AIESEC in PANAMA “An unforgettable destination”
TABLE OF CONTENTS: 1. About Panama - Location - Culture - Weather - Transportation 2. Explore Panama - Tourist places - Festivals and events - The food - Cost of living
3. Your Preparation - Legal documents - Airport pickup - Accommodation - Communication - Emergency contacts - Holidays 4. Trainee’s responsability
LOCATION Panama is a country located in the Central America region of North America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica. Panama is located on the narrow and low Isthmus of Panama.
THE CULTURE Panama has a cultural multiplicity that makes it unique in the region. One of the biggest contributors to the country’s richness is the constant presence of visitors and the blending of cultures from other parts of the world. As a point of contact and a crossing site, this small strip of land is a true crucible of races.
WEATHER
The Panama’s dry season is from mid-December to mid-April. This is for the Pacific slope, but the Caribbean side can get rain throughout the year. The weather can be hot and steamy in the lowlands during the rainy season, when the humidity makes the heat oppressive. But it won’t rain nonstop – rain in Panama, as elsewhere in the tropics, tends to come in sudden short downpours that freshen the air, and are followed by sunshine.
TRANSPORTATION Panama City's public transportation and services are, on the whole, cheap and efficient. The Albrook Bus Terminal, situated just outside of the city centre, is the destination to and from which all Services arrive and depart. From Allbrook, it's possible to get a bus to just about anywhere in the country, for only 0,25 cents. Also the brand new Panama Metro has 12 stations around the city and costs only 0,35 cents. Taxis are also widely available in Panama City with reasonable prices.
EXPLORE PANAMA!
In the city you must visist the causeway, Casco viejo, the Coast Strip, the malls and of course the Panama Canal‌
EXPLORE PANAMA!
And out side the city there’s a lot of beautiful beaches like the ones on Bocas del Toro, Pedasi and San Blas…
FESTIVALS AND EVENTS The Panamanian people love a party - a fact reflected in a wide variety of nightlife spots-bars, discos, pubs and casinos. It all takes place in three sectors of the city: the business district, Casco Viejo and the spectacular Amador Causeway.
The most important festival in Panama is the carnival, this big party begins in the four days before Ash Wednesday. All work and seriousness stops and the streets fill with people dancing and drinking and with parades of colorful floats, glamorous queens, masks, costumes and confetti.
We have a lot of special events and concerts all the year, one of the most popular is “The day after” and “Paradise 507” big concerts that we have in january and february for all the electronic music Lovers..
THE FOOD Panama has its own unique and rich cuisine. As a land bridge between two continents Panama is blessed by nature with an unusual variety of tropical fruits, vegetables and herbs that are used in native cooking. Also, as a crossroads of the world, Panama's cuisine is influenced by its diverse population of Hispanic, native Indian, European, African and even Chinese migrations.
COST OF LIVING FOR 6 WEEKS IN PANAMA • Transportation: around $1,20 per day = $56,40
• Food: around $10 per day = $450 • One night out: around $20 (to enter some clubs you should pay $10 depending of the hour, sometimes girls enter free depending of the hour, beer is around $2.50, other drinks around $3) • Touristing: around $50
PANAMA IS THE WAY! CLICK ON THE VIDEOS TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS AMAZING COUNTRY!
YOUR PREPARATION BEFORE AND AFTER ARRIVAL
DOCUMENTS VISA APPLICATION Panama divides tourists into two groups – those that need a tourist visa, and those that only need a passport. There are two types of visas for Panama, “stamped visas” and “authorized visas.” Please, visit the following link to check which type of visa you need: http://www.anywherepanama.com/travelguide/panama-entry-requirements The requirements can vary by consulate, so it’s a good idea to check with one before beginning the application process. It’s recommended to begin the application process at least a month before the start of travel.
TRAVEL/HEALTH INSURANCE We recommend that you make sure you have a travel/health insurance before you travel just in case an accident or an emergency occurs, a health insurance will be of help.
UPDATED PASSPORT You must send a copy or scan of your updated passport to the hosting LC for us to have all your documents in order and so that we can fill out the acceptance note with the correct information.
AIRPORT PICKUP Do not be alarmed as you leave your home country since here will be someone at the other end to pick you up and welcome you into Panama. It is highly advised that you send the Host LC a copy of your travel itinerary (English or Spanish) before you travel.
*AIESEC in Panama shall not be held liable in instances where incorrect or inaccurate flight schedule are sent and the Trainee is failed to be picked up. Booking of flights: As you book your flight,make sure it lands between 6am and 10pm. However, if your flight arrives between 10pm and 6am, you will have to let us know in order to avoid any inconveniences and for us to plan the airport pick ups and assign responsibles. *The main airport is TOCUMEN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. *If you are going to a project held outside of the capital, you´ll most probably be asked to take a bus from the capital to the city that you´re going so AIESECers can pick you up at a bus terminal.
ACCOMMODATION Accommodation: AIESEC in Panama offers two different kinds of accommodation namely; – Intern House: is a house for interns , which gives the intern an opportunity to interact with different cultures. – Host Family: this type of accommodation offers you a chance to live with a Panamenian Family, mostly with an AIESECer, or with the organization (TN taker) and to experience the Panamenian family routine. *For each project you may be asked for an ADMIN FEE which covers some expenses. This varies depending on the LC. *Please, solve all your doubts about this subject with your project manager before you arrive. *We expect all interns to respect the accommodation rules of each Intern’s or Family’s house. They will be aligned when you arrive.
COMMUNICATION Before you travel: You must have a Skype meeting with your Project Manager to set the right expectations. When you arrive: You will have an introductory preparation seminar, where you´ll meet the other interns and also AIESECers that´will be your support during the project. Others: In order to facilitate communication as long as you’ll stay in Panama, you are expected to buy a SIM card from one of the available communication companies namely Movistar, Más Móvil, Claro or Digicel. The cost of making a call depends on the rates of the respective SIM card - company as well as the type of call i.e international or local. *Some LCs might include this as a welcome package
OTHER INFORMATION Emergency Contacts • • • • •
Fireguard 103 Police 104 Civil Defence 316-0080 Ambulance 264-1122 Radio taxi 229-0471
Holidays • • • • •
Dicember 8: Mother’s day Dicember 25: Cristmas January 1: New Year’s Eve January 9: Martyr’s day February 20 – 24: Carnavals
TRAINEES RESPONSABILITY As a Trainee preparing to come for exchange with AIESEC in Panama, there are a number of responsibilities that are placed on you which are largely drawn from the Exchange Program Policies (XPPs) which is the main regulatory document of AIESECs Exchange Program (Global Internship Program and Global Comunity Development Program). For more information about these policies and also to understand the host entity’s responsabilities, talk with an AIESEC representative from your country (mainly a member of oGCDP).
AIESEC in PANAMA is waiting for you!!!