Panama

During my freshman year at the University of Miami, I worked as a nightclub promoter, and whenever I had a long weekend, I’d use the money I earned to take short trips around the region. One of those trips brought me to Panama.

While on a boat tour, a curious capuchin monkey jumped onto my shoulders, snatched a banana straight from my hand, and disappeared back into the jungle before I had time to react. It was a memorable introduction to the country. Later, watching enormous cargo ships slowly pass through the locks of the Panama Canal gave me a new appreciation for one of the world’s greatest engineering achievements and the extraordinary role it plays in global trade. At the time, many of my friends thought I was a little crazy for spending my weekends traveling alone. In hindsight, those short trips were an integral part of my journey to every country in the world.