Our time in Las Vertientes, Chile has come to an end. It’s hard to believe we’ve completed Month 1 of the World Race! This month was absolutely amazing, and sometimes it’s hard for me to think that I could love another country, ministry, or hosts as much as I did this month. James and Coletta will always have a special place in my heart, and their wisdom and discipleship during this month will continue to impact my race and spiritual life.
We are currently at a 4-day Debrief in Viña del Mar, Chile. Before we leave for Argentina, I wanted to share all the Chilean quirks and cultural differences that I’ve noticed this month. Chile is a very developed country, and parts feel similar to the US. However, there are definitely some unique Chilean things I’m excited to share:
1. Chileans view time differently. It is not a commodity; rather a chance to invest and be around people. Chileans are not punctual in the US sense of the word, but they will hang around after church for 2+ hours, interacting and fellowshipping with each other.
2. Everyone greets everyone and says goodbye by hugging and kissing one cheek. You must do this to everyone, every time. It can take a while 🙂
3. There are stray dogs everywhere, even in nice parts of town.
4. Lunch is the big meal of the day; dinner is a light meal called “once” (own-say).
5. Jam and different condiments like mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard all come in a bag.
6. Chileans LOVE malls. I have been to a few malls in Santiago, and they put US malls to shame. Malls are dying in the US, but they are definitely thriving here. They are always packed.
7. Chile has a culture of theft, and Chileans are very paranoid about it. All of the houses, even ones in low-income neighborhoods, have 8 ft high locked gates surrounding the property. Clothes at malls are secured to the racks so you have to ask an employee to try something on. Random people will yell at you from their cars if you have your phone in your back pocket to warn you (they are also very nice and want to make sure Americans don’t get taken advantage of)
8. The average Chilean work day is 9-1ish, take a 2 hour lunch break and siesta (nap), and then work until 7-8pm.
9. Graffiti is EVERYWHERE, even in super nice parts of town.
10. And last but not least, a list of my favorite Chilean foods this month:
–completos: a hotdog covered in tomatoes, avocado, and mayonnaise (I promise you will never want a regular hotdog again)
–empanadas: a meat and cheese filled breading (there are empanada stands everywhere)
–cazuela: Chilean version of chicken soup. It is broth with an entire chicken leg and thigh, a huge chunk of potato and a pumpkin slice
–pastel del choclo: a cornbread topping, with layers of corn casserole and chicken
–choripan: chorizo sausage in a fresh bun (served as an appetizer before an asado)
–asado: a huge barbecue – there are multiple kinds of salads, choripan, and humongous cuts of beef, pork, chicken, etc. The steak is so tender you can cut it with a butter knife.
The people I met in Chile were some of the kindest, most hospitable people I have ever met. They will go out of their way to make you feel at home and part of their family. They cooked us countless meals, drove us all over town, and truly shared their country with us. I could never thank them enough.
