Cheryl – Personal Panama Journey: From American Dreams to Panamanian Reality

“Panama chose me.” These three simple words capture the essence of Cheryl’s remarkable journey from contemplating international living to actually making it happen after decades of dreaming.

The Seeds of Adventure

For 15-20 years, Cheryl had watched friends make the bold move abroad after retirement—to Ghana, St. Martin’s, and other destinations that sparked her curiosity about what life could be like beyond American borders. The initial dream began during her marriage, when she and her husband considered retiring somewhere in the American South, connecting with their ancestral roots in Charleston and the Carolinas.

Life had other plans. After divorce and successful co-parenting, Cheryl found herself in the empty nest phase, once again contemplating international adventures. Countries like Senegal, Ghana, St. Martin’s, and Jamaica captured her imagination. She took exploratory trips to Jamaica and Ghana, but then COVID hit, temporarily pausing her international exploration.

The Pivot Point

Sometimes the most life-changing suggestions come from the most unexpected places. When an ex-military friend casually mentioned, “Why don’t you check out Panama?” Cheryl took the suggestion seriously. She subscribed to International Living magazine and dove into research through videos and articles.

Ready to take action, Cheryl and her daughter planned a strategic reconnaissance mission during her daughter’s December school break and birthday. They spent the holidays and New Year’s in Panama, giving Cheryl a real taste of what life could be like in this Central American gem.

Standing in Panama as 2022 turned into 2023, Cheryl made what she calls not just a New Year’s resolution, but a “lifelong resolution”—to seriously explore whether Panama could be her new home. As she puts it, “The States was beginning to show its age as I aged.”

Taking the Leap

2024 became Cheryl’s year of action. She enrolled in a black expat cultural relocation tour with Charlotte Van Horn, committing to a full month in Panama. This wasn’t just tourism—this was serious life research. By the end of that month, her decision was made. She signed a lease for her first apartment, a loft in El Congrejo.

The transition wasn’t without challenges. After returning to the States to wrap up her life, give notice, and clean out her apartment, Cheryl returned to Panama in April only to discover her rented loft wasn’t in good standing. Rather than seeing this as a setback, she viewed it as redirection, moving from El Congrejo to Bahía de Vista—a decision that would prove transformative.

Finding Home in Bahía de Vista

Bahía de Vista became more than just a new address; it became Cheryl’s gateway to authentic Panamanian life. Located in the heart of the city facing the ocean, surrounded by skyscrapers, her new neighborhood introduced her to a diverse community of expats and Panamanians, both in business and personal settings.

The area’s intensity—”extremely, extremely, extremely warm”—is tempered during rainy season with ocean breezes, but more importantly, it placed Cheryl in the center of Panama’s family-focused culture, something that deeply resonated with her values.

Discovering Panama’s Family-Centered Soul

What struck Cheryl most profoundly about Panama was its family-centered foundation. “The economy base supports the family system here so that the family pretty much can stay intact,” she explains. This cultural emphasis on family unity represents everything she found lacking in American society.

For Cheryl, one of the most beautiful discoveries was observing how African American children thrive in Panama. “In the States, oftentimes, they’re robbed of their childhood, not here in Panama. There’s plenty for family and children activities to do.” This observation speaks to deeper cultural differences that make Panama attractive to expats seeking a more balanced way of life.

Love in an Unexpected Place

During her settling-in process, Cheryl met Harry Frederick, a fellow American expat. Their relationship developed despite dating being uncommon in Panama’s family-centered culture, where people tend to be either married or expat families rather than singles exploring romantic connections.

Their compatibility led to the decision to live together in Bahía de Vista, adding another layer of richness to Cheryl’s Panamanian experience. “I did quite a bit in a year,” she reflects on 2024’s whirlwind of life changes.

Language, Learning, and New Beginnings

One of Cheryl’s most surprising personal developments has been learning Spanish. “If anyone had said to me, Cheryl, you’re going to go to Panama and you’re going to learn Spanish… That has happened. And I have to say, it’s still happening.”

Her Spanish teacher’s wisdom resonates with her broader life philosophy: when we first learned English, we didn’t know it, but we never stopped practicing and trying. This same persistence and openness to growth characterizes Cheryl’s entire Panama journey.

Professional Evolution

Through a mutual acquaintance named Omar, Cheryl connected with Frederik, a Dutch expat who had been in Panama for some time. Their collaboration sparked a new professional direction—developing digital products focused on mental health and well-being for black expats considering relocation.

This work represents a natural evolution of Cheryl’s existing skills and experience, but in a format she’d never explored before. “If anyone had said, oh, you’re going to be working over there on something that you’ve been doing in a way you’ve never done before, i.e. digital products,” she marvels at the unexpected professional growth.

The Panamanian Social Tapestry

Cheryl’s social life in Panama reflects the country’s rich cultural offerings. “There’s something to do here every day,” she discovered, initially throwing herself into constant activities for the first six months. Now, with her partner Harry, she balances couple activities with her “vibe tribe”—a community that enjoys festivals, museums, drumming, salsa, R&B, and jazz.

Her Panama bucket list still includes whale watching and visiting Monkey Island, along with exploring more beaches, proving that even after a full year, the country continues offering new adventures.

Cultural Observations

The politeness and warmth of Panamanian people particularly impresses Cheryl. “I love that they speak when they see you. They don’t avert their eyes. They don’t drop their heads.” This social openness contrasts with what she experienced in other places, creating a more welcoming daily environment.

Unlike some Caribbean destinations known for vibrant nightlife and dating scenes, Panama offers something different—a more grounded, family-oriented culture that prioritizes community and relationships over superficial interactions.

Honest Reflections

Cheryl doesn’t romanticize her experience. She acknowledges learning “the pros and cons” during her year in Panama. When people ask about safety, dating, or what life is really like, she provides honest, nuanced answers based on lived experience rather than tourist impressions.

Her assessment is refreshingly realistic: “It’s not perfect, but it’s perfect for me.” This distinction captures the essence of successful international relocation—not finding paradise, but finding the place where your values, lifestyle preferences, and life stage align with what a country offers.

A New Chapter of Graceful Aging

Perhaps most powerfully, Cheryl frames her Panama journey as “living differently as I age gracefully.” Her story demonstrates that major life changes don’t end at a certain age—they can be the beginning of the most authentic chapters of our lives.

Her advice transcends relocation: “Even if you don’t relocate, just find that happy place in your life. You owe it to yourself.”

The Ongoing Adventure

After contemplating international living for over a decade, researching multiple countries, surviving housing challenges, learning a new language, building new relationships, and starting innovative professional projects, Cheryl has found her answer. “God willing, Panama, I’m here to stay.”

Her journey from American dreamer to Panamanian resident proves that sometimes the best destinations choose us, but only when we’re brave enough to say yes to the adventure.

Cheryl’s story continues to unfold in Bahía de Vista, where she’s building digital resources to help other black expats navigate their own international living dreams. Her journey reminds us that it’s never too late to grant ourselves the lives we’ve always imagined living.