tooth extractions, and what struck me just as much as the clinical need was the resilience and calmness these kids showed during the process. Their composure was humbling in the heat sitting there with gauze in their mouth...

I wasn’t totally sure what to expect today. To be honest, I felt quite uncomfortable heading out knowing we’d be knocking on doors and asking families questions for a sexual health needs assessment . It felt awkward in so many ways in my mind but it turned into one of the most meaningful days I’ve had here. We split into four groups, each with at least one Spanish‑speaking person per group and started visiting homes in the community. It was hot!  We applied sunblock and walked down the road and side walks. At one house, we were invited into the yard by a woman in her mid‑fifties. She introduced herself and then proudly introduced us to her 98 year old mother, who was resting in a hammock outside. And here’s the part that stopped me in my tracks when her mother got up out of the hammock and walked over to us with minimal assistance, flip‑flops on her feet, standing on the red clay earth like it was nothing. She had the warmest smile and eyes that looked like they had seen and held a...

  What a long day!!! Our group got plenty of steps in as we navigated getting ready to fly out of Chicago O’Hare to Panama City Airport and then through customs. After that, we had nearly a three-hour bus ride with Global Brigades . The final stretch was in the dark, which made the bumps in the road and the winding turns feel even more exaggerated. Our accommodations are far beyond what I imagined. We have four cabins, each equipped with its own bathroom and shower even though the water isn't hot, its a lukewarm temp, it is refreshing. I also noticed some lovely pools on the grounds and several very friendly dogs welcoming us as we arrived. Tomorrow morning, we’ll be heading to the Toza district of Panama to complete a community survey . I can’t wait to see what the community looks like, and I’m hopeful we can all get some much-needed rest tonight to re‑energize for the morning. I’m especially grateful for the students so positive, encouraging, and supportive of one another. It’...

We left the college at 1:30 p.m. and dropped the students off at our hotel near O’Hare. Felecia and I then managed to return both vehicles to Chicago O’Hare Airport and Uber back in time to enjoy a slice of pizza without getting lost in traffic, which felt like a full days work. Today carried a mix of apprehension and excitement, with a touch of exhaustion after completing the first eight weeks of the semester. Several of the students on this trip are parents, and for many, this is their first time leaving their families or traveling outside the country. I anticipate we’ll experience both ups and downs as we step out of our comfort zones, but I’m confident we will all learn a great deal along the way. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share this experience with others in our group and to learn together in the days ahead. Now, it’s time to rest as 0530 comes early!