A Jamaican’s everlasting love for Panama

Visiting Panama as a tourist was totally different from being a resident who was fully immersed in its culture and every day activities. This I quickly learned after getting married.

It all started 13 years ago when I came to Panama for a visit. I loved everything about the country, the really nice tour guides and hotel staff and the really kind gentleman who chauffeured us around. I was with a small group of foreigners from the US, Canada and England and we were treated like kings and queens. Who would want to leave such a paradise? I most definitely didn’t. I was so starry eyed, that I stayed, fell in love and got married. Reality set in not long after.

Everything changed and for the life of me I couldn’t understand where the magic I experienced had gone. I was frustrated with everyone and everything. I compared everyone and everything. “This wasn’t how we did things in my country.” “Why can’t people be a little bit friendlier?” I criticized everything with my expat friends and we became part of the ‘what’s wrong with Panama today’ club. We were defensive about everything and had the impression that Panamanians hated
foreigners.

After a couple of years and out of curiosity, I decided to visit some places outside of the city and went to a few beaches in Colon. They reminded me of home and this allowed me to let my guard down and let Panama in a little. Colon will always and forever be my first choice for a quick beach trip outside of the city and no one can convince me otherwise.

I decided to explore Panama some more and fell in love all over again. There is so much to see and so many things to do here, that honestly, I don’t see myself living anywhere else. This is where I call home now and will defend the country that has allowed me the opportunity to experience and grow, professionally as well as personally.

I can empathize with expats who are disgruntled and homesick. I’ve been there. It’s not easy moving from your birth country to live in another, leaving family and friends behind. It feels like crap to have to start all over again, but give yourself some time to appreciate what’s in front of you. Try not to compare and build up disillusions of grandeur about your own country and your attitude and outlook will change for the better.

Food! Food! Glorious Food!!!