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Panama Official Facts
- Official Language: Spanish
- Population: 3,220,000
- Currency: Balboa, U.S. dollar (PAB, USD) - The exchange rate from U.S dollar to Balboas is standard and fixed. One Balboa equals one U.S dollar. Thus, the dollar is the most widely accepted currency in Panama.
- Major Religions:
Roman Catholic - Major Exports:
Furniture, household items and baskets; apparel and household goods from cotton; fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides; clocks, portable typewriters and other household goods
Weather in Panama
Panama has a tropical climate. Temperatures are uniformly high - as is the relative humidity - and there is little seasonal variation.
Teaching Abroad in Panama Overview:
Referred to as the umbilical cord between Central and South America, Panama is a Shangri-La of nature flavored by seven indigenous tribes. Panama hats are certainly popular, but it's the canal that is the biggest attraction. Considered a man-made marvel, sightseers can't believe how huge tankers and shipping vessels squeeze through the narrow waterway. When you are not teaching English to eager Panamanians you could easily spend all your free time bird watching or soaking up the rays on any one of Panama's pristine beaches. But then you would miss out on the dance and party scenes which get replayed nightly in the cities! Don't deny yourself any of the indulgences that Panama offers! Vamos pues (Let's go!)
Interesting Facts About Panama
- Panama is the only place in the world where you can see the sun rise in the Pacific and set in the Atlantic.
- Panama is the largest consumer in Central America.
- At one point in time, shares of the Panama Railroad were the highest priced stock on the New York Stock Exchange, at $295 per share.
- Panama houses over 10,000 different plant species, including 1,200 varieties of orchids, 678 ferns and more than 1,500 varieties of trees.
- The Panama Rail Road was the most expensive railroad ever built, costing 8 million dollars and taking 5 years to build.
Highlights of Working Abroad in Panama
- Panama has some of the best bird watching in the world, especially at Cana, deep in the heart of Parque National Darien.
- The Panama Canal is certainly a sight to be seen with huge ships nudging their way through the narrow passes.
- Sample the coffee in the cool mountain town of Boquete.
- Take a bite of Panama's national dish, Sancocho (a spicy chicken and vegetable stew) or carimanola (a deep-fried roll of yucca with chopped meat).
Festivals in Panama
Carnaval in the Azuero Peninsula
Carnival in Azuero is celebrated with folkloric traditions including dancing, drinking, music, and parades. Be forewarned that mojaderos, (guys who spray pedestrians with water from pistols, garden hoses, buckets, and even fire hoses) are out before noon, so be prepared to get drenched! It begins the Saturday before Ash Wednesday and continues for four days. The atmosphere is enlivened by the famous rivalry between Calle Arriba and Calle Abajo, (High Street and Low Street, respectively), whereby the town is divided into two groups that try to outdo each other with the fanciest costumes and floats and even their own queens who are specially chosen for the event.
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