| Most of us have already read the myriad
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| | soda. So, in Panama, it is easy to grasp
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| of articles about Panama, not to mention
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| | the value of what we purchase, instead of
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| the "About Panama" section on the
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| | throwing away our Monopoly money at any
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| websites of every real estate agency
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| | and every chance we get. This is
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| promoting property in the region.
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| | especially useful if you are off to the
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| There is no doubt that Panama possesses
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| | casinos!
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| numerous advantages, including its
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| | 15. Patacones
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| strategic geographic location, incentive
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| | -Patacones are twice-fried plantain
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| program for retirees and a relatively
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| | patties and incredibly delicious. I had
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| low-cost of living, amongst others.
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| | not discovered them until my arrival in
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| However, some of the reasons that I
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| | Panama, and I am a self-proclaimed
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| particularly enjoy living in Panama
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| | patacon addict!
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| cannot be when searching for the most
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| | 5. Albrook Mall
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| obvious reasons, such as the Panama Canal
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| | -Albrook Mall is a large, air conditioned
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| (After showing my 4th visitor the
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| | indoor shopping center that offers a wide
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| Miraflores Locks, the outing becomes
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| | variety of discount stores and boutiques,
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| slightly monotonous) or its proximity to
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| | as well as a food court with carousel. Be
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| Miami (I've never been to Miami in my
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| | sure to check out El Costo, Oca Loca and
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| life!). Certain pleasures can only be
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| | Conway for some great deals!
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| recognized after living in Panama as a
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| | These stores are magnificent for retail
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| foreigner for some time.
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| | therapy. You can walk away with about 15
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| Though I appreciate the similarities that
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| | shirts for $20. Even if you wear them
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| Panama and the "Western World" share, I
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| | just once, it's a lot cheaper than
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| also cherish the differences, since they
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| | Target.
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| are what makes my life here truly unique
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| | 6. Opportunities
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| and exciting.
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| | - Panama is like the Wild West of Central
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| Here are 13 reasons why Panama makes life
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| | America. There is a huge variety of
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| so interesting:
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| | employment, business and investment
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| 1. Casco Viejo
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| | opportunities just waiting to be taken
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| -Casco Viejo is 100% different from the
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| | advantage of. After being in Panama for
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| towering high rises scattered along
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| | almost any extended amount of time,
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| Balboa Avenue. Casco Viejo has an
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| | everyone catches the entrepreneur fever.
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| interesting blend of architectural
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| | 7. Slang
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| styles, most notably ornate Spanish- and
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| | -Though I don't make it a habit to use it
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| French-influenced buildings. However, in
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| | in my everyday speech, I must confess
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| addition to the amazing views and unique
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| | that I get an absolute kick out of the
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| architecture, there is always something
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| | Panamanians' faces when they see a full
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| quirky going on in "the Casco"! My
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| | fledged gringa talking like she's from
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| roommate is the president of Panama
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| | the barrio.
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| 9º80º, a lifestyle and travel magazine
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| | 8. Cable TV with ABC and CBS
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| about Panama. Her offices are in Casco
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| | -All the great things of Panama fused
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| Viejo and I get an absolute kick out of
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| | with Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune and
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| dropping her off some mornings. It isn't
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| | Grey's Anatomy. Does it get any better?
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| often that I get to laugh so hard I
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| | 9. Taxis
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| almost wet myself at 7:30 a.m. Much
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| | -Finally, inexpensive taxis! Taxis in
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| better than coffee! (Okay, that was an
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| | Panama are abundant and relatively
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| exaggeration. Sorry coffee.)
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| | inexpensive, a fare costing from $1 to $2
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| One of my favorite "Casco moments"
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| | to most location in Panama City. However,
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| occurred one morning as I was dropping my
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| | taxi meters are not typically used, and
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| friend off at work. As we turned the
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| | therefore it is recommended to negotiate
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| corner onto Avenida A, we saw a little
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| | the price before leaving. If you
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| boy of about 7 years old peeing in the
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| | understand and speak Spanish, you can
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| street. What made this pee different was
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| | overhear and engage in a number of
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| that he was not facing the wall or
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| | colorful conversations with drivers.
