High school and public libraries will find this volume a welcome addition to reference book shelves. Engagingly written, this comprehensive volume gives students an overview of contemporary life in Panama-what religions are practiced, what the cuisine is consumed on a day-to-day basis, and what people wear in urban and rural settings, among many other topics. Modern literature, media outlets, gender issues, education, visual arts, and performing arts are also covered. While the focus is on current customs and contemporary culture, readers will also gain insight into Panama's unique relationship with the United States, which has been turbulent in the past at best. Students studying international politics, anthropology, world culture, and current events will find this to be a useful resource. This volume explores contemporary culture in Panama, a melting pot deep in the heart of Central America. Thanks to the construction of the Panama Canal and the need for laborers, Panama's culture today is teeming with influences from ethnicities from around the world, including American Indian, Chinese, West Indian, Greek, and French. High school and public libraries will find this volume a welcome addition to reference book shelves. Engagingly written, this comprehensive study gives students an overview of contemporary life in Panama-what religions are practiced, what the cuisine is consumed on a day-to-day basis, and what people wear in urban and rural settings, among many other topics. Modern literature, media outlets, gender issues, education, visual arts, and performing arts are also covered. While the focus is on current customs and contemporary culture, readers will also gain insight into Panama's unique relationship with the United States, which has been turbulent in the past at best. Students studying international politics, anthropology, world culture, and current events will find this to be a useful resource.