All About My Study Abroad Experience at Habla Ya Panama (Bocas Del Toro) + Permaculture Efforts Wednesday 19 July, 2017
I had one of the best experiences of my life as I decided to go to Panama to do a 3 week Study Abroad program with Habla Ya. Last yesterday I got a little feel for the school in Panama City location for a day, but I definitely felt I could use way more education on my spanish. I wanted to do a travel trip not to just get some sun and beach, but really emerse myself in another culture for a few weeks and learn something. I never got a chance to do a study abroad program in school, and now I know its never too late.
I did one week in the Panama City Habla Ya location only to ease me into the Bocas Del Toro location. Panama City and Bocas Del Toro Panama is two different worlds for obvious reason. Panama City is of course the city and if you want to learn what it is like to be in Panama please check out my post from last year here. If you want to learn a little more about Bocas Del Toro the island check out my review and guide here. I highly recommend you visit both, but definitely get a great vacation in Bocas where it it is the actual island of Panama. Habla Ya! has 3 locations in Panama City, Bocas Del Toro and Bouquet (I have not been there) and you can choose to take classes in one location or all three!
This was more than a school for me, this was my home. 2 weeks in this location not only did I go here to learn A1 beginner Spanish, but I met new friends and really felt like a Panamaian location at this island. I highly recommond if you are going on a lengthy vacation, sabbactical and/or holiday taking some Spanish Lessons at the Bocas Del Toro location is an amazing experience. Check out the perks and amenities of going to Habla Ya!
Top Rated by Students most and best reviewed network of schools in Central and South America.
Locations: Boquete (Pacific mountains), Bocas del Toro (Caribbean beaches) and Panama City.
My classmates and I at Habla Ya Bocas. We were in the begginer level group class together.
SPANISH COURSES AVAILABLE
Group 4 Course: 4 hours of group lessons per day with the option to add extra private lessons. Maximum of 6 students per classroom. 1 – 48 weeks. All levels.
Private Spanish Lessons: 2 – 6 hours of 1 to 1 Spanish classes per day. Variable duration. All levels.
Permaculture Efforts at the Habla Ya Bocas Location
“The use of systems thinking and design principles that provide the organizing framework…” “to consciously designed landscapes which mimic the patternsand relationships found in nature, while yielding an abundance of food, fiber and energy for provision of local needs“. (quotes from HablaYa.com)
Real life photos of the living communities in the severe poverty stricken areas of Bocas Del Toro
Climate change. Inequality. Malnutrition. Corruption. Unsustainable development. A broken system. Divided communities. Access to potable water, quality education and affordable health care. And the list could go on and on.These are just some of the challenges we face today as humans in every part of the world. In tropical countries like Panama we’re especially at risk since climate change is already affecting how we live.
The collage above is me actually visiting one of the staff members of Habla Ya Bocas community. Unexceptionable and barely livable. Habla Ya is currently looking into strong permacutlure ways to help clean up areas in this person community as a start to make a change and healthier and sustainable living enviroment. This is just baby steps to the bigger picture but the images alone are alarming and should make everyone who is reading this really feel how privelge that they do not live in this matter. So how can you help?
Habla Ya as I stated before is more than a school, it is a lifestyle and a culture. I dont know where else you can go on vacation to learn and have fun and learn more about the culture of that country interactively. Habla Ya staff are all friendly and fun and you will always feel welcomed and probably leave feeling like family and a piece of home is permanently in your heart for Panama. If you are like me and haven’t done a study abroad program before, its not too late you should definitely consider it. They even have option for young children and teen to take courses too so its not too early for kids to learn Spanish and get educated in another country. This experience changed my life – and I promise next year I will be back for an even longer amount of time. I want to see the progress that is going on with their permaculture efforts and grow my stance as an American blogger travel ambassador for the school.
If you have any question on how to be a student of Habla Ya please do not hesitate to ask me! Learn more about Habla Ya (Panama City, Bocas Del Toro and Boquete) at hablayapanama.com #HablaYa
I am a travel ambassador for Habla Ya! Panama. I was given Spanish courses, living accommodations and excursions/tour on the behalf of Habla Ya! Thank you to Habla Ya for making me an American travel ambassador blogger in exchange for interacting with your school and learning the Panamanian culture.
Are You Interested or Done a Travel Abroad Program Before?
About the Blogger - Kiwi the Beauty
Kiwi is the free spirited blogger and content creator of KiwiTheBeauty.com. As a digital influencer, she produces creative inspiration around beauty, lifestyle, media and travel leisure. Her life mantra is to make manifesting fun! When she’s not blogging, she is eating trendy hipster food, carrying crystals, making it rain at her local farmer's market and binge brunching.
Follow her on her blog and social media at kiwithebeauty.com + @kiwithebeauty
That looks like a wonderful study abroad experience. I have received emails about various programs that offer study abroad, it really is a great way to learn and experience other places all over the world. Glad you had a good time!
