Chile Forum

I say I am a newcomer,but have been lurking and just reading post after post, gleaning so much useful information from you wonderful people. I don't believe there is a better or more useful forum on the internet regarding Chile . Kudos to the all the moderators and members for keeping this such a lively, fun and enjoyable place to visit without spamming, trolling or bickering.
This site is taking away some of my fear and apprehension from my tentative plans of moving to Chile in March. I am a U.S. citizen living in Florida. My boyfriend of the past 5 yrs., came to the US from Chile on a tourist visa 9 years ago... He overstayed his visit a tad... He was asked to voluntarily depart within 60 days about 4 years ago. Once again, overstayed a tad . Long story short, he is awaiting deportation in Miami as I write this. Hopefully, he will be back in his country before the New Year. Anyone who is unhappy with how slow things move in Chile should deal with US Immigration... Can't fight them, so I am joining him.
The plans as they stand, are that I will let him return to Chile, settle back in and hopefully get back to work and I will join him then. At the age of 40, the extent of my International travel has been a week long cruise in the Caribbean and a couple forays into Canada. Have applied for my first passport ever. I do not speak mush Spanish. I understand quite a few words, but putting entire sentences together-not so much. I kid him that he may have to live on a limited diet for awhile of the 30 or so food items I know in Spanish. That shouldn't be a problem as he needs to lose quite a bit of weight, as he hopes to return to being a jockey again
Making this move is the biggest thing I have ever done in my life. And both the scariest and the most exciting. Him and his family assure me that I am considered family and that I am welcome. They don't even seem to question that I would not come. He has a large family in Santiago and Concepción.
That is me and my situation. I am still sifting through posts, getting answers to a lot of my concerns, but am sure I will have some questions.
Thank you again all.
Adele

Bienvenido Adele!

Well, on a positive note, I can tell you that the cultural shock of entering and living in Chile isn't too bad (at least for me, and in comparison). We live in Las Condes and its basically the US in Spanish in many ways... in terms of the look of the city, the streets, how things are done, etc... I first traveled to Uruguay where I lived in Montevideo for 2 years, my first 2 years outside of the US ever... and that was a bigger shock for the first few months!

But I love Chile so far and I'm sure you will too. Again, welcome

nybred1968 wrote: Making this move is the biggest thing I have ever done in my life. And both the scariest and the most exciting. Him and his family assure me that I am considered family and that I am welcome. They don't even seem to question that I would not come. He has a large family in Santiago and Concepción.

Pay attention to your intuition and let it guide you...think with your head and not so much with your heart and whatever amount of money you have, make sure it is in your name!

xxx

At first this deportation thing I looked at as some kind of bad thing. But, now I am looking at it as an opportunity to do something I never thought I could do. I am not the most religious person, but I am looking at it as God's way of making me do something I have always wanted to do-travel. To be able to travel to another country and have a place to live and a person from that culture to help me experience it all. It might never happen for me again and I am going to do it.
My biggest fear is finding employment, I guess. A gringa that speaks little to no Spanish will not be in demand I fear. Almost my entire working life has been spent working with Thoroughbred racehorses. But he says there is very little opportunity for women to work in that field in Chile. His family is pretty well connected in the racing industry, so I suppose I may find something to do...

Adele, Spanish is not a difficult language to learn; start a concerted program now, and you should be competent by March.

Now, when you go to Chile, or work there, make certain that you do so legally. You don't want a second deportation -- and the Chilean government, unlike the American, won't (I think) pay for your flight out of the country!