Young Americans Leave For Panama
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(thepanamareport.com ) Lately weI've focused a lot on relocation opportunities in Panama, for Americans looking to evade depression-like circumstances at home. There's a special niche though, of 20-30 year olds that, while not necessarily hit the hardest by the economy, may benefit the most by leaving the USA. It's an interesting demographic that will have impact on Panama's development as a travel and investment nation.So who is this generation iPod and what do they have to offer Panama?
1. Most of us don't have families yet: We're not yet at the point of having kids or settling down, still high on the freedom of living on our own. This independence doesn't last forever but we realize it's extremely precious for the time being.
2. Most of us have some disposable income, no assets: We've worked in decent jobs and made significant money, but we don't yet own apartments or cars or vacation homes which would keep us chained down. We have small reserves saved up for a worst-case scenario and lots of "stuff" that'd be easy to get rid of over a weekend or two.
3. Most of us are at our height of creativity: Having been restrained to a desk job since graduation, we're like a bottle rocket waiting to shoot off with ingenuity. Our minds run wild, we're able to multitask, and we are keen on the arts giving true meaning to the phrase think outside the box.
4. Most of us are smart and cultured: We've studied abroad, attended decent universities, and learned another language (sometimes two). We're familiar with other societies, liberal in our beliefs, and clever enough to seize opportunities when they arise. We like weird ethnic food and watch independent films with subtitles.
The following are some jobs I've come up with where I think my generation could do very well. While these are all completely viable options in Panama seeing as though many of these industries are not yet developed, achieving success with them is not by any means easy. If you can't succeed at home you probably can't succeed here. That being said, if you can succeed at home, chances are you could make it big in Panama.
English Teacher: There is currently, and will be more in the future, a dire need for good English teachers. While they won't pay up the ass, a few hundred bucks a week isn't bad. It's like showing a chimp how to ride a bike: you're already the expert! Just don't tell anyone you got a C+ in freshman year Lit.
Surf Instructor: Never thought you could make a buck with your love for the ocean? Panama has about ten decent surf nooks and maybe five places beginners can learn. Whether you're opening your own surf school or simply freelancing on the beach in the morning, increased tourism will feed this job serious traffic over the next few years.
Web Designer: There are no good programmers, and I repeat no good computer programmers working in Panama that are available to the public. CSS, AJAX, PHP, whatever you know: offer a reliable and quality (make it expensive if you want) programming service and you're as good as giga-gold! Work from the beach for all I care: wireless internet is everywhere in Panama.
Event Planner: So you threw the most amazing All-White New Years Bash or whatever. It probably sucked. But Panamanians (especially the rich ones) love to party and they love to be seen in public. Promote a bar/club or arrange Isaac's Armani-themed Bar Mitzvah: locals will love you and your gringo-influenced events.
Sports Agent: So you have an encyclopedic knowledge about baseball or football which wins you fantasy leagues every year...and that's about it. Scout out the local Panama teams, find yourself the top talent and offer to represent them on a pro-bono basis. Squeeze them into a minor league in the States using some connections and become known as the top pro sports scout of the isthmus.
Tour Guide: Love the outdoors? I don't. But someone's gotta buy iodine pills and wooly hiking socks. Either start your own wilderness tour company or work for an existing one, tapping into Panama's ecological wonderland. Very few existing tour guides are from outside of Panama, so you've got a leg up with your English skills, provided you don't talk like Nell.
Radio/TV Host: Very few shows in Panama cater to foreigners. The several that do exist are almost exclusively in English leaving a giant gap for other languages and demographics. Think people from your home country might be interested in a fellow countryman's take? You'd be right.
Model: Think you're hot? Well, you're probably not. But listen, if you're not good enough to be a top model in the States, you may just be eligible in Panama. Certain looks are more revered here, which may give you an advantage in the handfuls of modeling agencies around the City. If you're ugly, don't choose this one: Panama's great, but it can't polish shit.
These are all completely feasible jobs to hold in Panama, but I guarantee they wont fall into your lap. There's a certain hunger or drive required to score one of these positions (some more than others): one that doesn't come by sitting on the couch or watching movies. Good connections are necessary but the most important facets are hard work and a vision: the same factors that characterize success in the US. Take advantage of the fact there's limited competition and that everyone's caught up in a real estate gig and you, my friend can succeed in Panama.
