Chile Forum

Most times when someone observes any sort of difference about Chile as opposed to Gringolandia the users of this forum are very good at explaining why that difference is culturally significant. Basically why it makes sense to people in Chile. I really need help on that one here, as this is something that has been driving me nuts!

"Watch where you're going." A phrase that I learned when growing up in the US makes a lot of sense to me. You watch where you're going so you don't run into things. Watch where you're going to make way for people passing you by. This doesn't happen in Chile. Don't worry, I adapted fairly quickly to the look away from anyone approaching you trick...but why? Some of you might say machismo...maybe, but it's not just guys that do this. Old, young, man, woman, fat and thin: nobody seems to have any courtesy for people walking the opposite way! I know it won't change, but can someone at least help me understand why so I don't get so pissed????

That used to drive me crazy. I mean how hard is it? "You go to your right, I go to my right and we're all happy." But, nOOOOOOO! Sad to say I did knock a couple people on their asses in Valpo. After awhile I got a feel for the Chilean pedestrian confusion and navigated pretty well. The other issue is personal space, the Chilean idea is far different than the gringo idea of it.

Also the problem even when generally moving in the same direction of blocking the entire passageway moving 2 mph slower than you or completely stopping to converse, stare at the store window, whatever.

Just realize that the Chilean positioning himself/herself close to you is not necessarily there out of culture but maybe to pick your bag or pocket.

Regarding the running of the Chilean pedestrian bulls, nothing beats Santiago Centro on a workday during evening rush hours. After living on the less populated coast, I have great difficulty with this now when passing through Santiago. Other times, not as frustrating as it once was and I believe it may be a trait common to other Latin countries as well.

Oh the charm of living in Chile.

ak405 wrote:watch where you're going so you don't run into things

Turn the light on, so you don't run into things.

This is a reflection of shared cultural traits among many countries, where things from planning to respecting shared space are not ingrained as in Anglo and Germanic cultures. Latin cultures don't project themselves much into the future and have little sense of "ordered flow." It's aggravating if you're thinking in terms of how easily it could be optimized, and then you realize they just don't think that way. These things can change (e.g. lines in France are not as messy as they used to) but usually that takes time. You'll get an ulcer before such behavior changes materially (if ever) so you'd better get used to it in the meantime! It's funny how many Europeans for instance would claim Americans are self-centered individualists, when in fact many behaviors in the US are community-centered (from high private charity spending to church attendance to ordered lines).

There's also a flip side to everything. Where you see order and cleanliness, others might see an oppressive police state where everything is codified and doesn't let you room to breathe. Switzerland is not to everyone's taste! Mess is not my personal taste but I recognize some people see ordered coordination as a hassle. I like to walk quickly and not have people standing idly in the way, nonetheless I still feel rushed in NYC where you gotta keep moving.

I've stated it in other threads but I want to insist that many things that puzzle Americans here in Chile are not really "US vs. Chile" as opposed to "US vs. Latin world" or even "US vs. World." If anything, what you'll be surprised by here in Chile is a watered down, relatively palatable version of what you'd get elsewhere. In other words, you're often discovering your own country's idiosyncrasies rather than Chile's. Sports is an easy example: the US stands pretty much alone (or very close to) in its love for baseball, American football, Nascar, or Indy Racing, while pretty much the whole rest of the planet follows soccer and Formula 1. It's not them, it's you

otravers wrote:This is a reflection of shared cultural traits among many countries, where things from planning to respecting shared space are not ingrained as in Anglo and Germanic cultures. Latin cultures don't project themselves much into the future and have little sense of "ordered flow." . . .
I've stated it in other threads but I want to insist that many things that puzzle Americans here in Chile are not really "US vs. Chile" as opposed to "US vs. Latin world" or even "US vs. World." If anything, what you'll be surprised by here in Chile is a watered down, relatively palatable version of what you'd get elsewhere. . . .

I must agree with OTravers: Chile is milder in its differences from America -- the United States, that is -- than any country I've lived in or visited extensively outside northwestern Europe (and their progeny, Canada and Australia chief among them, of course). If anyone else in AllChile has ever lived in Argentina, he'd doubtless agree with me that Chile is almost like a Spanish-speaking version of American California, though with much less sense of responsibility for one's own actions.

RWS wrote:Chile is milder in its differences from America -- the United States, that is -- than any country I've lived in or visited extensively outside northwestern Europe (and their progeny, Canada and Australia chief among them, of course).

I would have said the same thing with respect to Europe (though I haven't actually lived in another non-English-speaking country).

RWS wrote:Chile is almost like a Spanish-speaking version of American California

A Spanish speaking version of US California? I thought it was Spanish speaking

James.

jehturner wrote:. . . . A Spanish speaking version of US California? I thought it was Spanish speaking . . . .

One of the most irritating experiences of my life occured when I visited southern California last January to address a gathering of historians. To be served in a restaurant near the hotel, I had to speak Spanish -- a foreign language required in my own country -- because the waitress, clearly a resident (legal or not) and not simply a visitor from abroad, didn't understand English.

The day may yet come in the States when "Se habla español" signs are replaced with "English spoken here"!

Actually, considering the rapid declines in literacy and communication, that future sign may read, "English spoke here".

RWS wrote:I had to speak Spanish -- a foreign language required in my own country

But is it not true that the US has no official language at the National level. Yes, the majority speak English, and it is the de facto National language but there is nothing in the constitution or any law passed by the congress that says English must be spoken.

So being forced to speak a “foreign” language in your own country doesn’t seem possible when there is not official language to start with.

j. Ro wrote:

RWS wrote:I had to speak Spanish -- a foreign language required in my own country

But is it not true that the US has no official language at the National level. Yes, the majority speak English, and it is the de facto National language but there is nothing in the constitution or any law passed by the congress that says English must be spoken.

So being forced to speak a “foreign” language in your own country doesn’t seem possible when there is not official language to start with.

And as someone who, unfortunately never learned Spanish, but knows something of the history of the US, parts of which were settled by the Spanish. Their ancestors continue to prefer Spanish to this day. I remember an "English Only" proposition in Colorado years ago that would have required the change of many streets, counties, rivers...the list goes on and on. Colorado itself is a Spanish name.

Personally, I find it nice that Chileans are kind to immigrants with poor Spanish skills.

I got off track but really wanted to say I find the rudeness of Chileans in Lider or Homecenter or on the street very strange as there are in many ways a very polite people. I've had even women just BAM run into me for no particular reason other than the fact that I was standing in the way of her(or his) progress from point A to point B.