About Panamajama
I moved to Panama from Scotland with my husband and three children in the first half of 2010. An opportunity came up for us to move here, so how could we say no?
While we were in Scotland preparing to move out here, my daughter started calling her pyjamas ‘Panamajamas’ – so that is where I got the name for my blog!
I am studying to be a full-time French to English translator, and am a volunteer translator for the website globalvoicesonline.org
Love to read about anything Panama & just today discovered your blog. I am looking forward to your thoughts on your new home. Husband and I made a trip to Panama last year to check it out – very exciting and amazing scenery. Looking forward to more posts.
June 19, 2010 at 3:18 pm
Hi Paula! Thanks for the positive feedback! Panama is the most amazing place I have ever been to and first impressions are that it is a fantastic place to live as well. Are you planning on moving out here yourselves?
June 19, 2010 at 3:28 pm
Hey there. I was surfing through linkreferral and found your blog. And while I am never impressed with stuff I find from Linkreferral, I particularly liked this blog. Especially the article about the tail whip scorpion. If you’re in for a particularly awesome scene, there is a Man Vs. Wild where he eats one of those things! Yeah, he was exploring a cave somewhere in South America and came across one of those beastly looking creatures. And of course he ate it. You may know of Bear Grylls from Man Vs. Wild on the discovery channel. If not, I recommend you look out for a video of him on Youtube. I believe you would particularly like him. Anyway, I enjoy your blog and thought I would mention the story about the Tail Whip Spider.
June 30, 2010 at 1:25 pm
You are missed
July 5, 2010 at 3:22 am
Hi,
I’m enjoying your blog. My husband and I moved from America to London almost four years ago and have since had a baby (18 months) and another one on the way due in November. Deciding to move to London from America was easy, but now we have the opportunity to move from London to Panama through my husband’s job and I would love to hear more about how you are enjoying it as an ex-pat wife with children. Have you met lots of other ex-pats and do you feel like there is a pretty supportive ex-pat community there? Do you speak Spanish (we don’t, but will take lessons and try to learn as much as we can)? I grew up in Louisiana, where there are enormous cockroaches, but I have to admit that getting used to giant bugs again after living in London will be an adjustment!
July 6, 2010 at 3:36 pm
Also, my husband works really long hours so I will be doing a lot of stuff on my own with the kids when we move. In London I have a great network of other moms with babies and I’m wondering how hard it has been for you in Panama to meet other moms with kids. Thanks!
July 6, 2010 at 3:38 pm
hi, we are looking at moving to panama, and are coming to check it out for Christmas. Would love any helpful tidbits.
smiles, L
July 7, 2010 at 12:40 pm
Hello,
I’m a casting assistant on an American TV show called “House Hunters International.” We are currently casting episodes of our program in Panama and would like you to participate in our show!
Our show follows house hunters through their search for a home in countries around the world. Participating in our show is a lot of fun and a great way to document your exciting search for a home and new life abroad. In addition, you will receive compensation for your time and efforts. Contributors should be fluent in English, between the ages of 25-50, with fun and energetic personalities.
If you are interested in participating with our show or learning more, please contact househunterscasting@leopardfilms.com. Have a wonderful day!
July 19, 2010 at 11:55 am
Hello….just came across your blog and I’m looking forward to hearing your stories and your perspective on living in Panama. I moved to Panama about a year and a half ago from Southern California. I’m currently living in a town about 40 miles outside Panama City called La Chorrera. I am absolutely loving Panama more and more everyday, and I know you will too! Are you living in Panama City?
August 1, 2010 at 12:38 am
Hi Barbara, glad you´re enjoying living here in Panama too! I haven´t been to La Chorrera yet, still getting to know Panama City and surrounds. We are just outside Panama City in the ex-American area of Clayton – a nice mixture of schools, play areas, new houses, apartments and jungle!
August 6, 2010 at 10:04 am
Hey there –
Welcome to Panama! I’m sure life here is so different from what you were accustomed to in Scotland. My friends and I moved to Panama City/Bocas del Toro six years ago – it was quite the transition. Anyways, we just launched a new business here in Panama (www.ofertasimple.com) which allows one to discover the best things to eat, see, and do in Panama City at discounts of over 50%. Hopefully it’ll open up your eyes to some new experiences! I’d love any feedback you have to offer on the site (we literally just put the first deal up today and would love any thoughts) Thanks and keep up the awesome postings!
August 13, 2010 at 12:48 pm
Hi David, thanks for the nice words about my blog. It’s funny, but I had just signed up to your website through facebook! It was about time somebody did this for Panama City, great work. I’ll keep visiting your site and hopefully get some tips on child friendly restaurants/days out etc..
August 18, 2010 at 8:09 am
Hi, Thanks for reviewing our Silver People Chronicles blog. I just noticed your review and had to pay Panamajama a visit. You have the right idea and, apparently, the enthusiasm needed to make the transition to life in Panama.
Good luck to you!
September 19, 2010 at 3:37 am
Thank you so much for these kind words Lydia. It is easy to be enthusiastic about living in Panama if you are a wildlife-lover!
September 20, 2010 at 7:59 am
Hi Jane
Just found you….good to see and read more about life in Panama!
lynn xx
September 21, 2010 at 4:05 am
Hi Lynn
Welcome – hope you find my blog interesting!
xx
September 21, 2010 at 9:42 am
Hi, I found your blog while doing a search on life in Panama. I’ve been offered a job in Panama and was trying to find some info on the country (other than the canals). Your posts are great and the pics are even better.
September 25, 2010 at 2:02 pm
Wow Mommie406, thanks a lot for the compliment!
Do you think you’ll take the job? Panama is a fantastic place to live….but then I’m biased.
