For Matt, Panama is surely paradise on earth. Living in Panama City has enabled this American expatriate not only to learn about the intricacies of a different culture, but to indulge his extraordinary passion for legumes as well! Read on for Matt's observations on things like the cost of living, the Panamanians, the importance of learning the language, and his hope of sharing his knowledge with the locals.

Matt Landau

-Where were you born?
Princeton, New Jersey, USA

-In which country and city are you living now?
Panama City, Panama, Central America

-Are you living alone or with your family?
Alone (but with a collection of various legumes which is almost like living with someone else).

-How long have you been living in Panama?
2 years

-What is your age?
24

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Panama?
The idea came to me on my college futon, senior year. I was flipping through the pages of a popular travel magazine when an employer called to tell me I had been accepted by the marketing agency I had interviewed with just a week before. When I realized my reason for working for the company was because they were notorious for throwing x-mas parties, I decided to re-evaluate my options. I figured out that climbing that proverbial “corporate ladder” was not something I dreamed of. In fact, I had fallen off a ladder just days earlier and gotten a huge bruise on my hip…so I decided to use that valuable time just after college and explore.

I traveled a bit and eventually followed an older friend down to Central America where I gained a lot of valuable advice: among it work ethic, business values, and how to skin a guanabana.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
Yes, it took me about a year.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
I used (and still do) a large provider from the States, which covered me abroad. In Panama though, health care is very economical and impressive.

-How do you make your living in Panama? Do you have any type of income generated?
I did my best at building contacts. In the end, it was my same friend who pointed me in the right direction, who helped me get set up. But I find myself here today, able to do almost anything because of the people I’ve met and the contacts I’ve made. I don’t earn a whole lot just yet, but the tradeoff to me--living in paradise instead of a big US city where I’d probably blow my paycheck on a $500 bottle of Smirnoff--is well worth it.

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
Yes. Part of the integration factor here is really immersing yourself. You won’t gain the respect of locals if you don’t. My first priority to learn the language and the culture of Panama just sort of came to me: it’s infectious. I find that the expats who don’t observe local customs are the least successful and the most embarrassing.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
Yes, I miss home every now and then. But luckily, here in Panama, I can always go grab a donut at Dunkins, or catch an English movie at a 4-star cinema. I can drive my car, listen to my music, and talk to my friends every day. I like to explore beaches and write about various legumes. The chickpea or garbanzo being a favorite topic. I also enjoy eating at restaurants (legumes if at all possible) and doing child triathlons where at least I’ll have a chance at finishing in the first half. I like bird watching, determining whether a snakebite is poisonous, and elaborate handshakes. Panama is so close to Miami that there’s not much excuse not to visit home or bring down friends regularly.

-Do you have other plans for the future?
I would love to explore Central America more. I have done Europe extensively and loved it. But I find the rustic back roads of Central and South America to be extraordinarily intoxicating. I enjoy being the only gringo in the joint and plan on creating Panama’s first reliable Real Estate Report. Other plans include eventually trying to complete my larger-than-life-size sculpture of a peanut legume which has been stalled due to some construction restrictions in Panama. You can’t win ‘em all right?

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
I still rent an apartment in Panama City and it costs me $250/month. It’s very large and in charge. There are places to live as cheap as $100/month and as much as you would imagine in the USA.

-What is the cost of living in Panama?
The cost of living in Panama is very cheap. Lunch traditionally costs $2-$3. Beers can be as little as $0.50 and a packet of cashews only a quarter. It can get expensive however, if you have large collections like me and you need storage facilities.

-What do you think about the locals?
The locals are great here and they treat me extremely well. (I think, in part, it’s because I give them free lentils.) Because the USA has had a presence in Panama for so long, and the nation’s culture is based so heavily on foreigners, I think acclimating here as an expat was very easy. Even in remote spots, where I’m the only foreigner around, people seem to be friendly and receptive. I try to be respectful of every aspect of the culture, while additionally trying to share with them what I know.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Panama?
Positives: low cost of living, amazing climate, stunning natural resources, good banking, great soil for growing legumes, proximity to the USA, plenty of opportunities for expats, and women.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Panama?
I would say do it as soon as you can. Over the next years, Panama will evolve and the country that exists today will not be the same in the near future. It is now very much the Wild Wild West. That’s what I love about it so much. Hell, they don’t even make me check my home-grown barley when I go through customs!

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Panama?
I enjoy several sites in Panama:
The Panama Report.com: blog-style info site
Panama Travels.com: any and every type of Panama business under the sun
Pronto Panama: Panama classified site
Panama Virtual Tours: Panama pictures and virtual tours
New World Real Estate: reputable Panama real estate company