Basic Etiquette

     When people travel to different countries and fully immerse themselves into its culture, they usually feel like a huge outsider.  Without having grown up in the culture, they lack the cultural insight to understand social cues, etiquette, body language, etc. Simple things that they never consciously thought about in their homeland suddenly become obvious and even off pointing in some situations.  Before crossing a foreign county’s border, it is wise to look up basic and common gestures used by its people. It not only prevents the tourist from becoming a social mockery but also helps them swiftly travel through the country with respect.

Luckily, for the American traveler, Panamanian gestures have some similarities. Panamanians share a value on personal space, standing at arms length during a conversation with little physical interaction.  However, it is more common for close acquaintances to kiss each other on the cheek when they meet.  During a conversation, people are expected to sustain constant eye contact, without casually wondering the eyes away and back.

In the United States, people highly value time and often organize their entire lives on a schedule full of dates and times. Lateness is considered rude and unprofessional. In Panama, conversely, people do not place such a frivolous value on time. Panamanians put more emphasis on human interaction.  It is not really about showing up to the birthday party at a set time, it is about eventually arriving to celebrate and bond with their friends.

Another interesting gesture difference is in the way Panamanians supposedly point at things. Rather than use their finger, they use their lips to pout in the direction of their focus.  When hailing a cab, they extend their arms with their palm facing downward while pulling their fingers in, making a “come here” motion.  The drinking age is eighteen. However, at some bars, if you have the money, they will most likely sell it to you anyway. As a side effect of gender stratification in Panama, it is not appropriate for women to go to bars alone, but it is social acceptable for a woman to dine alone.

In conclusion, Panama has some unique standards on etiquette. It is important to study a country’s principles on appropriate behavior because it gives insight into their values and what they consider to be important and respectful.

Source:

http://www.culturecrossing.net/basics_business_student_details.php?Id=30&CID=159