Chile Forum

I have a been naughty, naughty puelche!!!

I read your original post but don't remember your boots on the ground connection...my post was simply my poetic writings and opinion to combat the typically, and increasing, nuts and bolts forum queries and answers that are becoming more common on the forum and thats it.

I gloss over a lot of the posts as they have become like buying the New York Times over the counter at the Quik-e-Mart..."you got the times?...Yeah, its on the rack..." and the money is exchanged and away they go. There isn't anything wrong with it but then there is the soul of what its all about and not just who robbed who, whats the stock price on Ford or where can I buy a cheap mattress.

Maybe, I am the little dog that chews on your ankle, to see if you are really going to stay or not...I think you passed and let me share a story about Anto...

I had just come back from a trip to Anto and was talking to a friend on the street about it (I was in living in another town in the 4th region). This would have been around 1987. I was talking about how we had gotten stuck with no way out as it was over the holiday "glorias Navales" and everyone was celebrating, especially in Anto.

This man about 50 or so had stopped and was listening. My friennd left and i was in line at the deli to get the typical mortadella sandwhich before going back to my shop. The man lingered and I wondered what was up but just continued with my purchase and went on my way. The man followed me down the street and when I when I turned into the small "man door" that was configured into the gigantic entrance gate of my shop he approached.

He was shorter and although older, his short haircut showed only a little grey. He wore the uniform of an older junior, blue jeans, bototos, a collared shirt and a thick and bulky half zippered chomba that was grey an blue. His hands were clean but were swollen and scarred from work. He had a nice smile and would have made someone a fine grandfather. The only thing that set him aside was that his left eye was collapsed and dark, well within its socket; gone forever.

"You are american?" He asked.

"Yes, I am" I replied, halfway through my little door and already thinking of my afternoon work.

"Oh, yes, i knew it!!' He said and continued, " I could tell on the street and then you were talking about Antofagasta; I am from Antofagasta!"

"Really?" I said "How come you are here now?"

"I lost my job...and now its been a long time...I worked with Americans in the mines..."

"Que le paso de que no trabaja en las minas, ja? I asked.

"Well you know in those times with the UP, they nationalized the copper...We had heard they would but then we thought no, its too much money, but they did."

He was now walking with me to my shop down the narrow entrance that led to my shop, located in the middle of the block. The sounds of the street faded and we were alone as i opened up the wide wooden doors set in the thick adobe walls.

"I worked as chief accountant on site at the mine" he continued, " there was only one american there, Senor Miller, that worked with us. He was in charge, el gerente en sitio"

Things had changed now as i became a priest of sorts, on had to recieve his conffession. It was coming and with his hand wringing, slumped shoulders and blank stare, I knew that there was nothing to stop it.

"The office was at the top of the mine and quite a ways from the town...they came the next morning after the announcement, about 10 am. we had begun like always and although Senor Miller knew what was coming, he told us to continue to work as we always did. They came and ordered him out of the office. They tried to shame him but could not; he listened and and as they told us to remain in the office he looked back and with his manner, indicated that it was best if we did as they said."

He was not quite crying now but i knew that it was coming.

"I was in the doorway and they tried to keep me from coming out to say goodbye to this man that had been so good to all of us...I pushed past and went to shake his hand where he had already begun to walk to the gate and back to town...it was only a few meters but i made it; they pulled me away and in his kind way, wordlessly, he moved away and down the road."

He shuttered now, half kneeling in the dirt beside my shop, and stumbled through his words like a child that lost his mother.

"They beat me for shaking his hand and I lost my eye..." He blubbered and sat crunched up in a ball, inconsolable, at the threshold of my shop. My hand on his shoulder did nothing and he seemingly feel asleep beneath the grey sky and here he drifted in and out of whatever lucid moment he could bring himself too.

Between crying fits he told me that I had been the only American he had seen since that time. He told me about how Senor Miller had sent him little bits of money but it could not save his family and that he had lost everything, finally moving away after whatever horrors his family had endured; he refused to talk about his wife and children but how happy they had been in those times.

I kept an eye on him and didn't catch the moment when he got up, but caught his meandering walk as he returned back to the street, down the long enclosed passageway where my shop was. He climbed, hunched over and beaten, through the small man door in the porton and I never saw him again.

p...just say'n...

PX - post exchange, a place where you can get goods like laundry soap (tide), alcoholic beverages (jaegermiester or other), peanut butter (skippy natural is good), etc. Did I mention guns too? Ooops, forget that.

