Panama Analysis

-Lots of banks and use of western union
-Arrogance in the air
-Good looking men and women, but arrogant
-Light yellow cabs
-Super Hot weather
-Value money
-Discriminatory against women and backpackers

It came to my attention in Panama that people have some serious attitudes. Perhaps they were carried over from San Jose where people had a particular dislike for Americans. In Panama, there is a general disregard for the woman, which creates competition.


The woman always has something to prove, especially in the work place. I saw this with a female cop, a male cop, and a tourist.  The tourist crossed the street illegally and it was a 20 minutes lecture from the female cop making ridiculous points clearly just to impress the male. I sat at the bus stop observing both of them.  The male cop was calm and the female cop demonstrated complete authority just to prove herself as a female. When speaking to locals, this was how the culture functioned. It was normal for the man to receive praise for nothing and the woman trying to catch up.  We are almost in 2015 and this is still present in a culture that people say is almost "American."


If the culture is so similar to "America" reminding me of Miami, then wouldn't there be kindness and appreciation? Of course when you are in hostel, there are people from all cultures and the staff have to be respectful. When you are out in the street, it feels like people hear you're from America and you get this, "Oh."


All the history with Panama Canal, there has been a semi positive relationship according to other Americans. This feeling of love and appreciation was just not floating through the air.  I felt animosity and some strange energy.  Some locals told me that this was not the case and some told me it was the case.


When I spoke with a woman in the grocery store while sitting in a one hour line. As I said, when these people shop, they shop like they're shopping for an army.


Anyways, while standing there I said under my breath, "This would never happen in America." Two checkout girls for a line through the store. The reality is that this could happen in America and I was just being an American snob.  This local lady said to me, " What is America like?" I've never been there, but I'm sure it's very different.  This honesty and kindness from a local made me feel horrible. We had a nice conversation and I asked her about this animosity and she said, "Oh yes" followed by a firm head nod. I wanted to explore this further with her to learn,  but she started talking about wanting to shop til she drops in the US.  This was a nice moment and Panama scored a point. Don't get me wrong because Panama scored many points with wonderful people from the church, hostel, Hard Rock, taxi drivers here and there, and good people around Panama.


It definitely was a mix between the good and the bad, which is the reality of culture. 
If I could end on this note, Panama keep dressing nice, keep taking care of your bodies, keep shopping and help the economy, be proud of your coffee/Boquete, and the Panama Canal. For those who are not fond of Americans or just don't like them, the attitude should be adjusted and also the respect should be better. 


Thanks.


              - From an American-
 

Electronic Overload

Just yesterday in the local cafe, I saw an American guy about 24 and he was sitting with his Mac Book, his Ipad, Iphone, and an professional Canon camera. I sat and looked at him and shook my head thinking, "Really?  We are in a developing country and you have thousands of dollars of electronics sitting in front of you. It is just mind boggling to me to think that people have little awareness into their physical location and how they impact others.  Of course, these are his personal items that he is allowed to carry, but he is in a local cafe in Guatemala not in a 5 star hotel in Switzerland. 

One has to access their environment before exposing all these electronics to the world.  In posh cities like New York, Miami, LA-flashing all these electronics looks cool, but in a developing country you are just making local's mouths drool. They would love to have all those electronics and they may just have one or two of those items.   Although, if they do it took them time to save up and buy them.  People with Iphones have to work for them and they hold such high value to their phone because if it ever disappears , they are back to their $20 Samsung.  

Many times, I observe the expression of people who are staring intently at an electronic.  When I see this face, it just confirms my theory and at the same time it makes me feel bad.  Many believe that having this electronic will take them to a different status, but in reality it just depreciates ones real value.  A person is just fine with their interpersonal interaction and they do not need this item to boost their self worth.  It is a false belief and that is what makes it the most sad is those who believe it will change them or make them a better person.  It's just a materialistic thing and it serves a purpose. There are so man amazing electronics for travel, but when do we decide enough is enough?

As for myself, on my last trip, I had a cheap camera, mini laptop, and an Ipod shuffle.  This trip, I have a mini laptop, an Iphone, and a cheap camera.  It was something I debated frequently before leaving whether I should bring an expensive camera or a nice video camera.  I received a nice gift of a brand new professional Canon, but I just couldn't take it because the thought of it being damaged, but mainly it would be an "electronic overload." To bring a cheap camera, a good camera, an Iphone, and a computer. There is not a true necessity for each one of these items and in reality just one would suffice for the whole trip.  While one of the main purposes of this trip was to record my travels and interactions with people, it clearly became less important with this trip. The blessed interaction is present and that cannot be denied.  The video camera would assist at confirming this connection and skill, but it's saved  for another trip.  

As far as this traveling generation, it just seems like a big "electronic overload" to me.  With the kindles, the Iphones, the Ipads, the cameras, the underwater cameras, the action recorders, and the computers. It's just too much technology for an average human being to have to take in.  How can a local person even comprehend having all this when they have to work 2 jobs just to support their family?  While these electronics are advertised and becoming popular in developing countries, we are communicating to people that they are important to have when health, education, proper nutrition, and good interpersonal relationships are more important.  They are not important rather the human being is important. One  may think, "Well that is easy for you to say when you have an  Iphone and a computer." The ability to detach from these materialistic items is what is truly important for growth. 

 For me, it's not about the electronic rather it's about the interaction.  Of course not everyone is an extrovert and wants to go sit and talk to locals all day, but putting in more effort with locals and less effort into technology can make a difference.   That tourist sitting  with their 5 electronics should be out having a real conversation with a local.  Many tourists sit all day with their electronics without spending one minute with a local.  It's the nature of tourism and electronic obsession does not help the matter.  

Get out of the Apple world and into people world!