Want to learn Spanish in Panama? We highly recommend Spanish by the River. Or try one of their other four locations. http://www.spanishatlocations.com/?shashin_album_key=17

The cooler mountain climate in Boquete has been a welcome change for all of us. Today we made our way into the centre of Boquete to have a look around this quaint little town. We were approached by many Canadian firefighters who were either travelling through or who spend the Canadian winter months here. A few local Panamanians were curious about our program too. Everyone seemed really excited about our activities here. We topped off our day with a visit to the Boquete Fire Station where we were warmly greeted. The Bomberos worked with the One World students to learn the single minute man load. Another great collaboration for FRITA!

After leaving the recruit class of BCBRP, the One World team hit the road for a 3 hour drive to Boquete where we will be based for 4 days. Each day the students will spend a half day continuing their Spanish studies and a half day visiting local fire stations in the area. Stay tuned for photo updates!

FRITA has to hand it to the One World student team…you all have really stepped it up! All four recent Graduates of the Career Firefighter program at the JIBC Fire & Safety Division have spent the last two days working with their Panamanian counterparts preparing them for their practical skills exams from February 10-14. It’s been a mutually gratifying experience for all as they teach and learn together…a true professional and cultural exchange!

It’s been a fast-paced 3 days since we landed in Panama!  The One World team has had very full schedules including Spanish lessons, road travel to visit fire stations along the way to Santiago and taking in cultural explorations and local foods!  Now that we have arrived, the One World students quickly set to helping the recruit class of BCBRP to prepare for their practical skills evaluations..

After months of preparation, FRITA members Matthew Witt and Kim Saulnier accompanied the 2014 JIBC’s One World Scholarship recipients to Panama City on January 28th. Travel went smoothly and we quickly settled in to the various activities the program encompasses. Olivier Hovasse, Millan Lavallee, Michael Crisp and Ryan Millen were immediately immersed into Latin culture with a day and a half of Spanish classes and exploring the older part of Panama City, Casco Viejo. Yesterday we were invited to an impromptu meeting with the Director General of the Benemérito Cuerpo de Bomberos de la República d Panamá (BCBRP) Colonel Pablo Tuñon Vejas. The Colonel made us all feel extremely welcome and it was a great honour to meet him. He is so pleased with FRITA’s ability to deliver training BCBRP Bomberos that will earn them the Basic Fire Firefighting 1 certificate through our partnership with the JIBC Fire & Safety division. Colonel Tuñon aspires to have all under his command certified to NFPA 1001 Standard and FRITA is committed to seeing this become a reality. The Basic Fire Fighting 1 certificate is the first step to realizing this goal.

The One World Scholarship program has arrived in Panama City!

The One World Scholarship program has arrived in Panama City! In between Spanish classes today, The One World Scholarship recipients met with the Director General Colonel Pablo Tuñon and were given a tour of Hall 1.