Chile Forum

Hi everyone.

My Husband has just accepted a job and we will be moving from Australia to Antofagasta in July. We have a little girl (2years old). I don't speak any Spanish But my Husband grew up in Chile so is fluent in both English and Spanish. I am actually very very scared about the move and not knowing what I need to do before moving over there. It is not an ideal situation because my Husband will be working away 3 nights a week.

It is with a large company so they should be organising everything for us.

I hope there are some English speakers there until I get my head around Spanish.

What do I really need to know prior to the move and what is Antofagasta like. Where should I go and where shouldn't I go. Is there a better part of town to live in and what are the houses like?

Good luck! Check some posts by Ak405 and they can help you. He moved to Antofagasta from the States and pretty much did what you are looking to do(finding a place to live, settling in etc).

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).

Antofagasta is a decent place to live. Like anywhere it is what you make of it. The weather has been pretty much perfect since I got here in October: rarely cloudy and it rained twice. The city is not aesthetically pleasing (besides the ocean view). There are some green spaces and nicer areas, but for the most part there's a lot of dust and garbage. Nice mall, good movie theater, good restaurants, awesome fish & produce markets, decent gyms, traffic isn't bad, a few nice public beaches are things you may consider to be positives.

AussieMum wrote:Is there a better part of town to live in and what are the houses like?

You want to live south of the centro - the further south you get the nicer the area. Houses are like anywhere, you get what you pay for. I have been to a "middle class" home which would be smaller than I'm used to in the states. I have also been to a couple of really nice homes (one of which was a rediculous mansion of a former mine owner) in "Jardines del Sur" which is the nicest neighborhood in Antofagasta. Get here first: you're not going to find anything on the internet to help you find a place to live. Any advice you see on this forum will tell you to get here first anyway. I didn't move anything here besides what I could fit in two pieces of luggage and my carry-on: I rent a furnished apartment.

I know the anticipation is kind of scary, but you'll be fine and after you get over the initial "I can't believe I live here now" phase it's actually a lot of fun finding ways to maintain the lifestyle you enjoy. That's not to say that I won't help if you ask, just a friendly tip... Hope this helps and good luck!

Hi there,
I am a Kiwi, who is moving to Antofagasta in July also. I'm moving there to be with my partner, who is Chilean. I do have the advantage of speaking Spanish, but I don't know anyone else! I'm going to PM you my contact details. Rachel

Rachel, hope we can meet up then atleast we will know each other hehe.

Are you going to be working? I am a Teacher but not sure if I will work or not yet.

Hi,
I am planning on working, but i'm not sure exactly how/what.
I am a website producer, and I plan to carry on working for the people I work with here in NZ, for clients in the US. From a social perspective i'm thinking i'd like to maybe do something where I can meet people - maybe teaching English, or even small web / design jobs. From an economic perspective, I am planning on setting up a company in Chile to then invoice internationally, and therefore pay tax there, but I'll set this up once I arrive, along with sorting out residency visa etc. Meantime, I'll leave my nz registered company going for a few months until I sort the rest out. If anyone has any further advice for me on that.... i'd appreciate it. Right now i've been reading what I can, and pretty much everything points to waiting until I get there.
I've only spent 10 days in Antofagasta. I would agree with ak405 - Antofagasta has some nice beaches, and the contrast of the desert and sea is quite stunning. But it is a dirty, dusty, relatively small place (although I have no idea where you're from to compare it to!).
What does your husband do? I imagine something in Mining?
~Rachel

Small towns are not too bad- have been in a mining town of 4000 people before. At the moment we are in Perth- so very large.
Hubby is a Minerals Process Engineer and will be working for Escondida.

Hi there,
Antofagasta is OK. My wife and I live there, she didn´t speak spanish but has been taking lessons regularly and can do quite well. For place to live - there is far more availability than when we moved here in October of last year and I would say you want to be in the south of the city and Jardines del Sur. There are shops where you can get all you need and the weather is fantastic, we are used to four seasons but this is nice lots of sun.

Any move to a foreign country is a bit daunting but extremely rewarding and you build your repetoire of stories to entertain the folks back home...I will pm contact details and if you need help with anything just drop a line.

Ciao

Thanks Lenny- I am sure I will take you up on the offer of help. I am having Spanish Lessons when we arrive which are paid for by the company.

i have a friend inAntoF who speaks good english, he is an editor writer for the mine company...maybe he is a good contact for you? let me know...hes a real nice guy

My husband will be working for Escondida. I hope that because there will be a few expats that there will be a few English speaking people

I am starting to get a little more nervous about the move. I think the unknown is the biggest factor.

AussieMum wrote:I am starting to get a little more nervous about the move. I think the unknown is the biggest factor.

Chile is nothing like Australia. In its own quirky way it works and it does have some really beautiful countryside, friendly people (can be a little shy at first) - or maybe thats just they are shy of me...not sure LOL. But it is what you make of it and can be really rewarding. I guess my point is, don't expect what your use to, come with an open mind, make the most of the experience, enjoy the Chilean hospitality, get out there and keep busy and soon you will get hooked. Chile has a unique ability to help you unwind once you relax into its way of life...aside from the things that may frustrate the hell out of you LOL, but you get use to them.

It's an adventure, how often in life do we get one of those.

Have a great time...we have! and when all else fails talk the guys here on the forum, they've all been there and done that and worked out how to overcome it or work around it.

Cheers Mardy

Hey! I just saw your post! I am moving from seattle to Antofagasta this up coming year.
Anywho, I used to live there before and some recomendations that I'll give you are the following:
- The closer you are to the coast the safer you are, the closer you are to the "mountains" it gets more dangerous. that is because near the coast there is wealthier people usually can afford to live so there is more security and less crime, aas on the other hand far back facing the mountains there is more poverty, in some places extreme poverty. So I won't recomed you to go to that part.
- Have a car if possible because public transportation (BUS) can give you a real headeche because of the fact that there isn't a specific bus stop, but --Taxis are always a good fast,cheap option! notice that they'll charge you an specific fare (that is that you pay about $2 u.s dollars and they take you anywhere!)
- I don't know how warm is in Australia but it gets pretty warm and humid over there so be prepared for that.
-Don't wear too many expensive-looking jewls if is not nessecary or the occasion doesn't requiers it ( as for example just wondering about in the streets).
- Use sun block (plenty in the summer time)
- if you are buying groceries and still don't now spanish that well I would recomend you to perhaps go to a regular super market, since sometimes at the farmers market, judging by someone's foreign appearence and lack of spanish, they would rise up the price of something! It is not nessecerely true but it does happens!
-I think those are all my recommendations I hope you enjoy your stay there, I have had many good experiences there and made lots and lots of really good friends!
best of luck to you and your family!