[ALLAN LEWIS]

Hey John,

You would probably have to be trekking out in the woods at dusk to find many mosquitos…. it depends where you are located… they are around especially at dusk but here is what I did.

Outside my front door and on my rear porch, when I first got here, I hung one each of those bug lamps…. they sell them here at Novey’s.

Well, the first few nights I had hundreds or more various little moths and mosquitos on the floor below the lamps and also had to shake the lamps to clean them.

After a couple of weeks or so, it started to slow down…. and then very little showed up after a few months, and now after a few years, almost nothing is ever in the lamps but I keep them out there anyway.

I have not seen a mosquito in about two years now… and never been bitten in town, Boquete even in the mountains, at restaurants, in David, Bocas etc…. so I really don’t think there are more here than anywhere else in the world (and for some reason if there is a mosquito around, I must look like a 5 course dinner since they always go for me!!).

You will see many a Panamanian house with the doors wide open, no screens, day and night… and many expats do that also and don’t seem to be noticing any bug activity that is bothersome.

I have screens on my windows and a screen door as that is my preference (or lady bugs etc do come in from time to time and we just don’t want anything inside!)

Best of luck…

Allan Lewis

[ALLAN LEWIS]

Hey Josh,

Talking English here or anywhere in Latin America is up to you completely. When I first left the US about 10 years ago, I only knew few basic Spanish words… and no conjugating verbs etc…. but wherever I went, I found even the locals especially in business, want to both be polite and try to talk to you in English as they see this as a courtesy to you, also to make customer relations better (make a sale)…. remember, one great reason for living here is the friendliness of the people and culture, the good mornings by everyone etc.

But I chose to switch it up and ask them to please talk to me in Spanish, as it was their country and I wanted to show them respect and learn more.

It never went well, and there was a lot of shaking of heads and eyes rolling wondering what they were talking about (especially with many words such as EXITO for one easy example, I would hear it spoken and see it on signs and think it was the way to the nearest exit but found out a long time later it meant SUCCESS!) and them not having a clue what I was asking for (also, you can learn the words, but if you pronounce them with our American accent, many times you still will not be understood).

But those funny moments aside, that is the way to learn…….

You can’t help running into English speaking persons as you pass them on the street or they may be in a store, since the educational system here stresses English as a second language, but generally, the newer ex-patriots here or visitor tourists, don’t usually say hello or Buenas dias, or even acknowledge you exist, as they are still in their USA mode……. so you don’t have to worry about them talking to you…. you will be usually ignored (and it will reinforce to you why you are living here and not up north!!!)/

But when you meet the long time local ex-patriots here, they will speak Spanish or English, whichever is easier or gets the ideas across, answer your questions etc. and they will say good day, be very courteous and extremely helpful to you…. especially the members of the local theater group BCP!

Going full emersion, can make you a little lonely as you spend just too much time lost in the translations so from time to time a helpful English speaker may be next to you in a store or wherever, and hear you can not get your message across or ask for what you need, and they, like I, often will ask if you would like some help….

You should find like I always do, that there is a We are all in this together….. attitude here. and you will love Boquete.

Sincerely,

Allan Lewis

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