Everyday Life in Santiago de Chile

Restaurant Tip: Mestizo

2010-08-28T00:33:00.001-07:00

Typically when you've got visitors from home, they say:"We want to eat something typical for this region"... Unless you don't chose the fast food version and take them to Domino's, I can highly recommend Mestizo for this purpose! To start with: the classical aperitif Pisco Sour is a hit! And the Menu with predominantly local ingredients is pretty nice, too! On a warm summer's day you should reserve a table on the terrace with view on the bicentenario park. Love it!!!

http://www.restaurantes.emol.com/ficha/index.asp?id_restaurante=6300

Need a Haircut?

2010-08-28T00:25:00.001-07:00

In Santiago you can get haircuts from CLP 3.000 to CLP 15.000. There are a lot of hairdressers, but not all of them can deal with European hair. My favourite hairdresser is Alexis Garrido: haircuts are a little bit more expensive, but this man's got style and talent...

http://www.alexisgarrido.cl/

Find a place to live in Santiago

2010-03-28T01:50:00.000-07:00

Looking for a place to stay, you have to make several choices like which district, sharing a department or living alone, furnished or without furniture etc...

If you plan to live only for some months in Chile I recommend the homepage of Contactchile, which has a pretty good assortment (You can even choose to live in a family, if you're afraid of missing mom and dad), this service is not free of charge, but the fee also includes support in any problem concerning your renting. Another service free of charge is Compartodepto.cl.

If you plan to stay longer in Chile and want to live alone, you can find appartments "El Mercurio", which has an insert on saturdays and also a special homepage: http://propiedades.emol.com/_portada/index.aspx
and the homepage of Portal Inmobiliario: www.portalinmobiliaro.com.

A good district to live for younger people is Providencia, I don't recommend Bellavista( even though you might feel like in the heart of Latinamerica there), since it's very noisy on friday and saturday nights. Another good place to live is Las Condes, which is more like young couples, families and less party, but has very good public transport connection to everywhere. Last but not leastthere are the districts of Ñuñoa and La Reina, but I've never lived in any of those, so I couldn't tell what it's like to live there.

National Heroes: Allende versus Pinochet

2010-03-23T00:19:00.000-07:00

Unlike conventional wisdom in Europe and the US, Chile's history is not as black and white as it's sold in the newspapers. Twenty years later chilean population still is extremely split: You can find those who still bemoan that socialism simply didn't work out for Chile and there are those who wish back the times when Pinochet ruled with iron fist forcing progress and civil obedience.

Disclaimer: I didn't live in Chile during any of the two regimes. The opinion expressed in this article is based on personal observations and narratives of people I got to know in Chile.

Salvador Allende Gossens:
This man definitely had a dream! He dreamt of a nation politically, socially and economically independent, of liberating the underdogs and defending the defenceless. This is a respectable thought, however he was way ahead of the times and had to run for president four times until he finally won the elections in 1970. Unfortunately Allende hadn't thought about how to make his dream come true and still be everybody's darling. To live socialism as sermonized by his party he decided to disappropiate and socialize land and companies, which turned out to be not his best idea, since land- and company owners got very angry at him. In addition he was a doctor and not an entrepreneur or farmer and couldn't run all this socialized land and companies in an efficient way, either; which led to shortages in food and upset the rest of the population. Finally there was international pressure of the US, who never liked Allende and would do anything to see him fail (even supporting a military putsch...) . When in 1973 his government finally was violently ended by the putsch of Augusto Pinochet, Salvador Allende showed to be a man who dies for his principles and committed suicide.

Augusto Pinochet Ugarte:
Augusto Pinochet was working for the military since 1936. During the government of Allende he became comander in chief of the Chilean army by the fortunate coincidence that his antecessor was forced to resign (...or was it all planned?). Since he knew that nobody would vote for him he decided to get into power without delay by a military putsch (the US also were involved somehow, but that's another story). So how do you run a country without the support of the population? Right, Dictatorship! There were a lot of people killed or "recommended" to leave the country in order to not jeopardize the new government. Pinochet declared a dusk-to-dawn curfew and prohibited meetings of more than five persons in one room. But he did sort of good things, too: For example he pioneered the Chilean economy as it is today. Convinced that Chileans would have already forgotten how many of their relatives had been killed and only see the benfits of his government, he decided to chance a referendum on if he should stay in power for ten more years in 1988. Unsurprisingly to me, the answer of the majority was "NO" with 55, 99%, but after all 44,01% voted for "YES", which aknowedges the statement of my first sentence, that chilean history isn't black and white at all!

