The PANANOLE News: FSU-Panama Student E-Zine

     Hello my name is Philly D and I work for the student newspaper here, called Pananole. It is our pleasure to have you aboard with us for the Fall Semester of 2004, but here at FSU-Panama we are a family so I was hoping that you could take sometime and answer some questions that I have.

     What is your name and where are you from?

     James Campbell; Normal, IL

     What brings you to Panama?

     An international experience in a Latin American country.

     How long will you be here in Panama?

     Just for the fall semester. Except I don’t think you have a fall here. And it started after the wet season. So, just for part of the rainy-season semester. Hasta deciembre.

     What is your favorite class here at FSU-Panama?

     Don’t put me on the spot or anything, but right now my favorite class is Modern Popular Music.

     What is your major?

     Spanish Education at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.

     What have you seen and done since arriving here?

     I have been here since August 2nd and have seen a lot of the city. I stayed in an apartment with some very random people (friends of a cousin of a friend of a son of a pastor of a friend of my mom’s). It all worked out fine though. Been to the beach once and if anyone wants to take me again that would be great! Been to Miraflores twice. Saw a BASE jumper last Friday jump off the bridge. Barro Colorado Island was worth it just to see all the monkeys and the ten billion ants.

     What is your impression of FSU-Panama compared to Tallahassee/ or your permanent university and be honest?

     It is definitely more laid-back. I hardly have any papers to write. I have no research papers at all I don’t think. But that may be because all of my classes last semester were upper-levels and the ones I have here are general courses. The campus is much smaller and I am in the same classroom (202 – what a great view!) for three classes.

     Also, I would like to vent something. No one asks questions in the classrooms here. I have yet to witness anyone ask a non-rhetorical question to a professor about anything we are addressing in the subject. Most students, if they would even say anything in class at all, prefer to add comments to the instructor as he is lecturing. (I have even caught myself doing this and I hate it!) Not only do these people add their comments, they interject in such a manner that no one else in the class can hear them. All we see is that the professor pauses, then gives a funny look the young man or young lady that all of the sudden has decided to whisper exclusive information that is either common knowledge or unknown to the rest of the class – because it is quite possibly, and I hate to say it, untrue. Either way, there is a perception that it is made-up. This is something that I have only witnessed in my Spanish classes back home and at FSU-Panama. Let’s work together to stop this. I will think of something.

     What do you think that we can do better on this campus to better reflect the typical American University System?

     I think things like the cookout is exclusive to a small school and could never be done on a large campus. If the point was to make everything in the world American then I am out. I do think that the students could be pushed harder here and that there could be a greater sense of the responsibility to learn as a student coming from the educators.

     What’s your favorite thing to eat in Panama that is not typical in the states?

     I really like platanitos, platos, plantains, platanillos, planos. Yeah… I don’t even know how do say that right now but I could eat them everyday.

     Thanks for taking time out to answer my questions and allow the rest of the university to get to know you. We once again welcome you and hope that you enjoy your time abroad with us here at FSU-Panama.

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