When coming to Panama, you will notice diversity and contrast. Because being where the oceans and continents meet, you'll get to see different landscapes in such a small place. Also it is a place where different cultures have met, for it has been destined to be a land of transit.

Panamanians are result of a cultural mix: American Indigenous groups (Kuna, Ngöbe, Buglé, Emberá, Wounaan, Teribe, Bokotas, Bri Bri), Hispanic-American, Afro-Antillian, Afro-Colonial, Chinese, Hebrew, Hindu, Central-European, etc. All of them have contributed to the development of our country.

Some Panamanian Dishes
Most of them may sound similar to other Latin American Foods. But the Panamanian style is very different; it has Spanish Colonial and Afro-Antillean influence. These are not all the Typical Panamanian dishes, there are many more. We invite you to explore our national cuisine!

Sancocho: typical Panamanian chicken soup.
Empanadas: these are fried or baked, and may contain cheese, chicken or ground beef.
Tortillas: eaten at breakfast, these are fried and thick, made out of corn.
Patacones: fried pressed plantains (“plátanos”), these are salty.
Platanitos: fried sliced plantains.
  Carimañola: fried yucca rolls with ground beef in the middle.
Café: coffee. One of the best in the World is produced in Panamanian highlands.
Arroz con pollo: typical rice cooked with saffron and chicken.
Tamales: these come wrapped in plantain leaves and are boiled.

Note: you will find a huge variety of International food in Panama City. You can easily find Chinese, Japanese, Argentine, Mexican, Lebanese, Italian, etc. Chinese and Italian are one of the best here!

Music and Dancing
When going to a club, you will listen to a large variety of music. Panamanians love to dance with:

• Reggaeton
• Plena (Panamanian version of Reggaeton mixed with Reggae)
• Reggae
• Salsa
• Merengue
• Bachata
• Típico (folk music)

Measurements, Panamanian style
In Panama, by Law, it is required to use the International System. But because of the heavy influence from the US, there are some things still measured in the Imperial System.

• Meat and delicatessen are sold in pounds
• Soft drinks are sold in liters and milliliters
• Gasoline/Petrol is sold in gallons
• People will say their weight in pounds
• People will say their height in meters and centimeters
• Rope, cables, etc. are sold in yards or feet
• Distances are measured in kilometers
• Areas are measured in square meters
• Altitude is given in meters

Customs and Traditions
Being historically related to Spain, most Panamanians are Christian Roman Catholics. Traditional celebrations are related to this religious heritage. Each town in the interior of the country has its own Patron Saint. The day of the Patron Saint is celebrated in a traditional and colorful way in the town. We call these celebrations "Patronales".

The biggest traditional celebrations include the Carnival (before Ash Wednesday), Easter and Christmas.

However, celebrations other than the Christian ones are also remarkable in Panama among certain specific groups of people that make up the heterogenous population of our country. For example, you may see big celebrations for Chinese New Year in the two Chinatowns of Panama City.

Friends and Family
Most university students live with their parents and brothers. The exceptions are those students whose families are from the interior.

Living with their families or not, parents are usually very supportive to their children. Respect and love towards parents and grandparents are highly regarded values.

We call our parent's friends uncle and aunts (tío/tía), even though they are not relatives; it is considered a sign of respect and friendship.

Meeting someone for the first time, people will shake hands if they are both men or kiss once if they are opposite sex or both women. When greeting an acquaintance, the same applies.

Language
Panamanian Spanish is more related to its Caribbean counterparts than to the Central American variants. Panamanians do not say "vos", usually they regard the second person plural as "usted" and tend to aspirate the "s" in some words. As other Latin American variants, there are no distinctions between the pronounciations of "s" and "c" or "z". Here you'll find some Panamanian slang: