zog

I met a Belgian guy on the flight to Panama from Newark and we got to talking about life in Panama. He told me about Panamenos and their concept of time keeping. He has a girlfriend there, and her and her family were arranging a big dinner for everyone. He said he was to be picked up at 8.30pm and he was finally picked up at 11.30pm. He said that he could give numerous examples of Panamenos saying they will be at a certain place at a certain time, only to be late by several hours!

I spoke to Yatzi, a forum member here, about this and she laughed about it like it had a ring of truth to it. But she is a good time keeper and good communicator.

In Europe no one would really complain about someone being 30mins late (called fashionably late) - these things happen - even an hour can be excused if a phone call is made to say so. But hours late? Or arbitrarily cancelling appointments at the last minute like it was nothing? Does anyone have any experience of this? Is it a common phenomenon in Panama like my Belgian friend said?

Is it a more relaxed approach to life, like "sure, I will see you there at 8.30pm" meaning "I'll see you there at some point in time", or is it something else like a more blinkered sense of responsibility towards agreed plans with others? Or is it a temporal cold war? Like someone was late once, and the other person retaliated and now being on time is like being a coward for a sizeable portion of the population? :-) Or is it Belgian paranoia?

Laura

Hi zog! I always enjoy reading your posts.

My personal experience with the Panamanians I hang out with is that they can sometimes be late for 10 min., but they usually call if that happens.

Panameños are pretty much the most punctual Latinos I know! but I'm sure that there are some "un-punctual" people among the population.

__________________
Laura

Advanced

I have the opposite experience... they are almost always late. I think it depends more on the individuals than on the country in general.

twocents

Time? What is that?

If there is one phrase I am familiar with, and guilty of using more and more myself these days, it's manana.

soltero

"mañana" = "not today"

patty

Hmmm... That's interesting, Zog! I am not from Panama and I would like to know more about them. In my opinion, it really depends on the person. Like in my country, some of the foreigners will say that Filipinos are always late but it is not true for me. I always see to it that I am on time with my commitments.

MultiVista

1. In Chile, where my wife comes from
they `re always coming late.

But it`s the culture.

Beeing invited, its expected /anticipated coming later ... so You have to come later

:-)

2.

Panameno

If I am a Panameno,
the "joking" form would be I am a
"Panamanito"?

Like Gringuito for Gringo?

3.

Calling a friend a Gringo"
it sounds negative?

In Chile, not in Mexico, its similar to "Amigo"..
How it is in Panama? Unfriendly appelation?

Cheers Miike,
Alemanito (?)

:-)

MultiVista

O.K.

Where I can find a

panamesian foro / forum

to dicuss philosophical themes, like
"What is time really" :-)
or:
"What is the concept of Panamasian Thinking and Reflecting?"

P.S.

Manana?

May be I must sing:
Panamana
da da dada
Panamanan di di didi :-)

The original Song was
Manamana http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5rgYmjphlU
:-)

Cheers
Alemanito

GeekZ

My brother does that as well, and hes american!

MultiVista

?
What does it mean in our context here?
?
Mike

Panamax

__________________
"Few cities in Latin America can match the diversity, cosmopolitanism and sheer energy of Panama City..." - THE ROUGH GUIDE

MultiVista

Concept of TIME?

Como pasa el Tiempo

Ahorro de Tiempo

Apuro de Tiempo

Espacio de Tiempo

Inversion de Tiempo

Organisacion de Tiempo

Limite de Tiempo

Perdida de Tiempo

:-)

Time Out!

:-)

Panamax

__________________
"Few cities in Latin America can match the diversity, cosmopolitanism and sheer energy of Panama City..." - THE ROUGH GUIDE

MultiVista

Do we need always a conclusion?

Maybe that one:

Time - isn`t always -
Money...

MultiVista,
just joking a bit...

:-)

Panamax

__________________
"Few cities in Latin America can match the diversity, cosmopolitanism and sheer energy of Panama City..." - THE ROUGH GUIDE

MultiVista

Right. Sense? Obviously there i s n`t any.
But we m a k e it,
sometimes
:-)

My advice? Don`t
think twice
:-)

Sorry for joking,
but today I am in a good mood.

Wihout any readon,
of course :-)

But do we always need and search for
a reason to explain...

the mood,
the TIME,
the World?
:-)

???

Cheers
Mike!

fxtrader

We are getting the panamanian portion of our business set up right now. Let me tell you, despite any sense of urgency YOU may have it doesn't translate into speed you'll be able to get things done unless you're doing them all yourself. I heard it best the other day.

a minute = an hour
an hour = a day
a day = a week
a week = a month
a month = a year
a year = never