BX - is base exchange, which is similar to a PX. From what I have seen a PX is usually what they call them at naval bases, and BX is what it is called at airforce/army bases. US terms.

I guess both are akin to a company store.

What I think that el P is saying, is that we have seen this sort of post where the person has asked for advice and then has bluntly stated later that they were going to do what they intended to do in the first place. That was an interesting round of events.

I see I am kind of slow in my posting my reply.

okay...first off, mightharty has been drinking..a lot....and perhaps has gotten into thaat last round of Amish meth that has been going around...and then I don't help much because i spell like i am from the nederlands


p

Time to 'fess up and admit that I thought this was one of those more q&a type forums, quite glad it isn't, but it's a learning curve for the newcomers... have patience we'll either get with the program or not, I guess! Insightful aren't I?

Thanks for the anecdote about the old man from Antofagasta, incredible that all that really wasn't that long ago. Being the only gringa around (as far as I know, but then again haven't been out seeking others, not sure how one would do that), so far I have found everyone to be incredibly warm and welcoming - which I had been warned they would not be by the many Santiaguanos (??) who regaled me with such warnings as "mas norte, mas frio su corazon". Perhaps though that warmth does come partly because I am not in a "gringo clique" and that I can speak some (pretty bad) spanish.

I'll defnitely take great pleasure in meeting any new gringos, and especially gringas that come along, but am loving getting to know some chilenas too. Thanks also for clearing up the lingo I didn't understand, seems far less interesting now, think I'll read on in the forum and learn a lot more while I'm here...

Slapped wrist is healing nicely, though I am only too pleased to have provided a little entertainment for the onlookers.

Steph

Ahhhh, just a bit of friendly hazing, with a little anticipation thrown in. I'm truly glad you hung in there and didn't fly the forum coop.

Well this thread certainly got a bit crazy since I left! I almost entirely stayed away from the internet on my trip to the US so I have some catching up to do. Seeing as I live in Antofagasta this is the best place to start. I will start off by saying that toward the end of my trip home I was looking forward to coming back to Chile.

I spent a little over two weeks at home (Wisconsin) with family and friends. I didn't get the whole "you've changed so much" except for when people were telling me I lost weight. I expected to find an economic crisis, but all I found was the same old USA with a couple more for sale signs in front of houses than usual. I noticed that my friends & family hadn't changed much, my hometown hadn't changed much, but I had changed (for the better I like to think). At times I felt strange in my own country. There were a few specific examples where I noticed the positive affect Chile has had on me: like listening to a power lunch where the participants could only talk about stuff disgusted me: pure materialism. OR, my friends would get angry if service was a little slow just like I used to - now I just patiently smile and think about how it could be and how they have no idea... I still plan to return to my home in a year or so for good, but I disagree with Steph that expats need to prepare for the trip to the home country, especially in Chile. I know a few people who came with the intention of returning and are here permanently.

When I arrived over seven months ago I didn't know what to expect. Obviously our situations are pretty much opposite: I'm a single guy that speaks the language. I think that the anticipation was the toughest. Once you actually get here you won't have time to worry about anything, my first few weeks were spent just trying to base myself in my new home. I didn't get homesick for a month! There were plenty of times where I would think that this or that is so much easier/better in the US, but I tried as best I could to keep that attitude to myself, and as time wore on I was able to just laugh at things that I perceived as worse than the US and tell myself "only in Chile." The last trip home changed me as far as Chile is concerned as well. The Chilean version of me loves where I live, is extremely comfortable here and won't be getting homesick again. I have a few friends, mostly from work, but only one is another gringo. He is one of those that is here for the long haul by the way.

Aussiemum: I think your one day at a time attitude is perfect in your situation, and perfect for Antofagasta. As far as the advice thing goes, maybe talking about your move is all that you needed, not so much advice. I surmise that it has been very therapeutic for you to get on this forum and voice your concerns. You are going to love it here, it might just take you a while to realize it.

Thanks for the advice everyone. It is always healthy to get someone elses point of view on a situation.

ak405- I think you hit the nail on the head- I think I really just needed to express my concerns about moving. I have found it very helpful to discuss this with people other then my Husband and his family.

el puelche wrote:... I was living in another town in the 4th region...

... I turned into the small "man door" that was configured into the gigantic entrance gate of my shop ...

.. and that shop.. in another town in the 4th region.. had probably a small room selling Persian carpets.. that were decorated with vicuñas.. so I believe..

mlightheart wrote: From what I have seen a PX is usually what they call them at naval bases, and BX is what it is called at airforce/army bases.

