I’ve traveled all over panama and explored every nook and cranny while also visiting with panamanians and expats who live in each area who can give me the “inside” scoop which I share with you.Cognitive view of learning definition because there is not have a reliable MLS system in panama, it is necessary for me to gather my own information about rental and real estate prices.Cognitive view of learning definition I discovered things a real estate agent or property manager would never tell you. I will not give you the sugar-coated version of panama.

My wife and I recently went on the may 2019 tour and all I can say is that everything that everyone else keeps saying about the tour is true.Cognitive view of learning definition jackie and her team are all first rate and take care of everything. Jackie’s knowledge and connections have really given my wife and I all of the details we needed to make an informed decision about moving to panama.Cognitive view of learning definition speaking with all of the expats during the tour also gave us the realism of what they truly loved and what they did not about their own experiences in panama.Cognitive view of learning definition I really feel that this tour should be MANDATORY for anyone even remotely thinking about moving to panama. The only negative aspect of the tour was all the eating, I think I gained 5 pounds (my own fault of course).Cognitive view of learning definition we really only good things to say about jackie, her team (melisa, antonio, and jorge) and the entire experience. It was AWESOME, a 5 out of 5 experience.Cognitive view of learning definition

Then I took jackie’s tour in may of this year. I cannot encourage you enough to sign up for this tour if you want move to panama. Jackies team does it all!Cognitive view of learning definition hotel, food, bus travel and personal attention. I decided to settle in bouqete after seeing various towns and met expats who live throughout panama.Cognitive view of learning definition jackie brings in experts on visa, banking, rentals and expats to speak about living there. Jackie knows panama and all the quirks! My only complaint is not taking this tour in 2017!Cognitive view of learning definition

It was a fantastic tour, providing lots of information, not only from jackie whose energy and knowledge are seemingly endless but also from our fellow tour participants whose input provided lots of food for thought as to how to approach the move to panama.Cognitive view of learning definition jackie also makes the tour an inspirational and motivational event and you can not but help to come away from it wanting to get started, not only on the moving process but also with opportunities and ideas you had never even considered.Cognitive view of learning definition and melissa, whilst we did not meet, your organisational talents from before the tour started until the last day in panama can only be described as professional, faultless and stress free.Cognitive view of learning definition we never worried about anything. Jorge, our driver for most of the trip was always on time, in control in the background safely taking us to the many different locations we visited.Cognitive view of learning definition antonio, who picked us up from the airport and took us on a city tour…everything just went perfectly according to plan. And panama, the country?Cognitive view of learning definition we love it here….And hope to settle here eventually. Stay safe and stay healthy everyone!

Carol toops and I were members of the february 2019 panama relocation tour and what impressed us initially was the attention to detail and professionalism that the tour was planned with.Cognitive view of learning definition we have spent considerable time in research and study about relocating as ex-pats and the more we researched the clearer it became that panama was the obvious choice, and as we had questions both jackie and melissa were quick to respond and help.Cognitive view of learning definition

There has been several testimonials regarding the actual tour and how informative and detailed jackie’s delivery is. The time we spent traveling from location to location was valuable as jackie shared her vast experience in what and what not to do along with recommendations on how to make the transition seamless.Cognitive view of learning definition there were visits with others who have been living in panama for some time explaining in detail the differences and how to organize and plan for the move.Cognitive view of learning definition we had several dinners with speakers who shared their actual experiences from bringing pets to learning about medical care and would answer any specific question that was asked.Cognitive view of learning definition also the food and restaurants created a festive mood and made it really fun.

So we experienced a fact finding trip that more than helped us with discovery of the details and confidence of making this move successfully, and met people who have shared that same knowledge.Cognitive view of learning definition since we have returned, we have had other questions that we have been able to get answered as jackie includes everyone who takes the tour in the facebook group which is another great resource.Cognitive view of learning definition this isn’t a vacation but a very pleasant working trip designed to make the decision making very easy. Highly recommended.

Jackie’s wealth of knowledge about panama and moving there is priceless to anyone thinking about an international move.Cognitive view of learning definition her tour is flawlessly executed and peppered with info from local expats, great food, a luxurious bus to travel in and lots of FUN! I can’t thank her enough for changing my life.Cognitive view of learning definition jackie is a consummate professional with the patience of job and a charismatic/endearing personality. This is a first class, blue ribbon experience!Cognitive view of learning definition julie wolf march 2019 tour

A 6-day 7-night all-inclusive panama relocation tour, is not a “touristy tour” so we will not be driving you from city to city to show you the tourist attractions.Cognitive view of learning definition instead a panama relocation tour is like a seminar on wheels every day while the bus is rolling. We discuss the pros and cons of living in each area and show you a rental in each location.Cognitive view of learning definition you’ll learn about the cultural aspects of each area. During a tour, you will learn all the things you need to know to relocate to panama in the most affordable stress-free way.Cognitive view of learning definition you’ll also meet experts and expats in each area we visit.

It was a fantastic tour, providing lots of information, not only from jackie whose energy and knowledge are seemingly endless but also from our fellow tour participants whose input provided lots of food for thought as to how to approach the move to panama.Cognitive view of learning definition jackie also makes the tour an inspirational and motivational event and you can not but help to come away from it wanting to get started, not only on the moving process but also with opportunities and ideas you had never even considered.Cognitive view of learning definition and melissa, whilst we did not meet, your organisational talents from before the tour started until the last day in panama can only be described as professional, faultless and stress free.Cognitive view of learning definition we never worried about anything. Jorge, our driver for most of the trip was always on time, in control in the background safely taking us to the many different locations we visited.Cognitive view of learning definition antonio, who picked us up from the airport and took us on a city tour…everything just went perfectly according to plan. And panama, the country?Cognitive view of learning definition we love it here….And hope to settle here eventually. Stay safe and stay healthy everyone!

