Eight years. EIGHT YEARS! That is how long I have been in Panama. Would you believe I´ve not left the country, even for a 3-day trip to Costa Rica, in all that time? No, I ´m not a fugitive from justice biding my time until the FBI swoops in to take me back... I just plain love it here!
In fact, I´ve lived in 5 countries around the world. So why did a young parent of two decide to settle down in Panama, of all places, It`s complicated! To be honest, it began almost accidentally. After living in South Asia for 4 years, during which my first child was born, I had an itch to move on. This led to a very unhappy [not to mention
freezing ] year in the UK. Miserable, my husband and I took my parents up on their offer to help us move over to Panama, where they were living at that time. Anything had to be better than uber-expensive, I-can t-believe-it s-so-cold England; so we took the chance. And the rest is history...
The first year was difficult. We spoke NO Spanish. None. In fact, I used the caring for my youngest child as an excuse to hide in the house for the best part of our first year here. But more on that later.
We d been told Panama was utopia, beautiful houses, high paying jobs and tropical fruits were falling from the trees. Only two of those had truth. Gorgeous houses are indeed plentiful and much less expensive than other places in the world, and [did you guess?] there certainly is an abundance of tropical fruits. What was not easy to come by was work. In the end my husband started a small business, for only around $4000 on overdrafts and credit cards. It wasn`t an amazingly lucrative business, but it was much needed income and meant we could move out of my parent`s house. In fact, we spent the next few years getting on our feet financially. It was a struggle, but soon I was able to get work teaching and help bring in some proverbial bacon.
Imagine, a family of four living on roughly $1500 a month. We did. And we still lived much better than most of the local population. In the UK we could not afford to rent a VIDEO [yes, in 1997 they were still plentiful...no fancy DVDs then]. We ate at McDonald`s exactly once. Most of our income, which was surprisingly low after taxes, went to heating. Oh, and taxes! Did I say taxes? Not in Panama. VAT is only 5%. In the UK there is an 80% tax on fuel, higher now for all I know. In Panama we were filling up at a quarter of the cost. My kids were going to private schools [Montessori, no less] and I had a full-time maid! I think you can see the lifestyle change we encountered, and Hallelujah for that.
Now, so many years later, Well, that not-so-lucrative business is still going, and bringing in more money than before. Between it and my work, we bring in around $2500 now. True, gas prices worldwide have risen. Inflation affects Panama as any other country so prices have gone up across the board. But, the simple truth is we still live better than we ever have, anywhere else. We`ve gone up in the world. Where we had a beat-up old car, we have gotten our credit rating up and now have a new one. [My baby!] The kids are older so, inevitably, family costs have risen....especially in the fashion department. I think I might have spent around $60 for my 12-year-old daughter`s complete school wardrobe this year. $60! Good quality, inexpensive EVERYTHING is available here. I kid you not.
Of all the countries and cities I have lived, I feel safest in Panama. I am not a reckless person. I use my common sense, but I don`t generally worry about my kids. The culture here is so delightfully free of most of the cruelty, chaos and bad influences that are rampant elsewhere. I would not choose to raise them in North America or Europe. I would not choose to raise them anywhere else, actually. It is a far gentler culture in Panama. My son can dance and be creative without being dubbed anything but the sweet, sensitive soul he is. Try doing that in the States or UK! Not only that, both my children are bilingual. Since English is spoken exclusively at home, they are native speakers. Since the majority of their experiences outside the home [including school] are in Spanish, they are native speakers. What a gift to be fully bilingual. I don t know how yet, but I know that
that little detail can only help them in later life.
And
my Spanish, Let´s just say I would benefit from some grammar lessons, but I get by just fine. I am fluent, understanding much more than speak, but I will admit to anyone who asks I need to learn a verb conjugation or two. Frankly, I am too lazy; though one day I might be prompted to take a class with one of the many tutors who are out there to teach me for - you guessed it - a very reasonable price.
There are tons of websites telling you about the wonders of Panama; the activities, restaurants, beauty and beaches. It is all true. Panama really is that cheap to live in. It really is that hot and tropical, and it really is that nice. It is paradise, pure and simple. I love it so much, I have yet to leave. But don`t just believe
me. Explore this website and the valuable resources it contains. Then, come visit and see for yourself.
Think Panama!
For All your Panama Lifestyle, Panama Travel or Panama Real Estate needs, contact
Douglas M. Choy at
ThinkPanama.com. They will be happy to provide any guidance and information you may need.
