AFSers Talk about Panama | AFS USA - Student Exchange Program

At the end of their AFS exchange in Panama, we asked some recent AFSers from the USA about their experience abroad.

About Culture

Family is very important in Panama. No one gets tired of being around each other all day. Privacy and personal space aren’t acknowledged as much where as here in the US we embrace them. (Hannah, Summer Program, 2008)
Dancing!!! you must learn how to dance and learn to enjoy it! if you don’t dance you will really isolate yourself from …most everything! Dancing is a must. Get lessons and learn to get comfortable with it. Don’t be embarrassed- or it will basically ruin your experience. (Johanna, Year Program, 2007)
Always share!!!! With your friends and especially with your family. It might be irritating at first but when in Rome… (Johanna, Year Program, 2007)

Language was definitely the hardest part in the beginning. Fortunately, my family understood the barrier, and took their time to explain things to me. It was frustrating when people outside of my family would talk to me really fast and ignored the fact that my Spanish wasn’t perfect. After two weeks though, I caught on. The strangest aspect of Panamanian culture was the whistling and hissing. Guys would often whistle at the girls in the group and call out “Gringa!” (their word for North American female). Even to get someone’s attention, Panamanians would hiss at each other. (Angelica, Summer Program, 2008)
Don’t go without knowing anything of grammar and the language – otherwise your whole year you will have the big obstacle and barrier of communication. The more you know, the less you have to focus on the language barrier and can get to know the people and culture better. It will also prevent a lot of misunderstandings. (Johanna, Year Program, 2007)

Try all the food and don’t get sick of it because you’ll miss it when you get home. It’s best to at least try something, even if it looks gross or scary, because those are the memories that will stay with you longest. (Jared, Summer Program, 2008)

They focus on appearance – ironing your school uniform, really focusing on looking very good almost always. At first i saw it as shallow and pointless work. But it builds character and the people will think of you as a slob and think badly of your mother when you don’t follow those cultural things. So keep your appearance pretty and neat. Always keep your school uniform perfect and ironed. You will be better accepted and have more friends and a much easier nicer experience if you do!!!! (Johanna, Year Program, 2007)
Don’t say anything that you don’t mean, even if it is a joke because people will always take it as the truth. Always. Don’t EVER EVER say anything negative that you wouldn’t want to tell that person themselves. It’s a small community and whatever you do or say (from coming to school late, ditching class, saying your neighbor is creepy or that your sister is kind of annoying…) anything and everything will be made known to the whole town by the end of the night. Everybody talks – especially about the new kid in town. So watch everything you say and do. At times it gets stressful like a famous person and paparazzi because of the cultural difference in privacy. (Johanna, Year Program, 2007)