The Learning Curve of Overseas Living

If you’re ever planning to live in a foreign country – either on a temporary basis or as a full-time resident – there will be many things to learn and deal with.  As US citizens, we are so blessed with many environmental, technological, and socio-economical advantages that populations the world over cannot even imagine.  So much so that we take many of our advantages as “normal” for other places in the world, too. 

However, it’s good for us to see how other populations really exist on a day-to-day basis because it provides us with opportunities to grasp insight and perspectives beyond our own. 

When Ron and I decided years ago that we wanted to spend time in another country outside of the US, we knew there would be modifications to the lifestyle we were accustomed to.  And we also knew that some modifications we could accept and deal with; others might not be in our best interest to experience.

When we’ve visited Panama in the past few years, the trips were in rather ideal circumstances.  The first time we came down, we were tourists.  We stayed in the capital city of Panama City at the JW Marriott (then the Trump Tower), toured the Punta Pacifica shops, beaches, and outdoor cafes, walked for miles along the Cinta Costera, cruised the Panama Canal, and explored almost every inch of Panama Viejo.  But we knew we wanted to experience this country in a deeper way. 

In December 2020, we decided to stay for a longer period of time.  We shopped in the local grocery stores and malls, met with officials in the US Embassy and the foreign immigration offices, and Ubered around many of the City’s neighborhoods.  Because we were working on our visas during this time, and because of the COVID restrictions, we spent a couple months in a modern high-rise apartment on the Avenida Balboa before returning home. 

Then, in June, we returned to this tiny country once again.  And this time around, we’re staying in a small beach community several hours from Panama City, and we’re experiencing more of the rural part of the country.  I could even say that we’re experiencing more of what the real Panama is like, because we’ve been here long enough to see some of the differences between the glamorous cosmopolitan capital city and the smaller cities, towns, and villages in the fertile highlands and along the Pacific Coast.

And, as we continue to immerse ourselves in the Panamanian culture, we’re learning as we go.  We’re what many call people call “expats” – even if it’s only on a short-term basis.  In other words, we have gone through the legal hoops to be able to spend an extended amount of time in this country, if we want. 

The local community has provided us with a lot of information and social support.  The neighborhood where we’re staying has Panamanians, Germans, Canadians, and Americans and our next-door neighbors are Canadians who’ve lived in Panama for fifteen years.  They’ve become very good friends and are a great resource to answer about any question we have about living here. 

We’ve also met at least 60 people in the last couple of weeks expat group functions.  Most of them live here on a full-time basis, but several of them, like us, live in Panama part-time and then travel to the next place or go back to their home countries. 

Lots to Learn

But there is a learning curve when you decide to live in a foreign country.  Even though Panama has a lot of similarities with the US, it’s still very different. 

1. Panama, like so many European countries, does not refrigerate eggs because Panamanians typically don’t have the refrigerator space.  And, since eggs have a natural protective film that keeps them from deteriorating when stored at room temperature, they must be washed thoroughly before being cooked or the bacteria on the outside of the egg could end up on your plate. 
2. Be sure to have cash with you in the form of small bills and coins, because you never know when you’re going to need them.  For example, farmers’ markets, private produce vendors, or corner markets don’t accept credit cards.  Another place you’ll use a dollar or two is for the bagger who bags your groceries.  Although bag boys pack up your groceries, walk you to your car, and then load them into your car, they are not paid employees so only receive a little bit from customers who appreciate their services.  Another place you’ll need a few coins is for the street juggler who entertains people who are sitting in their cars during the five- to six-minute traffic light stop as you’re going into Chitre. 
3. Another difference in Panama is that gas attendants still fill your tank for you.  When you pull up at the gas station, the attendants won’t necessarily be wearing a shirt with the company logo and they may not even have a name tag, but they are very courteous to come up and speak with you and they will put gas in your car.  Let them what grade and how much you want, and they do the rest. 
4. When shopping, be sure to bring your own recycling bags because stores don’t supply them when you check out.  If you forget to bring one, the store will have bags you can buy, but they might be anywhere in the store besides near the check-out lane.      
5. A big difference between the States and Panama is, no matter what the tour guides tell you or what you’ve read, it’s best to use bottled water for cooking and drinking.  The infrastructure in this country oftentimes does not have effective infiltration or water treatment systems, so it’s best to use bottled water.  And, because of the tropical rains that happen here, the water supply is not always as clean as it should be.
6. Religious freedoms and religious beliefs to worship God are widely accepted.  If there is a church service going on somewhere in Panama, people of every age will be in attendance.  And everyone will be dressed in their Sunday best.  In addition, if there’s not enough room in the sanctuary, worshippers will stand in the doorways or near open windows to join in.  Last week on Saturday evening, we witnessed a large crowd of people – young couples, older people, teenagers, children, and mothers with infants – worshipped in the adjoining outdoor plaza because the church building was full.  Large TV screens were set up outside so that everyone in the plaza could listen to the service.  People listened attentively to the services, sang hymns, prayed, and raised their hands to heaven.  It was a moving experience to see so many people worshipping God; and it was also impressive to see that there were no policia or security guards in the area to have to maintain the crowd.    
7. Panamanians view COVID very seriously and intend to get vaccinated as soon as they can.  This information we’ve gotten from a medical doctor, multiple nurses, and a nurse practitioner we’ve talked to who attended the expat get-togethers.  AstraZeneca is the vaccine most often given down here, however, there are not enough supplies to meet the demand.  As in other countries around the world, Panama continues to enforce weekend lockdowns, nightly curfews, monitored temperature reading and sanitizing stations, and social distancing at every public facility, store, and establishment.  All government agencies also require that everyone wear a face shield in addition to the mask.