How to adapt to the expat challenges of everyday life in Panama

Cheryl Moderator

Member since 15 October 2018

CherylModerator19 February 2025 04:39:51

14088

Hello everyone,

Adapting to everyday life as an expat in Panama can be both exciting and overwhelming: different habits, systems, and sometimes even unexpected surprises! Simple things like paying bills, using public transport, or even greeting neighbors might work differently than what you're used to.

We would like to invite you to share the biggest challenges you face in your daily routine. Here are a few questions to start with:

What aspects of daily life were the most challenging for you at first?

How did you overcome these difficulties?

Did you find any local habits or customs particularly surprising?

What has helped you in feeling more at ease in your new environment?

Any funny or unexpected experiences you would like to share?

Share your experiences, anecdotes and tips to help fellow expats.

Thank you for your contribution.

Cheryl
海角乱伦 Team

robertbrucegillies Member

Member since 30 August 2018

robertbrucegilliesMember17 June 2025 03:57:16

It is important to give yourself time in a new place. The more time that passes the more familiar everything seems to be. After a number of years things that bothered you before now become the normal way of life. You become comfortable with the way things are. This is true even if you move to a new place in the same country but perhaps in a different state. We tend to be bothered more by annoyances that are unfamiliar while we ignore ones that we are accustomed to or just take them for granted. I have been in Panama for a long time now so something that might bother a newcomer I hardly even notice. People who have lived for many years in one place have a harder time to adjust while people who have moved around a bit have less of a problem.

manper Active member

Member since 21 September 2014

manperActive member17 June 2025 07:48:27

My advise after living in Panama as expat managing one of the most important companies over there; don鈥檛 go to Panama, it is unsafe, expensive, government authorities are corrupt and health system is very poor鈥� local people in impolite and xenophobic! as locals use to say; 鈥淧anama for Panamanians!鈥