Learning a New Field

Prior to moving to Panama, I had devoted the past 10 years of my life to chld development and human services/social work. Welcome to Panama, not only are experiencing culture shock by living in a new country, but you also get culture shock by changing careers. The sane "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" has never felt more personal.

Adjusting to customer service and business edict requires having to undo almost everything I have learned. For example, with social work, if I saw a client in a store my body language would change to be more formal. I would also never say hello first in order to protect client confidentiality; if the client approached me first, then it was okay. Facebook and social media relationships were heavily frowned upon and, at least in social work, should never happen (counselors and psychologist have different guidelines). Personal stories had to benefit the client therapeutically.

Business is opposite in almost every way I know. You establish good relationships by making the impossible, possible even if it is after hours. Robert gently reminds me what it means to be a business owner. I tell him that a customer wants to friend me on Facebook. That is okay? Really?  While I see the gentle reminders as being true all of this is very foreign and goes against pretty much what I have been taught for the past 10 years.

Being in business defiantly has its perks and in some ways I do not completely dislike it (for example, I do not miss working 60+ weeks). Business is just different. Where with social work, I considered it a sacred job. Owning a car rental business lends its own sense of pride: being a business owner.

There are no regrets moving to Panama. My life feels like it made a 180 in many ways. It can be lonely, frustrating, and confusing. Panama has been my home for 4.5 months and not a day has gone by where I haven't learned something. I am no stranger to adversity and jumping feet first in the water with the hope that I can just tread water. While some days are easier than others, I welcome the opportunity to continue my growth as a business person and an expat.