Experience in Panama City, Panama

What is it like to live in Panama City? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

The city scape is beautiful. tropical greenery is wonderfully integrated into the city roads--this makes for wonderful sights.

The infrastructure is hugely lacking compared to American standards--warn down roads with hazardous potholes (I sprained my foot in one), tiny sidewalks, low hanging telephone wires, etc. This makes for terrible traffic.

The work ethic is not the same as a first world country, People do what they want, whether they're on the clock or not. As a result, services like power and water get cut off and can take a day to be fixed. Things just generally don't happen on time, and as a rule, things are not so predictable.

I would recommend living in this city to anyone who thinks they need more than the simple pleasures of life to be happy. The people here are more connected to the natural world, and have a certain kind of thrift. For example, many of the locals only eat out on more special occasions, and they most often cook at home. That is not true of modern America where its almost rare to be a good cook.

Also, the wealth inequality is huge.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Panama City? Is there any advice you can give?

If you can, talk to a local who has your best interest in mind, and have them check out any place you are interested in staying at if you can't come see it for yourself and meet anyone you might be sharing it with. Other than that, make sure its not too small. Many people rent out their maid rooms, which are even smaller than the often small rooms compared to American suburbia.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

My favorite food are plantains, prepared in a variety of ways--fried chips; fried chunks, smashed, then fried again; and baked with a sugar glazing.

They like to deep fry things, so food is often saturated in vegetable oil. It is a coastal city, so seafood is a huge part of the local diet. Rice is also big.

What places would you recommend visiting in Panama City?

There are great places to go with friends like Casco Viejo, and a beautiful pedestrian road along the shore line with a view of Punta Pacifica called Cinta Costera. There are parks strewn all around the city.

Is it good to eat out in Panama City? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

There are great options to eat out. Restaurants are likely just as they are where you live--they range from a hole in the wall to fancy restaurants. I would recommend the holes in the wall anywhere you find them. The good places have lines of people at around 5, when everyone gets out of work.

Is the nightlife good in Panama City? Where is good to go?

Casco Viejo

What advice would you give future students heading to Panama City?

Learn Spanish now so you can talk to locals and fully participate in this culture! Don't make the mistake I did of pushing it off to later then struggling to talk to really cool people when you get here.