How are Americans in Boquete, Panama treated? How are expats in Boquete, Panama treated generally?
Philip McGuigan - Chiriqui United, an Association of the leading humanitarian organizations in the Chiriqui Province of Panama
The Americans and other expats in Boquete are treated very well.
It really makes a big difference if you make the effort to learn as much Spanish as you can because your Panamanian neighbors will really appreciate your effort. That goes a long way. Most of the expats here try to learn Spanish because it makes their life easer, and more importantly, it enables them to more easily develop relationships with the local people they work with or see who don't speak...
It really makes a big difference if you make the effort to learn as much Spanish as you can because your Panamanian neighbors will really appreciate your effort. That goes a long way. Most of the expats here try to learn Spanish because it makes their life easer, and more importantly, it enables them to more easily develop relationships with the local people they work with or see who don't speak...
The Americans and other expats in Boquete are treated very well.
It really makes a big difference if you make the effort to learn as much Spanish as you can because your Panamanian neighbors will really appreciate your effort. That goes a long way. Most of the expats here try to learn Spanish because it makes their life easer, and more importantly, it enables them to more easily develop relationships with the local people they work with or see who don't speak English.
I grew up in New York City, where the last thing you ever did was to say hello to anyyone. Now, here in Boquete, when I go out to walk the puppies, I go by two Indian families. Every single time, they say hello to me.
As another set of examples, when you go to pay your electric bill, anyone entering the office will say to “bueos dias” to everyone already there. When you go to the bank, if you’re standing in line and there are five of you, if a new person comes in, they will say hello to everyone. Culturally, that’s what the Panamanians do here. They’re polite and friendly.
Many of the expats have picked up on this, so they’re more friendly here than they would have been back home.
If you’re friendly here, the locals will be friendly back. It’s how they are.
It really makes a big difference if you make the effort to learn as much Spanish as you can because your Panamanian neighbors will really appreciate your effort. That goes a long way. Most of the expats here try to learn Spanish because it makes their life easer, and more importantly, it enables them to more easily develop relationships with the local people they work with or see who don't speak English.
I grew up in New York City, where the last thing you ever did was to say hello to anyyone. Now, here in Boquete, when I go out to walk the puppies, I go by two Indian families. Every single time, they say hello to me.
As another set of examples, when you go to pay your electric bill, anyone entering the office will say to “bueos dias” to everyone already there. When you go to the bank, if you’re standing in line and there are five of you, if a new person comes in, they will say hello to everyone. Culturally, that’s what the Panamanians do here. They’re polite and friendly.
Many of the expats have picked up on this, so they’re more friendly here than they would have been back home.
If you’re friendly here, the locals will be friendly back. It’s how they are.
Posted June 26, 2014
Anayansi Menendez - El Oasis Hotel & Restaurant
Boquete is one of those communities in Panama where the locals mix with foreigners for many cultural, service and other activities. Americans and other expats are 100% very welcomed in Boquete and part of the overall community.
Boquete is one of those communities in Panama where the locals mix with foreigners for many cultural, service and other activities. Americans and other expats are 100% very welcomed in Boquete and part of the overall community.
Posted June 28, 2014
Paul McBride - Inside Panama Real Estate
Panama shares a long and storied history with Americans. As most people know, the Panama Canal was built by the United States and is the single biggest legacy of the relationship between the two countries. Today, Panama controls the canal and the Canal Zone and this has been one of the major factors in the incredible economic expansion that the country has experienced over the past 10 years.
Because of over 100-years of cultural exchanges through the Panama Canal...
Because of over 100-years of cultural exchanges through the Panama Canal...
Panama shares a long and storied history with Americans. As most people know, the Panama Canal was built by the United States and is the single biggest legacy of the relationship between the two countries. Today, Panama controls the canal and the Canal Zone and this has been one of the major factors in the incredible economic expansion that the country has experienced over the past 10 years.
Because of over 100-years of cultural exchanges through the Panama Canal and the former Canal Zone, there are a lot of ties that bind Panama and the US together. For example, many of the country’s politicians and business people attend university in the United States. Sports is also a common cultural experience. Although soccer (futball) is the country’s most popular sport, baseball has a huge following and American football (both professional and collegiate) is widely popular.
When you go through grocery stores and retail shops, people from the US will see many familiar brands and items.
So, Americans and American culture are something that is familiar to the average Panamanian.
In Boquete, the influx of expat retirees began to really grow around 2002. Land prices in Bajo Boquete have skyrocketed and the general cost of living has gone up. That has had a negative effect on local residents. On the other hand, the influx of expats into Boquete has had a large impact on the economy. When I first visited Boquete in 1999 it was a struggling community. Commodity coffee production and small scale agriculture were the economic mainstays. The one thing that I noticed at the time was the lack of young adults in Boquete. After speaking with several residents the story was the same – the young people left Boquete to seek out opportunity in David and, if they were lucky or got a better education, they left for Panama City. Today, the economic growth that Boquete has experienced over the past 12 years has created more opportunities and the population of young adults living and working in Boquete is growing.
