Tales of an immigrant: Tips to emigrate

Not an easy place to say Good Bye too. I hope to go back again. Venezuela.

Most people assume that because our blog is in English that we are American or Canadians or something. Actually, we are very much Latin, but choose to write in English because a big group of the international community in Chile was being left out from the interesting things the city offers.

Anyway, I left home because I no longer had opportunities in my home country. I was a 27 year old professional, with a bachelor´s degree, three languages and no future. We decided on Chile, because of my newlywed husband had a Chilean passport thanks to his mother. Without giving it too much thought, we bought a ticket and decided that we had 4 months to close up shop and leave. Nothings was certain, only that we needed to grow and find a new life for ourselves in another place.

So, after I told my story. Someone asked me, How can a person PREPARE for leaving their country?? What can they do before??

It is not an easy question. My first immediate answer was Well You Can´t. I mean in my mind, no book, no training could prepare you for the emotionally drenage that comes from saying a long Good bye. I had to let go of my childhood, of my family, my friends, my home and everything that was close to me.

But, then I gave it more thought and now I want to share with you what I feel are some of the things that helped me be prepare to emigrate.

After reading the list, I think it is helpful for many people. Whether you are going abroad for a year, wanting a fresh start in a new country, being relocated with your family, or like me having to start over.

• Invest in yourself. Study, study, study. One thing is for sure, the only valuable thing you are bringing into a new country is your mind and knowledge. Those are the only things that will help you succeed.
• Invest in learning languages. They will be an asset; they will make you stand out.
• Get some working experience. It does not matter if it was summer camp guide, first job or bartending, having past experience will give you something to say.
• Learn to let go of the material things. A car, a house, they are just things. Don´t hold on.
• Learn that home is an abstract concept, not a place.
• Become tech savvy it will come in handy when wanting to keep in touch with family and friends.
• Translate all your certificates, diplomas and important documents to English. You can always translate them again to any other language.
• Get some recommendation via letter or linked in. They will come in handy when applying for jobs.
• Be ready to disconnect from news channels, tv and media from your home country. You have a new focus now.
• Learn how to cook your favorite dishes from home. It will help you stay connected with your roots.
• Yes, your country is probably sooo beautiful (like mine) But, think about all the other places you have to discover. Some day, you might just return home.

Choroni, Venezuela. No hotels, no roads, just sand and the sea.

 

So, this post has nothing to do with Santiago, but a lot about being ready to move forward. In the ends, is also the purpose of our blog, we hope you are a happy person where ever you are meant to end up.

Cheers! 😉

 Have something else to add? Share it with us in the comments!!

Chilean Slang just got easier!

Before moving to Chile, you did your homework and signed up for some Spanish classes. Good for you! Funny thing is that on your first days around town you started noticing that the words were very different. Welcome to our world!

For example: “La Liebre” which means Hare, in Chile means the public bus. “La Guagua” which for Google translator means a bus, is actually a Baby in Chile. You will hear the word Cachay a lot, and also Weon. (They can be good or bad in the same sentence!) Easy right?!

Lucky for us foreigners, now there is a really cool App available to help us understand what folks are actually saying. The name of the App is Chilenismos, you can find it for IOs in the app store. It has over 300 Chilean expressions, with 500 different definitions. Click here to get the app.

Adam Teale, the creator of the app, wrote to us and we were interested right away. He is an expat, who came traveling to Atacama but instead fell in love and has now been living in Chile for over four years. =) =) Right away, he noticed  the constant use of slang, and in order to learn he started keeping track of all the expressions. This is how his app was born and a year after its launch it has doubled in the amount of phrases.

We downloaded the app and gave it a try. It is actually entertaining and FUN. It even has a Game to help you practice speaking like an actual Chilean (Try it with some Pisco, and a drinking game might be born!) Only downside is that the definitions are in Spanish, but with basic Spanish they are easy to understand.

Here are some of our favorite new expressions. Our minds were thinking one thing, but it turns out we were wrong…

1) A la suerte de la olla/To the pots luck: go with the flow, or let´s see how things go.

2) Bailar con la fea/Dance with the ugly one: to be unlucky.

3) Cabeza de Pescado/Fish Head:  someone who speaks non-sense.

4) Peinar la Muñeca/To Comb the doll: to be crazy.

5) Rayar La papa/to peal a potato: someone who is obsessed with one subject

6) Subir al columpio/To climb the swing: to be annoyed over something a person did.

7) Vacunar a alguien/To give someone a shot: to con a person, to rip someone off.

