Moving to Panama with Kids & Enrolling Them in School

The host Jackie Lang introduces herself and explains the purpose of the live stream, which is to discuss moving to Panama with children. She mentions the diversity of the audience and shares her own relocation story, having moved to Panama in 2010 and starting a successful relocation tour business. Jackie highlights the complexities of relocating with families and pets and briefly introduces guests Janine and Carl, who moved to Panama with their son.

The conversation turns to Janine and Carl, who start having technical issues but eventually join the live stream to share their experience. They discuss moving from Southern California to the Coronado area in Panama. They prioritize the proximity to beaches and schools as important factors in their decision to relocate. Despite technical challenges, they communicate their transitional journey of moving to a new country and school system with their son.

Janine and Carl elaborate on their move, detailing how they decided upon Panama without having visited before. They express that their son's well-being was a significant consideration, managing the transition from a familiar environment in California to a new, uncharted life in Panama. Overcoming communication hurdles, they explore their rationale for choosing international schools over public or homeschooling options, emphasizing business commitments.

The couple explores the logistics of selecting international schools amidst pandemic restrictions when schools were initially closed for in-person visits. They navigate early decisions, including enrolling in an international school and later moving to home-schooling as a more flexible option. The discussion highlights the evolving fit of educational choices for their son amidst their transient lifestyle in Panama.

The conversation shifts to the costs of education, outlining the price range of international schools in Panama, which can vary greatly based on location—ranging from $80 to $700 monthly. Key differences in school structures are noted, along with diverse teaching styles, and the potential for additional enrollment fees.

Janine and Carl elaborate on their decision to eventually choose homeschooling, citing flexibility and the opportunity to avoid unnecessary commuting as priorities. They emphasize that while international schools in their area offer high-quality education, personal preferences for transient living and recreational flexibility led them to homeschooling.

Jackie interjects to share insights into the importance of children's integration into new environments. She underscores this with anecdotes about other families who modified living arrangements to better suit their children's social needs. Jackie stresses the need to balance parental desires with children’s happiness to ensure a smooth transition when moving abroad.

Further discussion on social integration covers considerations around exposing children to diverse cultural environments and languages. Jackie and the guests highlight how involvement with local Panamanians and expats can enhance the living experience. They reinforce the value in allowing children the chance to engage with local cultures for personal growth.

Returning to practical relocation advice, Jackie and the guests discuss what documentation is essential for school enrollment in Panama. They cover flexibility in enrollment times, vaccine records (not generally required), and basic identification needs for integrating into the school system.

The conversation includes personal lessons learned and advice for potential movers, such as the merits of flexibility, not rushing school enrollments, and the benefits of gradual cultural and social integration.