When I was a soldier (Army) w-a-a-a-a-y long ago, we had a PX = Post Exchange.

I think we need to suggest that people read 50-100 of Ps posts before they even think of thinking about Chile and a few dozen Rune postings so no one gets the wrong idea that this is JUST a Q&A type forum. I've been away!

We are getting closer and closer to our move. Meeting with the Consulate Tomorrow for our Visa Interviews. This will not be an issue already as the appropriate authorities in Chile already know of our intended move to Chile and are expecting the Visa Applications. Before heading over we are off for a quick trip to visit family and friends before leaving.

I have been in Antofagasta for a couple of moths now, my first impression was that its a really dirty town unless your on the south side of it. A lot strat dogs too.
Well eventually I got over how ugly the city was, which was the only thing I disliked about Antofa.
During winter here the days are warm but sometimes windy, the nights are really cold. But on summer its really warm.

Did anyone who moved to Antofa know spanish before or did you learn it there? Could someone give me tips where to find a spanish teacher/course in Antofagasta?

Visa's have been lodged. YEAH!! so we have a few weeks waiting now- but will be holidaying.

Manucho- would the international school (I think it is an English school) have any information about this? I am having lessons there when I arrive as I don't have any Spanish- but not sure on these details yet. My Husband is fluent (grew up in Chile). I am sure we can help each other out when we get there.

Manucho, there is a place called the Andia Institute that does it for sure. Also we have a lady who comes to the house for my kids, I am not sure exactly the name or contact details of her company (they do adults too). I have basic spanish, from a year or so in Santiago, but will get more lessons when we are settled. I'll get some better details for you and post it later. Any of the places that advertise to teach english will likely teach spanish too, and if you have any spare time they may even trade you hours for teaching english in return.

This is a great thread. Reading it ... I kind of feel like the Romper Room lady looking at many of the AllChile personalities.

AussieMum wrote:Hi everyone.

Rune, as court jester, keeps us laughing and looking back at ourselves.

El P provides the first slap of the sword. Then letting go of the newcomer's ankle, he offers beautiful prosaic insight into a reality of life in Chile.

Vicki and Greg gets it down to earth.Vicki and Greg: always civil, contextual.

Helibel connects for us the superficial disparities of the forum's posts. She reveals for the newcomer (and revels in) deeper relationships spreading across time and throughout the Chile Forum.

And ak405 is his typically real self. (Northern hearts aren't necessarily colder in the States. So the North of Chile hasn't changed him in this way.)

I agree with him it is possible that "everything" one needs or wants to know is already somewhere in the forum. But I also think it is nice when advice and feedback are still offered, even when possibly existing deeper in the forum.

ak405 wrote:

AussieMum wrote:What do I really need to know prior to the move and what is Antofagasta like?

Everything you need to know prior to your move is on the forum somewhere (at least the important stuff).

But let me ask, surely across time don't even some of the nuts and bolts of "Moving to Chile" possibly change? I doubt moderator El P or anyone is gonna dredge up dated posts and amend info as the real world changes. What kind of inquiring or educated mind could actually know for sure which nuts and bolts have changed or which remain the same? It seems valid to me for someone to risk asking again ... and maybe, just maybe, some new and useful stuff will come out. Perhaps a relative newcomer, after a thread is hashed into more detail, will be able to offer some fresh insight into changed or changing nuts and bolts of moving to Chile.

I also understand that ak was not trying to shut down the thread, or qwell the intention of the original poster to gain insight through it.

In this thread, by the way, I really, really enjoyed reading later posts about the Chiquita party mix, 80's mine nationalization drama, etc. Great stuff.

Personally I find it a bit useless when a thread goes completely old-timer (and/or dry) a bit after a broad sword-slap or sharp ankle nip hits a newcomer. I doubt, and doubt hopefully, that an adult would be required to endure insult or sarcasm to get the help they want here or anywhere. But such is life, sometimes. And such can be the written word, bereft as it is of non-verbal ques indicating deeper intent. So credit to aussie mom for hanging in there. Credit to all else for centering the keel of the thread according to the stated purpose of the forum, the thread's purpose, and the original poster's need.

Finally, I especially appreciate ak's point that maybe aussie mom just needed to "talk", and not so much to get advice.

It looks to me she got more than a satisfaction of her need to talk: she got great advice. Plus possibly even new friends and contacts, too.