Chile Forum

My traveling party back in February had the coolest experience on Tur Bus. We were traveling from Chillan to Temuco. My mother was sitting next to a really nice young Chillean woman. When the bus stopped for a short time in Los Angeles the young woman debarked. About 20 minutes later the driver started pulling out, but the young woman had not returned. She suddenly reappeared right in the nick of time, and the driver let her back on. The young woman then handed brand new earphones to my husband, mother, and I that she had purchased in the station; so we could hear the onboard entertainment. She declined our offers of payment. We could not believe how kind this person was. She also shared her snacks with my senior mother. The young woman did not speak English, and we did not speak Spanish. Later on in the week we were in Pucon; which was our destination; my mother saw the woman out and about with her family. One of the young woman's relatives spoke English and mom was able to convey thank-you completely. This was not unusual with our experiences in Chile-almost everyone we encountered was polite and kind.

yea, it is kind of an odd thing (and really how it should be everywhere) about Chilean culture. We spend a lot of time on the forum whimpering about this or that service we can not get done right in Chile no matter how much money we pay. In the States and many other places to get somebody to do anything for you and care about it, you have to pay them. In Chile, if you pay someone they will screw it up and not care; but, just out of being a good person people will often go way out of their way to do nice things for strangers in Chile without being asked, and it is often much better than had you payed someone.

Got love it.

It's true, my nasty old copper pipes were removed one night last summer for absolutely nada! The PVC replacements weren't free however.
Enjoy these bright spots but hold onto your purse.

MikieO wrote:It's true, my nasty old copper pipes were removed one night last summer for absolutely nada! The PVC replacements weren't free however.
Enjoy these bright spots but hold onto your purse.

I'm still "LOL'ing" x'D

It is true it's a different experience. For instance I'm often buying cacti sold be people on the roadside in the countryside. I'll buy a bunch of them for say 10 lucas, and the seller will throw a nice couple of extras for free after I've agreed to the price they asked, on their own initiative.

I have my share of aggravation stories about Chile, to be fair, Central and South America. But I have to say that I have been blessed with many, many random acts of kindness in Chile. From time to time, actually living in Chile can get frustrating, but that's just culture stuff and hitting the wall, so to speak. Things can get bogged down in that...and the little seemingly insignificant random acts of kindness get lost in the chaos. I could not list in a post here - the numerous good things people I don't even know have done for us in Chile. More important than the act of kindness bestowed on you...think about passing one on yourself.

atltvlagt, what a nice story. yes, I have been lucky enough to find really helpful people many times and true friends here. And it is much too easy to get bogged down in the more difficult problems of culture. Thanks for reminding us about the good ones.

A special friend is having a party tonight and I can't count all she has done to help me acclimate to Chilean culture.

Yea, I would have to second what Vicky said. Just overall in Latin America I have been receiver of many many random acts of kindness. Some I am certain saved my life.

Chileans in general are helpful & friendly people. Sure, they've got some issues on this-that-or-the-other, like any other country. In general they are hospitable & kind, especially with foreigners. Just a naturally friendly, laid-back people.

John Hyre (My Wife Doesn't Know I'm Saying This)

(We Won't Tell, John.)