What an awesome trip. It looks like you took lots of photographs which along with the memories will stick with you for a lifetime. It’s a reminder of just how fortunate we are.
The areas stricken by poverty are so hard to see amongst all the beauty around them.
This is such an amazing thing – the opportunity to travel and study abroad!
I would love to do this!
Habla Ya sounds like a wonderful program. I especially love their efforts at trying to improve the standard of living in the local community. What a fabulous experience for you!
Thanks for sharing your experience studying in Panama for 2 weeks! It sounds like you had an amazing stay there! I’m sure you learned a lot especially about their culture! I love that there were tours as well. That’s awesome! I’ve never tried studying abroad before!
That looks like such a cool program! They really do a lot there, it sounds like you would be busy, learning a lot, and having a lot of fun too. Fun to be able to travel and experience so many things.
When I was young, traveling for me meant going into the cities, shopping, and bar hopping. Now that I am older, I long for vacations in quiet towns, not so popular beaches, etc. Going on a cultural immersion trip with the opportunity to learn a new language is a dream vacation for me.
Awesome experience! I love you really took learning Spanish seriously. Spending time in Panama will not only make you learn the language more effectively, it will also teach you more about the culture and the people in the area.
Wow, what an adventure! Looks like your study abroad was an amazing experience with lots of memories. Travelling is so good for the soul, it teaches you so much about people and opens your mind to how big the world outside yours really is
After reading your posts lately, I was wondering what you were doing in Panama. Now I know, LOL. I think this is a great adventure and a terrific way to expand on your Spanish while leading about a different culture.
It looks like you had an awesome experience! My son is looking at colleges with study abroad programs. It scares me a little, but the learning opportunities are so rich, I am excited for him to go. Thanks for sharing!
I’ve so enjoyed following all of your posts as you’ve studied abroad. What an incredible opportunity, and thank-you for bringing us, your readers along with you. The program offered so much. From learning Spanish, to dance lessons, new friends, and memories for a lifetime. Thank-you too for not just posting the good, but also the real, as in poverty stricken areas of Bocas Del Toro. My goodness, may I never complain about anything in my life ever again. x
Habla Ya sounds like a great way to improve your Spanish skills and become immersed in the culture. I moved abroad to Denmark for work seven years ago and it’s been difficult to really learn the language and the culture with a busy career that has me working in English all the time. I’m might be a little bit jealous of your experience ; -)
Now this sounds like something I would definitely try! I was reading all the amazing activities and was excited for you. Can’t imagine if I would’ve bee there myself hihi
I think this should be part of most curriculums. I think there’s something humbling and amazing about doing something like this because you get to experience first hand what life is like in other places. We don’t realize how well we have it here in the U.S. until we’ve actually experienced real life in other countries like this. Thank you so much for sharing your experience and the pictures.
This looks like so much fun! The educational experience of truly being emerged in a culture is amazing! That is the ideal way to really learn a language. I’m going to look into this program I’d love to have an experience like this.
I have heard about many good study abroad programs. Unfortunately, I didn’t take advantage of that while I was in college. I know it would have been an incredible experience. This looks like it was an amazing experience as well.
I have never done any out of the country program but I have learned some basics in Spanish since I was able to work with Latin America countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. Duolingo application makes me learn it and the help of Google translate and a little mentoring from my counterparts. Your program is such a cool way of learning and immersing too!
This looks like it would be a fantastic experience. I would love to strengthen my Spanish, and an experience like this would help. I also like the social aspect of your trip. It is good that you see the bad and the good, and to see how the bad is being helped.
This is an experience of a lifetime. I love that you just did it, this is one for the books for sure. I’m sure you are forever changed for the good from your trip.
I need to learn Spanish again. I took three years in jr. high and have forgotten all but the basics. I recently learned French, and once I get it all fluent I need to pick up Spanish again.
I am a travel ambassador for Habla Ya! Panama. I was given Spanish courses, living accommodations and excursions/tour on the behalf of Habla Ya! Thank you to Habla Ya for making me an American travel ambassador blogger in exchange for interacting with your school and learning the Panamanian culture.
What an amazing opportunity. I would love to take a trip like that and experience the culture and language instead of just seeing the sights.
This is the kind of trip that makes memories that last a lifetime. I’d love to take a trip like that one day.
It sounds like it was an amazing trip and learning experience. I would love to do this.
That looks like a wonderful study abroad experience. I have received emails about various programs that offer study abroad, it really is a great way to learn and experience other places all over the world. Glad you had a good time!
What an awesome trip. It looks like you took lots of photographs which along with the memories will stick with you for a lifetime. It’s a reminder of just how fortunate we are.
The areas stricken by poverty are so hard to see amongst all the beauty around them.
This is such an amazing thing – the opportunity to travel and study abroad!
I would love to do this!
I wish I had studied abroad when I had the chance!! Your experience sounds amazing!!
