As of yesterday I’ve been in Panama exactly three months. When I came, I had an idea in mind of what living in Panama would be like, but some things still caught me by surprise. #1 Rainbows I tackle an unfortunate surprise in #2 but I started with a lovely surprise: the rainbows! Panama has […]
Hablas Espanol?
Last Tuesday I was talking with my bilingual Panamanian neighbor, trying to get tips for learning Spanish faster. “No tengo paciencia! Quiero hablar Espanol ahora!” I said. (I don’t have patience. I want to speak Spanish now.) Grrr. The most frustrating thing is that I WANT TO COMMUNICATE. Communicating is one of my favorite things. […]
Whether the Weather is Good….
“Do you like living here?” I was expecting an enthusiastic, “Love it!” Instead, the blond lady made that disgusted clicking sound with her tongue. “Like it? I hate Panama.” I had been in Panama three weeks when I met one of our neighbors. Her name is Janet and she’s originally from Hawaii. She raves about […]
My Favorite Barista
Okay, my title is a little misleading because the girl I’m about to tell you about is not a barista. But she did give me coffee and that’s what baristas do, right? When I told people I was coming to Panama, a lot of them asked, “Is it a mission trip?” “No…..” I said, “It’s […]
Panamanian Men
I would not be completely honest if I didn’t write a post about one aspect of Panama. Specifically, the guys. More specifically, they’re pushier. Male Distance I want to make three points. #1 In general, men come closer then in the United States. #2 Guys are bolder about asking you out/getting your number #3 Girls/women […]
Gringo is a verb
How we use the word “gringo” and why it’s important Imagine this scene: (it happened last Sunday) I’m walking along the questionable sidewalks of Panama with my sister and dad. Suddenly my sister stabs me in the side. “Did you hear that?” She hisses. “What?” I said. “Those guys.” She said. “They said a bunch […]
Learning Spanish in Panama
It’s a journey I wish I’d started at 5 or 6… But I didn’t so I’m starting now! The beginning All right, so my backpack and tennis shoes has been ceremoniously plonked on Panama soil for one month. It’s been a whirl of hotels, cultural awkwardies, meeting new faces, forgetting names, and not knowing where […]
Panama & U.S – Four Big Differences
“Soy de los Estados Unidos.” That is what I tell Panamanians. I’m from the United States. The U.S. is culturally different from Panama. Spending a lot of time in Panama, I’m trying to be sensitive to Panamanian culture and basically avoid insulting people. Cultural differences between the U.S. and Panama #1 Manners Matter This morning I took […]
Can Expats be Friends with Panamanians?
Very rich. Very poor. Panamanian homes (as opposed to expat homes), are tiny, lack hot water, and are basic and primitive. Shirts hang on clotheslines, plastic buckets collect water, houses are cobbled together with tin. Many expats live in Panama, but there is a sharp contrast between the lifestyle of expats and the lifestyle of […]
6 Things You Don’t Know About Panama
But you’re about to find out If you’ve never been to Panama, these six aspects may catch you by surprise. #1 When Panamanians turn on their left blinker, watch out A lady mentioned this to me yesterday. “If you see the left blinker, get ready, cause they’re turning right.” Confused, I just shrugged, but today […]