Living In Latin America

Are you looking for to learn one of the most commonly used languages in the globe? Do you want to take your Spanish language skills to the next level? Well then, you should be informed that one of the most interesting, quickest and simplest methods to do so is by taking a trip to latin America.

You would better start by doing some research about Latin America so as to familiarize and get an idea of the kind of people and places you will be in contact with. However, if you are running out of time, read on this article and you will find some useful information about this place. To start with, you should know that Latin America people are said to be extremely friendly, nice, open minded and really funny people. This is not a minor issue if you are planning to travel there and share some time with Latin American people while you polish your Spanish as well. Moreover, Latin America women and men are also claimed to be very attractive. That definitely counts, doesn’t it? They are also fashionable guys and like to be up to date with new trends. As for their daily routine, we daresay that Latin America people are really hardworking guys who make a lot of effort to reach their goals. Yet, they are also relaxed people who like to enjoy life and make the most of time. That’s why they always gather with friends and go out together very often. Especially at weekends, Latin American people tend to go clubbing, and then visit different trendy discos till very late. They usually stay on almost all night long. So get ready to have lots of fun! In addition to this, Latin America countries are popularly known for their breathtaking landscapes. You will enjoy all kinds of landscapes; that is to say beautiful sandy beaches, amazing mountains, lakes, rivers, the jungle, and the icebergs such as in the south of Argentina. In short, there are plenty of wonderful destinations to take advantage of. Needless to say, Spanish learning opportunities will be waiting for you any place you might choose. Some countries such as Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, etc just to mention a few, offer lots of learning possibilities. For instance, you can stay at a hotel, a family house or a hostel (much cheaper than a hotel) and at the same time you may visit all those beautiful places mentioned above, you can also take up some Spanish lessons at private institutes, universities, or why not some coaching with native speakers of the language. Being part of a Spanish speaking community will enable you to grasp new vocabulary more easily, take in some grammar rules, improve your pronunciation, and you will probably learn to speak Spanish fast. If you already know Spanish, getting immersed in the Spanish culture will help you reinforce and master your Spanish language skills. What’s more, you will also learn about the Spanish culture, which is always a must when it comes to learning any new language. As a consequence, if you have enough money to travel to any Latin American country, learning Spanish out there sounds like the best option! Trust me; it will be worth every single penny you save for this trip. Otherwise, if you save up some money, and still can’t afford the trip, do not feel disheartened since you might as well think of the possibility of working in Latin America. By means of this, you will be able to pay for the hotel, and any extra expenses that may come up. Just get enough money for the ticket and off you go!

Bary is an earnest Spanish learner who tried most of the Spanish courses available online. You can read his reviews for the top rated Spanish courses at his site: http://speedspanishpro.com/spanishcourses/reviews

Article Source: articlestreet

A welcoming community, safe environment, low crime statistics, excellent incentives, together with the natural beauty and ethnic diversity that is Panama, the isthmus of Panama appeals to the increasing number of baby boomers from North America and Europe who are looking for a different option for retirement, coupled with investors and adventurers the world over, Panama has something for everyone.

Opportunities in Panama for both business and investment are increasing as the potential is appreciated. Panama stands alone in its unique set of laws and openness, boasting a well-established dollar-based economy, stable political situation and economic growth, sustained by its Canal (and its subsequent expansion), the Colon Free Zone (the second largest Free Zone in the world), and an unparalleled international financial system the second largest international banking centre in the world after Switzerland, with more than 150 banks from 35 countries. A sophisticated CBD, healthcare system, solid infrastructure and the highest level of communications infrastructure in all of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Panama
Is one of the top three countries in Latin America for quality of life
Offers the best retiree incentive program in the world
boasts first-rate medical services at the only Johns Hopkins International Medical Centre in Latin America
has a perfect climate of 25-30 degrees centigrade year round
Because of its unique geographical positioning Panama does not suffer natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes etc
Foreign investors can operate with the same rights and incentives as locals
Panamanian tariffs are the lowest of all the Americas
Panama is a shoppers paradise, be it Chanel, Gucci, Canon, LG or Toyota
Private education is excellent with many international schools
Less than 2% inflation increase over the past forty years
No property taxes on new constructions
Cost-of-living is low, especially with the exchange rate
If you combine these unique offerings with the advantage that foreign source income is not taxable in Panama, many are concluding that Panama offers a terrific package.
In 2003 for the first time tourism topped the Canal and the Free Trade Zone as the country’s top revenue earner.
The growth in tourism leads to increasing investor interest in this sector and there are incredible opportunities for tourist related services and accommodations, encouraged by government incentives in a number of designated areas, called Special Tourism Zones, of which Santa Catalina, Veraguas, Panama is one
IPAT, the national tourism bureau has zoned this area precisely because of its outstanding natural beauty and as a result it will soon see a strong rise in interest from further a field. It has been a best-kept secret by Panamanians for a long time and is now beginning to seduce many a traveler, adventurer, investor, and developer. Growth in the area is inevitable; therefore, those who seek to invest early will reap the largest returns.
This is where Big World Villas, the unique development project is due to celebrating its ground breaking procedure in early 2008.
It is the first such development in the area and offers investors a relaxed lifestyle surrounded by pristine coastline, untouched rain forest and endless opportunities for outdoor adventure.

