Chile Forum

Hello all,
I'm glad I found you guys!
I lived in Chile when I was younger (mostly in Santiago, a little in Concepcion) and I wouldn't trade that experience for anything in the world. Now that I have my own family, I would love for my daughter to have that same experience. And I also really miss Chile.
I'm currently a ship captain for a marine spill response company in Washington State. My background is all maritime related and I have a M.S. in Marine Transportation.
If anyone has any leads/tips/resources/ideas on how I could get a job in Santiago/Valparaiso relating to my field, I would greatly appreciate it. I realize that jobs in my line of work might be scarce and I'm not above teaching English (I'd have to re-learn it myself!), but I'd like to stay in my field.
Anyway, any input would be great.
I'm really happy someone started this site.
Matt.

i have no clue if they hire someone with your kind of experience, but there is a company called Ultramar that does international shipping and has locations all up and down the chilean coastline

Thank you. I will check them out.

Anyone else? Anything?

Please?

You know, Matt, you can always check with the Chilean commercial attaché in Washington and our commercial attaché in Santiago, as well as the Chilean-American (or is it the American-Chilean?) chamber of commerce in Santiago. I doubt that any will give you job listings, but each could indicate avenues of exploration beyond what you've already opened through the 'Net.

Thank you. I didn't think of taking that route. I will check them out and see were it leads.

Hello all,
I've been doing some research (with your help) and I came across the American Association of Chile...I actually found a link to it thru my old schools website (Nido). Is this a good group?
Also, I left Santiago in 1986 and I pretty much remember it being "unspoiled"...no McDonalds, Burger Kings, Starbucks etc. Is this how it still is? I don't even remember ever seeing a mall. I just googled earthed Santiago and I can't believe how La Dehesa has grown, and how many malls there are...at least they look like malls.
Anyway, as always I appreciate any info you can give me.
Matt.

Not only Santiago but also Valparaiso and smaller cities have changed a great deal over the years; the people have, too. But Chile on the whole remains a lovely place to live, at least in my estimation.

Santiago does have large malls, and you'll find some McDonalds, Burger King and Starbucks joints, though not in each block like in some American cities.

Is that so? When we left, the only burger joint was MaxBeef...I think that was the name of it. I think it was a chain but I could be wrong. I also remember Super 8's and Jumbo's. Is Jumbo's still around? I couldn't believe it when I got on Google Earth how it has grown...but I guess it's inevitable...and good in some ways.
You just can't really get away from America anymore.

Is that so? When we left, the only burger joint was MaxBeef...I think that was the name of it. I think it was a chain but I could be wrong. I also remember Super 8's and Jumbo's. Is Jumbo's still around? I couldn't believe it when I got on Google Earth how it has grown...but I guess it's inevitable...and good in some ways.
You just can't really get away from America anymore.

I am going to guess that unless a Chilean company specifaly needs a person with your captain qualifications its going to be very hard to get a job in anything maritime. Chile, naturaly as a result of having a long coast, has developed a great system in which to qualify people for thieir merchant marine. I think that if you have USCG/USN connections I would look into some "cross-naval-exchange" between the two navies and a commercial interest...like ice breaking or cable laying etc...without some type of affiliation you will have no in to start with....I read that you went to nido and by your questions it seems that you have not kept any friendships up...you would have an easier time if you could easily call someone in CHile that you know from nido and network from there...86 to 08...that will be a 22 year old phone call...


p out.



.

22 yrs indeed...it would definitely be an awkward conversation.

The truth of the matter is we left when I was 10 yrs old. I didn't really have an address book back then and didn't really know about networking. I was much more concerned with Star Wars I think and the fact that I had to leave my dog Max behind. This leaves me with my parents contacts which, after much interrogation boils (sadly) down to two families. And they have been talked to. Everyone else has either moved away or are lost in Santiago or Concepcion.

As far as the maritime community in Chile is concerned, I think your'e right. I'd like to specify though and say that I'm not looking for an "at sea job" but rather a shoreside job in the maritime community...this transition, from captain to manager, is quite common in the states and I'd imagine it's the same in puro Chile. I'm no longer in the military and do not want anything to do with them any more. I'll look into Nido again and see what I can get from it...maybe even Craighouse. I'm going to keep looking and perhaps one day "me voy para Chile".
As always, I appreciate your help and input. All of you have been very helpful. Thank you.
Matt.

No clue, but you said that you want the same expirence for your dougther, Think about Valdivia, is a good size city and still nice with the typical Chilean touch, Now there a couple of companies down there that are relative to your field, I know that they make big boats. Just an other idea to look around.