One "Gringa's" Limited View of Chile...So Far

Bill and I have only been in Chile now for a few weeks, and we've only lived in one area, Coyhaique. And this city is in the XI Region of Chile, which is famously known as Patagonia. For the most part, Coyhaique is similar to home, except the language. But several tourists and locals alike have said that there are a few things here that are different from other parts of Chile, especially from the capital, Santiago. Isn't that the case wherever you go? Various regions of a place possess various differences. Well, I don't know if the things I have noticed are simply from Coyhaique or Chile, in general, but here are a few differences from home by my limited perspective:

1. Since it doesn't get dark until 10:00 P.M., things naturally begin later...most businesses open at
       9:00 and there isn't much commotion until then. At 1:00, businesses, accept grocery stores, shut
    down for a "siesta" and open again at 3:00 till 7:00...if they reopen at all.

2. There are a lot of gaps here. What I mean is this: When you go to a store, they may or may not
       have things on the shelves because the people responsible for delivering may or may not have
    shown up. Oh well if they didn't. Hallelujah if they did. Even restaurants may or may not have
      what is on the menu....no big deal.

3. Chileans run on a laxed schedule. They seem to work well, but don't seem to put in long hours.
      Even banks are only opened for six hours at the most. As is most of South America, paper work
    and mail delivery don't get in a hurry. Mail and packages arrive when they get there. I did hear,
      however, that the bigger the package, the more likely it is to arrive in a timely
    manner. Who knows.

4. Meals...about twice a day...but it is not uncommon for your main meal, dinner, to be eaten
      late, especially in the summer. Probably due to it getting dark late.

5. Private space: None. Chileans are very much in one's private space and don't mean to be rude.   
      They will walk right beside you, in front of you, and even hug and kiss you if meeting you for
    the first time. I'm getting used to this now, but at first it was a little strange. It is custom to hug
      and kiss everyone in the room, or at least hug, and it isn't unnatural. I see women holding hands,
    men holding hands...but these seem to be family members. But touching and hugging are a definite
      part of culture.

6. Which brings the next point to mind: Chileans love their perfume and cologne! And they must
       wear the good stuff because everyone smells wonderful! Which is good since everyone is going
    around hugging and kissing. And for someone like me who is doing a lot of walking and
      sweating...not so good. A little embarrassing if I've been walking for an hour and a half and then
    hugged and kissed by a stranger. Arid Extra Dry, do your thing!

7. Chile has an Italian flavor to it. There are a lot of men walking around looking like Al Pacino.  
      Their culture is heavily fused with wine, cheese, and homemade bread that is like our French  
    bread. Along with fresh vegetables, fruits and grilled meats. One meat they adore is lamb. It isn't
      bad, I'm just not quite used to it. I will still take a steak, or any other type of beef, pork, or  
    chicken, over lamb any day. And there are plenty of those types of meat, too.

8. Milk...sold in boxes, unrefrigerated. But delicious and creamy, especially if put in a refrigerator to
      chill.

9. Women who are dressed for their careers...fixed hair, nails, high heels and panty hose! That is
      something I never expected in South America (the panty hose, I mean). They all walk around
   looking like Barbie or a stewardess....unless it is hot. Then no hose. Chileans are very nice looking,
     but don't look like other Hispanics. For example, people from Mexico have a different look than
   that of Chileans. Just like everywhere else, different regions give a different look. Argentinians...
     a bit different, as well.

10. The language....slang and rapidly spoken. All the words are blended together, so it is sometimes
        difficult to recognize a word. This is Chilean, but a few people from Santiago said that the slang
     is much worse  here in Patagonia. This reminds me of how people in the U.S. think of the way we
       Southerners talk...lol.

11. Barbeques: No house is complete without one and some Chileans even have their grilling set up
        in a separate house or shed....Ok, I guess that is a lot like Americans.

So this wraps up my take on how things are a little different. But so far, things are staying interesting!