Panama Study Abroad Trip Offers Students Lessons in Culture, Opportunities to Serve
Every spring break, college students across the country jet off to places foreign and domestic to unwind and soak in a bit of culture.
For the Cal Poly Pomona students who traveled to Panama in spring for a study abroad field work trip, their experience provided an opportunity to explore the Central American country and also volunteer at a food bank, participate in a university symposium, conduct field research and fellowship with the Emberá, an Indigenous group.
Beatriz Chavez, a graduating Gender, Ethnicity, and Multicultural Studies (GEMS) senior, said traveling by canoe to meet the Emberá and learning about their culture, history and traditions was a highlight.
“From the moment we stepped in the canoe and the rain started pouring, I felt that there was something spiritual happening,” Chavez said. “It was like the earth and the water were welcoming us. The Emberá greeted us with music and joy. I kept thinking, ‘We’re not worthy of this.’”
Political Science Professor Renford Reese organized the March 26 to April 6 trip for 26, which included 21 students from various colleges, three alumni, a staff member and himself. The trip was part of an upper division special topics course (PLS 4990), with the fieldwork focusing on the theme of biodiversity, sustainability, environmental politics and social service outreach.
The Panama trip cost was $2,300 per student. Participants received a $500 scholarship from the Political Science Sean Yu Study Abroad Fund, reducing the cost to $1,800. Every student who participates in international fieldwork trips sponsored by the political science department receives a scholarship from the Sean Yu Fund or from the Reese Student Travel Fund, which gives $10,000 per year for the next 10 years to support Study Abroad or Study Away trips, Reese said.
The trip to Panama was significant because it builds on CPP’s status as a Hispanic Serving Institution. The university rarely offers study abroad programs in Spanish-speaking countries, Reese said, so this trip allowed Spanish-speaking students the opportunity to connect more deeply with the Panamanian college students and other residents because of their shared language.
A Cultural Exchange
Students volunteered for three days at the Banco de Alimentos Panama food bank, packing produce and food. They also visited the Panama Canal, learning about its history, its importance in international trade and its impact on the environment. The group also interviewed residents at a mall about their impressions of the United States and the recent headlines about the Panama Canal in the news, and students served as panelists during symposium at the University of Panama discussing current affairs. The trip, which Reese said he rates a perfect 10, was an opportunity many don’t take advantage of when they travel abroad.
“Traditionally, when Americans visit other countries, we go to teach, to talk and to take, but we don’t go to learn,” Reese said. “I am so proud of our students because they were ideal cultural ambassadors. They went there to listen, to give and to learn. Students grow when they interact, engage, and exchange. It was a reflection of our ethos — Become by Doing.”
In his 29 years at CPP, Reese has coordinated 22 study abroad trips to 15 countries, taking 465 students — an average of 21 students per trip.
More trips are in the works. Reese plans to take 27 students to Japan in June in collaboration with Kobe Women’s University. They’ll take classes in Japanese language and culture, dividing the time between Kobe and Tokyo. He also will take two groups to Singapore during the 2026 winter intersession.
“I have coordinated more study abroad trips at CPP than anyone in the CSU,” he said. “My goal now is to train other faculty members, especially junior faculty, on how to coordinate these international trips. Every faculty member should have an international destination that they would like to teach. Imagine the impact on our students if a CPP professor, including STEM faculty, taught one of their courses with CPP students in Kazakhstan, Finland, Cambodia or Morrocco. Why not? It is not as difficult as one might think.”
Opportunities for Growth
Sofia Reyes, a first-year architecture student, said she jumped at the chance to study abroad and receive scholarship support.
Breathtaking scenery, welcoming people and an itinerary that balanced rewarding field work and urban exploration made the trip special, Reyes said.
One thing that surprised her was the impact of the United States on Panama’s culture and economy, including learning that the country uses the dollar for currency.
The trip allowed her learn about others and herself, Reyes said.
“I value travel a lot and exposing yourself to different realities,” she said. “I can travel in my own state and that can be impactful. Now imagine traveling to another country…exposing yourself to other people and having conversations. It’s educational and you grow from those experiences.”
Chavez, who knew little about Panama other than its location and that it is home to the Panama Canal, observed how Panamanians have so much pride in their cultural identity and live in harmony with nature. In contrast, she reflected, people in the United States seem much more disconnected from one another.
Chavez also appreciated the fieldwork and lessons on cultural preservation as they helped her get out of her comfort zone, forge connections and recognize the value of what community organizations do, she said.
“We came back transformed,” Chavez said. “It was more than study abroad. It was a transformative experience. We were learning about culture and history in a respectful way, and every experience was meaningful and eye opening.”
For more information study abroad fieldwork trips and to sign up, visit https://www.renfordreese.com/fieldwork.