Nicknames

2010-03-19T01:04:00.000-07:00

Nicknames in Chile are a sign of affection. Everybody has a nickname here, generally showing preferences, physical attributes or other outstanding caracteristics. Watch out, not all nicknames are for public use: I have a friend whose nickname is "Piscola" because of his preference for that very drink, but his wife shall never find out. Here are the most typical nicknames:

Pelado (only male version): Baldhead

Guaton (only male version): Fat

Gordo/Gorda: Fat

Negro/Negra: Black

Flaco/Flaca: Slim

Chico/Chica: Small

El turco: Man with oriental background

El Gringo/La Gringa: Person with European or US-American background

Since these caracteristics fit a lot of persons, they are generally used with the given or family name of the person, in order to distinguish one baldhead from another, like "Pelado Insulza" and "Pelado Zaldívar".

And another little anecdote I don't want to deprive you of:

In 2005 the finance minister being asked a question about the acting president Michelle Bachelet, referred to her as "Mi gordi... ", which caused polemics and indignation in the feminist section. Later he made clear that this nickname was the expression of friendship and respect. It's open to dispute whether it was an expression of affection or a demonstration of male predominance, I personally find it cute and like the idea of all politicians being friends, working as a team, not arguing all the time like they usually do.

Coffee

2010-03-19T00:39:00.000-07:00

I bet you think that Chile has great coffee because of its splitting distance to Brazil and Colombia. WRONG!!! Chile is Nescaféland, oh yes, the instant the better, sorry guys! But you can find coffee from colombia and brazil aswell, it's just that nobody drinks it. You better get used to it or switch to tea or get your coffee from Starbucks...

Motels

2010-03-17T05:24:00.000-07:00

Motels in Chile are rather a love den than an acommodation, and they are quite popular, most of all among younger people, offering student discounts in several establishments. "Why is that so?" you might ask. I tell you: Young people in Chile tend to live longer at home than in Europe and Chilean parents are generally more conservative, not allowing their children (even if they are already approaching thirty) to receive visits of the opposite sex over night. So teenage love and passion is a pretty expensive issue and goooooooooooood business for the motel-owners; as well as cheating, but that's another story.

Hotel Valdivia is a classic, even if you don't go for that special purpose you can have a great time there with sauna, jacuzzi, feeling like an egiptian or rock star etc.: http://www.hotelvaldivia.cl/site/

Junkfood - Comida Chatarra

2010-03-16T05:58:00.000-07:00

Besides Mc Donalds and Burger King, you can also find the national alternative of junkfood. The funny thing about national junkfood is that Chileans seem to think that lot's of these recipies of unhealthy and fattening temptation are responsability of the Germans.

Let's make this clear: I have never seen a German in Germany eating a hotdog ("completo" in chilean) with sausage, tomatoes and sauerkraut, or a sandwich with beef, tomato, avocado and mayonese ("churrasco italiano"), first because our cattle went crazy long time ago, second avocados are imported since no more than 10 years to Germany and third sauerkraut is generally eaten with kartoffelknödel and gulasch, if I remember right....

But, whoever invented it, moderately consumed, it's a pretty good and tasty alternative to the traditional junkfood:

Completo: long bread, with wiener, tomato, pickles and sauerkraut
Churrasco: round bread with a thin escalope of beef
Lomito: bread with pork escalope
Ave: bread with chicken

All these sandwiches can have diffrente ingredients, like avocado, peppers, cheese, tomatoes, mayonese, beens, sauerkraut, ham etc.

To see all the different combinations please visit: http://www.domino.cl/prod_vienesas.htm#, which, by the way, is one of the best junkfood restaurants.

