-Where were you born?

In Switzerland.

-In which country and city are you living now?

Republic of Panama, Panama City.

-Are you living alone or with your family?

With my wife.

-How long have you been living in Panama?

Initially 11 years, in the early Eighties. Then I moved to the US. Miami and Manhattan. Two years ago, I moved to Panama.

-What is your age?

Mentally and physically 30, but my passport says 60. Must be a typo.

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Panama?

I guess you could call my Panamanian wife an important factor!

-Was it hard to get a visa or a work permit?

It was not.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

I kept a fantastic Swiss medical insurance until I arrived in Panama. I got a local insurance that covers me worldwide. Very affordable, but I selected the highest possible deductible. I am blessed with perfect health and (because?) I have never taken any prescription medicine (I never asked "my" doctor if Dumbex is right for me) and I stay as far away from doctors as I can. The way I see it, medical insurance is just for extreme emergencies: "I have bad news and good news... Bad news, you've got cancer. Good news, it's good for my bottom line!"

-How do you make your living in Panama? Do you have any type of income generated?

I was a real estate broker in Miami, first with EWM.com then with Prudential Realty and I had a very bad feeling about the market (which dropped 40% after my departure, but that's not related). I did a lot of research, online and word of mouth, to identify the best real estate company in Panama.

My criteria were simple... I had heard too many horror stories about how real estate was conducted in Panama, where a majority of "agents" operate illegally (which would be a felony in Florida, carrying a jail sentence) and I wanted to work for an American style company with a high sense of ethics. I contacted Century 21 and was hired immediately, based on my US broker licenses. I am happy with that choice.

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language? (please add your thoughts on local customs and whether it's important for expats to respect/observe local customs).

I speak Spanish perfectly, albeit with an accent but that doesn't matter. It took me three months to be able to speak, read and write, but I was determined to do it. I speak other languages so it was not too difficult, although I had budgeted one month... I was rather motivated, as my employer (International Committee of the Red Cross) had sent me to Argentina by mistake, although I did not speak a single word of Spanish.

It was a huge mistake, taking into account that I had been very thoroughly vetted and was submitted to extensive examinations for every language I spoke. I guessed someone put an X in the wrong column. It was a bit foolish from my part to accept the assignment which involved interviewing political detainees and reporting on their condition, but it was not MY mistake and I always loved a challenge. As it turned out, no one ever found out my secret, which I shared only with the prisoners of a female facility. They had few opportunities to laugh...

In Panama, you can certainly get by with English only, but it is not as widely spoken as you would think. Do yourself a favor and learn the language. It's good for your aging brain. Panamanians are basically a welcoming people and they have an excellent attitude towards the Gringos, which they somewhat regard as superior beings. Gringo is not a bad name, by the way, and I use it freely. This may not be case in other parts of Latin America.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes? Describe your favorite recreational activities there or those that are available.

One of my sons lives in Miami, and most of my family, including my parents, live in Switzerland, and of course I would want to see more of them. I am however a professional expat, I've lived in lots of places, so home is where I lay my hat. Nice beaches are one hour away, but the truly spectacular ones are on the Atlantic side.

-Do you have other plans for the future? 

I plan to be an active Realtor for the next 25 years. Travel plans are limited to visiting family and friends.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

Right now, Panama is definitely a buyer's market. Apartments cost around $150 to $200 per square foot in the capital, and much less in the "interior" provinces. New apartments currently benefit from a 20 year property tax exemption.

-What is the cost of living in Panama?

Not as cheap as you would think, but less than in Florida for example. If you are retired, you get all kind of discounts, in restaurant meals (good food!), prescription, travel and entertainment. How does a movies ticket for $2.00 sound? That's for an original English soundtrack (Spanish subtitles) for a recent movie in an American style movie place. And if you choose to pay a tad more, they have VIP screening rooms with leather recliners, where your food is served by waiters.

-What do you think about the locals?

Panamanians are great people. Very welcoming. If you consider yourself a VIP and expect the reverence due to your superior status, then stay home. You are not going to get it here. The word here is IGUALADO, meaning that they see you at their level and not as a superior being. I find their familiarity quite refreshing. They need to work a bit on the customer service thing. They will get there...

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Panama?

