Panama misses welcome cut
(Panama Star) PANAMA. United States, the country that once welcomed the tired, poor, huddled masses is now asking for a little reciprocation. And Canada, Germany and Australia are heeding the call.
According to a recent article in Forbes Magazine, they top a list of the countries most welcoming to expats. There, relocators have a relatively easy time befriending locals, joining a local community group and learning the local language. Panama seems to have missed the cut.
Canada is the most welcoming; almost 95% of respondents to HSBC Bank International's Expat Explorer Survey, said they have made friends with locals. In Germany, 92% were so lucky and in Australia 91% befriended those living there. The United Arab Emirates was found to be the most difficult for expats; only 54% of those surveyed said they'd made friends with locals.
The study surveyed 2,155 expats in 48 countries, spanning four continents, between February and April 2008. Respondents rated their country in four categories: ability to befriend locals, number that joined a community group, number that learned the language and percentage that bought property.
HSBC holds these surveys in order to better understand expatriate needs and get insight into the emotions of expats, acting on the premise that the banking business is all about trust. Regardless of where they settle, the bank wants its clients to build a lasting relationship with their wealth managers.
For Americans, traveling abroad to start over is becoming increasingly common. America used to have it all: good jobs, booming economy, skyrocketing stock market and plentiful housing. With the recent economic crisis, people are now heading abroad to search for the tranquility they cannot find at home.
It's no wonder they likely find Canada so welcoming. It has an accessible language, diverse culture and low levels of government corruption, says Patricia Linderman, editor of Tales from a Small Planet, an online newsletter for expats.
It also has other expats. This is important, Linderman says, since even the most gracious locals already have busy, established lives and can be unwilling to put in the effort to befriend someone they know could leave within several years.
Linderman says other expats are important because they share similar needs like making friends and adjusting to life in a new country. They also understand the frustrations daily life brings.
What can help speed up integration? Joining a recreational sports team or community group. Churches, organizations and schools provide good places to forge friendships with people who possess common interests and beliefs.
It seems Panama is not so far behind.