Other good fastfood restaurants are:
Fuente Alemana: http://www.santiagourmet.com/fichadetalle.asp?idq=4299
Fritz: http://www.fritzrestaurantes.cl/index.htm
Fuente Suiza: http://www.fuentesuiza.cl/
Fresia: http://www.fresiasangucheria.cl/
El Ciudadano: http://www.ciudadanorestaurant.cl/ (Sandwiches Fusion)
Mr. Jack: http://www.mrjack.cl/

Enjoy your meal!

Why don't you get yourself a job?

2010-03-14T06:37:00.000-07:00

If you're seeking for a job in Chile, try these homepages:

http://www.laborum.cl/
http://www.trabajando.com/index.cfm

...and the section of "Artes y Letras" of Newspaper "El Mercurio" on Sundays.

You can also find a job by the jobexchange of the chambers of commerce of different countries:

http://www.amchamchile.cl/node/2495#

http://chile.ahk.de/index.php?id=bolsadetrabajo&L=43

http://www.camarafrancochilena.cl/nuestros-servicios/empleo/buscar-un-empleo.html

http://www.britcham.cl/www/camarachilenaen.nsf/data/F5F9608B72D1AF0F842574CE005B22AE?OpenDocument

etc.

However the labour market in Chile is sort of informal. Chileans often get a job by their labour or personal network.

National Heroes: Bernardo O'Higgins vs. José Miguel Carrera

2010-03-14T00:46:00.000-08:00

Talking about history Chileans seem to think in "either..or" terms. That's how once asking my workmates about Bernardo O'Higgins several told me "I'm Carrerista!" (???!!!)

I will tell you the difference and contribution of both to the chilean independence process (as I see it) and why they named one of the most important streets, schools, universities, military academy and even a whole region after Bernardo O'Higgins and only one street in a remote district after José Miguel Carrera :

Bernardo O'Higgins was the bastard son of the an Irish colonialist and a Chilean lady. Even though his father actually wasn' t very happy about his existence he gave him the best possible education with stays in England and Spain. After 1810 he worked with José Miguel Carrera who got into power by several (2) putsches, until they had a controversy on Carreras third putsch and parted ways. Bernardo took part in several military actions and involuntarily had to spend some time in Argentina since there were efforts of Spain to stop the independization process. After his return to Chile he was named 1817 the first supreme director of Chile and, since in 1818 Chile finally got independent, the first head of state of the independent republic. His government aparently was very strict and dictatorial and in 1823 Chileans sort of had enough of him and sent him to Peru, where he died.

José Miguel Carrera was the legal son of a chilean family. When he was young he was a pretty naughty boy, which finally led his father to send him first to Peru (seems to be good place for naughty people, see Bernardo O'Higgins) and then to Spain. When he heard about the independence movement in Chile he decided to get back inmediately and take power by a putsch. There were several fights and battles, and in 1814 he felt impelled to move to Argentina for the same reasons Bernardo had to. However, when José Miguel got to Argentina a friend of Bernardo sent him to prison and later to Buenos Aires to get him out of the way. He had to escape several times and when he finally tried to get back to Chile in 1820 he got caught and finally executed in 1821 in Mendoza for whatever reason.

Bicentenario

2010-03-12T04:36:00.000-08:00

Call me ignorant, but just this year I learned what this bicentenario stuff is all about: In 2010 it's 200 years since Chile became independent from the Spanish crown or let's say at least tried to.

But in my defence i must say that they (Chilean politicians) are celebrating this event since i came here, which was in 2006, and the party aparently had been going on for a while already.

Well, the bicentenario project seems to be the best justification for any public/infrastructural project you want to carry out: Among others there's a Bicentenario Street, a bicentenario park, a bicentenario bikeway and (project, which was most funny) a bicentenario time capsule, with all those things inside that are characteristic for chilean life today, and which chileans seem to think, will be opened in another one- or two hundred years by other chileans or maybe aliens or whoever, and they will say:"Wow, that's how our ancestors used to live!!!" and then make an action movie, where Indiana Jones finds the content of this bicentenario capsule and concludes that yeti's brother is living in the Andes Mountains and sitting on a huge treasure and the secret on how to avoid the apocalypse of 2212...