As far as how Americans and expats are treated, in my experience the people of Panama are some of the warmest and most genuinely friendly people I have met in my travels. If you take the time to know them and learn to speak a little Spanish, you are treated no differently than anybody else. And that means that your are treated with courtesy and friendliness.
A final word on what the word “expat” means in Boquete. Some people naturally assume that the expat community is dominated by people from the US. Initially that was true. Today, Boquete is really a melting pot of a variety of different nationalities from North America (including a large population from Canada), Europe, South America and Asia. I would say that today, Americans represent a minority of the expats in Boquete. Recently, Panamanians from the city and from David have “discovered” Boquete and are buying vacation homes and retirement homes as well.
So Boquete a microcosm of Panama, a melting pot of a variety of nationalities and ethnicities and this makes our community a vibrant and multi-dimensional place to live.
Because of over 100-years of cultural exchanges through the Panama Canal and the former Canal Zone, there are a lot of ties that bind Panama and the US together. For example, many of the country’s politicians and business people attend university in the United States. Sports is also a common cultural experience. Although soccer (futball) is the country’s most popular sport, baseball has a huge following and American football (both professional and collegiate) is widely popular.
When you go through grocery stores and retail shops, people from the US will see many familiar brands and items.
So, Americans and American culture are something that is familiar to the average Panamanian.
In Boquete, the influx of expat retirees began to really grow around 2002. Land prices in Bajo Boquete have skyrocketed and the general cost of living has gone up. That has had a negative effect on local residents. On the other hand, the influx of expats into Boquete has had a large impact on the economy. When I first visited Boquete in 1999 it was a struggling community. Commodity coffee production and small scale agriculture were the economic mainstays. The one thing that I noticed at the time was the lack of young adults in Boquete. After speaking with several residents the story was the same – the young people left Boquete to seek out opportunity in David and, if they were lucky or got a better education, they left for Panama City. Today, the economic growth that Boquete has experienced over the past 12 years has created more opportunities and the population of young adults living and working in Boquete is growing.
As far as how Americans and expats are treated, in my experience the people of Panama are some of the warmest and most genuinely friendly people I have met in my travels. If you take the time to know them and learn to speak a little Spanish, you are treated no differently than anybody else. And that means that your are treated with courtesy and friendliness.
A final word on what the word “expat” means in Boquete. Some people naturally assume that the expat community is dominated by people from the US. Initially that was true. Today, Boquete is really a melting pot of a variety of different nationalities from North America (including a large population from Canada), Europe, South America and Asia. I would say that today, Americans represent a minority of the expats in Boquete. Recently, Panamanians from the city and from David have “discovered” Boquete and are buying vacation homes and retirement homes as well.
So Boquete a microcosm of Panama, a melting pot of a variety of nationalities and ethnicities and this makes our community a vibrant and multi-dimensional place to live.
Posted July 11, 2014
Linda Jensen
The locals in Boquete are extremely nice and extremely patient with expats.
People who speak Spanish have told me that there is a little resentment among the locals, because some of the local Panamanians here think that all Americans are rich and greedy, don’t want to pay much, and don’t respect Panamanians.
I’ve never experienced that. The truth for me is that I enjoy the Panamanian people and I am...
The locals in Boquete are extremely nice and extremely patient with expats.
People who speak Spanish have told me that there is a little resentment among the locals, because some of the local Panamanians here think that all Americans are rich and greedy, don’t want to pay much, and don’t respect Panamanians.
I’ve never experienced that. The truth for me is that I enjoy the Panamanian people and I am trying to learn to speak Spanish. I feel that most Americans are treated very, very well here.
Posted July 25, 2014
Penny Barrett - Fundacion Bid 4 Bouquete
Expats are treated pretty well in Boquete.
I have not noticed any anti-gringo sentiments here. There is some feeling from the uneducated population that the influx of gringos has raised the prices here and that is totally true for real estate. The real estate prices have gone up because people who come from North America are willing to spend more for their housing. However, the prices for food and other things have risen all over Panama. If you area a non-gringo local...
Expats are treated pretty well in Boquete.
I have not noticed any anti-gringo sentiments here. There is some feeling from the uneducated population that the influx of gringos has raised the prices here and that is totally true for real estate. The real estate prices have gone up because people who come from North America are willing to spend more for their housing. However, the prices for food and other things have risen all over Panama. If you area a non-gringo local and just live in Boquete and you do not know that, you will think that it is only happening in Boquete.
Other than that (which is minor), there is not much anti-gringo sentiments that I can see.
Posted October 13, 2014
Roger J. Pentecost - Boquete Valley of Flowers Condos
Expats are treated very well not just in Boquete, but in all of Panama as well. The country of Panama is one of the least racially prejudiced countries, and I mean that from the color of the skin to the language. I would say that the only discrimination that you would see is verbal discrimination towards Oriental people, particularly Chinese, because they very successfully run many of the businesses in Panama. As far as prejudice against Americans, English, or any Europeans, I...
