20 Tips on Living in Chile

1. Don't adopt every sad stray dog you see on the street...because you'd have thousands. That's right, there are TONS of stray dogs in the streets. They're all really pretty and friendly, but they sleep in the bushes and look so lonely and pathetic and you just want to pet them, but DON'T, because they probably have pulgas (fleas). At 4am when you're walking home from the clubs, you can always count on 1 or 2 friends to accompany you though. One time I had as many as 10, which made me slightly nervous...

2. Beware of mayonnaise, they try to put it on everything.

3. Don't drink Capel, a really cheap brand of Pisco. It will give you the WORST caña (hangover) everrr. Oh and get ready to drink lots of Pisco, it's Chile's liquor.

4. Love manjar. It's their dulce de leche and it's delicious...even in empanadas! On that note, love empanadas and try all the different combinations.

5. Have correct change, or at least something close to it, when paying for La Micro (the bus). If you don't, the chaufer's will be annoyed with you.

6. When entering, leaving, or sitting on La Micro, always find something to hold on to. It doesn't matter if you're 99 years old, those Micros will not wait for you to sit down before lurching off at the speed of light.

7. Drink lots of tea. It helps warm you up.

8. Love palta (avocado). And put it on everything...sandwiches, salads, hot dogs, whatever.

9. Be careful with how many copetes (drinks) you consume. Their version of a rum and coke is a glass full of rum with a splash of coke.

10. Don't be surprised if you don't understand a single word Chileans say. They drop S and D sounds from their words, throw in "cachai", "po", and "hueon" at will, slur everything together, speak super fast, and with a sing-song Italian accent which I happen to love.

11. Never turn down an invitation to an asado (BBQ). Chileans cook the best meat I swear. It's simply delicious.

12. If you're a gringa (white woman), get used to Piropos (basically cat-calls or anything of the sort). Las micros do pretty awesome piropos. I was walking down the street the other day and this one started honking and flashing its lights and then they have some sort of button they push that lets out this loud howl-like whistle.

13. If you're going to participate in Chilean nightlife, be prepared to not sleep.

14. Love raggaeton and cumbia. So much great music, ask me for song suggestions if you want!

15. Say "super" a lot. And "rico/rica" can be used to describe people, food, situations, whatever.

16. No need to be on time, Chileans never are...even professors. We had one show up 45min late to class the other day.

17. Get used to having to go around to every person in the room when you enter a party, kissing everyone on the cheek and saying hello.

18. Never expect machine-made coffee. 99.999% of the coffee here is instant.

19. Enjoy sleeping in until noon or 1pm. It's not unusual.

20. Never stop appreciating the scenery. It's absolutely breathtaking.