If you want some serious information, please see the official website:
http://www.chilebicentenario.cl/

By the way, Chile of course is not the only latinamerican country to celebrate bicentenario. Here are some other countries, which celebrate bicentenarios this - and next year:
Argentina: 25th of May 2010
Bolivia: 25th of May 2009
Colombia: 20th of July 2010
Ecuador: 10th of August 2009
Mexico: 16th of September 2010
Paraguay: 15th of May 2011
Venezuela:19th of April 2010

http://www.grupobicentenario.org/

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHILE!!!

Malls

2010-03-03T11:19:00.000-08:00

If you need something in Chile, you don't go downtown but to a mall. Chilean women love the mall, they even love it so much that they'd take their whole familiy for a sunday afternoon excursion to the mall regardlessly of the rest of the family enjoying this airing or not.

It must be the fact that you can do anything at the mall:
Cut your hair; Buy food, clothes, jewels, freezer, your space in the graveyard; Eat and drink; go to the cinema; See some theater play; Go bowling; tailoring; send postcards; etc... - you could actually live there without never leaving again.

The most popular malls are:

Apumanque (One of the oldest malls): http://www.apumanque.cl/
Mall Panoramíco: Avenida Once de Septiembre 2155 , Torre C Of. 303
Parque Arauco (great boulverad with cinema, favourite of brazilian tourists): http://www.parquearauco.cl/
Alto Las Condes: http://www.cencosudshopping.cl/altolascondes/
And several branches of the Mall Plaza group: http://www.mallplaza.cl/

Have fun!

Chilenismos

2010-03-03T06:43:00.000-08:00

When I was telling my friend Farsaneh 4 years ago that I was leaving for Chile, she asked "...And which language do they speak there? Chilean?" " Spanish" I answered, embarrassed by her ignorance. Today, I would say, she might have been actually right: This language they speak here is quite different from the spanish they teach us at school or university. Here are some chilean words and their translation to spanish:

A
Achacarse: Deprimirse, amargarse, perder la fe.
“Agarrar para el Leseo”: Molestar o burlarse de alguien, sin que éste se dé cuenta.
Altiro: Inmediatamente.
Alusa (Alusa Foil / Alusa Plast: Popular marca de papeles de aluminio y plásticos. Por extensión, todo papel de este tipo.
Amermelado: Tonto, lerdo.
“Andar con los monos”: Andar de mal humor
“Apagarse la tele”: Perder la conciencia de tanto beber alcohol.
Aperrar: Insistir en una empresa u objetivo, sin importar las complicaciones y dificultades // Valiente, atrevido.
Apestado: Molesto o agotado.
Apitutado: Quien goza de múltiples “pitutos” o contactos útiles en el mundo de los negocios.
Apitutarse: Conseguir contactos de negocio o favores en dicho sentido.
Apretado: Avaro, codicioso.
“Apretar Cachete”: Huir, escapar rápidamente (se refiere a apretar las nalgas)
“Arriba de la pelota”: Excitado, demasiado alegre, enfiestado.
Arribista: Que intenta aparentar pertenencia a una clase social superior.
Arrugar: Acobardarse.
Arturito: Billete de $10.000 pesos chilenos (aprox. 19 dls), se le llama así por la imagen de Arturo Prat, héroe del Combate Naval de Iquique, que aparece en los billetes de dicha denominación.

B
Bacán: Fantástico, genial.
Barsa: Desatinado, descarado, aprovechador. Dícese de la persona que abusa o pretende aprovecharse de la buena voluntad de otros sin ninguna vergüenza.
Bencina: Combustible, gasolina.
Boleta: Comprobante de pago.
Boleto: Comprobante de pago // Pasaje de autobus, tren, avión, barco, o cualquier otro medio de transporte // Ticket de entrada para una obra de teatro, cine, recital o cualquier otro espectáculo.
Botado: Dícese de lo que se encuentra a tan bajo precio, que es como si pudiese recogerse de la calle.
Brígido: Complicado, difícil. Situación muy compleja // Entre delincuentes: cuando la policía anda cerca.
Brillo: Fiesta, evento.

