Matthewsomeday

I'm wondering if any of you gym rats know if work is possible in personal training here or elsewhere throughout other countries of Latin America.

MRWOOHOO

I go to the Power Club myself and I know they already have what seems like a well-trained staff that does personal training. There are other places as well that have personal trainers and they are locals. The locals are probably getting paid little so competition for that position may not be worth the effort? I dont mean to be a kill-joy, sorry.

Matthewsomeday

Never mind Mr. Whoohoo, you're not a kill-joy. I appreciate the swift reply. Life's never easy; and I'm just exploring work options around the world. I've enjoyed reading your posts, especially about Panamanian girls. I sure hope you're right. Hope to meet you some time. Thanks again.

MRWOOHOO

One thing to consider is you may find a niche crowd. Keep in mind there is ALLOT of money in Panama City coming from many different people all over the world. It is possible you can get yourself into a preferential situation based on your nationality? Just curiously, are you a licensed or even close to being a licensed massage therapist? That is something that you may be able to make money with @ home consultations. There are many well-to-do women here as well (-wink-). Not that I would suggest anything inappropriate because I am obviously not that kind of guy (-wink-). There are many ways to make money in Panama legally. There is a ton of money flowing through here and services are always needed.

Matthewsomeday

Mr. Woohoo, I KNOW you're not that kind of guy! I said that to myself the minute I saw you. No, I'm not licensed in massage; it's personal bodybuilding training that I would be capable of. I figured there might be upscale clients as anywhere in the world. I'm actually a professional concert pianist and teaching may also work. Thanks again for the info.

Sorry about the "thumbs down." I don't know where it came from and I don't know how to get rid of it.

MRWOOHOO

No problem, lol. Like I tell people, "I'm innocent". You really may find a nice niche in the market here. I have noticed at the Power Club gym the trainers really don't like me all that much. I am tall and really white so I do catch attitude. Now teaching has allot of potential down here. Are you a piano teacher I am guessing?

Matthewsomeday

I can teach piano for advanced/talented students only in English and Spanish. For a classical concert pianist it beats playing in a piano bar, if that even exists in Panama. That would be like you working in a gay sauna.

MRWOOHOO

You might find a niche with teaching piano. It is one of those things that people with money do pay for. You might even do well playing for high-end parties at people's homes?

GordonS

Panama does have a National Symphony Orchestra, but if the pay is anything like elsewhere, you'd need to suppliment that pay by teaching. Two links with references to upcoming events with that Orchestra:
It would be interesting to contact them to find out if you could be a visiting artist and then get the connections....

http://www.panamasocialcalendar.com/...&date=20080130

http://www.focuspublicationsint.com/...s_visitor.html

__________________
Gordon and Randy,
Canada

Matthewsomeday

Hey fellas,
Thanks for the replies about gyms and pianos. At $60 a month for a gym I'm going to need to hit the lottery. I think I'll be training at home a lot. I've trained in many places in the world and never heard of anything so expensive. There has to be two sets of economies in Panama. In fact, I'd been looking at some of the ads in Panama City for basics and it seems to me to be very expensive (by comparison) for a third world country. They called Costa Rica the third world country with the first world prices. But I suppose we can never have it both ways. If we want decent pay, we need to be in more upscale areas. Thanks again.

soltero

Exactly. You'll see hundreds of Cayennes and BMW M3s tooling around (there are even two Lamborghinis in my neighborhood), but the masses ride Diablos Rojos for 25 centavos. Apartments in upscale towers go for $2-3K/month (and they get it), but my maid lives with her husband and two kids in one on the Transistmica for $85/month. And etc. etc. etc.

jewels0200

Do you know if there are many Acupuncturists? I'm a British Acupuncturist (also do needle free laser treatments) wondering whether there would be work? I have 2 successful practices in the UK but need to be somewhere else!!!

Matthewsomeday

Hey Soltero,
You''re speaking my language, buddy. I'm a 25 centavo guy myself. It reminds me of my life in Hungary. But, yeah, the place sounds just like Santo Domingo---obscene wealth and holes in the wall as you pass by that turn out to be somebody's apartment.

MRWOOHOO

Hi Jewels, you may want to contact an attorney for specifics? If you wish I do have a really good one? First consultation is always free and he works well on email.

soltero

Scroll to the bottom of this page:
http://www.panamaexpertos.com/medica...-and-insurance

and ask Dr. Chial. There are quite a few acupuncturists working here, but the real issue -- as Woohoo pointed out -- is whether a foreigner can do so legally. I know that chiropractors must be licensed by the government; don't know about other practitioners of alternative medicine.

jewels0200

Thanks - I'll see what I can find out from the Acupuncture Organisations but yes MrW if you can recommend a good attorney that'd be useful. I'm right at the beginning of my research and if I can't practice, there's not a lot of point in continuing.
Does anyone have any personal experience of Dr. Enrique Chial? From previous attempts, I've found contacting a practitioner hasn't helped as they have got all territorial and in some cases completely lied to me!!!
I know that I cannot practice in the US with needles as they won't recognise a british training!! Laser is still practiced under a research category so that is allowed once you register.