I’m sorry to have to leave Panama after living here for such a short time. Unfortunately due to an unforeseen problem with our house in NH, we will be forced to return to the US sooner than we would have otherwise hoped. I don’t think this country can really be enjoyed to its full potential in less than a year though.

My wife, Heather, and I decided to spend time overseas after getting married. We had originally posted an ad on craigslist hoping to go somewhere in Costa Rica, but we were lucky enough to be contacted by Thorwald and are glad we made the move to Panama instead. After several years in executive positions in the US , we were looking to apply our skills in a different environment.

ILISA is a fast growing Spanish immersion language school in a cool neighborhood just outside Panama City . For us, ILISA struck the right balance of location, fun, and professionalism.

The school is in Clayton at the Ciudad de Saber. The campus occupies the former military base here, so it provides good infrastructure and tranquil American-style neighborhoods; however there is more character than you might expect from a traditional military base because of the tropical architecture and vegetation. The property borders Las Cruces National Park which provides an exceptional buffer from the cosmopolitan life of Panama City , while remaining close for its convenience and culture. Clayton is also a short ride from the bigger and more accessible Soberania National Park where well-maintained hiking trails and wildlife abound. The famous Miraflores Locks are just across the street and provide an impressive reminder of the historical importance of the area. There is an Olympic size swimming pool, gym, a jogging trail, and playing fields all within eyesight of the building.

Thorwald provided us a modern and comfortable home with all the amenities we were accustomed to. We have two bedrooms, a living room, dining area, kitchen, bath, and carport. There is even a maid’s quarter on the first floor that we use for additional storage. We bought a car when we first arrived and often go to the nearby beaches for surfing and swimming.

ILISA has a very professional team in Panama . As the Sales Manager, I enjoyed the confidence of knowing that if I made a deal, the customer would inevitably have a great experience here. Thorwald provides the direction for the company and offers the autonomy for his employees to execute his plans. The Academic Director has a staff of well-qualified instructors that far exceeds the quality of our competitors. The Sales Assistant is friendly, helpful, and eager to learn.

The business is growing quickly and has a solid foundation in Costa Rica on which to base its success. There exist several avenues for strategic and tactical growth in the company and there is no shortage of opportunity. Most of my challenges were luxury problems that needed to be addressed to maintain the sales trajectory the school was enjoying.

Panama is an exiting place to be at this time.  It is experiencing explosive growth across several sectors of the economy and continues to lure investment at an impressive rate. It is safe, beautiful, and full of diverse culture. Since Spanish skills are so important in the global economy, work at ILISA prepares you as a competitive candidate for international business jobs.

If you have any questions about the experience of living in Panama , or working for ILISA, please do not hesitate to contact us. We would love to share our story.

Andrew & Heather Reed
nhfamily@gmail.com