Chile Forum

We call all these problems job security.

Really, that is how the idea for our business came about. It seemed like a pain to get anything done in Chile, so I thought it must be a real pain for someone that is just arriving, does not speak a lot of Spanish, may or may not have experience in Latin America, and is not married to a Chilean attorney.

You have nooooooo idea how frustrated our Chilean staff gets trying to solve problems for clients. It is not just a gouge the gringo thing either. Most of the time as a standard policy we do not even disclose that we are doing anything for a gringo, exactly to eliminate that factor from an already problematic situation. We still get the run around, and around, and around. We have just gotten better at avoiding the situations where the run around is most likely to occur.

I think that is the secret really. The longer you are in Chile, and the better your Spanish gets, you develop a sixth sense for where the potential for problems will occur and strategies for avoiding them. A simple example, would be bank line. Don't go at the 2 pm closing. Hit those lines at water cooler / coffee hour around 10 to 11 a.m. and everyone has to be at their office, or is not awake yet. Always have a plan A, B, and C.

On top of what has been said about the monopolies in Chile, the inefficiencies gets compounded by the workers being ticket at the monopolies. There is a very strong screw the corporation attitude amongst most workers in Chile. It does seem to have improved a bit, but it is still mostly intact. There is no company loyalty because there is no loyalty from the companies to their workers.

I guess it's time for me to start sharpening my fangs and nails......( putting it mildly) I can be a Tazmanian devil in person when I sense abuse !!

Yea, just be careful with this one. If you take it too far, Chileans will just shut down. They hate being embarrassed, and until you embarrassed one you don't realize how easily it happens. Chileans will not get in your face, say like you where having an argument with a store clerk in New York. They will just go very passive aggressive on you, and not give you anything at any price until you repair their ego. Honey works far better.