This is a post on the very helpful ChiriquiChatter blog site. It’s a great reminder of what you may need to do (not do) when hiring a maid / housekeeper / cook here in Panama. Here’s how it starts, then click the link if you want to keep reading.

I know that many people picture one of the benefits of moving to a Latin American country being the cheap labor and the ability of having a full or part time maid. Well it is and it isn’t.

La Gringa’s current maid adventures have reminded me.

After you live here a while you forget some of the first problems you run into with maids. It is easy to just assume that all you do is hire a maid, give a few general instructions, grab your favorite book and go relax. Well dream on. Here in Panama, many people have maids. Just because you hire a maid that has experience, doesn’t mean that she will know anything about cleaning the way you want. Continue Reading