The positive aspects overshadow the negative. I like to have US Dollars in my wallet (the ONLY local currency) instead of useless banknotes printed on demand. No hurricane season, for one thing. By the way, the Central American country whose economy is the least affected by the world's financial turmoil. Panamanians do not feel compelled to reply to their email messages ASAP. They frequently treat it as snail mail... but that may change, given the current Blackberry invasion. (I am an iPhone guy!).

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Panama?

Come spend a few weeks to test the waters. You may want to rent an apartment at first until you find the neighborhood that best suits you. If you see cheap rentals on the Internet, take into account that leases are for one year. You can find short term but there is less to choose from. If they don't advertise short term, then it's for 12 months and that explains why they won't bother responding to your inquiries.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Panama?

I need to update my own site, but I would recommend the website of my company, as it provides a good snapshot of the current market. By the way, many real estate websites are not reliable at all. One simple reason: many of my colleagues advertise properties they do not represent, just to hook a prospect... (Sorry, that apartment just sold yesterday, but I'll be happy to help you find you another one!).

On occasion, competitors copy and paste the descriptions and the photos from my listings then post them, without changing a comma, on their own sites - at a lower price! (I am not getting upset anymore...). There's another factor: expired listings stay posted for years, because no one bothers to remove them. That might give you a false idea of the market.

So here's Century 21's website: http://www.semusarealty.com/

If you need a reliable Interior Designer, my wife Rita will be happy to answer your questions. She is an ASID allied member: http://www.interiordesignpanama.com/ If you have a question, I'll be happy to help.

Take care, and thank you Lizza and Victor for providing this interesting forum!

-Where were you born?

Chicago, Ilinois, USA

-In which country and city are you living now?

David, Republic of Panama

-Are you living alone or with your family?

With my husband and sometimes my children

-How long have you been living in Panama?

Off and on for five years.

-What is your age?

Ancient.

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Panama?

I've lived overseas most of my adult life so it was natural to go ahead with a country I'd never been to before. Panama is kind of Wild West with lots of opportunity and chances to do things I couldn't do in my home country.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?

No

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

No

-How do you make your living in Panama? Do you have any type of income generated?

I am the marketing consultant for http://www.buyingrealestateinpanama.com . We broker real estate in the interior provinces of Panama. I didn't find a job, I created one.

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language? Please add your thoughts on local customs and whether it's important for expats to respect/observe local customs.

I speak broken Spanish. It would sure help if I was as fluent as I was when I got out of college--passed the test for advanced language. Ha! Of course, you have to observe local customs, but you can vent privately if you don't respect them.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes? Describe your favorite recreational activities there or those that are available.

I always miss my children. For recreation, I am a fishing addict.

-Do you have other plans for the future?

Right now, to grow our business and survive these difficult times. It isn't the greatest atmosphere for real estate right now, but Panama may fare better than other countries.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

There is a lot of variance...depends on where you live and  how you live.  A home in David, Chiriqui Panama can be really cheap to rent (like $350 a month) if you go local or up to $1500 if you go posh.  

-What is the cost of living in Panama?

Pretty low in general. Maybe two thirds of what you would spend in the US and that's living fairly high on the hog.

-What do you think about the locals? 

Locals are very sweet and friendly, but gossip and stretching the truth is a way of life. Gringos are targeted and that's just a fact. If you don't nail it down, it is likely to be stolen. But violent crime is very unusual.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Panama?

Positive: cost of living, unbelievable natural wonder, laid back lifestyle, cheap food and drink. 

Negative: lack of culture (arts in particular), a culture that embraces deceit, damn hot.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Panama?

Visit many times. Do your research. Don't fall for hype or slick-willy cowboys.  Find people like you and who think about the things you think about. If you're retiring, find an older person to talk to. If you're 30 something forget what the old folks say.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Panama?

My real estate website is http://www.buyingrealestateinpanama.com. 

My blog is http://buyingrealestateinpanama.blogspot.com. 

I also read Sam Taliaferro's Panama Investor Blog every day.

-Where were you born?

Prince Edward Island, Eastern Canada

-In which country and city are you living now?

Panama City and Taboga Island, Panama

-Are you living alone or with your family?

I live with my family, in the beginning it was an adjustment for our son, but he loves it here in Panama now.

-How long have you been living in Panama?

We have been here permanently 3.5 years, but purchased our property some 7 years ago.

-What is your age?