C
Cabezón: Persona de cabeza desproporcionadamente grande // Dícese del trago que contiene demasiado alcohol.
Cabro(a): Persona joven.
Cabro(a) chico(a): Niño(a)
Cabrón: Proxeneta // Acaparador // Persona muy exigente // Persona muy aplicada o que es muy buena en lo que hace.
Cachar: Entender
Cachete: Mejilla // Nalga
Cachetear: Abofetear.
Cachetón: Arrogante, pretencioso, farsante.
Cacho: Golpe de puño // “ser un cacho”: algo o alguien que es una molestia constante.
Cachureo: Objeto que ocupa espacio inútilmente.
Cagar: Defecar // Perder, fracasar.
Cagado (”ser caga’o”): Avaro.
Cahuín: Mentira
Calefon: Calentador de agua, a gas.
Caleta: Bastante // Mucho.
Califa: Mujeriego // Que se excita fácilmente.
Cancelar: Pagar una cantidad.
Caña: Resaca.
Carabinero: Policía
Car’e Palo: Descarado, desvergonzado.
“Carne de Perro”: Dícese de la persona o cosa que aguanta cualquier maltrato o rudeza sin problemas.
Carnet o Carné: Cédula o Credencial de Identidad
Carrete: Fiesta, jolgorio, panorama.
Cartucho: Reprimido.
Casino: Cafetería o comedor público // Local de juegos de azar.
Chaleco: Prenda de vestir, generalmente de lana, que se usa sobre la camisa.
Chancho: Cerdo, puerco // Persona sucia o desaseada // Eructo.
“Chancho en misa”: Persona o cosa fuera de contexto (ej: “me sentía como chancho en misa”)
Chanchada: Traición, trampa, pillería o jugarreta.
Chanta: Persona o cosa que no está ni de lejos a la altura de las expectativas que despertaba.
Charcha: Pliegue de las carnes de una persona obesa, particularmente en la zona abdominal. // Ordinario, de mala calidad, de imitación.
Charqui: Carne seca salada, equina o vacuna.
Chato: Molesto o agotado. // Persona sin especificar nombre. “Ese chato es raro.”// Volado, drogado.
Chauchera: Monedero.
Chela: Cerveza
Chiflar: Silvido potente que se hace soplando con dos dedos en la boca.
Chiva: Mentira
Chomba: Chaleco.
Chori: Entretenido, divertido.
Choriflai: Entretenido, divertido (este término se encuentra en desuso, pero fue popular en los 80’s)
Choripan: Chorizo metido en un pedazo de pan.
Choro: Entretenido, divertido, bueno // Atrevido, arrojado, valiente // Arrogante.
Chucha: Exclamación vulgar de sorpresa.
Chulo: Cabrón, cafiche, quien maneja a las prostitutas // Quien se viste y decora su casa con mal gusto// En exceso refinado, siútico //
Chupete: Chupón o pezón de goma que se da a los bebés para que succionen.
Chuta: Expresión de sorpresa y contrariedad (”¡Chuta, se me quedaron las llaves!”).
Cogote: Cuello, garganta.
Cogotear: Asalto violento, generalmente con uso de arma blanca o violencia física.
Cola: Fila de personas // “Ser cola”: Ser homosexual.
Colación: Entremés, comida liviana que se lleva para comer entre clases.
Colectivo: Taxi de recorrido fijo, que puede llevar hasta 4 pasajeros.
Colo-Colo: Líder (cacique) de la etnia mapuche, que venció al conquistador español Pedro de Valdivia en la batalla de Tucapel.// Equipo de fútbol chileno, cuyo símbolo es el indio Colo-Colo.
Colocolino: Hincha de Colo Colo
Comedia: Telenovela.
Concho: Resto, generalmente líquido, al fondo de una botella. // Hijo menor de una familia, nacido con varios años de diferencia respecto a sus hermanos.
Condoro: Error u accidente vergonzoso y notorio. Metida de pata.
Condorearse: Cometer un error vergonzoso y notorio. Meter la pata.
Confort: Principal marca de papel higiénico. Por extensión, todo papel higiénico.
Consulta: Despacho de un especialista (ej: ir a la consulta de un médico).
Copete: Trago, bebida alcohólica.
Corchete: Grapa // En el teclado, este símbolo ” [ ”
Corchetear: Poner corchetes, engrapar.
Cuático: Exagerado, alharaco.
Cuca: Carro de policía.
Cuchufleta: Traición, trampa, pillería o jugarreta.
“Cuero de Chancho”: Dícese de la persona acostumbrada, o que no se ve afectada fácilmente, por los insultos o la adversidad.
Cuico: Persona que es de clase alta y se le nota.
Cuma: Ordinario, de mala calidad o condición.
Curado: Borracho
Curvilínea: Dícese de la mujer de abundates curvas

