Chile Forum

Hello! (and/or Hola.. heh)

Have been lurking around on this forum for quite a while and finally decided to sign up.
Originally from Sweden, barely knew any Spanish when I left. I have been here before so I knew I wouldn't get by on English, so I'm studying Spanish now (on my own though so progress isn't that great I guess But I do have great help from my chilean husband).

My plan is to learn Spanish well enough so that when my papers are in complete order I will be able to get a job. Not sure how good I need to be in Spanish to be able to find work, as I've been told different stories from the start.

It's different here, in both good and bad ways. I kinda like it here.

Hola Mapuche,
I am new to this forum, and I am looking for information for expats looking into moving to northern Chile. This forum is by far the best one about Chile on the internet. However, it focuses on central and south america. Do you have any ideas, or know how I can find out more? I have read that Iquique is becoming a popular location for retirees from the US and Canada... I am looking forward to reading your posts to find out what life is like for you in Antofagasta.

julierbutler wrote:Hola Mapuche,
I am new to this forum, and I am looking for information for expats looking into moving to northern Chile. This forum is by far the best one about Chile on the internet. However, it focuses on central and south america. Do you have any ideas, or know how I can find out more? I have read that Iquique is becoming a popular location for retirees from the US and Canada... I am looking forward to reading your posts to find out what life is like for you in Antofagasta.

Huh?
Did you mean to say that it focuses on central and southern Chile (rather than America)?
There are actually members in northern Chile with very valuable info to share. If you do a search for 'Arica' you will see much info specific to northern Chile.

I did snoop around enough here to notice that there were people located in the north of Chile as well, I doubt I would have signed up otherwise.
And yes, this seems to be the best source for information as most other places doesn't seem to have an active userbase and/or seem more interested in giving you advice about nightclubs in Santiago and the like. You'll just have to search and look at everything, that's what I've done!

I have no idea about how popular the cities around here are for expats/immigrants.. I felt a bit lonely in "The Line" for the Immigration office, appeared to be the only gringa at this time. The only other gringos/gringas I've seen around here are the ones that are here for a short bit, tourists.. I'm sure here are others, I might just need to get out more often.

If you reread some of the posts you will notice a forum member has an excellent webpage on living in Arica.... The link is in his signature.... All the best

Yes, pretty sure I know which one you mean - stumbled upon that some time ago, his Chilean Slang Made Easy was also a good read!

look for posts by "aussie mum", (search her profile) she used to run the expat group in anto, she has left now, but if you have a bit of a read you will get a bit of a feel for the expat situation in anto, or at least one apect of it. PM me and I can give you some contacts for other expats in anto if you like, I used to live there, made the big move to iquique a year or so ago.

Hi all: I will be moving to Antofagasta in a few short months and would love to know any expats who are there...My husband will be working and we will have a 5 month old...I am looking for expat moms, or play groups, or a church, or anything you can suggest really. We currently live in Santiago and there is SUCH a big number of expats here, I am nervous about Antofagasta! (I am taking SPanish and hope to be able to communicate before we leave )

Hey, PM me. I have the expat list and organise coffee etc from time to time in Antofagasta. There are a few Mums here though I think most have older kids.

Hi everybody,
This is my first post, I will be moving to Antofagasta in a couple of months and would also like to meet other expats...
Despite I will not have problems with the language, since it is my mother tongue (I am SA), I am anyways curious/excited/also a bit scared of how it will be living there... I have read some of the good and bad things of living in Antofa that people have already posted but anyways I would love hearing more about your experiences in the city. I have been living for the last years in northern Europe, and I guess I am now culturally a hybrid... picking things from here and there..., also did anybody ship things from Europe to chile? is it too expensive. I do not have many things, but books and my beloved bike I would like to take with me... Do you ride there??? or is it a completely unfriendly place to ride...? What about traveling around the surroundings? is it safe? Thanks for any comments or replies!!!