When we moved to Panama, we were drawn to many aspects of the culture here. We had high expectations of immersing ourselves in the culture and language, but, over the past 7.5 years that we have lived here, we have learned that the expectation is not always the reality.
Don't get me wrong, we love living here, and we love our community - expat and Panamanian alike!
One of the main things we loved about Panama when we were looking into moving here was the family culture. We compared it to the US culture of entertainment, and we were sold! We would often call friends or family in the US and see if we could meet up for a meal or an afternoon at the pool, and they would let us know they'd be available in about 2 weeks. Everyone was just too busy running here or there for baseball, soccer practice, Girl Scout cookie sales, vacation, seeing the latest movie, and on and on! It was very difficult to meet up with people.
When we moved here, we were hopeful to be included into Panamanian homes as family. However, the language barrier caused difficulties on both sides. It was awkward to meet up or have people over who don't speak the same language. So, that makes it where you invite over expats.
Since most of the expats are in the same boat, we have a common desire for connection. We aren't near our families, so who do we spend Thanksgiving with? Each other! In years past, we've had Thanksgiving meals with over 100 people at them, and we're planning the same for the end of the month. It's easy here for us to get together or even drop everything and spend all day hanging out with another family.
The culture here is focused on family, and the expat community has become our family. It's difficult to break into the close-knit Panamanian families and become their family because they have extended families to meet their needs. It's hard to break into their established family circles.
Even within our Spanish speaking church where we've been attending for about 6 years. We see the pastor and his family every week, but that's where it ends...on Sundays.
Another potential hurdle to overcome within the Panamanian culture is the way the people are not very focused on timeliness. I'm really laid back, but when it comes to arriving on time, my culture tells me to do it. This isn't the case here necessarily. Even our church starts every Sunday "at 10:30." ...or around then. This is something that's really difficult for some expats to accept.
We've seen this over the last 6 years in our church. Expats will attend saying they want to learn the language and would like to be in the church. They attend one or two Sundays and realize it isn't like church at home. The pastor is late, the songs aren't familiar, they say they'll do an activity and don't follow through, the sermon goes long, and so on and so forth.
Our family has chosen to attend this church, live in this country, and deal with cultural differences because we want to see past all of the cultural hurdles in many areas, like our church. We try to accept the good with the bad, even when it drives us a little crazy. We believe in the end, they can learn from us and we can learn from them, but we still typically spend the majority of our time with our expat friends.
Since most of us expats feel like we're in the same boat, we typically stick together. We all left our home countries while looking for something different, even if that was just better weather, a cheaper place to live, or a better place to raise our kids. Many of us mostly have expat friends because it's easier, because living in a foreign land has enough challenges of its own!
Integrating into another culture is difficult and takes time, but it can be a worthwhile endeavor.
Ah the expat dilemma. Makes me think about how people complain about migrants moving to Australia and just "sticking together' without appreciating they do that for familiarity and comfort, and not quite fitting in to the foreignness of a country not theirs. Do you think you'd ever move from Panama?
We have no plans of leaving Panama in the future.
It's always going to be difficult moving to a different country, I think we just have to accept the different cultures and behaviours, which in our eyes may seem mad or unreasonable.
Like when I moved to Taiwan, most drivers have little regards for pedestrians and drive like maniacs. I hated that I had to let cars go first when I was at the zebra crossing (think you call it crosswalk across the pond) but it is what it is. I'd rather accept it and be extra careful when crossing the road rather than enforcing my right of way.
Actually, I did do that once, walking across cautiously as a car was driving slowly towards me. He was forced to stop when he realised I wasn't got to budge, then zoomed past as soon as I was done but not before stopping briefly, and shouting something at me 😂
Sounds crazy to cross the street there! Ha! It is even difficult to move to a different state in the US! We're happy with where we live, even with the challenges!
The language is a big problem. I stay here in greece but few people speak english and I only speak a few words greek.
I stayed some time in South Africa. There is was easier to talk in english. But also there i met most of the time with expats.
That's cool that you live in Greece! Thanks for stopping by! We have a few South African friends who have moved here over the years.
Sometimes I wonder whether the WASP obsession with schedules and precision is so important. The library opens at a specific time, but there is almost never anyone waiting, and our first hour is usually incredibly slow. Why should we obsesss over opening on the dot?
That does make sense. Sometimes here the hours are posted online or on google maps, but they're rarely open as early as they say or close at 5 on the dot. Ha!
I cannot imagine moving to another country, especially with young children, and a different language as well! It must be interesting learning about a new culture though
My brother worked on a project in Panama a couple of years ago, and loved the country.
It's nice though that you have a number of expat friends there, one always tends to be drawn to people from your home country.
Thank you for the glimpse into life in Panama <3
Thanks for stopping by! Cool that your brother worked here. We love it, even with the challenges! We especially love our community here!
Thank you for writing this honest, open assessment of what it is like for your family there in Panama, @apanamamama. It makes perfect sense, faced with the challenges you cite, that the expat community around you is particularly close.
Especially nice that you are all gathering together to celebrate Thanksgiving. Is there anything close to a celebration of a similar nature among the native Panamanians? I ask, as the Canadians I used to supervise always wanted to be sure "we" (Americans) knew they also had a Thanksgiving holiday. Even though the origin of it was nothing like ours ...
Is it okay to request a listing of the countries from which these expats have emigrated? And maybe a ballpark idea of what % of the community is from each? If that is considered an invasion of privacy there, I understand.
Thanksgiving is something we look forward to every year. Panama has a few independence days, but nothing really like Thanksgiving. The closest might be Mother's Day in December when everyone goes over to Mama's house and all the stores are closed. Ha! We invite people of all nations to our celebration. It's a lot of fun and lots of great food.
We have people from Costa Rica, South Africa, Canada, US, Malta, Germany, and we know people from Romania. I'm sure there are other countries, but I can't think of them right now. The largest percentage are from the US and Canada, together probably making up 75% (or more) of the expat community. Depending on what the home country is going through, there may be an influx of expats leaving their country. Like a few years ago we had a lot coming in from South Africa and then a few years after that, it was a lot of people from Canada. We only know one lady from Malta. 😉 Quite a few Germans have settled in the area - our part of the country is known as Little Switzerland - high in the mountains with nice temperatures year round. We even have a growing group of Mennonites here now, but they're getting big enough that they have their own community.
Thank you for providing this additional bit of info about life there. We are still talking about what it might look like, for us to even begin to consider any "adventure" of a similar nature. "Driven" by my ongoing meetings with my friend in nearby Costa Rica ...
It's definitely a big step to not be taken lightly!
Beautiful ladies; lovely people 🥰😊
@apanamamama, I paid out 0.551 HIVE and 0.131 HBD to reward 5 comments in this discussion thread.