Final Word from Panama...for now.

I've decided to dedicate my final blog from Panama to  general observations.  No, not the once famous Panamanian General who fought and lost to the French in the trench wars of 1893,(though he is certainly worthy of such high standing.)  Rather a synopsis, if you will, of what I have learned from my stay in Central America and in particular Panama.  Okay, only Panama...in particular Boquete. 

     First of all, Panamanians have different words for almost everything!  For instance, their word for car is ‘caro’, which I get. But their word for Gel isn't Jello, or Lard isn't Lardo.

And, for instance, I do know for a fact that 'Estupido" means 'Sir' which makes no sense, but who am I to argue?  I like being called 'Sir', and will miss it when I return to the States.  

    Honestly, I wonder how Panamanian people can even communicate with each other.  They sure don’t understand me, and I talk pretty good English!

     Another thing you never see is somebody from Panama dressing appropriately for the weather.  The men all wear long pants and

dress shoes when it’s like 75 degrees outside.  And though I have never physically checked, I have a sneaking suspicion that they are wearing socks as well.  For all I know, they might wear men’s underwear under those “long pants”. 

     Hey, listen – It’s not my thing, but when in Panama do as the Romans do, right?.

Though, I’m guessing they do take off their clothes at some point, because I have seen Panamanian children walking around in little pairs of long pants and tiny leather shoes.  Also they have great tans.

     The monetary system here is also confusing.  The official currency is the American Dollar, which at first seems a little scary, especially if you are an expat, because as expats know, America creates money out of thin air, and that is exactly how much it’s worth.

   This system eventually leads to what economist call “A Major Shit Storm”, a scenario in which most of the known world begins refusing the American Dollar as payment, for things such as Housing, Food, shoes, and Trillions of dollars of loan debt.  But, Panama has its bases covered.

     For though Panama’s official currency is the American Dollar, they have their own money as well.  Their dollar is called a Balboa, named after a park in San Diego, whose denominations, like the U.S., range from one Balboa (Worth one US dollar) down to 1/100^th of a Balboa (Worth one U.S. cent).  These coins which are the same size and weight as U.S.

coinage (though instead of a dead President, they are stamped with some goofy looking guy in a conquistador helmet) they are accepted as readily as the U.S. coins.  And though the Panamanian currency rises and falls in value in conjunction with the U.S. Dollar, it is not connected to the U.S. Dollar.  In fact, the moment a U.S. Dollar is deposited in a Panamanian bank it becomes a Balboa. 

     So, in confusion, if you receive your money from the U.S. you deposit it as quickly as possible into a Panamanian bank where it magically turns into Balboas, which can then be spent freely on long pants and dress shoes.

My point is this; Panama is hot and muggy at the beach, and spring-like in the mountains.  The people are pretty nice.  At least I assume they’re nice.  I can’t understand a word they say. 

 

I’m going home now.  Thanks for reading this nonsense.  Love you all.  DP