3 Months and 5 Days in Panama

3 Months and 5 Days in Panama Posted: 10-10-2006 | Views: 53 | Word Count: 506 |

By: Aliza Elbert

3 Months and 5 Days

I came to Panama with little knowledge of the Spanish language, very little knowledge of the country of Panama, and next to no knowledge of the culture. It has now been 3 months and 5 days that I have been living in Panama City.

Some things that I have come to learn is that the food is just simply amazing, the country couldn't have a more diverse and beautiful landscape, and the people are one of the kindest.

First arriving in Panama I was in awe struck with the variety of ethnic foods that Panama offers. A traditional Panamanian dish will consist of a combination of, patacones (fried plantains), fried yuca, sancocho (like a potato and chicken soup), rice, beans, and some sort of meat dish. In a third world country, which Panama is, you would think they wouldn't really stray far from that. Being that Panama is a melting pot of cultures; it is directly reflected in the type of food that you can find all over Panama, especially in Panama City. I have come to find that German, French, Italian, Greek, Mexican, Colombian, Lebanese, Chinese, Japanese, and American food is easy to come by here. Every dish that I have been served that isn't Panamanian, tasted as if I was eating it straight from its country of origin. I haven't had a foreign dish here at a foreign restaurant that had a sort of a Panamanian flare to it; they all seem to be pretty right on.

The province of Panama has all the hustle and bustle that any major city in the U.S. has, the Darien province is one of the wildest jungles on the planet, the province of Chiriqui is filled with numerous amounts of rivers, a volcano, and mountains, and the province of Bocas del Toro is an island true to its form. With the nine provinces that make Panama this beautiful isthmus that it is, traveling through each and everyone one of them is quite mind boggling considering the vast variety of eco-systems you come encounter with. Waterfalls, lakes, rivers, oceans, mountains, rainforests, beaches, wild animals, a jungle, and a huge city all make up this beautiful country of Panama.

Whether I need help spelling the word "yuka," translating a paragraph, or making a reservation at a cabana on the beach, my coworkers always drop the tasks that are occupying them at that moment in time and help me with whatever needs to be taken care of. I have had friends who have gotten rides around town in the province of Veraguas, as well as I have had people be extremely patient with me while I am trying to ask for directions in my broken Spanish. I also found that people on the streets here enjoy a friendly hello as you are passing by them.

All in all, I love Panama. I never thought it would be what it is. Everyday I encounter something new and exciting and hope you decided to venture our here too.