50, but I feel younger and younger.

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Panama?

Several years ago we were living in Japan and decided to look for a growing country that seemed prime to invest in, set up a business in and to live in.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?

It took a long time and a lot of red tape and lawyers to organize our visas, but we have them now.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

Panama offers good and economical options for medical insurance in the country.

-How do you make your living in Panama? Do you have any type of income generated?

I built our Bed and Breakfast Inn on Taboga Island: B&B Inn Cerrito Tropical. Cerrito has been operating for the past two years now and also has several vacation apartments for guests looking for cooking facilities and privacy, as well as longer term. I derive my income from our B&B business plus I am now developing several other tourism related businesses. One of my passtimes is my active blog: Destination Panama Blog, which offers stories, insider tips, guides as well as lot of information for expats, residents and visitors to Panama.

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language?

Although many people in Panama speak English, I feel it is very important to learn Spanish, first to show respect and then to be able to handle difficulties/opportunities which arise. I also do feel it is very important to respect the culture of the country where you choose to live. I have lived in a number of different countries and have found that adopting that policy has helped me immensely. My Spanish is not great and I do have to study more, but I have enough to handle almost any situation, have conversations and do business in Spanish. People here are very forgiving, as long as they see that you are trying to communicate in their language.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?

My immediate family is living in Panama with me, but I do miss all my other family and encourage them to visit. Favorite activities include hiking, boating, snorkeling, blogging as well as enjoying life in a Latin American city.

-Do you have other plans for the future?

Yes, I am working on new business plans now for us in Panama.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

We have purchased both a condo and land. A condo with 2-3 bedrooms can run from US$100,000 and up depending on the neighborhood. We bought an older condo and I renovated it completely.

-What is the cost of living in Panama?

Cost of living can be very economical as long as you are not buying American and European products. Then prices are the same or more.

-What do you think about the Panamanians?

I love Panamanians and they have treated us very well. We have some great relationships.

 
-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Panama?

There are not many negative aspects to living in Panama. The only one is that we have had to learn to be aware of our personal security again after many years of living in Japan where there really is not much crime to speak of. It is important to relax and learn to wait, patience really is a virtue here. Learning to see poverty, not just ignore it, and do what we can to help whenever we can.We try to assist the people who have touched our lives here who are less fortunate than ourselves.

Positive aspects are so many for me I have written a number of articles on them. Some people find me too positive but that is part of my personality.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Panama?

If you are interested in living in Panama come and visit for a while to see if you like it, enjoy the climate, the people, and other things the country has to offer. Learn at least some Spanish. Don't expect it to be incredibly cheap, it is not. Do not trust people who befriend you right away, like anywhere there are a lot of scams, people who will try to overcharge you, etc...Get references for everyone you do business with. Come with an open mind, enjoy the people, accept their culture, and try to understand their lives and point of view.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Panama?

• http://www.cerritotropicalpanama.com: Our B&B Inn Cerrito Tropical Taboga website. With additional info, photos, and stories on Panama and Taboga island.

• http://destination-panama-blog.com: My Panama Blog. Information Blog on Panama. A Life & Travel Guide with Tips on Panama for Vacationers, Panamanians, and Expats. Listings for Hotels, Restaurants, Doctors, Tours, Vacation Escapes and more.

-Where were you born?

I was born in Ontario, Canada.

-In which country and city are you living now?

Las Tablas, Panama. A small town on Panama's beautiful Azuero peninsula.

-Are you living alone or with your family?

I moved to Panama alone, but live with my Panamanian boyfriend.

-How long have you been living in Panama?

I have been living in Panama for more than 3 years.

-What is your age?

28

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Panama?

I first came to Panama on vacation with my mother. I immediately fell in love with the country and as soon as I returned to Canada from my vacation, I started looking for jobs in Panama. Two more visits in 2 months and I made the move.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?

In Panama there are a number of visa options for foreigners, but I don't fit in to any of the categories. Work visas are very hard to get, as the government doesn't want to take any jobs away from locals. Many expats living in Panama are "perpetual tourists." You can legally stay in Panama for 3 months, and then hop the border to Costa Rica for 3 days and the clock starts over again.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

Private medical insurance can be purchased through a number of different companies in Panama. It's pretty affordable and easy to get. Prescription medications are way cheaper in Panama than in the US or Canada. Panama has some of the best doctors and dentists in the world. Far more affordable than in North America, yet many of these professionals were trained in the US.