D
Dale: Expresión equivalente a decir “Ok”, “vale”, “entendido” o “sigue, continúa”
“Dar boleta”: Ganar abultadamente.
“Dar como caja”: Usar, ocupar, tener sexo o golpear de manera repetida y destemplada a algo o alguien. Ej: “le dí como caja al Xbox la semana que me lo prestaron” o “a esa mina le daría como caja”.
“Dar jugo”: Bromear // Causar desmanes.
“Dar monos”: Desagradar, incomodar mucho.
Descueve: Muy bueno, excelente, espectacular.
Dije: Amable, bien educado. (Ej: “¡Es tan dije este chiquillo!”)

E
“Echar a perder”: Fallar, dañarse alguna máquina.
“Echar la corta”: Orinar
“Echar la foca”: Insultar
“Echar pericos”: Quejarse
“Edad del pavo”: Dícese del período de la adolescencia, en que los jóvenes duermen constantemente, hablan poco y actúan torpemente.
Embalarse: Entusiasmarse, sumarse inmediatamente al ritmo de alguna actividad.
Emo: Tribu urbana, nacida en países anglosajones, cuyo razgo principal es la apariencia depresiva y enfermiza. Tez pálida, pelo largo y negro cubriendo uno o ambos ojos, rimel, ropa negra (sólo se permite el rojo), motivos cuadriculados, bolsos cruzados cubiertos de chapitas de calaveras, grupos musicales como “My Chemical Romance” y películas de Tim Burton, postura encorvada y solitaria.
Empanada: Plato típico chileno, consistente en una especie de “sobre” de masa, cuyo interior puede ir relleno de “pino” (carne molida y cebolla, más una aceituna y un huevo duro) o queso derretido (al que se pueden incorporar mariscos, champiñones u otros).
Emperifollarse: Arreglarse, maquillarse y vestirse para un evento.
Ene: Mucho.
Engrupir: Engañar, seducir o convencer.
Enparafinado: Dícese de quien se ha puesto mucho perfume // Borracho.
Enrollarse: Complicarse, angustiarse innecesariamente.
Enseñanza media: Secundaria
“Entrarle agua al bote”: Emborracharse.
“Estar frito”: No tener escapatoria.
“Estar pa’l gato”: Estar en pésimo estado, enfermo, agotado o casi muerto.

F
Facha: Aspecto, look.
Fachero: Persona de buen aspecto físico.
Facho: Persona de ideología ultraderechista o neo-nazi.
Filete: Dícese de la persona o cosa que está buenísima. (”Esa mina está filete”)
Filo: Expresión que significa “no importa, da igual”
Flaite: Persona de cultura callejera (hip-hoperos, skaters, pandilleros, graffitteros).
Fleto: Maricón.
Flor: Estar “flor” es estar tranquilo, bien, relajado. // Excelente o mucho: (”tenía flor de auto”)
Fome: Aburrido
Freezer: Congelador, o por extensión, todo el refrigerador.
Frigider: Refrigerador. Corresponde a la deformación de “Frigidaire”, primera marca de refrigeradores en llegar a Chile.
Fruncido: Dícese de quien es en exceso rígido o renuente.

