Chile Forum

We are considering a move to Chile. Got 3 kids, all, like me, are light olive white with dirty blond hair. My wife is Mexican, but a lighter "tone." The kids speak terrible Spanish, and mom and dad speak Mexican Spanish.

I know we would blend in in Buenos Aires, but how is it in Chile? We'd rather not stand out. Are the people dark, light, mix? Are there areas that are darker/lighter than others? We would like to live somewhere where we aren't labeled tourists because of our skin color for the rest of our lives.

Any pointers?

Nobody is going to care. You'll find all flavors of people in Chile-----from pale redheads to dark-haired indigenas.

Of course, you will always still be a gringo...

Take a look in the phone book...I met a 'Juan Braun' in the south of Chile once who is 3rd or 4th generation chileno from German ancestry....definitely looks German but is as chilean as they get. Don't be afraid of a little 'fish bowl' attention....chileans are more curious than predatory.

Well, let me rephrase this. Are there lighter and darker areas in Chile? For example, Mexico (generally speaking) is darker in the south and lighter in the north. Does something like this exist in Chile?

Yes, it's lighter in Las Condes/Vitacura, darker in las poblaciones.
You might remember that.

But Vitacura and Las Condes will be overall darker by early March as compared to August. Strange how that works. Unless you can jive with the chilenos near 100% and have a network of pitutos from childhood, you will always be an extranjero but it's not like something is wrong with that. There are actually advantages of gringo status despite some of the negs.

MikieO wrote:Yes, it's lighter in Las Condes/Vitacura, darker in las poblaciones.
You might remember that.

True but some of that is due to the upper class using more sunblock Many people here tend to tan rather well but really don't seem to like to so a lot of sunblock is in order. Many have commented on my tan since I garden a lot and have told me I should be using more sunblock. I think it's really seen as a class thing-that someone of my upper gringo class should not be tan. I am near the mountains, not the coast, which makes a difference maybe

In Santiago and the coast, it's cool to have a tan from a base of lighter features as it signifies you have the means and time to spend at the beach. Not cool is to have dark features with a dark naturally tan base that you do not prevent from getting even darker and risk being mistaken for a Peruvian or Bolivian or get a nickname like negro or pocahantas. My pareja does not tan easily and she gets disparaging comments in Santiago about how "white" (no distinctive suntan "color") her skin is especially her legs.

eeuunikkeiexpat wrote:In Santiago and the coast, it's cool to have a tan from a base of lighter features as it signifies you have the means and time to spend at the beach. Not cool is to have dark features with a dark naturally tan base that you do not prevent from getting even darker and risk being mistaken for a Peruvian or Bolivian or get a nickname like negro or pocahantas. My pareja does not tan easily and she gets disparaging comments in Santiago about how "white" (no distinctive suntan "color") her skin is especially her legs.

Interesting. I think it is probably okay to have a light tan here but my shoulders especially were too dark for local friends tastes. But, gringos and gringas can get away with a lot of cultural no-nos(my gardening is one ). Then again, I at times sense some disappointment that I don't behave the way a gringa should according to(I'm guessing) the media they watch.

bobmarker wrote:We'd rather not stand out. Are the people dark, light, mix? Are there areas that are darker/lighter than others? We would like to live somewhere where we aren't labeled tourists because of our skin color for the rest of our lives.

Most won't judge your hair or skin color -- instead they will see you in a golden light, as though you are a walking definition of the color of money.

White gringos? Aren't all gringos white by definition? Since it is a racial slur?

Even though I have never met a USA anglo who was offended by the term, and it is quite common usage, it was (and I suppose still is) a racial slur first directed at the white settlers in the Texas area of (then) Mexico.

"GRINGO" IS NOT DEROGATORY IN CHILE. Can even be affectionate like "Guevon" between friends.

Why the hell does everyone keep coming back to Mexico vs. Chile?

Chile is CHILE. Yes many chilenos like mexican ranchero music, mexican rock, mexican pop music but that is about where the commonality ends. ¡F*** Mexico!

Lesse, sometimes my pareja describes me as a norteamericano gringo japones and sometimes slips and says "chino" but can be ferocious about correcting her fellow countrymen on the use of the chino description.