-How do you make your living in Panama? Do you have any type of income generated?

I originally moved to Panama to work in the real estate industry. I did that for a while but didn't really like it. I now run a news and information website about Panama. My background is in journalism so it seemed like a good fit.

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language?

Though English is taught in Panamanian schools, not very many people are fluent in English. It would be quite difficult to live in Panama without at least some knowledge of Spanish. I moved here with basically no Spanish, but I have a pretty good handle on the language now. Panamanians very much appreciate when foreigners at least attempt to speak Spanish.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?

I do miss family and friends back home, but fortunately, the airfare between Panama and Canada is pretty reasonable so I go home as often as I can and people visit me in Panama as well.

One of my favourite activities in Panama is fishing. It's affordable, fun and a great way to enjoy Panama's natural beauty (whales, dolphins, turtles, etc).

-Do you have other plans for the future?

Because Panama lies directly between Central and South America, it's a great place to explore other Latin American destinations. I hope to stay in Panama for a long while (maybe forever) as long as I remain happy here and can make a living.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

My boyfriend and I currently rent a house in a medium-sized town. For a new 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house it's not uncommon to pay about $200/month for rent.

-What is the cost of living in Panama?

The cost of living in Panama is cheaper than in North America and Europe. Some things are more expensive (electronics) but for the most part, it's cheaper to live here than in Canada. In the area of the country that I live, it is cheaper than in Panama City, the capital.

-What do you think about the Panamanians?

Panamanians as a whole are very proud, friendly, loving people. They are much more laid back than North Americans, so it can take a long time to get ANYTHING done. No one is ever in a rush (except for the expats!). If you befriend a Panamanian family, you have friends for life. They are very loyal and treat foreigners well. In Panama it is not uncommon for expats to be victims of petty crime. Expats are viewed as being "rich" by Panamanian standards and small time criminals sometimes take advantage of that.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Panama?

One of the things I love the most about Panama is the people. They love life and always want to have a good time. They want everyone else to be happy as well. Panama has such a wonderful natural beauty and great weather, so it's the perfect location for outdoor activities.

Some of the negatives would be traffic in the capital city, corruption, and the slow pace at which everything gets done.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Panama?

If someone is considering a move to Panama, it's important to visit as many times as you can before making the move. Panama is not for everyone. At the minimum, learn basic Spanish and your life here will be a lot easier. Panamanians have been living their lives the same way for many, many years. Expats cannot change what they don't like about Panama, though many try unsuccessfully. You just have to go with the flow!

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Panama?

The best blog site about Panama would be mine (of course!)

www.panamatravels.com

You can also check out:

www.thepanamareport.com
www.bananamarepublic.com
www.thepanamanews.com

Altoona, PA, but raised all over the NE - Boston, Philadelphia, Northern & Central New Jersey. School in Michigan, then lived in the South Bronx/NY (Yeah!), Milwaukee/WI, Littleton/CO, and ended up, before coming to Panama, in Ventura/CA.

-In which country and city are you living now?

Boquete, Panama high in the Chiriqui mountains.  We have a little coffee farm outside of Boquete up the hill in a little crossroads called Pamira Centro.

-Do you live alone or with your family?

Live with my wife and four dogs: two Dalmatians and a Rottweiler, and Bobbi a street dog adopted by an Indian farm worker who left and went back to the Comarca (kinda like a reservation) leaving Bobbi behind, so we've adopted each other.  Four farm cats also, rescued from Animales Spay Neuter clinic.

-How long have you been living in Panama?

Going on seven years now, and love it! Only wish we had made the move sooner.  Wow!  Time flies when you are having fun, living in Paradise and have "the best job in the world" (lecturing on luxury cruise ships)!

-What is your age?

65, but who counts?  At least not me . . . now 65"ish" is probably more accurate!

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Panama?

For 15 years we owned travel agencies and sent hundreds of passengers through the Canal. I had taken three trips through the Canal, but during the US occupation of the Canal Zone cruise passengers were not allowed ashore for "national security" purposes. After the transfer of the Canal to Panama, cruise passengers were allowed to set foot in Panama, and on the ROTTERDAM I went ashore at Gatun Lake where I met the Embera. After 5 hours of drinking free beer, courtesy of the ship, and talking - me not knowing Spanish and Erito not knowing English - we became friends and I promised to visit his village in Panama. When I went back to California and started searching the Embera on line I accidentally discovered all the benefits of living in Panama, and we added Panama to the short list we were "country shopping" for retirement . . . and here we are!!

