Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Panamanian Way of
Life
At the crossroads of the Americas, the narrow isthmus of Panama bridges
not only two continents, but two vastly different paradigms of Panamanian
culture and society. Roughly an hour from the gleaming skyscrapers of
Panama City you can find an indigenous family paddling a dugout canoe.
Sharp contradictions simply coexist in Panama. But when they clash it
raises the question: what exactly is the Panamanian national character?
Formal marriage is rare outside of the middle and upper classes. Some estimate that
60% of children are born to short-term unions.
The National Psyche
Panamanian identity is in many ways elusive. Perhaps it's only natural given the many
years that Panama has been the object of another country's meddling. From the US-
backed independence of 1903 to the strong-armed removal of Noriega in 1989 - with half-
a-dozen other interventions in between - the USA left behind a strong legacy in the coun-
try.
Nearly every Panamanian has a relative or at least an acquaintance living in the USA,
and parts of the country seem swept up in mall-fever, with architectural inspiration
straight out of North America. Panamanians (or at least the ones that can afford to) deck
themselves out in US clothes, buy US-made cars and take their fashion tips straight from
Madison Avenue.
Others are quite reticent to embrace the culture from the north. Indigenous groups like
the Emberá and Kuna struggle to keep their traditions alive as more and more of their
youth are lured into the Western lifestyles of the city. On the Península de Azuero, where
there is a rich Spanish cultural heritage of traditional festivals, dress and customs, local
villagers raise the same concerns about the future of their youth.
Given the clash between old and new, it's surprising the country isn't suffering from a
serious case of cognitive dissonance. However, the exceptionally tolerant Panamanian
character weathers many contradictions - the old and the new, the grave disparity between
rich and poor, and the stunning natural environment and its rapid destruction.