Santa Catalina is a beautiful town located 300km south-west of Panama City and is the best the best access point for the well-renowned Coiba National Park a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also known for having one of the best surf breaks in Central America whilst boasting breathtaking scenery and an outstanding natural environment. World-class fishing is plentiful along the coastline and surrounding islands. Marine activities such as sport fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling and jet skiing opportunities are said to be some of the best in the world.

For more on Big World Villas click here For more on Panama Resl Estate click here

Article Source: articlestreet

From Latin America came the topmost contributor of land scraping in the whole world. Deforestation in Latin America accounts for almost 53% of the emitted carbon dioxide in the atmospheric air. Logging in the region has become so immense that it claimed to have the highest rate in the world, and the fight of it came to be one of hardest struggles of the continent.

In over a period of 5 years, the world lost 100 hectares of the forested lands, and about half of that came from the Latin American nation. Deforestation has been quite a great toil to them and their people for years now, and it hasn’t been an easy battle because economy has been playing with the nation ever since.

What makes the fight even more exhausting is that the economy of Latin America relies on its own soil for support. Not only are the Latin Americans dependent on their ecological capacity, but the neighboring nations as well. If this present trend will run continuously for a period of 30 years, the world will be totally depleted of all its natural resources.

To combat and counter the ways of deforestation, the Latin American government imposed laws which could help stop all illegal activities. However, it is still a question up to this time why the problem has not ceased for years.

Predictions For Latin America
Recently, Latin America has experienced great climactic changes, and this could have been brought only by the intense cutting of their forests and the abuse that their lands receive.

By the year 2050, these set of predictions by environmentalists and experts are set to happen globally: distribution of human diseases will be widely spread and emergence of new types of illnesses will rise, crop disease and pest will likewise rise in trend, economic activities will be severely depleted, drought and famine will be in much abundance especially in impoverished tropical countries.

Water resource will be greatly reduced, plant and animal species will decrease in variability, the ecosystem will be significantly disrupted, and melting of most of the earth’s glaciers will take place.

If such events that harm nature will not be stopped, imagine what the world would be like in the coming years? Would there be something to live for by then, or are the humans about to face extinction in the next 30 years? The questions are very well dependent on humans for answers.

Key Issues Of Deforestation In Latin America
Latin America is presently facing all of these issues: gradual increase in their environmental temperature which causes much change in their climate, tropical forests especially that of the Amazon is buffeted by drought and fire occurrences, shortage in wheat yields brought about by drought and some other ecological factors.

The availability and quality of their water which once was abundant has changed, coastal areas are immensely affected through sea water level increase, infrastructure has been built all the more to counter the effects of coastal problems. Epidemics of disease have been reported; and lastly, a wide classification of plants and animals are facing extinction due to mal adaptation.

Urgent measures must be taken in saving the Latin American forests. Developmental strategies as well as firm decision makings should properly be imposed upon their people and the neighboring countries which benefit from them as well. If deforestation in Latin America prevails, the world could only promise more devastating results.

Paul Hata is active in various community and social programs.Get the latest Environment,Ecology and Gardening information here – WorldEnvironmentPages.com ,WorldEcologyPages.comand WorldGardenPages.com

Article Source: articlestreet

It’s no secret why thousands of people choose to move to Latin America each year to invest and retire. The pleasant weather, fresh food, welcoming locals and great property deals all are big draws. But buyer beware, here are a few of the common scams out there to watch out for when looking for your dream beach house.

1. The Bickering Sibling Scam: This scam is very prevalent all over Latin America. This is when the house is owned by various people (often left to children in a will) and some of the owners try to sell the property while other legal owners don’t wish to sell. This can lead to big problems for you if you pay someone before getting this legally cleared up.

To avoid being burned by this scam, work with a good lawyer and make sure they null the legal rights anyone has to the property.

2. The Uncle Larry Scam: Often a house is sold without informing an active tenant, and the tenant simply refuses to leave. The police in many countries of Latin America don’t help much in these cases. So before you buy, make sure there are no active tenants. Or if there are, make sure the current owner gets them out before you hand over the money. This can be one big headache for a new home buyer.