8) Darle con el palo al gato/To hit the cat with a stick: managed to pull something off that was very unlikely.

9) El dia del Nispero/The day of the Fig: a day that will never arrive. (No translation for a Nispero in English, OMG, what fruit is it??))

 What are your favorite Chilean Expression? Have anything to share? Leave it below on the comments!

How to Make the most of a Skiing Day Trip

Drive up early, and enjoy the amazing sunrise on the road in Farallones.

Winter Vacations are coming up, and many people take advantage of the break to hit the slopes. It is a great plan, and one of the many advantages of Santiago. It is close and almost always sunny. I mean in one day you can enjoy the mountain and the snow, and then head back home for a full calorie dinner (pizza after skiing is so deserved!)

In order to make the best of a Day Trip to La Cordillera from Santiago, these are some things you have to consider during the weekend or holidays: 

1) Wake up very early! You should be on the road up to Farallones no later than 7:15 am. We mean this! At this time the drive should be up to 1 hour and 30 minutes. If you leave later be prepared to be stuck in HEAVY traffic, and a very looong 4 hour trip

2) If you are planning of going in different Cars, a great meeting point is the last Copec before the intersection to Farallones in Av. Las Condes. It is open, and it has coffee. (No more to say)

3) Make sure to have chains inside your car. They are obligatory during skiing season; even if it is not snowing you might get pulled over by the Carabineros, which will ask to see them.

4) As an alternative, you can rent chains on the road going up. You will see the guys installing the on the right hand side. There is a small Carabinero checkpoint going up Farallones, make sure to have the chains before this point.

5) Very curvy road going up and it can get icy (Particurlaly when going to Valle Nevado) So, it is better to take it slow.

6) Once up in Farallones, you could decide to go to El Colorado, La Parva or Valle Nevado. They are three different ski centers. Our favorite is Valle Nevado because it has the most modern infrastructure (Express lifts and gondolas). But, try all of them as part of the experience.

6) You could save some money if you rent your skis in Santiago instead of up in the mountain. These places are very affordable, with average equipment. (Don´t expect fancy rentals)

– Ski Ahorro

– Da Ski

7) Try avoiding the crowds during the day. Since you will open the ski center, have lunch an hour earlier, and enjoy the slopes when everyone is at lunch.

8) Have in mind that food at the ski center is expensive and not very good. So if you don´t want to spent too much money, prepare food and leave it in the car. There are a couple of places where you can eat your own food.

9) It WILL be crowded. It is a fact, so relax and enjoy the day. Breathe the fresh air and burn some calories.

10) Leave one hour before closing! We know you want to ski until the last minute, but trust us it is not worth the heavy traffic going down. Besides a pizza, or a burger are waiting for you back in Santiago.

Hope these tips are useful =) =)

Have something to add? Share it with us in the comments!

How to Make the Most of SMOGGY DAYS in Santiago

The air conditions in Santiago are BAD to say the least, it is normally recommended that you stay indoors to avoid getting sick from all the stuffy dust flying around. But, that does not mean you should have to stay cooped up inside, so we made a List of 5 interesting indoor activities you can do in the city. (Be extra careful with kids and elderly parents)

Visit Museo La Memoria

Learning from the past is a way to stop events from repeating, and this is exactly the objective of Museo de La Memoria, a remembering of the awful human right violations that happened in Chile. It is part of this countries dark history that in no way should be forgotten. If you have not been there, you should go with open eyes, and learn more about the people around you and there struggles.

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Go Bowling

This is nothing new, but of course we wanted to remind you what a cool plan a day out bowling with the family might be. Here are a list of the bowling venues around town:

Bowling Parque Arauco: We have been here several times, is good fun. They will have special prices during July, even on the weekend. 15.000 Pesos per hour from Monday to Sunday (6 people max)

JapiMax Bowling: located in Puente Alto this bowling venue has really good lanes.

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Take a cooking class

Always wanted to make your own Chilean empanada?? Well here is your chance to learn how to cook traditional Chilean food, and have fun while you are doing it. We found Cooking in Chile, a place where you can take a cooking class,  and learn how to make many chilean dishes. It sounds like a nice plans for visitors also. We have been meaning to take a class with them, because we are Instagram peeps and have been savoring over their pictures for a while now.

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Get some culture at Centro Cultural Estacion Mapocho

There is always an event, gallery or show going on at Centro Cultural Estacion Mapocho. But, the most interesting thing about it, is the building itself. We love this old train station with its steel beams; it is a beauty worth the visit.

