No One Returns Phone Calls in Panama

Go figure?  Leaving a message on some one's phone is a waist of good breath.  No one returns calls.

Most Gringos don't either.  They go native pretty quick!

Even after 6 months of living in Panama, many of the cultural aspects are still to be discovered. The phone thing is just one of them.

The depth of differences is amazing.  

For the most part, locals think North Americans and Europeans are neurotic and they are probably right.  

Communication is big for us.  And, not for them.  If a local says they will call you, and whatever was supposed to happen doesn't, they don't call...after all, there is no reason to call, so why bother.

This is a huge source of upset for us gringos.  We want, no demand, communication and we want it now, now, now!  God help you if you defy us and don't COMMUNICATE.

Pick up that damn phone and call!

Or walk your sorry ass over here and SPEAK!

Do you get a glimpse of the neurosis?  

I can't help it.  It really upsets me when someone goes out of communication.  It can ruin my day, week, or in the case of Panamanian builder, several months.  

I know the score here.  Why oh why can't I stop this incessant upset with the lack of communications?  No wonder they think we (I) are neurotic.

I was in David today to see my lawyer.  I called yesterday to make sure she was working today. Like a fool, I went today without calling to double check.

Sure enough, when I got there, her office was closed.

Grrrrrr!!!!!

I called her and it was my lucky day, she answered.  She was delayed (Imagine being delayed in Panama!).  She said she would be there in 30 minutes.  I translated 60 minutes.

Waiting for her, I got some free time to walk around David.  After 3 blocks I was soaked with sweat.  This is one hot place!  

I stumbled into a coffee shop in the grand old Hotel Nacional and it is indeed grand.  With mighty air conditioning.  Hell, it could have been a dump and I would have been happy just sitting in front of the AC.

The next time I want to walk around David, I will start earlier!

I had to wait for 75 minutes for my attorney after she was 30 minutes late getting to the office. They refuse to make appointments so you arrive and wait until they're free.  

That's the way it is.  For doctors too.

All this takes some getting used to...and I'm not doing so well with some of it!

Ah, paradise.