The MBA in me forced me to do lots of quantitative analysis of the places where we were considering retiring (Short list: US Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, Panama or just staying in Ventura) and Panama came out on top.  The how of all we did it is in my book ESCAPE TO PARADISE.  [BTW the reason why I wrote the book is that on the ship people were always asking, "How did you decide to move to Panama?" or "Why Panama?" - so I wrote it all down.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?

I'm retired so it was fairly easy to get a permanent "Pensionado" visa. I can't work in Panama, but hey, I'm retired. My avocation is lecturing on cruise ships, which I do at various times, 6-7 months out of the year.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

If you're in your 60s most medical insurance schemes won't cover pre-existing conditions, and given the low cost of good medical care in Panama (compared to the US!) it just works better for us to self insure. One of the local hospitals has what they call insurance, but it is really a discount plan that we have, but our primary coverage is self insurance.  After two years they do cover pre-existing conditions.  I have Medicare which I can use if I go back to the States for treatment.

-How do you make your living in Panama? Do you have any type of income generated?

I'm retired. Only Panamanians can be employed in Panama without getting a special work visa. Companies are limited in the number of work visas they can obtain for non-Panamanians. That being said, it is very easy to open your own business, and there are lots of incentives for doing so, especially if you are going to hire people to help, even if it's just a maid and a gardener.  And if you do snag a job, as I have with the cruise lines, Panama doesn't take you on income earned outside of Panama, and the US allows you to exempt $91,500 per person of foreign earned income provided your permanent residence is outside the US and you aren't in the US (including US waters and airspace) for more than 30 calendar days a year.  [Which is why I can't work Alaska cruises!]

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language?

I speak some Spanish and am learning more. As many people speak English in Boquete as do in Southern California, and a whole lot more than in Miami! (Nobody speaks English in Miami!) This is their country and I am a guest so I will learn their language. How it works out in practice is that once you start stumbling with your minimal Spanish and making a fool out of yourself, it turns out the other person knows some English, and soon you are both laughing, having a good time and most importantly . . . communicating.

Panama may be the only country in the world that still likes the US and sometimes seems to ape everything US/American. I cringe when I see a Pizza Hut opening in David (although I'm famished for anything like US pizza!), but Panamanians love anything US/American. So part of the respect for local customs is to realize that the locals want US/American stuff.

The long, if at times confused and violent (the violence being the US invasion of Panama) history between the US and Panama, means that there has been a lot of cultural cross-over and adaptation. Many Panamanians have dual citizenship because one of their parents worked in the Canal Zone and was US.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?

In Ventura our home looked out over the Pacific: I miss waking up and seeing the ocean every morning. I miss our great neighbors and a few dear friends, although since we were busy working in California we really didn't have a lot of time for friends - something I now realize. My kids live in Seattle and San Francisco and are both teachers, so usually love to visit us in the US summer months. We're not that far away.

I dearly miss Home Depot!!!!! My wife misses Bed, Bath & Beyond. Believe it or not we both miss big box stores like Costco. (Our local Price Smart pales in comparison!)  In the seven years we have been here we have seen major changes.  We now have two hardware stores [Novey and Do It Center] in David [40 minutes away] as well as two big department stores and two big appliance/computer stores. 

I don't miss the traffic, the hassle, the high cost of living, the injustice or the police-state type atmosphere of the US.

There's lots to do and lots of touristy things like incredible white water rafting, birding, hiking, canopy tree trekking . . . We do a lot of getting together with friends for dinner, sometimes quite spontaneous events . . . walking, reading, being walked by three dogs! I enjoy blogging and getting ready for cruise lectures . . . and I'm gone  6 or 7 ymonths of the year. I've finished the two books mentioned above and am working on a third about the Panama Railroad.  We have a small coffee finca. Growing coffee is fun and a lot of work and has opened a whole new adventure for us. You can see info about our coffee on my http://richarddetrich.wordpress.com blog.

-Do you have other plans for the future?