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Explore the tomb of Bernardo O´Higgins

I am a history buff, and this place was very interesting for me, as I got a closer look at Chilean history. In the tomb you will find a mini museum with old artifacs and replicas of old uniforms. It is right across La Moneda, and many people don´t know it. Also, make a note when having visitors over. =)

How to Watch U.S TV Shows from Chile

Do you know how to access your favorite U.S shows or sport games from Chile? For many this is a very important topic. So for this week, we have a professional technology writer to help clarify the issue. Thanks to Thomas Ujj, our Guest Blogger for his work.

Hope it helps! Leave your questions below. 

For anyone visiting or living in Chile, it is easy to enjoy the beautiful landscape, the rich culture, and the fantastic people. It is truly an excellent place for travelers and expats alike. So you say, what could possibly make being in Chile any better? Well, maybe some HBO NOW or watchESPN might do the trick!

So, you say you want to catch up on that last episode of Game of Thrones? Or catch the World Series? Super Bowl? Well, according to most American media companies, having an IP address(a unique code that identifies where and who you are)that is not in the U.S typically means that watching these things is not allowed. So what is there to do? Thankfully, there are a few options to help “maneuver” around these silly geographical restrictions.

In today’s technological world, there are really two services that really stand out in helping users access geo-restricted content. A more traditional service that you may have heard of would be a VPN(or Virtual Private Network), while something a little more new and relatively unknown is SmartDNS. These two both have similar characteristics:  simple to setup and use, both hide the user’s identity and location well, and both are available for a relatively low monthly cost. In order to gain a better understanding, lets take a brief look at both services.

Starting with VPN’s, lets take a peek at what exactly they are. Basically, a VPN takes your computer and puts it through a private virtual tunnel where the user can choose where he/she is “from”, thus allowing users to access geo-restricted content while also protecting your identity and connection from intruders. VPN’s are relatively easy to setup and use and even the most top-rated services cost no more than 6-8 dollars a month. If you think a VPN could be the right solution for you, take a look over at Best VPN.com for more information and which provider might be right for you.

SmartDNS(or Smart Domain Name Systems) services operate in a similar fashion, but tend to be a little bit simpler and more affordable. SmartDNS services also tend to offer multiple device support, so having multiple devices access restricted content is very much possible. SmartDNS essentially “renames” your computer so that anyone looking at your IP would just see you as someone from your target country(in this case, the U.S). SmartDNS services will run you between 3-5 dollars a month, but a lot of free trials are available if you aren’t sure. SmartDNS is also definitely a newer technology, so if you want some help or want to look at some of the providers, check out SmartDNS.com.

While both services are really useful, it is important to remember that these services will only allow you to use American streaming services, but won’t pay for their subsciptions! You will probably still need a HBO NOW account to access any HBO content, or a ESPN account to watch sports. Once your VPN or SmartDNS is setup and working on your device, you can go the respective websites and access the content. (But now the computer recognizes you with a U.S location!)

Whether you are a local, an expat, or just traveling through Chile, hopefully this brief guide can help you access U.S content. Streaming media is expanding rapidly throughout the world, and becoming familiar with and using services such as VPN and SmartDNS are effective, safe and cheap ways to access digital media while traveling abroad.

If there are any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below!

Thomas Ujj Bio:

“Born in North America but living in Europe,one of Thomas’s lifelong goals is to travel the world, no matter what the cost. As a writer for SmartDNS.com, he blogs about mostly anything technology related, whether it is streaming media or internet security. In his spare time you can either catch him passionately watching AS Roma games, or attempting to master Italian cooking”

What to consider when receving your property (“Pre-Entrega” Checklist)

If you have been living in Chile a little while longer, you probably decided to invest in a house or in an apartment. There are many projects in the city, with different price ranges, sizes and location. So, if you are thinking of staying here the long term, it might be a good decision to buy your own property.

If you have already bought it (Congrats!!!!) and are waiting to receive your new place, then it is very important that you CHECK every detail of it IN and OUT during the “Pre- Entrega”.

What happens is that the construction company writes down all the problems you found, from bad paint jobs, to water leaks and crooked doors, and then they will fix them before you officially get your key. It is very common; we actually had our shower plumbing missing, and ended up with a pool when we turned it on the first time!!

These tips apply more for a new property. But in Case it is a used place, this process is even more important, and it should be done with an inspector before you even decide on buying the place.

