Return To Panama

Return To Panama

Jan. 10, 2012, Panama City, Panama: Returning to Panama after nearly three weeks in the States, we find the sun shining and the roads empty.

Dear Live and Invest Overseas Reader,

Today is our first day back in the office after a nearly three-week-long holiday tour across America. We're frantically trying to catch up and get back on track, and you, dear reader, are the big winner, for today's dispatch will be mercifully brief.

I'll share more ruminations born of our recent extended U.S. adventures later this week. Meantime, today, returning to Panama City, we're greeted by three things...

First, blue skies and sunshine. This year's rainy season continued well into December, with deluges up until the day we left for the States last month. I'm delighted now to be able to report that, back in Panama for the start of this New Year, we find the sun shining, the temperatures lower, and the humidity much reduced. Ah, the dry season.

Second, the end of gridlock. Here in Panama, the dry season is also considered summertime, meaning schools are closed. Between the usual school and work traffic and holiday shoppers coming and going across town in the weeks before we left, we were at our wit's end battling what seemed like around-the-clock traffic jams every day. Now, without the shoppers and without the school buses, the roads are relatively empty. We made it into the office in record time this morning.

Finally, we arrived in the office to find a Christmas package awaiting us, a festively wrapped carton shipped to us, the postmark indicated, from Waterford, Ireland.

"I hope this box makes it all the way to Panama," read the card.

"Irish people who go overseas always miss Tayto crisps, Irish tea, and Cadbury's chocolates. So that inspired me to put this box together--with a twist. I've also included your favorite Fig Rolls, Kathie, and a children's history of Ireland for Jackson..."

Years of Irish memories in a box from a dear friend back in Waterford. I'm enjoying Fig Rolls for breakfast as I did every day we lived in Ireland.

Kathleen Peddicord

P.S. Down here in Panama, between holidays and vacation days, little is accomplished from mid-December to mid-January. We've tried hard to keep up these past few weeks, but we recognize that our customer service and subscription fulfillment standards have not been what they normally are. To make matters worse, we've experienced some technical difficulties these holiday weeks.

We apologize, therefore, if you have been trying to contact us with a question or a problem and have not been able to get through or have not yet received a reply. As of today, we are nearly fully staffed again. Our Customer Service and IT teams are back on the job full-time, addressing glitches and catching up on back e-mails.

Thank you for your understanding and your patience. We pride ourselves on responding to every single reader e-mail we receive, normally within a few days. Our responses to e-mails from these past few weeks may have been delayed...but they're coming! We promise.

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