We had a piece of property down by the beach which I was planning on developing and another commercial piece in town, but I'm tired of building.  Cruising half the year makes me just want to take time to enjoy Boquete and farm life when I'm home, so we're selling those pieces of land.  Your future needs to evolve!

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

I sold real estate in Southern California. When I bought our first home in a beautiful gated development [Valle Escondido].   I had just sold a new 1,200-sq-ft manufactured home in a nice senior mobile home park in Ventura, California. For the same price (!!) I bought a 3,000 sq-ft-home overlooking the 9^th hole of the golf course in Valle Escondido! We're selling that home now for $365,000 - in case anyone is interested! Prices in Boquete soared for a while, but when the worldwide financial crunch came on demand lessened and prices have moderated.  We designed our present house ourselves and built it.  I would not recommend building, and I explain all that in the book.  There was a time when there wasn't a stock of resale housing available: now there is, and in price ranges from $80,000 to $3 million.  Even if a place isn't exactly what you want, it's easier to remodel than to build.

-What is the cost of living in Panama?

Panama uses the US dollar, so as the dollar has been devalued and things cost more in the US, they also cost more here.  We import a lot, so as the cost of oil has gone up, so have prices in Panama.  But since the cost of living has gone up in BOTH the US and Panama, it works out that our cost of living is about 35% of what it was or would be now in Southern California and we live a much better lifestyle in Panama. . A beer that used to cost 35-50 cents in a local bar, now costs 85cents. But rice and gas and anything imported has gone up. Cement that costs $1.50 a bag is now $7.50 a bag and that's due to the devaluation of the US Dollar and increased demand, largely from China. The double ice cream cone that used to be 25 cents is now 35 cents.

-What do you think about the Panamanians?

Panamanians are warm, wonderful, gracious and patient people. They are non-confrontational which has required me to mellow in my sometimes strident US-style of doing business. There are honest and dishonest locals, just like anywhere in the world. Most are genuinely friendly: a few see "gringos" solely as cash cows.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Panama?

In terms of living in Boquete (rural, mountainous, not at all the big-city style of Panama City):

POSITIVE - Beautiful, peaceful ("tranquil'), clean air and water, healthy locally grown food, small town, growing community of ex-pats from all over the world, culturally diverse, still "affordable", wonderful Spring-like weather year-round.

NEGATIVE - Adapting to "Panamanian time", doing business with any Panamanian business ("The customer is the enemy") is a challenge if you are used to US-style culture of customer service, having to drive 40 minutes to David for lots of things, Panamanians do not have in general a strong US-style work ethic, no Home Depot or Costco, limited cuisine (Panama cuisine is chicken, rice, beans, bananas and for variety beans, rice, chicken, bananas!)

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Panama?

Stay home.

Seriously, if you are thinking of relocating to Panama, or anyplace else in the world, spend 6 months renting a place, living there, and checking it out before you make the leap. Be sure that you are the kind of person who finds cultures and values that are different than your own to be stimulating. If you like Miami (or Los Angeles, or Podunkville) then stay there: don't come to Panama and try and make it like Miami.

I've written an ebook, ESCAPE TO PARADISE, about this very thing. I tell a little about how we made our decision, and talk about things you should consider if you ever have a wild idea about relocating to Panama or anyplace else.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Panama?

Richard Detrich's Boquete, Panama Weblog - http://richarddetrich.wordpress.com

About our lives in Panama including some stuff about cruising the world. Check it out!

I sat down with New Jersey native Matt Landau, a 24-year-old entrepreneur who claims that becoming an industry expert is far easier than it sounds. With experience beyond his years, Landau believes that becoming the authority on a subject is less about personal talent, and more about meticulous planning: a strategy that has landed him President and CEO of Oropendula Outsourcing Inc. and its subsidiary The Panama Report, one of the nation's top travel and investment resources.

The International Entrepreneur Magazine: Matt, to give our readers an idea, can you briefly give us your educational background?

Matt Landau: Well, I grew up in Princeton, New Jersey and graduated from Princeton High School with a 3.2 GPA. I then attended the University of Richmond in Virginia where I studied, among other things, cheap alcohol and the phenomenon of young adults thinking they know more than they actually do. I graduated with a major in International Economics and a minor in Spanish. 3.1 GPA.

TIEM: So, what was it about the USA that made you so quickly fly the coop?