Besides the finishing details, here are some more practical and functioning points that you MUST check: (Pre- Entrega Check List)

–Electrical: turn on all electrical appliances at full throttle and check that the breakers don´t fall.

-Heating: Turn on the heater system. With hot water (floor or ceiling) within an hour if it is a strong leak you might see sign of leakage. If not make a note to ask the person in charge about the guarantees.

-Water: Leave all the faucets, showers and bath tub running, to make sure there are no leaks. Fill bath tubs completely to make sure they are correctly sealed. Empty them at once, to make sure they drain properly.

– Kitchen: Check the appliances. Turn on Oven and kitchen. Check cabinet doors to see if they open properly, and if they are aligned.

-Floors: If they are ceramic floors, use your hand or a wooden stick to tap on each of the tiles to find out if they are properly placed. A hollow sound means they were installed incorrectly and they have to be replaced.

-Windows: Check that they open, close or slide correctly. With PVC window frames make sure they don´t have cracks.

-Hot water: Turn on to make sure it works. Plug in all electrical water heaters in case it is necessary to double check. 

Have in mind, that with a new apartment you have three years to claim problems to the construction company: from finishing details, to more complex facilities issues.

Hope this was useful for the new property owners! =) 

 

Found! Exotic side of peruvian food

Hello again insiders,

This time, our gastronomic weekly recommendation takes place in Recoleta neighbourhood, a bohemian part of Santiago which offers a lot of exotic foodie options worth to experience. Sarita Colonia is our top pic. This restaurant was born for the first time in year 2000 and became a “must” for Santiago art scene, but 4 years after it was closed and all of their fans waited a long time  before its re opening. So now, with a very exotic new proposal, they call it “peruana travesti”, they created a kitsch maximalist place (with very exotic decoration), where you can find typical peruvian food, and this peruvian travesti exquisite option you must try!

Tattoos in the walls, kitsch deco, and great enviroment invites everyone to join this experiencie

But the most important thing is food!!! please, you must try Wendy in Thailandia and ceviche chino, to incredible dishes of peruana travesti food

important: it opens only at nights

for reservations and more information:

http://www.saritacoloniarestoran.cl

address: loreto 40. Recoleta neighbourhood

Mother´s Day Expat Experience

When you live abroad, these special dates can be sort of complicated; you are divided between enjoying the traditions of the new country you are living in, and trying to keep in touch with your family. The distances are sometimes very wide, the hours of difference might be many, but we all try to do our best to keep in touch, and stay connected.

For us living in Chile distance is the main obstacle, so today I wanted to have fun with my Sunday Mother’s Day post and think of those special moments that make expat living just so damn special (LOL) 

Here are some of my Mother’s Day expat experiences that you might relate to:

– Posted on Facebook a picture with my Mom.

We like celebrating special occasions on Facebook, but a picture with your mom is a way to thank her and share your love from a distance. You post a picture of a cool place that you visited together, or a picture of a place back home that is very special. Moms love Facebook, so she is particularly proud of you, and enjoys commenting and liking your pictures.

– You are having lunch while your Mom is waking up (or viceversa)

Is she up yet?? Counting the hour’s difference is something that every expat has in their minds. Your clock phone is set with the different time zones and you constantly check to see if it is a good time to call. On Mother’s Day you have to call early, so you congratulate her while she is still in her PJs and you are getting ready for lunch.

– You have group FaceTime and Skype sessions

Family skyping is sort of an art, you have to fit all the people in the tiny square and keep your pulse strong to avoid shaking. On Mother’s day it is particularly chaotic. There you are on the other side of the screen trying to congratulate your Mom, while your family members take turn passing you around. Saying Hi to everybody in the room, trying to make out who popped up in front of the camera and being asked the same questions a couple of times. (How is the weather? What time is it over there?) But, you feel thankful for technology and being able to share family moments even when you are so far away. awwwwww

– You refuse to pay such a high price tag for e-flowers

It´s your Mom so you try to make her happy, and thanks to e-commerce you can get her a really nice gift delivered. But, paying 50 dollars for six roses or a bouquet of wild flowers is kind of a rip off. 

– You have to deal with the fact that today is not mother’s day.

Oh, bummer! On the new country you are now living they celebrate Mother´s Day on a totally different date (For our friends living in Argentina) Boy are we happy in Chile is the same one. You avoid forgetting to call your Mom, and you avoid feeling that it is just a Regular Sunday. 

– You try numerous attempts before actually talking to your Mom.