September 25, 2010 at 5:18 pm
Hi Jane,
amira_abozeid@yahoo.com).
This is the first time I visit your blog. I like it a lot and love the idea of expats sharing their experience with others.
I am a freelance writer based in the UK. I am currently writing an article on expat British mums and the challenges of raising children in a foreign country as well as the experience of having kids growing up among different cultures.
I will interview British mums in various countries and I would like to add your views as well.If you are interested and will be happy to be photographed or supply your own picture if requested, please send me an e-mail
P.S:It will be an e-mail interview.
Hope to hear from you.
December 7, 2010 at 6:25 pm
Thanks Amira, glad you like my site. I would be delighted to participate. I’ll email you soon. xx
December 10, 2010 at 5:14 pm
I also live in Panama (Boquete) and I love your site… it personalizes Panama adventures, and I’ve added a link to it on my new, still-evolving http://www.living-overseas.com site. I hope you won’t mind if I post some of your stories.
December 10, 2010 at 5:07 pm
That’s a lovely compliment for my site Fran, thanks so much. I have no problem with you posting links to some of my posts, as long as it is clear they came from the Panamajama site.
January 10, 2011 at 5:37 pm
Hola!
I love your blog! I’m a Panamanian living abroad and enjoyed seeing my country from your eyes and camera. I used to work near Pedro Miguel locks, and would see numerous ships pass by. Your blog brought back so many memories.
Thank you!
January 21, 2011 at 9:31 pm
Hola Analida!
I’m so pleased to hear you like my blog so much. It really means a lot coming from a Panamanian. As you can tell I love your country a lot!
I often drive up to Pedro Miguel – it’s a great place to watch the ships up really close. We live pretty near Miraflores.
Lots of love xx
January 21, 2011 at 9:47 pm
Hello,
I am a writer & moderator for BlogExpat and truly enjoy your blog. We are actually starting a new project where we will feature expat interviews and I was hoping you would be interested. It would entail a brief questionnaire with a personal introduction, questions about being an expat, and a picture.
If you are interested, please let me know and I will send the questionnaire. We are excited about the launch of this series and hope you can be a part of it! In any case, keep up the great work.
Cheers,
Erin Porter
March 21, 2011 at 8:07 am
Hi Erin,
So glad to hear you enjoy my blog! I would be delighted to take part in your new project.
Best Wishes x
March 21, 2011 at 8:13 am
Love your photos, and this is a beautiful blog. I spent three years in Panama Canal Zone. Got to see some other places, but not many. I found Panama to be a beautiful place. My favorite, all the beautiful tropical plants. It was truly a period and time of my life, I hold dear to my heart. Another favorite, was the weather-no cold-snow-ice !! I loved the all around year of sunshine and warm weather-even during monsoon, with all the rain, after it stopped-everything dried up quickly-the sun would appear.
March 27, 2011 at 5:54 pm
So glad you like my blog Penny!
We live in the canal zone at the moment. I love the climate too – a bit of a change from Scotland. The plants are so amazing, aren’t they? My favourite things are the birds and wildlife. X
March 27, 2011 at 6:06 pm
I would love to visit Panama again one day, as there was so much to see. The tropical plants; I can’t say enough about, they nwere just beautiful. I had a run-in with a three toed sloth-that was really hesterical !! did not like the spiders! when the fires would burn in the hills-they all came running! I for one can be a lunitic-when faced with these eight legged creatures !
March 29, 2011 at 7:20 pm
Hi Jane, it was great to read your blog, ‘cover to cover’, as we might move from Bath UK to Panama. We are a Dutch family, so we did plunge into an adventure in another culture already three years ago (no no don’t laugh, it IS another culture). Not sure what our chances are to go to Panama city but it is wonderful to get a first impression. It looks amazing. Good photographs, good sense of humor too! If we are given the opportunity, can I contact you for some information about neighbourhoods and schools (we have two girls 10 and 11) and things we need to know? Good luck to you and your family, kind regards, Pam
April 22, 2011 at 9:05 am
Hi Pam, glad you enjoyed reading my blog! Feel free to contact me for any info if you are given the chance to move here.
All the best
Jane x
April 28, 2011 at 4:43 pm
Hello Jane,
I am new here in Panama; just moved here last month from the U.S. for my job, and my husband and three children will be joining me in a couple of months. I am very excited about the opportunity for my family and my career. I found your blog to be encouraging as a way to fully embrace life here in Panama. If you have any tips on how to make the transition as easy as possible – especially when it comes to driving in Panama and learning Spanish – I´d love to hear them! Take care,
Camille
April 24, 2011 at 6:39 pm
Hi Camille, I hope you all enjoy your time in Panama as much as we do. It is a very exciting place, especially if you like wildlife.
Tips…although I have been here almost a year now, my Spanish is still pretty poor I’m afraid. Talking to taxi drivers is a pretty good way to get some practice in! Driving in Panama is actually fine, everyone seems to drive huge 4x4s here, but I’m sure it is the same in the US…I guess the roads are a little dangerous and people tend not to signal, so you need to pay attention.
Love, Jane x
April 28, 2011 at 4:49 pm
Hi Jane,
We are potentially moving to Panama City later this year for work, discussions are on going, and we expect to have dates etc finalised in a few weeks. We have three young children aged seven and younger, and are currently based in London. We would be particularly interested to get your views on the schools, as this will, most likely dictate where we chose to live.
Very much enjoyed stumbling across your blog, and nice to hear of some fellow Scots over that way.
Cheers,
James.
May 24, 2011 at 6:54 am
Hi Jane! Here is a link to my friend’s art photo blog. We both graduated from art school decades ago. I think you may enjoy this:
http://gcraley.blogspot.com/
September 14, 2011 at 7:02 pm