answers... finally.

At last! I'm finally posting about what it's like living in Chile. This post has felt a little bit like a school assignment to me, so of course I've been procrastinating. But, I finally completed it and here they are... your questions--answered.


Maddy,
Christmas here was pretty much the same. I'd say in general Chileans aren't as crazy as Americans are about Christmas, but the retailers are definitely pushing it. The day after Halloween all the stores were filled with toys and the Christmas displays were up.
There were two places that I did my Christmas shopping: the mall and Jumbo. I thought the department stores had the best selection of toys and it was all the same stuff they have back home, only 2-3 times more expensive. A normal Barbie that would cost $15 was about $45-50 here. I shopped at Jumbo (like Target minus furniture) for stocking stuffers, candy, etc.

I'm beginning to make friends, my visiting teachers are awesome. In our ex-pat group there are only a few of us that are young with small children. I'd say most of the ex-pats live downtown but they are all very friendly and it's always a treat to run into one of them while I'm out and about. It's a familiar face in an unfamiliar city.

Carly loved school. She just graduated from Pre-Kinder in December (their summer break is from Dec. 20-March). Her lessons are taught in English but she's quickly picking up Spanish. She can't wait to start Kindergarten in March and spend more time with all her Chilean friends.


Kelli,
Oh, how I miss American food. Ammon and I were looking through an old bank statement recently and we saw our favorite restaurants, I wanted to cry.
The food here just isn't the same. Chileans LOVE mayonnaise, I can't stand it. I've also noticed their food tends to be much saltier than I prefer. However, they do have some things that are amazing. Empanadas, pebre sauce, and their gelato are all yummy! The grocery store where I shop has a small American section, but everything is really overpriced (a can of cream of chicken soup is about $4). I'm learning how to use Chilean substitutes and to stock up on certain American brands when you see them because they're really hit and miss.


Angie,
Our ward is great. There are a lot of really amazing people and everyone is super friendly. Our ward is probably the most affluent in the Stake, so the majority of families are older and more established. I don't think I'll be starting a Bunco group any time soon, but Kim and I have tossed around a couple ideas about a cooking class or a playgroup for the kids.

As far as TV is concerned, we get most of the good stuff (my favorites): "30 Rock", "Grey's Anatomy", "Heroes", "LOST", "Men in Trees", and reruns of "Friends", "Scrubs", and "Seinfeld." Because we live out of the country, we're unable to watch shows like "The Office" at nbc.com, so we use a program that finds episodes on the internet and downloads them to our computer. They don't air American reality shows here, but I keep up with "The Hills" by watching it online.


Heidi,
Chileans definitely look Latin, dark hair and dark skin. But, Ammon works with a few Chileans that look whiter than he does and there were a few girls in Carly's class at school that had blonde hair and blue eyes. I wouldn't say you could pick a Chilean out of a crowd, especially if that crowd was in Houston. For the most part, their dress is the same as the U.S.. Although, teenagers here are more into the "punk" look than American teens.

As for special treatment, I'm not sure. Ammon's company hired a relocation specialist to help us get identity cards, find a house, etc. When we went to public offices, she always walked us up the the front of the line. I'm not sure if it was because we were Americans, or maybe because we had small children but either way, I wasn't going to complain. Other than that, no. If anything, local merchants, vendors, and laborers charge us more because we are American. It's the "gringo tax".

I think Americans are respected, but our government is not. Before the war, Chileans looked up to Americans, but since, America is seen as a bully. However, I think most people here still look at Americans with high esteem and respect.


Angie,
Well, Chile doesn't have anything like Machu Picchu (that I know of), but here are some things we want to see that are close by.
The Chinchorro Mummies: The world's oldest mummies (found in Antofagasta).
The Valle de la Luna
El Tatio Geysers and Hot Springs: The world's highest geysers.
La Mano
And Ammon is dying to go to Easter Island.


Emily,
To stay on budget, I can find similar ingredients and brands to what I use back home. What I miss the most are things that are quick-fix. Stove-Top Dressing, Kraft Mac-n-Cheese, and anything frozen or pre-made. For instance, they have beans, but they aren't canned--you have to make them from scratch. Also, most of the American brands still taste different. Cheetos, Doritos, and Oreos all taste... off. I'm not sure what it is, but they just aren't as good, which is good for my diet.

No, most people do not speak English. I took 2 years of Spanish in high school so I understand more than I am willing to speak. I feel like an idiot when I talk, but what's new. Hopefully, I'll begin lessons within the next few weeks.

Antofagasta is one of the most expensive Latin American cities. It is nestled right in the middle of the Atacama desert so everything has to be imported, which adds to the cost. That said, it's pretty much the same as living in the States. Gas, rent, groceries, and bills are all comparable to what we pay back home.


Well, that's it- phew! I hope you learned something about life in Chile.