G
Gabi: $5000 pesos chilenos (aprox. 9 dls), reducción de “Gabriela”.
Gabriela: $5000 pesos chilenos (aprox. 9 dls), se le llama así por la imagen de Gabriela Mistral que aparece en los billetes de dicha denominación.
Gallo(a): Persona, tipo, sujeto.
Gamba: 100 pesos chilenos (20 centavos de dolar aprox.)
Gancho: Compadre, amigo (Expresión del campo chileno).
Gásfiter: Plomero.
Gelateria: Heladería, tienda de sorbetes.
Gil: Tonto, ingenuo, incauto.
Gringo(a): Extranjero de apariencia nórdica, sobretodo anglosajones.
Grosso: Genial, fantástico. (Término en desuso, pero que fue popular en los 80’s y principios de los 90)
Grupo o grupó: Mentira (expresión popular en los 80’s actualmente en desuso).
Guachaca: Popular, propio de la cultura de masas. // Por extensión: vulgar.
Guagua: Bebé.
Guailón: Dícese del hombre grande y torpe que se comporta como un niño.
Guanaco: Nombre con que se denomina popularmente al carro lanza agua policial. Se le llama así por la tendencia de los guanacos a escupir.
¡Guarda!: Exclamación de advertencia. Sin: ¡cuidado!, ¡atención!.
Guata: Panza, estómago.
Guatear: Empeorar, decaer, perder calidad.
Guatón: Obeso, gordo.

H
Hachazo: Resaca después de una borrachera.
Harto: Bastante, mucho // Cansado o irritado.
Heavy (”Jevi”): Fantástico, genial // Impresionante, fuerte.
Hocicón: Hablador, que dice más de lo conveniente.
Huachaca: Vulgar, inculto.
Huascazo: Golpe muy fuerte. Choque.
Huaso: Persona del campo // Persona con escasa cultura urbana // Tímido, acomplejado.
Huevada, huevá o weá: Cosa, objeto // Expresión (“puta la weá”)
Huevon o weón: Imbécil, estúpido // Persona // Amigo, compadre.
Huevear o weiar: Molestar, joder // Hacer tonterías, entretenerse, bacilar.
Hueveo o weveo: Jolgorio, entretención, chacota.
Huevas: Testículos // “me fue como las huevas” = “me fue pésimo”

I
“Ir rajado“: Ir muy rápido.
“Ir soplado”: Ir muy rápido.
“Irse a la chucha”: Irse muy lejos // Resultar algo terriblemente mal, o fallar algo de manera irreparable // Cuando se dice de manera imperativa (ej: “ándate a la chucha”), equivale a decir “vete al diablo”.
“Irse en mala”: Enojarse y actuar agresivamente, generalmente sin motivo suficiente.
“Irse en pálida”: Vomitar
“Irse en volada” Salirse de lo razonable. Ser demasiado exagerado // Perder contacto con la realidad, ser demasiado fantasioso.

J
Jalar: Drogarse.
Jefe: Se le dice así al cuidador de autos, o cualquiera que haga un trabajo menor en la calle.
Jetón: Tonto, inepto.
Jote: Quien intenta desvergonzadamente conquistar mujeres, hasta el punto de ser molesto.
Jotear: Rondar o hablar a una mujer, con evidente intención de conquistarla.
Juato: Viejo con experiencia.
Junta: Reunión de amigos, fiesta.

L
“La dura”: La verdad, en serio.
“La firme”: La verdad, en serio.
“La pulenta”: La verdad, en serio.
“La raja”: Genial, fantástico.
“La zorra”: Genial, fantástico.
Lata: “tener lata”: estar aburrido // “dar la lata”: aburrir a otros // “dar lata”: dar flojera.
Latero: Que provoca lata.
Lanza:”Ladrón de poca monta, que hace lanzazos.
Lanzazo”Robo, efectuado con gran rapidez y sin violencia ni amenazas, tras el cual el delincuente sale huyendo.
Lauchero: Jugador que se queda en el área contraria, detrás de la defensa.
Leso:Tonto.
Loco: Modo informal de referirse a una persona “¡Ah, sí! Me encontré con ese loco en el cine”
Loca: Modo informal de referirse a una mujer // Referido a un hombre: homosexual o amanerado.
Locomoción Pública: Transporte público.
Lola: Niña, adolescente o mujer joven.
Lolas: Varias jóvenes // Tetas.
Lona (”quedar lona” o “estar lona”): Hallarse cansado o fuertemente alcoholizado.
Longhi: (pronunciado “lonyi”) Persona de baja clase social, o de cultura callejera.
Luca: 1000 pesos chilenos (poco menos de 2 dls.)
Luma: Árbol chileno // Palo que usan los policías en Chile.

