My name is Sally Rose. I blog as The Thorny Rose.
I moved to Santiago, Chile on March 1, 2011, because I had discovered, during a visit here in 2008, that I felt better here than anywhere I’ve ever been or lived. Whatever “it” was, I wanted more of it! (I had always had an idea that I would go overseas to teach English “someday.”)
What challenges did you face during the move?
Because I expect this move to be permanent (well, as permanent as anything ever is in my life!), I divested myself of almost everything I owned.Since I’ll only admit to being 39, I’ll just say that it was 39 years worth of “stuff.” The hardest thing, beyond a doubt, was giving away my 16-year old cat who was too old to make the long journey.
Can you tell us something about your property?
I am renting from the same landlord whom I’ve rented from on previous visits. I found his property on Craigslist. I love the location, but will be moving again, eventually, because this apartment is tiny, more like a hotel suite with a kitchenette than a real “home.”
What is the property market like at the moment?
Have no idea. I do know this: I was living in New York City before this and I can buy an apartment here for probably 1/4 of what a similar one in NYC would cost.
Are you employed or self-employed? What challenges did you face in either finding employment or running your own business?
I am semi-retired with an income stream from the US. I am doing volunteer work here which is more difficult to find than it should be.
Are there many other expats in your area?
Yes, many.
What is your relationship like with the locals?
I’m a very friendly, extroverted person. So I make “friends” easily. Having said that, I find that the Chilean culture is somewhat “closed” to outsiders. It takes awhile to truly integrate, and you have to work at it.
What do you like about life where you are?
I love the climate. I love the feeling of “magic” everywhere. People might say differently, but I think Chile is full of heart and soul and art and music. I like that people here are “de piel.” They actually are hands-on, kissing each other hello and goodbye. They are extremely family-oriented. (I could probably go on and on in this category. If you need more info, just ask.)
What do you dislike about your expat life?
It’s the good news and the bad news. Chilenos are extremely family-oriented, to the point that they are unavailable at night or on the weekends because someone, somewhere, is having a birthday, getting married, has a cold, invited them for “once,” etc. It’s great if you are a part of a family, but for an expat, it can make for lonely times.
In many ways, Santiago is very modern, but in other ways, it reminds me of growing up in Texas. Smoking in bars and restaurants is common. I’m told that there is a law which prohibits it, but it isn’t generally enforced. Being allergic to smoke, this is a downside for me. (Also, the Santiago air quality is terrible, full of smoke and other pollution.)
Like when I was growing up, the downtown stores close on Saturday about 3:00pm, if they open up at all. They’re not open at all on Sundays. There are exceptions (like “big box” stores), but I’m talking in general.
Chilenos are, shall I say, more relaxed about time than this gringa.
Last, but certainly not least, I find that communication can be tricky. Not just due to language differences. I’m talking about cultural differences. I think that, for instance, “Let’s meet on Sunday” actually means “Let’s meet on Sunday,” where for a Chilean it might merely be a nice suggestion.
As my Spanish teacher told me, “It costs a chileno a lot to say ‘no’.” So, they rarely do it. They have a million ways to “yes” which really don’t mean “yes.” This has caused some confusion and disappointment since I mean “yes” when I say “yes.” It’s taken me awhile to catch onto this one!
What advice would you give to anyone following in your footsteps?
If you have a dream, DO IT!
Go and visit first for as long a period as possible. Not by design, because at first I had no idea that I would be moving down here, but I made several month-long visits here before finally moving down. I would suggest this to anyone thinking of relocating overseas. Do an exploratory visit or two.
Don’t be afraid to “give things up” in order to make the move. By simplifying my life, I have gained new “things.” Perhaps not material things, but other than my beloved kitty cat, I don’t miss any of my former “stuff”!
Learn the new language!!!! I can’t stress this enough. Unless you want to be an outsider forever, you’ve got to learn their language.
Remember that you don’t know what you don’t know. There will be mistakes and mis-communications. There’s a big learning curve, but that’s all part of the adventure, right?
What are your plans for the future?
I will be living in Chile for the foreseeable future, provided that they grant me a residency visa.
I want to find more meaningful volunteer work, make more friends (both expats and chilenos), and generally integrate myself into a contented lifestyle. I’m well on my way!
If you would like to know more about life in Chile you may contact Sally Rose via:
Email: snonpareil@yahoo.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/Thethornyrose Blog: The Thorny Rose