Expats are treated very well not just in Boquete, but in all of Panama as well. The country of Panama is one of the least racially prejudiced countries, and I mean that from the color of the skin to the language. I would say that the only discrimination that you would see is verbal discrimination towards Oriental people, particularly Chinese, because they very successfully run many of the businesses in Panama. As far as prejudice against Americans, English, or any Europeans, I would say basically, it is non-existent.
I think there still is some resentment, a very, very small amount though, and only ever sort of alluded to very slightly, that arose as a result of one or two of the Panama Canal situations. I have been speaking with some Panamanians who knew I was English, and I extracted this from them, just to find out for myself. Right now, they are proud of the fact that they are doing a very good job with the Panama Canal and they are making more money than the Americans did when they were here.
Therefore, I would say that the attitude from Panamanians towards 99% of Americans are fine, unless the Americans really push some buttons that will make Panamanians react negatively. For example, if an American says, “Oh back home, we can always get this...” it would not matter if it were a Canadian, German, or an Englishman who said that, but if an American says that, he will get a push back from the Panamanian. I think, one time, I had that said to me, and I immediately pointed out that I am not American, so they had made a big mistake.
I would say there is far more prejudice in the US against people of color, from the Mexicans to the Afro-American people. With Panamanians and nationalities here in Panama, color is hardly noticed. There have been presidents in Panama who were of color long before the US. There is no racial prejudice in Panama.
Posted October 17, 2014
Lola Braxton - Services Toby
As an American expat from the US, in many places in Panama and specifically in Boquete and David, I feel we are treated very well.
However, if you come here with a bad attitude, you will be treated with a similar bad attitude.
Trying to learn the language as best as you can helps (even if you’re not good at it), as does having a smile on your face.
However, if you come here with a bad attitude, you will be treated with a similar bad attitude.
Trying to learn the language as best as you can helps (even if you’re not good at it), as does having a smile on your face.
As an American expat from the US, in many places in Panama and specifically in Boquete and David, I feel we are treated very well.
However, if you come here with a bad attitude, you will be treated with a similar bad attitude.
Trying to learn the language as best as you can helps (even if you’re not good at it), as does having a smile on your face.
However, if you come here with a bad attitude, you will be treated with a similar bad attitude.
Trying to learn the language as best as you can helps (even if you’re not good at it), as does having a smile on your face.
Posted November 16, 2014
Georgina Chanapi - Lucero Homes Golf & Country Club
Panamanians have learned about good customer service and how to take care of people from other nationalities that came to Boquete. They have also learned how to speak English. Here in Boquete, many people speak English. Panamanians in Boquete find better jobs if they speak good English. The expats who came to live in Boquete have shown us different ways to deal with life. The economy here in Boquete has improved and we now have many companies here....
Panamanians have learned about good customer service and how to take care of people from other nationalities that came to Boquete. They have also learned how to speak English. Here in Boquete, many people speak English. Panamanians in Boquete find better jobs if they speak good English. The expats who came to live in Boquete have shown us different ways to deal with life. The economy here in Boquete has improved and we now have many companies here. Boquete even has more restaurants than David or Panama City.
(A landscaped garden in Boquete, pictured.)
Posted April 6, 2015
Lissy Lezcano - Lissy Lezcano Attorney & Mediator
Expats are treated very well in Boquete unless they start talking about bad things about Panama. Locals do not like this.A month or so ago, a lady from Venezuela posted a Tweet that said how Panamanians looked like monkeys in the jungle who eat bananas and that if it weren’t for the foreigners like her, the Panamanians would have nothing. Someone from Twitter started a campaign to say they all Panamanians want her out of the country. Sure enough, she was out...
Expats are treated very well in Boquete unless they start talking about bad things about Panama. Locals do not like this.A month or so ago, a lady from Venezuela posted a Tweet that said how Panamanians looked like monkeys in the jungle who eat bananas and that if it weren’t for the foreigners like her, the Panamanians would have nothing. Someone from Twitter started a campaign to say they all Panamanians want her out of the country. Sure enough, she was out of the country in a matter of 1 week. She couldn’t take all the pressure on the streets, on the news, and media.
If you are an expat in Panama, be careful talking about bad things about Panama or about Panamanians.
In general, however, Panamanians love expats. In Boquete, the locals are a bit upset about the price of things there because the locals cannot afford the high prices that are driven up by the foreigners who live in Boquete. There is an economic situation there. Other than that small, general resentment, expats are treated very well in Boquete. Panamanians are very friendly.
You can see this by how open Panama is to most of the world. A lot of foreigners can even come to Panama without a visa. There is a short list of restricted countries, but even for the other people from other countries not on the list, Panama is very accommodating and friendly.
(Pictured: Park in Boquete, which is just one of the places where foreigners and locals mix.)
Posted June 16, 2015