Home is Closer Than You Think When You Go Overseas
After 14 years abroad, one expat couple finds that moving overseas brought them closer to family in unexpected ways.
I just returned from a month-long home exchange on Vancouver Island, one of Canada's dazzling West Coast jewels—and wow, what a heartening homecoming it was.
Time with family, reunions with old friends, laughter around dinner tables… it all reminded me that while we left Canada for a better, more affordable life in Panama 14 years ago, we never really left "home" behind.
When we became expats, we wondered if keeping current with our family and close to our social network would be difficult.
But as it turns out, moving overseas doesn't mean saying goodbye to your family and friends. Staying in touch just takes on a new perspective.
We don't see family and friends as often since moving to Panama, but when we return to Canada, we go for longer visits. These visits lend themselves to a richly rewarding time spent together rather than brief one-on-one encounters over the garden fence.
When we go back to visit, everyone is excited to see us, and we spend quality time at family gatherings, lunches, dinners, and happy hours, allowing us to catch up on all the news and happenings at a leisurely pace.
It is also an opportunity for family and friends to meet again. We find that often the last time people saw each other is when we were last back!
And when you are an expat there is always something to talk about rather than the "same old same old." Everyone has a genuine interest in your life abroad and lively conversations unfold as you bring a fresh viewpoint to the neighborhood.
People are curious about your overseas lifestyle and its many pros and cons. Hearing about the advantages of being an expat, such as lower cost of living, affordable healthcare, and warmer climate, always leads to numerous questions and discussions.
Of course, sharing the challenges of expat life such as "lost in translation" language blunders, construction struggles and failed shopping endeavors are a constant source of amusement and always a happy hour favorite.
Family and friends also want updates from previous visits: did that carport finally get built? Are Amazon deliveries arriving any faster? Has the road that you were complaining about last time been improved? There is no end of things to discuss!
And home is indeed closer than you may think, especially if you choose to live near a primary travel hub or even a secondary, more regional center offering convenient connections.
Panama City's Tocumen International Airport is known as the "Hub of the Americas" with numerous daily flights to destinations around the world and many direct flights to the United States and Canada. While Copa Airlines is Panama's flag carrier, connecting over 80 destinations in 32 countries, other airlines with operations in Tocumen include American, United, Delta, Air France, KLM, Air Europa, Iberia, and Turkish Airlines.
Tocumen is our major hub here in Panama but, of course, it's only an example of the countless travel options available if you live near a major airport. Other such hubs would include Charles de Gaulle in Paris; Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon; Cancun International Airport; or Carrasco International Airport in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Secondary airports such as London Gatwick, Paris Orly, Frankfurt-Hahn and Santorini International also offer very convenient and often less expensive travel options.
We have also discovered that getting there is half the fun! In addition to regular air travel, we have sampled different modes of transportation such as float planes, helicopters and fast ferries, all booked at amazing promotional prices.
In short, traveling is easier, more convenient, more affordable and more fun than you may realize.
You will be on your family's doorstep or vice versa before you know it, as witnessed by the number of guests we have coming to visit for the next dry season spanning November to April. Conveniently corresponding to the dark and dreary days of winter in much of North America, everyone is eager to travel south and embrace summer.
We are a welcoming overseas haven for friends and family looking to escape winter and have adventures in Panama. With dry season temperatures soaring into the 90's F, endless days of sunshine and warm ocean waters we provide the perfect sun, sand, sea and surf playground.
Happily, this also gives us the opportunity to reciprocate all the hospitality we receive when we return to the Pacific Northwest on our visits.
After our memorable time in the Pacific Northwest, we can now look forward to seeing family and friends in six months or so when they arrive to have fun in the sun at their Panama home.
Yes, "home" is closer than you think when you move overseas!
— Gabriele Walkow, IL Panama Contributor
Editor’s Note: If you enjoyed Gabriele’s reflections on staying connected to “home” while living overseas, you’ll love her recent article on Panama’s Azuero Peninsula. In it, she explores why more and more expats are choosing this lush, laid-back region on the Pacific coast—where rustic charm, modern comforts, and a deep sense of belonging all come together.