I have only been there once. A two-week whirlwind of long overdue visits to family members who were warm and welcoming and strangers at the same time. I wonder what they thought of me, this tall, shapely young woman with a Mediterranean face (my family is of Italian descent) and crisp gringa clothing and reserved gringa mannerisms. My fiance's aunt gave me her impression of what our speaking English to one another sounded like to her. She clenched her teeth together and spoke pseudo English in a way that can only be described as the way one speaks with a mouthful of food while trying contain every morsel. Each day was a new home with new faces. All extremely hospitable, all very warm, open and eager to know about our life in Gringolandia.
The trip was filled fun times and mishaps including a broken down car on La Panamericana and a stay at "un motel". The look on the employee face was priceless as he helped us jump start our tiny rented Kia inside the secret gates the next morning. My finace's, brother in law, and I had arrived close to midnight the night before and shared a room because the others were full. Imaginate que pensaba!
With all of the obligatory visiting, the two weeks which seemed ample at the start of our trip, passed extremely quickly. We returned to the states without seeing much of Chile at all. Sure we climbed to the top of los cerros Santa Lucia and San Cristobal, spent a rushed day in Vina and Valparaiso, and ate our fair share of empanadas rrrricas. However, the plans that we had to see all of the typical meccas of this long, contrasting land of my future husband's birth were left at the airport, as we boarded our flight home. That was 12 years ago.
Fast forward 2010, much has happened since then. Marriage, careers, cross country move, another cross country move, kids, and George W. Bush. My faith in the American Dream has faded and I am completely disillusioned with not only this country's politics and economics, but also the cultural "truths" I once held dear.
Much has changed with Chile as well. The Chilean Miracle. A prosperity not seen before. My husband has been traveling to Santiago on business over the past few years and has witnessed its prosperity. Working closely with his colleagues there, he has been impressed by the kind of life they live, not in terms of money, but in terms of the social and family lifestyle. Like many Chileans living abroad, he dreams of returning to the homeland that is dear to him.
Hi! I found your link over at Cachando Chile and checked you out. I am flattered to see my blog on your list ;-) Interesting post! It sounds like you might be considering moving to Chile? or is it still just in dream stage? We are in the process of moving back with my Chilean husband and two kids.
ReplyDeleteI was just going to ask the same as Annje.
ReplyDeleteAre you coming this way?
For some reason of late I have heard a lot about people having less and less faith in the American Dream. Anyway, there are many opportunities in Chile (if you look in the right place).
Saludos,
Rob W.
Right now the move is really just in the dream phase. But it is something that could actually happen if we pushed it a little. Hubby works in LatAm business and a transfer could potentially happen. We are already committed to spending our retirement years there at least part time. We own a plot of land in the Elqui Valley ( no house yet) that is waiting for us. But that is a seriously long wait!
ReplyDeletePersonally, as a gringa who has never lived in Chile (or abroad), I am exploring the feelings I have about such a gigantic change and how it would change our family's life (we have 2 young kids).
Annje - I really enjoy your blog. Now I have an idea of what we would have to go through logistically to make it happen. I hope those final pieces fall into place very soon for you. I am sure you are ready to be down there. Good luck. Thanks for posting.
Hi Dee,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your commenting on my blog and for adding me to your blog list. If you ever do decide to make the move down to Chile with your husband, trust me that there is a huge support group here of women who have done exactly the same thing. It's amazing how many of us there are!
Until then (should that happen), I hope that those of us who blog about our expat lives here can offer some information and insight that is valuable to you.
Best of luck!