One Liner:
Moved during a transition year
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What first brought you to Panama and what were some of the deciding factors?:
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An internship but I don't live there anymore.
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How long have you been living in Panama and how long do you see yourself here in the future?:
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I don't live there now but I lived there for 6 months and 23 days.
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What are the positive aspects of life in Panama?:
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Laid back, never gets cold, beautiful beaches, and amazing wildlife and rainforests.
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What are the negative aspects of life in Panama?:
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Lines are long and the people can sometimes be lethargic and slow in service rolls. The cab situation is horrendous (no meters and they just drive off if they don't want to take you).
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What one aspect of your life in Panama makes it all worthwhile?:
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Learning about a different culture and drinking with them.
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Was it difficult to become "legal" or achieve residency for you in Panama?:
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N/A
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Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's necessary in order to succeed in Panama?:
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It depends what you want to do. If you just want to retire in Panama then of course you don't have to be fluent, but if you want to deal with Panamanians on a daily basis and work with them, then a good understanding of the language is key even if some of them speak OK english.
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What are your future plans in Panama?:
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N/A
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Favorite restaurant in Panama (include brief review por favor):
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N/A
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Talk about where you live: location, type, neighbors, costs, amenities, conveniences?:
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I lived in El Cangrejo with Leezy, a nutjob, and a rat dog. Lots of stores and resturants nearby.
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How are you received by the locals in Panama?:
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Most were nice right off the bat, but I found some were a bit curious as to what I was doing there and were a little aloof.
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Do you ever miss home and if so, how do you best cope with it?:
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I didn't miss home that much, but I missed some of my friends and wished they could be on my journeys with me.
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Do you have any tips for people thinking about moving to Panama?:
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Learn at least a little bit of spanish and don't buy a billion hawaiian shirts. It's not all gitz and glamour as the developers would have you believe. The bay of Panama still smells like an open sewer (it virtually is) and there is lots of abject poverty. And if you are impatient the pace will take some getting used to.
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