3. Shanty Town Scam: This has been happening ever since the Spaniards first arrived hundreds of years ago. You will see that in some areas of the coasts, the cheapest beachfront real estate is inhibited by make-shift shanty towns. Many of these people have been here for decades, yet they don’t actually have the title to the land. This opens the door to someone coming along and buying the land without their knowledge and reselling it right out from under them. Uprooting these people is extremely difficult, and this difficulty should be avoided if possible.

4. The Invalid Contract Scam: This is when you sign a document or contract in Latin America, but don’t officially register it with the corresponding Municipality, rendering it unenforceable! Using a good lawyer can help prevent things like this from happening.

5. Multiple Sale Scam: In most Latin countries, once you purchase a property you have to register it officially with the local Notary and the Office often designated the “Registro de Propiedad.” If you don’t, the seller could sell the same property multiple times, and the first one to register the property with the local authorities gets the official deed to property. To avoid, make sure as soon as you buy to register the property.

6. The Useless Property Scam: This is where someone sells you a property that has some governmentally imposed building restriction, rendering your purchase useless. A good lawyer can help you avoid this scam. In other cases your property may be on the base of a large, unstable mountain of sand that will collapse on you once you start construction. To avoid, always visit a lot before you buy it, and don’t commit to anything over the internet.

7. False document scam: In Latin America, anything can be copied. Identical-looking passports can be made for around $150. Needless to say, some people may try to sell you a property with false title and registration documents. The way to prevent this is to always work with a trustworthy lawyer.

Don’t let this list of scams scare you off. Moving to Latin America was the best choice many people, myself included, ever made.

Domenick Buonamici teaches expats how to find the hidden beachfront property bargains of Ecuador through his e-Book “The Insiders Guide to Ecuador Real Estate” available for immediate download at http://www.EcuadorRealEstate.org .

Article Source: articlestreet

Latin America offers a lot of opportunities for volunteer work and especially in teaching English. This South American region offers beautiful landscape and travel opportunities to places that are more heard of than seen.

Volunteering in Latin America has increased in the recent past due to a failing economy, poverty, and lack of education and political and civil wars and strife. But the fact is that Latin American nations have a wealth of natural resources, but are still considered as developing countries by those in North America and Europe.

So if you are interested in overseas volunteer work then Latin America is a place to be. Some of the relatively developed countries in Latin America like Argentina and Costa Rica have significant number of people below the poverty line.

Apart from this most of Latin American countries are not well versed with English, which is slowly becoming a global language.

Volunteering in Latin America can vary from country to country and it can include from community development, health education, environmental work and even sports. As an individual, you can always choose the kind of overseas volunteer work you want to participate in and the duration that you want to work for.

Volunteering in Latin America includes the following types of work:

Conservation volunteerism: This is of prime importance especially because a large part of the Amazon rain forest has disappeared and with it has disappeared many habitats.

You can choose volunteering work from different types of conservation projects that include preservation of endangered species of turtles in Costa Rica and Trinidad & Tobago; Wildlife rehabilitation centers in Brazil, Argentina and Ecuador and save forests and environmental projects in Brazil (mostly Amazon), Chile, Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala etc.

You don’t need to have any kind of degree in animal behavior, all you need is love for nature, animals and a will to make a difference and save the planet and its depleting natural resources.

Health Volunteerism: Volunteering in Latin America revolves a lot around health and related services because most of the countries there don’t have the necessary infrastructure or skilled people that include, doctors, nurses and other medical practitioners.

Lack of education also means that health problems are at a rise in the backward areas and smaller towns. You can get a lot of exposure through volunteer work in hospitals in Ecuador and Honduras.

Sports Volunteerism: Sports may seem to be the unlikely area for volunteer work. South America has a lot of sporting talent especially in soccer but there is no infrastructure, coaches or training schools that can hone the skills of the youngsters or teenagers who want to enter the professional sports arena.

Soccer is like a religion in some countries like Brazil and Argentina, who have also made their mark on the World stage. El futbol is considered to be a way of life, so if you have ever coached any teams or played in any league games in Europe or other parts of the world then you can volunteer as a football/soccer coach.

Volunteer Community Development: Although South America presents a pretty picture that advertises the smiles, the sun, the sand, the giant palm trees, the beautiful and exotic wildlife, there is much work to be done in terms of community development.

Latin America suffers from a disparity of wealth and there are many people who dream of a better life, more money so that they can provide the basic necessities to their children or parents.

Volunteering in Latin America in Community development will involve many aspects like teaching English, developing projects that will benefit the society as a whole, helping old aged people and orphans, providing education to street kids and many more.

It is all hard work but the end result is gratifying because you will be one of the few people to have made a difference.

Volunteer in Latin America expert Alex Landin is a project manager and Volunteer in latin American destinations and contributor to GlobalCrossRoad.com.

Article Source: articlestreet