I am posting the following two articles for a friend of mine who is presently away from Panama, but who thought they might be of value.
"BEWARE OF JEWELRY THEFT IN HOSPITALS
My own bitter experience may serve to warn patients who have to go to clinics or hospitals for medical screenings.
On 22 March I presented myself at the ******* Hospital in David with my doctor's prescription for an EKG and a chest X-Ray. In the EKG room I was asked to remove all my jewelry. I placed my watch and gold bracelet in the breast pocket of my blouse, which I then carefully folded before lying down for the EKG. After the procedure, and having my gown still on, I had to carry my handbag and the folded blouse across the corridor and into the X-Ray room where I placed my blouse on the table.
Once the X-Ray was over, I began to dress in the same room. At that point, I discovered that only the watch was inside the blouse pocket. I began to search everywhere within the room, and even went back to the EKG room and continued my search there in the presence of the technician (who confirmed she had seen me putting my jewelry in the blouse pocket before I lay down).
Obviously, someone stole my gold bracelet.
Please exercise the utmost caution each time you have to go for screenings of any kind."
"LOST JACKET
One Sunday I lost a warm jacket in Church. I had removed it and folded it on the bench during the ceremony, then forgotten about it when we left. Next Sunday we searched and searched. Gone! If someone found it, the proper thing would have been to take it to the Sacristy. The parish priest gave a long sermon, telling us we had to be responsible for our own things. He said the Sacristy was not a holding area for things lost and found.
Panamanians think we extranjeros are an easy-growing plantation of money trees which can be shaken and the fruit, like mangoes, will fall into their lap."
Replies
I agree, Juan. Thank you for your comments.
De acuerdo Juan.
But that's considered a RANT. And there is a section for that (look at the tabs on top).
You'll be most welcome as a member there!
In light of this I must agree that this reply was in the appropriate place. I should have read the entire exchange - sorry!
THE PROBLEM IS AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE REALIZATION THAT WE ARE LIVING IN A DIFFERENT CULTURE. YOU NEED TO FORGET ABOUT THE CULTURE THAT YOU WERE ACCUSTOMED TO WHERE EVER YOU ARE FROM. THAT IS A VERY DIFFICULT THING TO DO. STEALING IS NOT AS SERIOUS A CRIME AS YOUR CULTURE FROM BACK HOME. CRIMES OF OPPORTUNITY 'Vida juego' OCCUR NOT ONLY AGAINST FOREIGNERS BUT ALSO AGAINST PANAMANIANS. CHICKEN SWIPING IS PREVALENT IN THE POORER PANAMANIAN NEIGHBORHOODS. GETTING OVER ON SOMEBODY IS CONSIDERED AN ART. IF YOU PAY FOR A SERVICE UP FRONT AND THEN IT DOESN'T GET DONE, YOU ARE CONSIDERED A SUCKER (WHICH YOU ARE). THIS DIFFERENT CULTURE AFFECTS ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE .... MONEY MATTERS, ROMANCE, POLITICS, WORK ETHICS, YOU NAME IT, IT IS DIFFERENT. JUST DON'T BE SURPRISED IF SOMETHING HAPPENS THAT YOU THINK IS WRONG OR INCORRECT. YOU HAVE TO LEARN THE NEW CULTURE AND THAT TAKES TIME IF EVER.
MAYBE, BY YOUR STANDARDS BUT JUST NOT THEIR'S. YOU JUST DON'T GET IT, YOU HAVE TO THINK OUTSIDE OF YOUR CULTURAL BOX. FIRST. TO HAVE ANY UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR CULTURE, YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN THAT CULTURE. THAT IS, NOT SPENDING YOUR DAYS AT 'SUGAR & SPICE', YOU HAVE TO INTEGRATE. THEN AFTER MANY YEARS, THERE IS A LONG LEARNING CURVE, YOU START TO BEGIN TO GET IT. DON'T FEEL BAD, SOME PEOPLE NEVER GET IT. SOME ARE BORN INTO A CULTURE AND ARE UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT CULTURE GENES. THIS IS NOT TO CRITICIZE BUT TO EXPLAIN THAT IT IS A DIFFICULT THING TO GET YOUR HEAD AROUND WHEN YOU HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT DIFFERENTLY.
Very well said, Patrick, and totally true.
I'm presently in a position with Habla Ya language school there in Boquete.
I prepaid for a two week course and several weeks later suffered a rotator cuff tear in my right shoulder.
I had surgery April 11,..My course was to start April 10.
They agree that i have a refund due ($600.00)..but since March 6 ...I've been unable to get it ,..
Does this make me a sucker?... Is this the culture? ....Is this what there church preaches ?
I understand about there poverty and survival..and I realize they have been used , abused and
marginalized since the Spanish arrived.
It is a culture of dishonesty and hypocrisy..As is many other cultures..its the degree of dishonesty
that is so breath taking.
By the way any one can offer me any suggestion to get my $$ I'm all ears.!!
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