Sometimes the search for a more interesting, more prosperous, and freer life, and life companion, takes us to places far from where we were born. And sometimes the opportunity to meet that special someone and find a different life can start closer to home. These thoughts occurred while wondering, what should a Hispanic girl do to meet a gringo? For those who are not familiar with the term, here is a synopsis.

What Is a Gringo and Why Would You Want to Meet One?

In Latin America the term gringo means someone (male, as a gringa is a female) who is not Hispanic. This person is typically from the United States or Canada but can also be British, Irish, Australian, or someone from Europe. The usual assumption is that gringos are rich. To the extent that poor people don’t travel much, the arrival of a fair-skinned Canadian, “Estado Unidiense” (“United Statesian”, because all of the folks in the Americas are American), Brit, or European in a Latin American country implies a wealthy traveler. This person is either on vacation or doing business in Latin America.

Why a Hispanic girl would want to meet such a person is because he is probably interesting and possibly wealthy. Other reasons may be that the girl has heard that gringos treat women differently that the men do back home. This part, the interesting part, and certainly the wealthy part, are often not the case!

Nevertheless, a Hispanic girl wants to meet a gringo. What does she need to do?

Where the Gringos Are

A Hispanic girl could go to the USA, Canada, or Europe to meet a gringo but there are issues of visas, cost of travel, and the fact that in those places there are lots of “gringas” as competition. If she wants to meet a nice gringo man, a better place might be where gringo men show up alone. One such place is Panama where gringos often come to do business, spend a few months when it is cold up North, or retire. A good idea when Hispanic girl wants to meet a gringo is find where these folks congregate in the Spanish speaking world and go there. There is not the problem of trying to function in a country where she does not speak the language. And, she has a way to create and maintain a friendship with someone who will find her command of Spanish useful.

An Example: Panama, Panama

If a Panamanian girl or Hispanic girl from a neighboring country such as Colombia wants to meet gringos, the best place is the capital city which is also Panama. (Like New York, New York it is Panama, Panama).

Where the Gringos Hang Out

There are lots of yachts anchored in Panama and many of them are owned by gringos. The Amador Causeway connects three islands on the coast by Panama City and can be a place to meet gringos. The Balboa Yacht Club has a small restaurant where gringos can be found in the evenings, especially on weekends. Other places such as major hotels like the Marriott, Sheraton, and Hard Rock Hotel are places where well to do gringos hang out.

What Should a Hispanic Girl Do To Meet a Gringo?

Knowing where to find a gringo is one thing but meeting one, and not giving the wrong impression, is the next step. There are, surprise, surprise, gringos who come to Panama in order to have drink, gamble, and have sex away from home. But, there are bars and other locations where a lot of scantily clad women arrive to pick up men so it is not hard to spot such locations or guess the intent of the men there. On the other hand, places like the yacht club, restaurants on the causeway, and many other gathering places are spots where a Hispanic girl might meet a gringo who, in fact, might like to meet a Hispanic girl.

So, dress up, practice a few words of English, and got out looking for gringos. And, course, you one of your girlfriends has a gringo boyfriend, ask to be introduced to his friends!

What to Expect When Dating a Gringo

Years ago we wrote about what a Hispanic girl should expect when dating a gringo. Here are some thoughts from that article. Follow the link if you want to read all of it.

Money

Men who travel to a country like Panama from the USA or Canada may or not be rich but they are typically more adventurous than their friends who stayed back in Chicago or Toronto. These guys tend to be friendly and outgoing. Because they carry credit cards and pay with “plastic” they may seem rich but they may also be deeply in debt.

Language

A big issue is if he speaks any Spanish or if you speak any English. Learning a few words of his language is a good idea and even using you smart phone to pull up “Google Translate” can make it easier to communicate. Bringing a friend who is bilingual helps with translations, but will get in the way if the two of you want more intimacy.

Culture

There are times when a “Norte Americano” is doing things that are well-mannered and polite in his culture but are not well-mannered in Latin American culture. This will especially be the case when he only knows a few words of Spanish and does things like using the present sense of the verb “to be” (estar) to say that you are beautiful or intelligent, not knowing that he may be insulting you by not using the permanent form (ser). In such cases, give him a break. He is really trying and is a long way from home.

But there are rude and thoughtless people in all cultures. When your new gringo friend gets drunk and starts a fight, or makes demands that are inappropriate, call a taxi and leave.

Hot First Date

A hot first date is not the usual case in the USA or Canada despite what we may see in the movies. On the other hand, when two people are comfortable with each other and the situation seems appropriate, just make sure to bring condoms in case he forgot or did not know where to buy them in a foreign city. In the USA and Canada, when a girl says “no” it means no just like it does in Latin America. If your gringo friend thinks differently, find another.

Age, Intent, Availability

A lot of gringo men who show up in Panama, and other Latin American cities, are in their 40s, 50s, and older. They have probably been married before and they may have money in the bank. But, do they want a new relationship? A guy like this will probably welcome having a Latina friend and even a bit of intimacy, but if his marriage was not happy and the divorce was painful, it may be hard to get him past the dating part.

Or you might meet someone who is the perfect guy. He likes you a lot and you think he is wonderful. But he still has a business in the USA and can only come to Panama, Cartagena, or San Jose once or twice a year and only for a couple of weeks. Don’t give up on him right away, but if the schedule does not change you need to decide if happiness for a couple of weeks a year is what you really want.