Habla Ya sounds like a wonderful program. I especially love their efforts at trying to improve the standard of living in the local community. What a fabulous experience for you!
Studying abroad is a dream that I had but never did. There are many good ideas here and lots of information for those who want to study abroad.
This does sound really interesting. When I was younger I wanted to do a travel programme but then life happened. This sounds fantastic.
What a wonderful experience. I never had a chance to study abroad. Opportunities like this don’t come very often.
Thanks for sharing your experience studying in Panama for 2 weeks! It sounds like you had an amazing stay there! I’m sure you learned a lot especially about their culture! I love that there were tours as well. That’s awesome! I’ve never tried studying abroad before!
That looks like such a cool program! They really do a lot there, it sounds like you would be busy, learning a lot, and having a lot of fun too. Fun to be able to travel and experience so many things.
This sounds like a fantastic time and great opportunity for travelers. I am not much of a overseas kinda gal but it looks like fun.
Wow that looks like ti was so much fun, there are so many activities to do!
When I was young, traveling for me meant going into the cities, shopping, and bar hopping. Now that I am older, I long for vacations in quiet towns, not so popular beaches, etc. Going on a cultural immersion trip with the opportunity to learn a new language is a dream vacation for me.
It sounds like I could use your help on my college Spanish class! Looks like you got some great hands-on practice!
Wow, this looks and sounds like it was so much fun. I’ve always wanted to study abroad.
This looks amazing and fun. My daughter will be doing some studying abroad in Italy in January. This will certainly help her.
Awesome experience! I love you really took learning Spanish seriously. Spending time in Panama will not only make you learn the language more effectively, it will also teach you more about the culture and the people in the area.
I wanted to do a study abroad program when I was in college. It never worked out for me, but it looks like you had an amazing experience!
This is amazing. I bet the experience will be incredible!
This sounds like an amazing experience. I really wish I had done more when I was younger!
Wow, what an adventure! Looks like your study abroad was an amazing experience with lots of memories. Travelling is so good for the soul, it teaches you so much about people and opens your mind to how big the world outside yours really is
I always wanted to do this when I was in college. I thought it would have been such a rewarding experience.
This looks like a great experience. Can’t wait to visit Panama.
After reading your posts lately, I was wondering what you were doing in Panama. Now I know, LOL. I think this is a great adventure and a terrific way to expand on your Spanish while leading about a different culture.
It looks like you had an awesome experience! My son is looking at colleges with study abroad programs. It scares me a little, but the learning opportunities are so rich, I am excited for him to go. Thanks for sharing!
I’ve so enjoyed following all of your posts as you’ve studied abroad. What an incredible opportunity, and thank-you for bringing us, your readers along with you. The program offered so much. From learning Spanish, to dance lessons, new friends, and memories for a lifetime. Thank-you too for not just posting the good, but also the real, as in poverty stricken areas of Bocas Del Toro. My goodness, may I never complain about anything in my life ever again. x
Habla Ya sounds like a great way to improve your Spanish skills and become immersed in the culture. I moved abroad to Denmark for work seven years ago and it’s been difficult to really learn the language and the culture with a busy career that has me working in English all the time. I’m might be a little bit jealous of your experience ; -)
Now this sounds like something I would definitely try! I was reading all the amazing activities and was excited for you. Can’t imagine if I would’ve bee there myself hihi
I think this should be part of most curriculums. I think there’s something humbling and amazing about doing something like this because you get to experience first hand what life is like in other places. We don’t realize how well we have it here in the U.S. until we’ve actually experienced real life in other countries like this. Thank you so much for sharing your experience and the pictures.
This looks like so much fun! The educational experience of truly being emerged in a culture is amazing! That is the ideal way to really learn a language. I’m going to look into this program I’d love to have an experience like this.
This sounds like an interesting experience! One of these days I want to visit I another country, learn the language and culture.
I hope one day my daughter gets to experience studying abroad
Great Post! I wish I had the chance to study abroad when I was in college, looks like an amazing experience!
I have heard about many good study abroad programs. Unfortunately, I didn’t take advantage of that while I was in college. I know it would have been an incredible experience. This looks like it was an amazing experience as well.
I have never done any out of the country program but I have learned some basics in Spanish since I was able to work with Latin America countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. Duolingo application makes me learn it and the help of Google translate and a little mentoring from my counterparts. Your program is such a cool way of learning and immersing too!
Your journey has been fun. I love that they give back to their community in the process.
This looks like it would be a fantastic experience. I would love to strengthen my Spanish, and an experience like this would help. I also like the social aspect of your trip. It is good that you see the bad and the good, and to see how the bad is being helped.
This is an experience of a lifetime. I love that you just did it, this is one for the books for sure. I’m sure you are forever changed for the good from your trip.
I always wanted to study abroad. This looks like it was such an amazing experience.
I need to learn Spanish again. I took three years in jr. high and have forgotten all but the basics. I recently learned French, and once I get it all fluent I need to pick up Spanish again.