A Home Away From Home
PanaMatt Helping Out Behind The Bar At A Popular Expat Hangout in Panama City
Panama’s expat culture is a difficult thing to explain. There are tens of thousands of foreigners living in Panama for various reasons. Multi-national companies have recruited business people, there are young entrepreneurs and retired folks all living in Panama.
The expat scene varies depending on what part of the country you live in. Panama City is not unlike any other large metropolis as far as having a social life goes. Most expats are concentrated in the city so there are many groups and activities geared towards expats. If you are a non-Spanish speaking foreigner, it is easier to make friends in Panama City since there are many more English speaking Panamanians in the city. There are some “expat” bars in Panama City, which are great places to go if you find yourself getting homesick and craving the company of “your own kind”. Dare I say the original expat hangout was “Dirty Mike’s” (okay, Las Terrazas) just down the street from the Veneto Casino. With that venue now demolished in favour of a high rise, no doubt, many foreigners have made the “Rockin’ Gorilla” on Via Argentina their new hangout.
Boquete also has a thriving expat community, thanks in part to the area being one of the first major expat settlements in Panama. There are a handful of bars and restaurants in Boquete that serve as expat hangouts. I will admit, Boquete is not my favourite location in Panama so I haven’t spent too much time there. But from what I can gather, the majority of the expats (North American and European) are older retirees. There no doubt are younger expats there as well, just not nearly as many as in other regions of the country.
Towns in the Azuero peninsula have a mix of foreign retirees as well as young entrepreneurs. Chitre, Las Tablas and Pedasi have the highest concentration of expats in the area. You certainly won’t find nightlife like Panama City in these parts, but there are still some well known expat hangouts. Las Tablas is home to “Dos Gringos”, a bar and grill that serves up the best (and cheapest) pizza I’ve ever had in Panama. This is also the only place in the region to get fabulous hot wings. What I like most about this hangout is that all the expats in the area frequent the establishment, yet it’s always full of local Panamanians as well.
Though this may not be the case in all areas where expats have landed, in the parts of Panama that I have lived, expats seem to be very gossip-y and almost cut-throat. It’s almost like high school all over again. I guess it is to be expected when there are only about 25 foreigners living in a small community and everyone knows each other. The gossip, I suppose can be tolerated, but what I don’t understand are the expats who try to sabotage each other. I have seen a few cases of a foreign business owner telling others not to support the business of another foreigner.
In a perfect world, foreigners would support each other in their business endeavours. Sure, they may be your competition, but we’re all in the same boat, trying to figure out how to have a successful life in Panama. It is not all gossip and back-stabbing. For the most part expats do support each other which leads to a vibrant expat community.
When living in a foreign country it’s always nice to have a place to go where you can hang out with people from your home nation. However, I truly think that expats who ONLY hang out in expat establishments are missing out on Panama and the great Panamanian people.
What are some of your favourite “expat hangouts”?
| Written by Rebecca Tyre |  |
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Filed under: Country Guide, Culture, Living & Retirement, News on September 4th, 2008
When I visit Panama City, I just hang with my friends (almost all Panamanians) and go to local places. That’s because, back in my head, I know most places will be just an attempt to mirror whatever place you are from and, after I step out of the place, I am back to Panama (which is not necessarily a bad thing). However, if you know of a place that have poutine and prepares a killer Caesar, I will be set!
I was first resident in Central America 1970-72 and now an Ex Pat since 1985 in both Central America and Mexico, well agree you with what you wrote this bloq regarding the ‘envidia’ (envy) situations and teh gossip in some Ex Pat communities and businesses..the solution for newcomers is learn all the Spanish you are able, make relationships with non English speaking locals and don’t become DEPENDENT on other Ex Pats…empower yourself! Takes time and takes work…what doesn’t?
For those wishing to make the transition abroad I always advise…lo primero es lo primero, first things first, you need to learn to speak, at least the basics, the language of your target country, if not English, most people in Central America, except for Belize, a former British Colony, do not speak English, unless you wish to live a gated community or condos surrounded by other ex pats, one will need to be able to communicate..and chill out…unless living abroad for business reasons..and even then…pace of life is slower down here in the tropics.
2…-travel in person to your target country, look around, make valuable contacts and don’t rely on the Internet ‘cons’ (many are ex pats or semi ex pats) selling real estate online.
There are not many so called honest attorneys either
AVOID signing up online for expensive ‘relocation or real estate tours’!!!!
Upon arrival find a small B&B, Guest House or small Hotel…don’t stay in a 5 Star Resort or Luxury Hotel, unless necessary on business, a great reference point to start your Central American research is Alpha Travel Guide Central America web portal….ask Mr. Google, always ask Mr. Google and read up on your target country as well!
GO from there..those who have the patience to do their research (homework) will be rewarded! If you feel you need coaching for your transition go to the ex pat portals and look for a coach then..my opinion is the less middlemen you involve in your affairs the more you save and the more you learn!
Join one of the several Hospitality Portals now up online, non profit, stay with locals or ex pat/volunteers world wide when you travel rather than hanging out in Ex Pat ‘bars’, get perspective of locals, often they will give you tips and tricks other Ex Pats can’t or won’t, friendship and socializing, personal relationships mean more to Latin americans than those from up north.
If you make errors of judgement, mistakes, I’ve made em all..take them as learning experiences, not as failures.
Pull yourself back up and go!
Face to face, even with a real estate agent, who in some places will be an Ex Pat resident, you are able to size the other person up up and view land or properties in person you may be interested in.
Make friends with natives, not just English speaking hotel employees or guides and other ex pats who have made the transition, especially if planning to relocate with children, check out schools first. Shopping and infrastructure next, and yes there are Internet connections available, now even in many remote areas of Central America. Learn laws regarding residency and work permits/visas. Always be patient. Life in teh tropics!
I am also unable to share what is called ‘insider information’** to those on line who request it, especially anonymously. I have been ‘taken to the cleaners’ too many times in the past due to my own good nature. Check out on line portals and links, read the print guidebooks specific to your target country and do your own homework!
**One exception to this rule, those wishing to visit volunteer for worthy causes before or after relocation in Central America and can prove it to me!
One of my causes…development of eco/cultural rural tourism in rural El Salvador, development of native crafts cooperatives.
Looking forward to meeting you…le esperamos.
behalf of….
ARDM
Asociación de Reconstrucción y Desarrollo Municipal
Barrio El Centro, frente al Parque,
Cinquera, Departamento de Cabañas, El Salvador, C. A.
Non profit organization registered in El Salvador, C.A.
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STEP INSIDE CENTRAL AMERICA as never before! Advice on Relocation, Trade, Travel, Volunteer Ops.