The Magik

A few anecdotes from the ever new experiences
From living in another country
(What feels like another planet!)
As we look and pay credence to the bread crumbs,
Or, as Andrew likes to say, the loaves of bread🍞

Banking in Panamá:
Opening a bank account in Panamá is no easy feat.
We have been told that the Panamanian government “likes” paperwork.
Oh my, are we ever finding that to be true!
Our realtor recommends we open an account at Banco General (“General Bank”).
We believe we have all substantiating documents
That must accompany us to open the account such as:
Passport, drivers license, housing lease agreement,
Six months of past bank statements, Proof of income,
Attorney’s certification that we are in the process of applying for permanent visa,
Land purchase agreement.
Whew! Certainly not like opening an account in the USA!

There appears to be an armed guard at each and every bank’s entrance,
Banco General being no different.
We enter and after a brief wait,
Are greeted by a bank employee who speaks little English.
We therefore use an electronic translator to assist in our communication.
The bank employee seems not to know how to be of service to us gringos.
He keeps putting a screen over the front of his computer monitor
In order that we cannot see what is rendered upon it.
The environment feels a little adversarial.
We are told that we can deposit
Up to a maximum of $2500 per month from our USA bank account
And it takes one month for the cheque to clear.
(Hmmm, $2500 may be a bit shy of the monies needed
To create a Community project🙃)
There is much conversation between the bank employee and another there
Regarding our request for an account.
With the one item we are lacking,
That being the attorney’s certification of our visa application,
It seems that today is not the day for us to open our account.

Fast forward to the following week,
We now have the attorney’s letter in hand
Along with all the other required documentation.
On the way out our front door,
Neighbors, those having moved into the neighborhood the day before us,
Reach out to chat as they are walking past our casa.
We talk about all things Panamá:
Panamá visa, Panamá drivers license, Panamá house cleaner, and… Panamá banks.
They suggest an alternative bank to Banco General,
And share their qualifying reasons.
Later, in the car ride down Volcancito Road
(A road that heads in one direction to the tallest peak in Panamá,
Volcán Barú, 11,400 ft, and the other into the quaint town of Boquete),
Determined to open a local bank account today,
Knowing that there is no such thing as coincidence,
We opt to forgo Banco General and instead
Head for the little store front of Multibank.
Yes, there still is a non-smiling militant, opening the bank’s front door for us,
Yet once inside, we gladly eye two smiling faces sitting at desks,
And one of them speaks perfect English!
We sit down with her and experience the antithesis from the prior week.
She is helpful, clear, knowledgable, supportive (all typical Panamanian traits).
And we just happen to have all documents necessary
Within our carry-case to open the account!
Three weeks into the future,
We have a Panamanian bank account,
Including an interest-bearing savings account,
Along with the clear guidance and on-going support of a lovely multi-lingual banker
In service in a way that assists us with understanding
All things international banking (and, that’s no easy feat!)

All Things Teak:
A large teak warehouse resides at the foot of Volcancito Road.
We visit, oohing and ahh-ing with the beauty of the wood, 

Meet the very cool owner, “Woody” (go figure!) and his wife,
Long time Panamanian immigrants from USA,
Feeling the two things we have been asking for,
Intimate relationship and resonance.

Another day:
Headed home, we drive up Volcancito Road and pass a casa under construction
Having beautiful teak (“teca” in Spanish) lining their exterior pillars.
One does not see much wood used here when building,
Rather, concrete and steel being widely utilized.
The owner eyes us oohing and ahh-ing and invites us inside
Where we behold the interior tastefully accented in teca
Including ceiling, floors, walls, and wild edge shelving.
It just so happens that the owner is turning this casa into a BnB
(Anyone ready to visit us? 🙂
AND, he has a connection (possibly his own company?)
To a teak supplier from where we can also purchase
Quantities of this stunning natural beauty.
We exchange WhatsApp numbers and agree to connect over café soon☕️

The People:
Constantly, do we hear from those Panamanians that we encounter,
“How can we be in service to you?”
It appears to be their Joy to be in service
With arms wide open and a smile brimming upon their heart.

Us:
We continue to be in a recovery mode,
Sleep being a welcome healer.
From a dear friend who moved near Ajijic some years ago,
She shared that she felt “transported to another planet” following that relocation.
Well, that pretty much sums it up for us.
Everything is anew.
We recognize that we chose this expedited path of growth,
Perhaps, a road less traveled,
However, made easier with the great practice of, “Trust”
With the Knowing that Source is guiding us
In the co-creation upon this magikal tierra.

Deliveries:
I got to speak with a dear amiga from The Peaceful Woman,
Having bonded in retreats offered on Maui in 2009.
She reminds me to be patient with all that has unfolded,
That this too, shall pass, this deep tiredness.
Following our conversation, I feel energized,
Something I have seldom felt since our move here.
Wham!
In a matter of 5 minutes (literally),
Four fairly major events occur.
Our second wire transfer toward the land purchase is approved by the bank;
Amazon has delivered a package to our doorstep
(Unheard of in Boquete as Amazon just opened up delivery to Panamá this week);
Our two pallets have arrived safely in Florida;
We are scheduled to retrieve our temporary Panamá visa.

What just happened?
What just cleared?

With a moment’s contemplation, this comes forth:
BEing seen;
BEing welcomed EXACTLY as I Am.

Dear Reader:
May we recognize the value of
BEing seen
and
Seeing the Being,
For it is profound, as our Dear Writers Circle can attest!