So there has been a few small things I wanted to blog about but thought Id save them all up into a bigger blog to save time and make reading a little more interesting. So here is the top 10 observations of Chilean life in no particular order:
1.They are extremely welcoming
So nearly all Chileans seem to have a natural talent for being extremely welcoming. Random people in the street are always willing to help if you have any problems. One of my managers at work gave me her number and said whatever and whenever I need anything just give her a call, even if I need to be bailed out of prison at 4am! Hopefully, I won't need that, but it's good to know the support is there if needed!
2.They only have two temperatures
Everything is either boiling hot or freezing cold! This includes the weather, water, food, and heating in buildings (if youre lucky enough to have it!). I always opt for the boiling hot shower in the morning, and I am very lucky to have constant hot water. Lots of people have to light the boiler whenever they want warm water and then wait for 30 mins or more.
3. They love to queue
Most places such as bars, restaurants, banks, post offices, cinema, bowling alley etc will have 2 queuing systems. The first one will be to take a numbered ticket, then wait for your number. When your number is called you may then have to wait again. On 2 occasions whilst waiting to play bowling we have queued for 3 hours and our number still didnt get called- all part of the fun I suppose.
4. They have a different word for everything
Strawberries aren't fresas but frutillas, peaches arent melocotón but durazno, peas arent guisantes but arvejas, buses arent buses but micros, apartments arent pisos but departamentos, and maracas arent definately not a musical instrument but someone you may pay for..... the list goes on and if you arent careful you can quite easily find yourself the laughing stock!
5. They have no sense of time keeping
Starting work at 9am can mean anything up till around 930am. En un rato literally in a minute, can mean hours! The other day my manager said he would check my work en un ratito, but after he left for lunch, had a meeting, went for a smoke, replied to some emails, he finally checked my presentation! Ive got used to Chilean time now, and it's good if youre running late for something.
6. They have the most amazing street dogs
These dogs are super clever. At pedestrian crossings they will sit by the side of the road and wait for the green man, crossing with the humans. They are loved by Chileans who feed and water them, and even knit coats for them- it is all part of their civic duty. And the most surprising thing is that these dogs are of the best breeds- Darwins survival of the fittest it would seem. Labradors, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers- all of the favourite pet breeds in the UK are street dogs here! But like I said they are looked after really well!
7.They have a person for every task
There are doormen, bag packers, metro platform supervisors, cleaners in even the smallest of offices and buildings, valet services whilst you shop or visit a friend. Literally there is a job for every person which is a really good idea and I think with all the unemployment in the UK something the British government could learn from. The only problem is that it could be quite easy to get lazy out here!
8. They work hard, but play even harder
So my standard working day is 9am till 6:30pm which in itself is fairly long. But then people I work with have up to a 2 hours commute in each direction to get to and from work! That literally gives you time to eat and then go to bed before work the next day. But when Friday comes there is no messing around! People take a bus for a weekend away, or head straight to the pub for food and drinks before dancing the night (and the morning away). It isnt rare to get home at 7 or 8am!
9. Their food comes in strange packages
Mayonnaise, jam and ketchup that comes is a squeezable foil bag is just too weird! And forget squash- it comes in powder form which you then add water to and whisk! Yes, whisk!
10. They are proud of their country
I think Chile has got to be one of the proudest nations. If there is something they don't like they will let you know about it. To protect their history, their identity, their children! Chile is very much a peoples' nation, and they have everything to be proud about! This doesnt mean to say they dont recognise and dont remember the tradegies of the years gone past, but in fact these events have developed and defined the nation into the way they are today!
So there is my brief list of observations so far! Some of them have taken a while to get used to, especially number 4! And I think I will keep discovering new words the whole time- well at least if I actually understand what theyre saying in the first place. Despite their relaxed culture, there is one thing Chileans love more than anything- and that is speaking FAST!
Take care people x
It's like you untangled all my thoughts and put them into ten easy to read steps! Nice blog man, I'll be sure to keep up!
ReplyDeletethis is great! haha i love it! luckily i learned PRIOR to coming here what a 'maraca' means. DO NOT tocas las maracas! hahaha
ReplyDeletei guess the upside to barely knowing the language here is that i never knew outside of chile that a strawberry was called something else!
these observations are pretty perfect i think. very, very accurate! this was fun to read!
hope all is well in santi!
-chris.