ML: The rat race wasn’t something I was very interested in. I don’t like rats. Or races. Through various internships and jobs over the years, I realized that working nine to five and climbing the corporate ladder were things that just kinda made me depressed. The amount of quality talent in the US is staggering and when it came to going up against that work force, I realized my odds at success were probably greater somewhere else. Central America happened to offer a terrific climate, friendly people, and good infrastructure for doing business.

TIEM: So in just a few short years since your graduation, you are now the expert on Panama. How did you come to know everything about travel and investment in that short time?

ML: You see, I think that’s a misconception. To be an expert, you don’t necessarily have to know everything about the subject. You simply have to know more than most people.

TIEM: What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs looking to maybe break out of their shell and start a business on their own? What’s a good first step?

ML: Well, my advice would be to work really hard in order to identify a problem; to identify a gap in a market where something (whether it’s a product or a service) is missing. That is to say, find a niche that’s not yet been tapped. Sometimes, this niche exists just one industry over. Sometimes it’s one state over. For me, that niche was a lack of good written information on travel and investment in Panama. There was simply no quality resource for people looking to vacation or buy real estate. You need to use a little intuition here: obviously, there may be a lack of good trampolines for goldfish, but once you’ve determined there could be a demand, you’ve made headway.

TIEM: Once establishing that first step of identifying a problem, how did you so seemingly effortlessly leverage your way to the top?

ML: It certainly wasn’t effortless. After identifying my problem, I had to devise a solution to that problem and accordingly, find a vehicle to market my solution to those who needed it. This part takes some creativity, but I decided that my vehicle would be a simple website. I figured I’d create a website dedicated to quality information on Panama without any sales pitches or annoying hype. The last piece of the puzzle was the most laborious. I traveled the country inside and out, did a ton of research, and wrote a few hundred articles I thought readers would find useful. It was difficult compiling all this information, but most things worthwhile always are. Granted, I wasn’t reinventing the wheel: this sort of thing is done in all travel destinations, it just hadn’t happened in Panama yet.

TIEM: In consulting, do your clients ever discredit you because of your age?
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ML: You know what, that has never ever happened and I actually thought it would. But it turns out, when you put yourself in an authority position, meaning you have information other people want, age is completely out of the equation. My clients range from 25-78 years old and their average investment is somewhere around half a million dollars. I’ve realized that smart consumers don’t care about personal details, such as age, if they can acquire a useful product. I think I’ve proven myself in enough regards to have age permanently out of the equation. Maybe until I’m 90, drooling and saying things that don’t make sense. But that’s another story.

TIEM: How do you distinguish between work and pleasure? When did you know to draw the line and say, you know what, I’m going on vacation?

ML: I think having abandoned that work-all-your-life-until-you-retire mentality, I managed to spend most of my time doing things I really enjoy, so it really didn’t seem like work at all. I think this is essential to be a good entrepreneur; figuring out how to make your time and responsibilities flexible and mobile enough, so that “work” is only a compliment to an enjoyable lifestyle. At times I would say the line between work and pleasure was very much blurred. With regards to The Panama Report, everything was so new that there was a level of excitement which drove the entire project and I’m someone that loves new and exciting challenges. I suppose this is the kind of excitement and satisfaction people yearn for in retirement.

TIEM: Now that you’ve built your website, what’s next on your plate?

ML: Well, I just recently took over a small boutique hotel in the Panama City’s historic district. It’ll be a labor of love, something new and interesting and something I’m passionate about. Again, it was the same concept of identifying a problem, devising a solution, and figuring out a way to deliver that solution to consumers. The problem was that there were no places to stay in Casco Antiguo, perhaps the most beautiful neighborhood in all of Panama. The solution was to offer a small bed and breakfast-like service. And the vehicle was, of course, a website. I’m no Hilton, but I think we offer a pretty neat product.

TIEM: Thanks for your time Matt. Is there anything you’d say, in parting, to entrepreneurs out there and feel like doing something similar?

ML: I’d say find something you’re passionate about, and learn as much as you can about that topic. By becoming an ‘expert’, doors will open and the money will come. Be creative. It’s far more powerful than knowledge.

Kara Winters is an editor for The International Entrepreneur Magazine (http://www.internationalentrepreneurship.com). In her spare time, Kara enjoys skiing and spending time with her family.