Shamans and Sha-womans

As the second week is wrapping up, I'm learning more about my fellow "Panamaistas," but almost as importantly, I'm learning about what I plan to do when I'm down there. My independent study started out as an idea more than anything.

'Okay,' I thought, 'I'll go down there and interview people. Then I'll, like, write about it and stuff. Easy.'

That was my thinking until I realized Sunday that in order for me to complete a project, I had to design it first. Going into a foreign country, in which I have no experience, and where English is surely more difficult to find than Spanish or indigenous languages, without a plan...is not a good idea. So, I spent the majority of this week constructing a feasible plan, or at last an idea of a feasible plan. Here's what I've come up with:

Primarily through interviews, I will document the varied oral histories of the villages around El Cope and Omar Torrijos National Park. I'm going to see if, through these interviews, I can draw upon generalities that will tie these different and unique villages together. Right now, I'm feeling as though I'll find out that life was quite different before and after Torrijos crashed and disappeared into the forest (this is, of course, assuming that I can find plenty of villagers that experienced life pre-Torrijos).

The "icing on the cake" will be the interviews with the shaman. I want to understand the cultural and historical impact, and importance, of the local shaman. I plan to use this information as an example of the fading importance of shamanism in world cultures.

I feel fairly accomplished, so far, but there's still plenty that I need to do. Maybe I'll start working on my Biology homework. Or maybe I'll get some dinner. We'll see what the night has in store...but given my choices, it seems like it will be riveting.

Ice Breakers and Self-Awareness

Normally, I hate ice breakers. The "get to know each other" parts of classes are always my least favorite parts. That being said, it was nice to get to know the people that I'm going into another country...

Our self-awareness projects were interesting and a nice way for us to learn about one another (and ourselves). The presentations ranged from revealing to comical to a little bit "emo." Our group presentations helped me to get to know my fellow History majors, and now I'm even more excited to go to Panama, given that I know more than one other person.

My Independent Study project looks like it will consist of a series of interviews with the indigenous population in order to compile information about the cultural history of the regional groups we'll be in contact with. I've begun my preliminary research, and I'm realizing that I've still got quite a bit to do. This will be a pretty busy week!