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If I told you there was someone in Panama who was:
1. Extraordinarily trustworthy
2. Had excellent English skills & is educated
3. Has PERSONAL experience and knowledge of the Orphanages in Panama.
Who would be willing to:
1. Provide "personal guide" services to prospective adoptive families...
2. Run errands, transport documents, and help with telephone communication...
3. Help adoptive families arrange to go to parks, zoos, and other recreational activities on their "down" time (when they're not in court, etc).....
4. Help adoptive families make restaurant arrangements, call a taxi when needed, etc....
5. Be there for the adoptive couples in whatever way needed to help make them more comfortable in Panama......
6. Perhaps provide babysitting services...
... for a small fee (suggestions?)......
Would you --- HONESTLY --- see a need for this sort of service? Would you use it???
We have a VERY special young lady that we support (emotionally, and sometimes financially) and stay in constant contact with in Panama who has just lost her job due to an asthma attack that left her in the hospital and out of work for a week (jobs are scarce there... miss one day, and they'll fire you).
I am encouraging her to start her own guide service... and was wondering if it might be a silly idea....... I don't want to suggest something to her, only for it to be something that doesn't fulfill a need. I thought that this biz idea might provide a small "on the side" income for her while she waits to finish college and move on to a permanent career.
Your suggestions would be so welcome...... also... if you thought this was a good idea... what would be a suggestion I could make to our friend as far as a fee goes? It would have to be very humble knowing how much $$$ is already being put into your travel costs, and the adoption fees.
This young woman is very special to us - she babysat our daughter (and son), and watched out for her PERSONALLY at the orphanage (long story).
I never hesitated to put my children in her care. She lived with an American family as a teen (adoption failed because she turned 16 before the process could begin)... attended a private, Catholic, all girls school in Panama City... attends church at an American-based Missionary Church, and is a born-again Christian.
We miss her... and worry about her... and don't want to point her in the wrong direction.
Thanks for your input....
~Kim P.
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This sounds like a great idea for your friend, Kim!
I wonder if any of the adoption agencies would be interested in helping out a local young woman and their clients at the same time??? Have you contacted any of the agencies? They probably wouldn't pay her themselves, but their clients might pay her through PayPal or direct deposit for things like checking out hotels they're thinking of staying at or making restaurant reservations or planning "activities" (like the zoo trip), etc. once they're in Panama...
Once she decides what "services" she could offer adoptive families (and what a great idea for her to be a guide for adoptive families! We all need that kind of local assistance!!!), she could create a Web site with a list of her services, her contact info, some Panama background, and even a pic of herself so families have a face to go with the voice they'll be talking to. :-)
I'm not sure how much she should charge for some of these services, though. Some tour companies charge hundreds or thousands just to book airline tickets and hotel rooms. She is probably not licensed to do that, but she could check out hotels and give each a rating...That would be worth $25-50 or more (for the running around, getting the contact info and prices for each hotel, etc.)
Sounds like an interesting idea. I'm curious to hear what others think, too.
P.S. I hope she finds another job, soon!
Rebecca
I appreciate the suggestions..... thank you.
I guess what I need to know is:
1. would it be helpful to have someone lined up ahead of time to be there with you, whether it just be to help you with a taxi ride (make sure you get to where you're suppose to be, with no problems)....... or even to meet you at the airport (is that the agency's job? Is that already taken care of?)....
2. Does this even sound appealing to anyone... ?
Inside, I am so gung ho about this idea - but mostly because I KNOW her -- and I know "I" would trust her to do this for me... but trying to convince a total stranger of that ....well... I know that's another story.
Do you think it would be worth suggesting to her? She is at the bottom of her rope, and we (my husband and I) feel that she has HUGE potential, and has overcome such obstacles, that she COULD really start up her own business... but it has to fulfill some "need". With adoption really opening up in Panama... I thought maybe, with her personal experience, she might be able to make a go of it.
I'm not talking "big" bucks, either..... Just $20 here or there.
Am I out in left field? I hate to suggest it to her, get her hopes up, and then find out it's a bad idea.....
I couldn't do that to her.
We've tried to get her to the U.S. on a greencard, however... we've lived outside the U.S. since leaving Panama - so we're not much help there.
Thanks again...... thanks Reb/Julianna for the input.
*my daughter's name is Juliana!! :)
~kim
check out this website:
[url]http://www.guatemalareservations.com[/url]
this is a travel service run by a woman named nancy hoffman. she has set tours which are priced and described. she also has 'adoption-related' services which can be accessed by a link at the site.
i know the guatemala parents speak highly of this service. i can imagine that it would be a real coup to have something like this in panama. it might take a fair amount of resources to get it established, tho'.
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There isn't a smiley face bursting into tears of happiness here... otherwise I would have posted that!!!
First... LEAH........ THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART! I've sent you a PM (first I had to figure out what that was, then I had to edit my profile.. but it's there).
Shoshana - I'm at that website now doing some digging...... such a GREAT suggestion to check out the site!!!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!
~Kim :)