Living in panama will change you. Or maybe the real you, who was suppressed because you’ve been living in a rat race, will finally be able to emerge.Cognitive view of learning definition you’ll wake up every day to the appreciation of new sights and sounds and beauty all around you. In boquete, where I live in panama, you just feel more connected to the earth and to the universe.Cognitive view of learning definition

There is a sense of accomplishment that “you did it”, you actually moved to a foreign country. You rented a house, got a cell phone, bought groceries and settled in to your new life.Cognitive view of learning definition you made friends with people in another country and discovered how delightful and welcoming they are. You ordered dinner in spanish and they actually understood you.Cognitive view of learning definition your confidence will go through the roof with each little accomplishment in panama. There are spiritual benefits too but it is hard to explain so I did a google search to find help putting it in to words.Cognitive view of learning definition I found this amazing article by douglas E. Morris which describes it better than I ever could. The article was printed in 2009 in the foreign services journal.Cognitive view of learning definition

Living overseas wakes us up from this slumber and allows us to move through our days in the ever-present now—zen time—not worrying about tomorrow, not thinking about the past.Cognitive view of learning definition when we are in another country we are forced to be mindful, simply because everything is so different we can’t just shut our minds off and coast through the day.Cognitive view of learning definition when outside of the US, our minds have to be constantly engaged simply to get through the most mundane tasks.

Take the basic experience of simply talking to someone.Cognitive view of learning definition if you are in a country where english is not the “official language”, communication is an intensely focused actively. Your mind cannot wander, you cannot think about what you are going to say next.Cognitive view of learning definition you can’t listen with half your brain and plan your day with the other. You have to focus intently and patiently to the person talking, so that you can understand the accented english they are speaking, or decipher their native language.Cognitive view of learning definition

Focused listening can get rather tiring, which is probably why we don’t do it as often as we should at home. In our native tongue, it is easy to pick up the thread of the conversation and ease back into the flow.Cognitive view of learning definition as a result of this tendency to let our minds wander, many of us have developed exterior manifestations of good listening skills — gazing intently into someone’s eyes, nodding our heads periodically, making appreciative noises, etc.—but in reality we are somewhere else, multi-tasking, making lists, worrying about our busy schedule, and not being fully present, not really listening at all.Cognitive view of learning definition

Another spiritual behavior expats tend to acquire without realizing it, is patience. This most basic and fundamental aspect of a spiritual practice is developed everyday as expats navigate the uncharted waters of a different culture.Cognitive view of learning definition only by moving slowly, not rushing, having no expectations, all of which requires patience, can expats achieve their desired goals.

Being humble is also at the bedrock of most spiritual practices.Cognitive view of learning definition living overseas gives that to you in spades. Everything is different when you are overseas. There are unusual foods, unfamiliar ways to get from one place to another, diverse types of stores, and unusual social mores, values, and cultural expressions.Cognitive view of learning definition dealing with it all can be very humbling. All of these new experiences push us out of our comfort zone, knock us off whatever pedestal we created for ourselves, and bring us crashing humbly back down to earth.Cognitive view of learning definition

In many ways, by living overseas we turn ourselves into children again, having to learn everything anew. Where can you find a phone cord in france, or non-prescription medicine in italy, or a television license in england?Cognitive view of learning definition mundane day-to-day activities become steep mountains to climb, humbling whatever over-inflated sense of self we may have developed.

The most humbling experience of all is suddenly becoming functionally illiterate.Cognitive view of learning definition as adults in our home country, we are used to being able to communicate clearly and effectively. In another country with a different language, we become effectively deaf and mute.Cognitive view of learning definition people talk to us but we do not understand them. We open our mouths but no one can decipher what we are saying. Suddenly, in terms of language, we are infants.Cognitive view of learning definition more than anything, this process of communicating overseas in another language can be frustrating, demeaning, and incredibly humbling.

Being confronted with new and different cultural situations can be confusing.Cognitive view of learning definition overseas, much of what we “know” is no longer valid, forcing us to re-educate ourselves to behave in a manner that is culturally appropriate.Cognitive view of learning definition for example, the color white is acceptable to wear to a funeral in asia. You should only eat with your right hand in the middle east. It is expected of you to belch copiously during a meal in china.Cognitive view of learning definition and when sharing a business card with a japanese don’t just glance at it and stuff it into you pocket, stare at it intently, read off the person’s name and title, and only then put it away in a respectful manner.Cognitive view of learning definition

I believe it was john cougar mellencamp who sang “life goes on long after the thrill of living is gone.” when we were young, life seemed to come with its own soundtrack, grandiose music filling every banal scene with intense emotion making it seem transcendent and unique.Cognitive view of learning definition being older, often, means living through the same movie but without the evocative music. However, when overseas, where almost everything is new and different, the soundtrack returns with gusto and the joy of being alive re-emerges in full force, renewing our sense of wonder with the world around us.Cognitive view of learning definition

Managed properly, approached thoughtfully, explored meaningfully, living overseas is probably the most mind-expanding and soul-enriching experience found outside of transcendental meditation, tantric sex, or chemically induced hallucinations.Cognitive view of learning definition though it does not guarantee development of an open mind and adventurous spirit, simply by virtue of being in new and interesting places on a more frequent basis, the potential for both is infinitely increased.Cognitive view of learning definition