Panama Facts
Capital: Panama City
Government Type: Constitutional democracy
Currency: PAB; USD
Population: 3,559,408
Total Area: 29,120 Square Miles
75,420 Square Kilometers
Location: Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica
Language: Spanish (official), English 14%
Languages
Spanish (official), English 14%. Spanish is the official language although many Panamanians in business and the professions speak English.
The Panamanian People
While speaking Panamanians often stop to give the listener a change to agree or disagree with what they are saying. Panamanians are polite people with considerate greeting and formalities in their everyday life. A business person always makes small talk with a colleague or client before discussing business. Panamanians are offended if anyone initiates a business conversation before spending time to learn about the other party on a personal level. Panamanians of either sex may greet each other by shaking hands. Women friends typically kiss each other on one cheek when greeting and departing. Men and women sometimes kiss each other on the cheek. Two men always shake hands. Panamanians are very gracious and polite. They frequently say Please (por favor), thank you (gracas) and your welcome (de nada). Before joining a group of people who are eating or conversing a newcomer will ask permission to join the group by saying con permisoâ(kohn-pair-MEE-soh) the group responds by saying andele (AHN-day-lay) which means "go ahead". One of the major taboos is a discussion of personal possessions. Another conversation they do not like is the discussion of the building of the canal and the U.S. intervention. Generally the do not like to discuss local politics and race in a social setting. The favorite topics of conversation are family, common friends, hobbies, interests and sports. Shaking hands when meeting someone shows good manners, and can be done in two ways. Either the American Handshake or palm to palm with the thumb facing toward the person. When Panamanians want another person to approach them they will raise one of their hands with their palm facing the other person. Panamanians have two surnames after their first name. The first is the fathers name the second is the mothers. If a child is named Jaunita and the father name is Chaves and the mother is Sanchetz the child would be Junita Chaves Sanchetz.
Where to find more out about Panama
Critica, En Linea Newspaper
El Panama America Newspaper
Online Newspapers
Photos of Panama
