community

Neither the average American nor the average Panamanian would see Charlie Brown's troubles with the infamous Kite-Eating Tree as having anything to do with ancient Chinese culture. It does seem, however, that the art and science of kite flying began long ago in China, and that the original Kite-Eating Tree would be closer to the Yangtze than to the Mississippi.

But it's all international now, and when the Association of Chinese-Panamanian Professionals (with co-sponsorship from the Taiwan Embassy and the Arrocha pharmacies) put out the call for this year's Kite Fair, the fourth of its kind, most of the people who showed up at the Amador Causeway for the occasion were not Chinese. The Chinese community did, however, turn out in great numbers.

It was not only a family-oriented event, but also one of many activities that will be held this year to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the establishment of Panama's Chinese community. Along with the first major wave of West Indian immigrants and many of the founders of the permanent American community on the isthmus, many Chinese came here to build the Panama Railroad in the middle of the 19th century and a bunch of them stayed on to form part of the mosaic that's contemporary Panamanian culture.

Also in this section:
Association of Chinese-Panamanian Professionals' Kite Fair
Tracking down the Ran Runnels legend
Girl Scouts' 5k run
Afro-Panamanian Cultural Festival

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