JimAndNena

Is this the same group of folks?

http://boquete.ning.com/forum/topics/thanking-our-local-police?commentId=1434455%3AComment%3A827800

Perhaps it is a VE neighborhood only event?

jim

8 hours ago, Bonnie said:

As I recall, Vecinos Vigilantes was an initiative of neighborhood leaders and was and is neighborhood based. The police joined the effort, at least the publicity effort, but I'm not aware of any role they had in starting it.

I am finding links that indicate that the program was a police effort to connect with the public.  The problem that the Policia Nacional have is that the people remember when the police were the National Guard under a dictatorship. The creation of the Policia Nacional was to eliminate marshal law and establish civil law enforcement.  The funding, and thus the training of a military force into a police force, has never been sufficient outside of Panama City.

I remember when Omar Torrijos put stripes on La Guardia Nacional uniform trousers for street patrol in an attempt to convince the USA that he had a separate police force for civilian law enforcement when he was trying to qualify for funding from the US.

I don't understand why I would do a FSBO and have a realtor?  If I am paying a commission for a sale, I expect the realtor to do the legwork. 

I disagree with the statement, " Yes, you should cooperate with Realtors. The important thing is to sell your property. It is unimportant who does that". 

The important thing is to get as much profit as possible when selling your property. Bringing clients to a realtor to whom you are paying a commission means you should get part of the commission, no?

jim

1 hour ago, Keith Woolford said:

If that was the case, the Policia Nacional would be sending out a signed official communication.

This logo is from a Mexican blog.

http://denunciauruapanvg.blogspot.com/2017/01/ayudemos-localizarlas.html

What do others think?

Don't know about the local event but this is from their website:

http://www.policia.gob.pa/14827-inauguran-programa-de-vecinos-vigilantes-y-orientan-a-la-comunidad-chiricana-.html

It displays the true logo for the program.

jim

1 hour ago, Keith Woolford said:

Don Ray has had his home on the market for quite a while, so the announcement that he's leaving doesn't surprise me. It's a shame he wasn't able to organize a replacement for the Warden's position before resigning. His dedication will be missed.

Finding his replacement isn't part of the job description. I think there will be an opening for warden in Boquete soon, if you are interested.

1 hour ago, Sheila said:

Has anyone heard why he abruptly decided to leave? He made no comment as to why, and has not replied to anyone on his site. 

I don't believe Don Ray has ever done anything "abruptly". He is a meticulous planner. I don't believe he owes anyone a reason. The most important question is who will step up to handle warden duties with his departure?

1 hour ago, Bud said:

First I've heard of Barrios Seguros. I read the news article that was referenced, and it seems promising. Would like to know more about the project. Where can one learn more?

Just curious if anyone knows where the "...'red' sectors..." in Chiriqui are located, and not sure what "judicialize" might mean.

Thanks for posting this.

Haven't found anything concrete yet outside of Panama City, Bud.

http://www.tvn-2.com/nacionales/seguridad/Zonas-peligrosas-ciudad-capital-Inseguridad-Panama-Noticias_0_4601539906.html

And not everyone is sold on the progress being reported with the anti-gang efforts.  This article from La Estrella in October last year questions the expenditures and the reported results.

http://laestrella.com.pa/panama/nacional/barrios-seguros-tenido-costo-10-millones/23981058

I'll keep looking a little later, right now the grandkids are here. jim

Don Ray did the KODI install on my android devices. I know he has done several Fire stick and Fire TV installs as well.

4 hours ago, Twin Wolf Technology Group said:

I am well aware that not everyone was a Don Ray fan.   Most everyone has their detractors whether they admit it or not.  I am well aware of mine, they remind me often!

The bigger point here was that there is a large group of expats moving out of Panama.   While the short term residents are missed, it is the longer term residents that the community has come to rely on that will be the biggest impact.   I fear for the next expat that needs the type of help Marion Clamp and others received.     

As the saying goes, you do not know what you have until it is gone.  
Then again the optimist says: you don't know what you've been missing until it arrives.

Moving on...  appreciating what I have...  and waiting for what comes... 

