P. 7 - LA PLAYA
MARCH / MARZO 2014
WWW.PLAYACOMMUNITY.COM
To Advertise / Para Publicidad: [email protected]
6 SMARTPHONE APPS EVERY EXPAT IN
PANAMA NEEDS
By Liz Larroquette
Liz Larroquette’s no-BS approach
to advising clients on real estate
has earned her the respect of
thousands of expats who have
relocated to Panama, and many
more who are considering relocating in the future. See what there is
to discover at LizLarroquette.com.
I simply “shared” my location with
them through the app! They
received real-time directions that
brought them right to the front door.
Not only did this save them the
stress of navigating, it allowed
them to better take in the Golf’s
green and flowery landscape.
I can hardly believe that I’m saying
this, but I can’t image my life
without a smartphone. I rely on
mine heavily- and not just for the
distribution of goofy photos and
well-timed selfies! (Though, yes,
there is some of that too.)
Waze also provides real-time traffic
updates based on what other app
users encounter. Even once you
know your way around, it’s a useful
app to have for avoiding accidents,
traffic jams, and police checkpoints
(not that you have anything to
hide...right?)
Rather, I call upon my smartphone
to help me navigate my way around
Panama more easily and enjoyably- and help my clients do the
same. As a real estate professional, a Mom, and a community
member myself, I’ve found these
apps to be absolute must-haves for
any Panama smartphone.
WhatsApp, Type: Social Messaging Price: Free for first year, then
$9.99 for a lifetime membership.
WhatsApp has almost entirely
replaced text messaging in
Panama. The app operates exactly
how any text message service
would, and best of all- it’s FREE for
the first year!
While talking on the phone in
Panama is cheap, texting is not.
That’s why we all turn to WhatsApp. It’s so much the standard
practice here that people actually
think it’s strange to receive a
regular text message! It’s the sign
of a Panama newbie (or someone
sans smartphone) to send a
regular text.
WhatsApp is also a great way to
keep in touch with friends around
the globe. Ask them to download it,
and you can text each other for
free!
Waze, Type: GPS Price: Free
Just the other day, I was set to
meet with a client for a viewing of
Coronado Golf. Seeing as it’s in the
middle of a sprawling 18-hole golf
course, getting to it can be difficult
the first time around (confound
Panama’s lack of street signs!)
With Waze, I needn’t worry about a
newcomer getting frustratingly lost.
Duolingo. Type: Language Price:
Free
From my kids to my clients, everyone I’ve introduced to Duolingo is
absolutely obsessed! This addictive app turns language into a
game in which you which you
unlock levels, win medals, and
compete against friends. Importantly, Duolingo boosts your ability
to
build
and
comprehend
sentences rather than singular
words. After all, it’s no help knowing
random vocab if you can’t string
together a sentence!
Even having been bilingual for
many years, I can’t resist jumping
in and playing along with my kids
every now and then. And it’s great
for me- and for them- to be able to
chart their progress!
Google Translate, Type: Language
Price: Free
This one is a lifesaver for anyone
still learning Spanish. For those
moments when the right word (or
maybe all the words) escape you,
the Google Translate app will save
your skin. Simply enter what you’re
trying to say, select your desired
language, and translate! It’s a great
way
to
communicate
with
non-English speakers that come to
your house (e.g. Larry the Cable
Guy.)
24/7 Spanish Phrases, Type:
Language Price: Free or $1.99
I remember when I was first
learning Spanish in Panama many
years ago, one of the challenges
was that I didn’t know many practical phrases. I could talk someone’s
ear off about how “the girl drank the
milk,” but I was clueless on how to
ask: “can I have more fries,
please?”
I sure wish this app were around
back then. Instead of random
sentences, it drills you on
common phrases that real life
actually calls for. It even
separates levels into categories
like “questions,” and “directions,”
and quizzes you via different
methods so you mix up the
memory process.
Taximetro Panama, Type: Taxi
fare calculator Price: Free
It took me awhile to get to the
point where I was no longer
“gringo-priced” when grabbing
cabs in the city. Until you get
there, this app will save you a lot
of money (and uncomfortable
situations) by determining what
the rate should really be.
Not having to ask the driver “how
much” greatly reduces your
chances of getting overcharged.
And if the driver does argue, you
can at least argue back with
more certainty. Although, if you
are able, pre-negotiate the price
for your ride.
Panama Tides, Type: Ocean tide
Price: Free
Recently, I was showing clients a
condo in the luxurious Westin
Playa Bonita. The community
occ