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| partially hidden amongst the narrow
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| | 10. Cayos Zapatillas, aka. Zapatila Cay
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| alleyways, but was rather on the edge of
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| | -Zapatilla Cay is a small island located
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| the sidewalk, practically in the street,
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| | about an hour boat ride from the main
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| facing the traffic! As we neared the
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| | Isla Colon in the Bocas del Toro
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| situation, we saw a projectile yellow
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| | province. Zapatilla Cay is astonishingly
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| liquid spurting from his body and said,
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| | beautiful, including spectacular views,
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| "That can't be!" However, it was. To this
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| | clear waters and white sand. Without a
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| day, that little boy and his
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| | doubt, it is one of my favorite places in
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| "necessities" still put a smile on my
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| | Panama.
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| face.
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| | 11. Fireworks
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| 2. Wine
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| | -Back in the states, fireworks were
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| -South American wine, from Chile and
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| | reserved for the 4th of July, and some
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| Argentina, is much less expensive than in
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| | spectacles at Sea World. In Panama City,
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| the United States. However, who said you
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| | it's not bazaar to see fire works going
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| can have your cake and eat it too.
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| | off every night of the week. On New
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| My friend and I were succumbing to our
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| | Year's, the entire city, and I mean as
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| vices one night, and went to buy wine and
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| | far as the eye can see, ignites with the
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| ice cream at El Rey supermarket. As we
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| | colorful flashes and flickers of
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| were checking out, the $3.50 appeared on
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| | thousands of fireworks.
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| the screen as the price for the wine. I
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| | 12. Piropos
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| said to my friend, "How great is it to
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| | -What's a piropo? I have yet to find a
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| live in a country where a good bottle of
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| | direct translation that suits me. Some
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| wine is $3.50!?" Then, the ice cream
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| | dictionaries translate it as
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| came, and $8.50 appeared. My friend and I
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| | "compliment," though that is a serious
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| were in utter shock and disbelief. Since
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| | understatement. Piropo is a word that
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| then, we have sought out other, less
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| | stands for what men do to a pretty girl
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| expensive means to satisfy a sweet tooth.
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| | as she walks by. Flirt, not really.
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| 3. Sushi Itto
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| | Torment, could be. Most Westerners would
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| -Sushi delivered to your front door...Do
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| | agree that this is a "Latin thing." I
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| I need to say anything else? If you think
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| | generally can't stand it and want to flip
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| that there isn't sushi in Panama, then
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| | off everybody that whistles and hisses
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| you are in for a delightful surprise.
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| | and yells "Ay mami" as I stroll along.
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| Sushi Itto, in my humble, sushi snob
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| | However, on days when I roll out of bed
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| opinion, is the best delivery sushi in
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| | and my hair is astray, I must say that I
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| Panama. Their Philadelphia rolls and
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| | feel less hideous as I waltz along and
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| Edamame are extremely scrumptious.
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| | still get the "Yeah baby". I know it is
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| What's even more interesting is when I'm
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| | done to all women. I was in a taxi once
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| walking to work or walking my mini
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| | and the driver whistled and hooted at a
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| schnauzer and the Sushi Itto delivery guy
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| | couple of women that looked as though
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| honks and waves as he zooms past on his
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| | they were pushing 70 years old. I'm not
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| little red moto. It must be a small world
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| | implying that they were not attractive,
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| after all. Or, I order a lot of sushi!
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| | but the taxi driver was about 25! Moral
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| 4. American Dollar
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| | of the story, it's one place to get an
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| -This is a commonly cited "reason" for
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| | ego boost.
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| why Panama is so great, and I agree whole
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| | 13. The Finger Wag
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| heartedly!
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| | -You all know the finger wag, a way to
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| For the foreigner, especially Americans,
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| | indicate disapproval of something. The
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| it is great because it doesn't become
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| | motion is generally carried out by
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| "Monopoly money." It is easy to be aware
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| | wagging the index finger from left to
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| of exactly how much you are spending.
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| | right, considered by most incredibly rude
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| There is no labor-intensive addition,
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| | and demeaning. Well, the Finger Wag is
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| subtraction, division or multiplication
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| | back in Panama! The best way to say no
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| involved to figure out the price of a
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| | ever!
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