I think Joni said it best, Dan:

They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique
And a swinging hot spot
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

I have been reading Don Ray's blogs daily for over a decade, first from when he was in Boquete and later when he moved to David.  I do not know of anyone who has done more for the expats in Chiriqui with no thought of reward.  Lee Zeltzer and others have written blogs that at times have been helpful to a few but there was usually a revenue stream connected, and none of those people were boots on the ground when expats needed help.  There were helplines around but all they did was try to dispatch local authorities who may or may not have been helpful.  If Don Ray got a call from the embassy, he went.  I think it is also proper to mention the amount of help Lilliam has been in these cases, too.  She and Don Ray are the complete deal and their departure will leave a big void for someone to fill.

jim

They are only teaching English speakers. One of the methods of learning involves Baroque music. I just hope the students don't go Baroque trying to learn.  Perhaps there is some hypnosis involved also.

http://www.garyascott.com/catalog/ecuador-spanish-course

52 minutes ago, Penny said:

I buy my hamburger from Palacio. It's about $3/pound. I like it because they grind fat in with it so it tastes more like what you get in the U.S. Most Panama hamburger has a funny, indescribable taste but I think it's because the beef is too lean. By the way, the butcher there has trained in the U.S. and will cut U.S. type cuts (e.g. chuck roast) if ordered in advance. His name is Sr. Alexandro and his phones are 730-3746 and 6969-1420.

Nena had the same problem in Venezuela in the '80's.  Range fed beef from the llanos was all grass feed. Gives the meat a "metallic" taste, like copper.  Her solution was to ask the butcher to save all the fat that he could and she would have him add it to the beef we bought. It was the only way we could get hamburgers to stay together on the grill.

jim

On 4/18/2017 at 3:09 PM, SP87 said:

Has anyone found out what happens if you stay your full 180 days IF you entered BEFORE these new laws and rules were created?

 

Example: a person who entered the country let's say December 28th 2016 and stays here until their 179th day. What are their rules for reentry? 30 days out and they can come back? - the only info I've been able to find is if someone stays until their "5th month"

thanks!

If you have no previous stamps in and out of Panama, and you have a return ticket home in less than 180 days, and you can explain in Spanish that you are returning home at that time, I would GUESS that you would be allowed to enter.  jim

Perhaps someone could call the 24/7 number and ask.  My guess would be they keep a log and might share the information with the wardens?

But then I think, this is government, what are the odds of that working?

jim

7 hours ago, Sheila said:

 The problem is that Panama has not made any clear cut rules, it is all very wishy washy. The best way at this point is to hear about others experiences crossing the border, either by land or air. People have been attacked trying to tell their experiences, and that has shied people away from telling their stories. Maybe if this stops we can gain some insight.   It has been said before 5 months have passed to stay out 30 days and you will be let back in, but if you reach your 6th month staying out for 30 days won't let you back in. If that is the case when can you come back, 6 months, a year? No one knows. It has also been said that if you have been border hopping for 2 years, you can't come back in. If so, how long before you can come back? It has also been said that if you are in the process of applying for residency to show a letter or paperwork from your lawyer and you will be let back in, but will you really be able to, is this good enough? Hopefully some will come forward and tell their experiences so others can benefit. If you have been border hopping for awhile at this point if I were to do a border hop, I would treat it as if I wouldn't be allowed back in just in case. Have someone caring for your pets, let your landlord know you may not be able to come back, maybe go so far as packing up all of your things or selling them. 

Although I am a proponent of "ask the man who owns one", the variety of experiences of which I have read many lead me to believe that no two crossings are the same.  Return ticket, $500 cash, 3 day exit required, all these things are applied or not seemingly at random. The only sure thing is that the border guard du jour has absolute authority regardless of their understanding of the law.

1 hour ago, Keith Woolford said:

The people of Panama should be able to understand the plight of refugees. It's my understanding that during the 1980's a number of Panamanians obtained political refugee status in Canada, including Manolo Ruiz, former Alcalde of Boquete.

I am unclear if these are political refugees? I am also unclear why Panama should be part of the pipeline to U. S. borders?  Why are Cubans choosing Panama over all the other countries in Central America? 

jim

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/12/us/politics/nsa-gets-more-latitude-to-share-intercepted-communications.html?_r=0

WASHINGTON — In its final days, the Obama administration has expanded the power of the National Security Agency to share globally intercepted personal communications with the government’s 16 other intelligence agencies before applying privacy protections. (my emphasis)

The new rules significantly relax longstanding limits on what the N.S.A. may do with the information gathered by its most powerful surveillance operations, which are largely unregulated by American wiretapping laws. These include collecting satellite transmissions, phone calls and emails that cross network switches abroad, and messages between people abroad that cross domestic network switches.

Most of the protections afforded by the constitution were bypassed during the Cheney administration. Obama continued on the same path.

jim

On 1/26/2017 at 6:32 AM, Penny said:

The main address for the Panama taxation department is https://dgi.mef.gob.pa/

Click on DGI En Linea.

I used this website yesterday to fill out and submit my annual corporate income tax form (called "La Renta")

However, I can't figure out where to find the section where I enter the property RUC and my NIT and find out how much property tax I owe.

