When I came to Panama, I expected to see a lot of Latinos. You know, tanned skin, black eyes, black hair. I did find a lot of them, but I came across a lot of some other races that were a big shock.
The first 20 or so black people I came across threw me for a complete loop when they started speaking Spanish. It was so weird hearing Spanish coming out of a black person's mouth. Does that show how naive I was or what?
But the biggest shock was the amount of Asian people I saw. What in the world brought Asians all the way to Panama? And not only are they here doing their own private thing, they own every freaking super market in the entire country. You think I'm joking. It's not a joke. Supermarkets here are called "chinos." That's how ridiculous it is. And do you know how many supermarkets there are in tiny little Panama? Good God, millions! And a different Chino (affectionate little name Panamanians call Asians, like how they say Gringo for white people) owns each one with their own family! They have to make up like a third of the population, seriously. It's crazy, and weird. So not what I expected.
The day that I first realized that everything in Panama is owned by chinos was about 3 weeks after arriving in Panama. I went to the nearby city to call my family back home. I had to buy a calling card. I went into one chino, no luck. Told me to go to the other chino on the corner. I went there and asked, still no luck. Referred me to another chino on the opposite side of the street. Third time's a charm and I got my calling card. But seriously, each chino sent me to another chino because they all have a secret underground network where they all own everything! Scary. Definitely don't trust that.
And, just for your information, the Ngobes around here believe that there is a submarine in the bay owned and operated by "chino rojos" and they come and eat Ngobe babies at night. So it's not just me that believes there is a ridiculous conspiracy.
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