#1: Panama City, Panama
Panama City is home to a dozen international-standard schools that could make good choices for your child’s elementary- and secondary-level education, including the Academia Interamericana de Panamá; the Canadian International School of Panama (tuition is US$7,500 per year; Colegio De La Salle; Colegio St. Mary’s; Balboa Academy (considered by many the top choice in the city); and the French School of Panama (also called Paul Gauguin, administered by the French Ministry of Education).
Panama City boasts the best health care in the region and the state-of-the-art Hospital Punta Pacifica, affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine International in the States. The standard of care for your child would be what you’re accustomed to back home.
Panama City is also home to Parque Omar, an extensive oasis of trees and shade, with areas for soccer, baseball, bike riding, tennis, skating, karate, even a public swimming pool. In addition, in 2009 the city inaugurated a new park area, the Cinta Costera, that runs along Avenida Balboa in the center of downtown. This palm-lined malecón along the Bay of Panama is Jack’s preferred spot for skateboarding and riding his bike. The many playground and workout areas, skate park, biking path, and tennis and basketball courts are the best in the city. The 11 kilometer stretch is also dotted with monuments, art works, and fountains that splash and spray the grateful passers-by. The Cinta has quickly become a source of great enjoyment and pride for the residents of Panama City.
Panamanians aren’t as big on organized team sports as Americans are. You’ll find some children’s sport teams that mostly meet seasonally (these are usually advertised in Panama City before summer starts in December). Baseball leagues and soccer clubs are the most prevalent, but basketball, American football, and rugby can also be found. These teams are all locally-run—meaning they play in Spanish.
The options for individual study are many and easy to arrange. Jack has taken private guitar and private piano lessons (each at a cost of US$20 per hour). He walks down the street for martial arts classes three afternoons each week. He and Kaitlin horse ride together twice a week (for a fraction of the cost of lessons in the States or Europe). A friend’s son has a private tennis tutor and goes to golf school. Another friend’s little girl attends ballet classes twice weekly. Kaitlin started taking private ballroom dancing lessons when she moved to Panama; she learns Foxtrot and Tango from an American who moved there from New Jersey.
In addition, Panama is in the Central time zone, meaning it’d be convenient for your child to stay in touch with family back in the United States by phone, and but a few hours by air from key points in the States, meaning he or she could easily return home for holidays and regular visits.