Hopefully, somebody with better Spanish skills can figure lit out.

Does this web site help?

https://etax2.mef.gob.pa/etax2web/Login.aspx#

"e-Tax 2.0" rolled out last year, connecting to it does not seem to be easy.

jim

Nena is recovering from catract surgery so when I read this to her the response was, "they don't care". 

I have never had much luck in these cases either unless I could speak to the owner. My guess would be that the owner WAS on holiday and the clerk knew it.  You can try asking for the owner's fone number, sometimes that will work.

jim

18 hours ago, TwoSailors said:

Great thread here.

Just for fun...how about if CL posted a new espanol sentence every morning?

apenas para la diversion y la educacion una nueva frase en espanol por las mananas.

Good idea!

Maybe start with a joke of the day:

Two spanish fish are chatting.

One of them asks 'qué hace tu padre?'

and the other replies 'nada'.

5 hours ago, Bonnie said:

When and where has Keith ever said that that "a 'few expats' can't possibly affect Boquete"? As I understand it, Keith reacted quickly to what he perceived to be a false accusation and then reconsidered his language and amended the post. Let it be.

The discussions took place on ning years ago. Costa Rica was once a lauded retirement location. The prices and crime increased to the point that many continued south and east. The cycle repeats but perhaps that is just coincidence. There are several studies about residencial tourism effects, the common thread is the failure of expats to integrate into the culture.

I am certain that if Keith decides that I need to leave the forum that he will convince the administration to remove me. It has happened before. Regardless, I detest any form of crude language. Moving on.

I don't think anyone ever stops learning a language.  It seems the more one learns, the more there is to learn.

Two of the most important Spanish phrases to me are:

¿Cómo se dice _____?

¿Como está la familia?

Lots of Spanish people I know will understand quite a bit of English but they are hesitant to speak it. Asking for help and showing an interest in family are a good start.  Probably a third phrase would be ¿Me puedes ayudar? even if you don't speak much Spanish.

My last tip to connecting to the local population would be S L O W  D O W N.  Americans are always in a rush, even when they think they are taking it easy.  When Nena and I visit, it takes me about a day to get adjusted.  Nena, with 40+ years of Americanization takes even longer to get her Panamanian tempo back.  On more than one occasion I have had to remind her to slow down, don't rush.  We don't realize just how fast a pace we have in the U.S.; we want everything now.  Slow down, enjoy life, make new friends.

1 hour ago, Roger B said:

Jim

You cant deny that you are a long time "Chirigringo".   Great!!!

Just read this to Nena. She is still on the floor, gasping for air with laughter!

?

1 hour ago, Keith Woolford said:

The above statement is totally incorrect.

I like this version better than the one that showed up in my email notification. Typically trying to appear correct in public while showing true colors privately.  Perhaps this is part of what the locals are talking about?

Regardless, I'll leave the issue with all y'all.  It will not affect my visits. jim

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The phase is a common one, Bud. You have translated it correctly and it is an indication that the speaker may be misinformed or exaggerating.  Panama is rich with idioms as much as anywhere in the world. Here in Texas, "he's all hat and no cattle" has the same connotation.

CL does not seem to be very integrated with the local population. The only regular poster from Panama is Roger and his insights are valuable.  To have numbers of locals posting on CL, in Spanish, about local events, news, etc would reflect a level of integration. CL is mostly where expats come to look for help with issues that most locals could solve if asked.  When I first arrived with Nena in Boquete in September 1970, all her neighbors wanted a look at the strange person she had brought with her. I was even present at a neighbor's "hen party" where I sat quietly in the corner while Nena caught up on the local bochinche. Soon the talk turned to "ribbing" Nena about the guy with her. She got more and more tickled because she knew that I was understanding what was being said (my Spanish was in the listen, don't talk phase).  The ladies in the group quickly discovered that I was understanding the conversation but everyone had a good laugh and we moved on.

I love every trip to Boquete since that time. I do not integrate when I visit. That is to say I don't mingle with the expats but I have listened to the locals' opinions of what has happened to their town. Keith has always had the opinion that a "few expats" can't possibly affect Boquete. In listening to the locals, they don't share the opinion. They see prices rising, land being bought for subdivision housing, infrastructure stressed to breaking and they see expats as a prime reason.  I don't have answers but learning to speak the language is a great start. Very tough to integrate into any population without communication.

jim

4 hours ago, Hil said:

I know a lot of expats that emerse themselves in panamanian culture in Valle and Boquete. Perception is the key.

Los chiricanos dirían, "estás hablando yuca".

Of course they would not say that TO you. Regardless, be well and enjoy. 

jim