It is an internationally known fact that Moms don´t pick up the phone. Fact. So, it takes you several tries and several sources of technology until finally she answers. From Whatts app, SMS, phone calls, Skype, Facetime and even Facebook posts, you do everything to get her attention. Is she not aware that it is Mother’s Day? 

– On Mother´s Day you sent out E-cards 

Thanks to expats the internet e-cards companies are still running. Yes, sending aunts, sisters, friends and other Moms out there and e-card is a great way to connect.

– Your child was born in a different country

You are a Mom and you are celebrating it with your family, in a new country with kids that have two nationalities and speak different languages. Even though it might seem hard at times, congratulations you are raising a global family! 

Tourism for not tourists! (and for tourists too)

Hello insiders!,

Even though autumn is here, days are shorter and weather is getting colder, the sun is shining and there are a lot of options to enjoy this beautiful city.

Hanging out in Providencia neighbourhood, i found Easybici store. Owned and operated by an American, an Australian and a Frenchman – brainchild of Founder Felipe Correa – Easybici is the only dedicated e-bike rental company in Santiago.

They offer a very creative way to know different parts of the city. Not by car, not by foot, not by the typical hop on hop off tour bus. they offer tours using electric bicycles, providing pure cycling enjoyment without the need to worry about fitness level, age or terrain; perfect for exploring the city, dominating Cerro San Cristobal or visiting historically significant landmarks of downtown Santiago.

You can choose between 3 different tour options:

-insight into the nature of Santiago (focussing on Cerro San Cristobal)

-Sanhattan and the business district (visiting parks along the way, and taking advantage of the city’s extensive cycling lanes),

-the historical tour which cycles through downtown, Lastarria, and Bellavista with stops along the way.

Easybici is committed to a bringing about a change in the way that consumers participate in tourism, offering a green, sustainable, environmentally responsible transport alternative in areas that experience a high saturation of tourism in ecologically important areas of Chile.

Inside Santiago team totally recommend it!

For more information, please visit

http://www.easybici.cl

or just go to the store in  General Flores 72 street  and ask for Felipe or Arienne (they are very nice people!)

see you!

7 signs you are now a Pisco drinker

 

Being a Pisco drinker is an acquired taste, it might takes some months or for some even years to fully understand its distinct character. But once you got the hang of it, you might find yourself a total pisco fan! We don´t know, if it is we have been living here for too long, or you might relate and understand what we are talking about.

Here are some signs that tell you when you crossed that fine line and became a Pisco Drinker:

1) No longer do you accompany your Coke with Rum, now it goes so much better with Pisco.

You totally forgot what a Cuba Libre tastes like, and frankly you are not very concerned. Nothing better than coke and Pisco for a night of drinks, friends or Carrete. Anyways, why pay so much for a good bottle of Rum, when you have the local stuff for a better price.

2) You know the difference between Alto del Carmen, Mistral and Capell.

You have refined your taste, and like a Good Pisco. No longer are you the foreigner who will randomly select a bottle at the supermarket, you know better by now that the next day will thank you for the decision. #Namaste =)

 3) You have bought at least one bottle of Pisco per person when hosting a party.

Yes, you have bought one bottle per person because after a few years in Chile, you know better to be properly stocked for a party. You probably second guess yourself a couple of times, but when midnight or the night falls you are happy you made the right call. One bottle per person. Boy, Chileans like their Pisco!

4) You have made local friends thanks to Pisco.

Bonds are stronger, friendships are longer, Pisco has brought you together with the craziest, weirdest and funniest people. It has helped you understand part of a culture that is not yours, and that you have learned to be a part of.

5) You know that Pisco has a whole other meaning during “El 18”

Chilean Independence day, or should we say week, it’s another ball game. During this week Asados, Meat, and Pisco are the center of the celebration. You know better to stock up on Pisco during these days, and might even consider adjusting the one bottle per person rule.

6) You drink Pisco Sour for lunch on friday, and that is just fine. 

Going to lunch on Friday and ordering your Pisco aperitif, might just be one of the peaks of your week. After hard work, and long hours, taking a pause on a Friday afternoon to enjoy a cold Pisco sour, is the medicine you need to kick start the weekend. 

7) You show of your Pisco Sour making skills to your international visits

Margarita Nights?! More like Pisco Sour Bonanza! Now you can brag about your bartending skills when you visit family abroad or have them over. You have dowonloaded so many recipes of Pisco Sour, that by now you have even added your signature touch. Umbrellas and all! 

Tell us what you think? Pisco Lover? or too long in Chile? Like it? Help us share it!