M
Maestro: Profesional de la construcción // Alguien realmente bueno en algo.
Mala: Fea // Malvada.
Malagestado: De mal gesto, de expresión adusta o agresiva.
Mamadera: Mamila o biberón.
Mamón: Quien siempre busca quedar bien con sus superiores // Pollerudo, muy apegado a su madre // Felación, sexo oral aplicado al pene.
“Mandarse a cambiar”: Irse de un lugar, de manera abrupta.
“Mandarse un condoro”: Cometer un error vergonzoso y notorio. Meter la pata.
Manjar: Dulce de leche, cajeta.
“Mano’e guagua”: Avaro, que no suelta la plata.
Maraco: Gay // Persona traicionera y canalla.
Marraqueta: Tipo de pan.
Marshmellow: Marca de malvaviscos // Por extensión, cualquier malvavisco.
Mateo: Estudioso, sobresaliente en lo académico // Nerd.
Mecha’e Clavo: De cabello sucio, tieso o poco dócil. Se suele usar de manera despectiva, refieriéndose a cierto genotipo frecuente en las clases bajas.
Meter la cuchara: Entrometerse.
Meter la mula: Engañar, estafar.
Meter la pata: Cometer una imprudencia. Decir o hacer algo inoportuno.
Metido: Intruso, fisgón.
Micro (Microbús): Vehículo de transporte colectivo (minibús).
Micrero: Chofer de la micro.
Mino, mina: Hombre o mujer atractivo(a)
Mish: Expresión que denota sorpresa y deconfianza (“Mish, se enfermó justo para el examen”).
Mollera: Cabeza, cerebro.
Moya: Es el apellido ficticio de un personaje anónimo. Cuando se dice “sepa Moya” equivale a decir “quién sabe”, mientras que si se dice “fue Moya” o “paga Moya”, equivale a decir que no se sabe quien fue, o que pagan todos.
Mula: Falso, de imitación. Que no está a la altura de las espectativas.

N
Nica: Literalmente: “Ni Cagando”, ni loco.
“No estar ni ahí”: Que no le importa, que le da igual.
Nulo: Quien no tiene talento ni capacidad para algo.

Ñ
Ñato: De nariz pequeña, sin punta. // Tipo, persona.
Ñeque: Fuerza o técnica que se aplica a algo. // Esfuerzo. (Proviene del quechua ñiqquy: músculo)
Ñurdo: Torpe, descoordinado.

O
Otaku: Fanático de todo lo que provenga de Japón, en particular de la animación japonesa. Esta persona colecciona Manga (comic japonés), asiste a ciclos de anime (dibujos animados japoneses) y, en casos extremos, se disfraza de personajes (cosplay).
Oso: Similar a “olé”, es una expresión que se utiliza cuando algo que parecía seguro no ocurre a último segundo. (Ej. Una pelota que no entra en el arco) Entonces se grita “oooooosoooo” como expresión de sorpresa y burla.

P
Pacato: Tímido, reprimido.
Paco: Policía.
Paquear: Acto de vigilar, rondar o mirar insistentemente a otra persona.
Pajarón: Distraido.
Pajero: Flojo.
Pa’l: “Para el”
“Pa’l gato”: Que se encuentra en pésimo estado.
Paleteado: Persona que ayuda a otros desinteresadamente.
Palo: 1 millón de pesos chilenos (algo más de 2000 dólares) // Pene.
Palta: Aguacate // Algo fácil de hacer.
Paltón: Adinerado, cuico.
Pandearse: Desanimarse, perder las energías.
Papaya: Fácil, sencillo. // Fruta muy dulce, de intenso color amarillo.
Paracaidista: Aquel que “se deja caer” en una fiesta a la que no ha sido invitado.
Parkeado: Aburrido, sin nada que hacer. Proviene de del término inglés “park” (estacionar).
“Pasarlo chancho / caballo”: Pasarlo bien, pasarlo fantástico.
“Pasarse películas”: Angustiarse uno mismo por problemas inexistentes; inventarse problemas que no están ahí.
“Pasado a (…)”: Olor intenso que denota la presencia de algo (ej: “está pasado a pescado”)
“Pasado a tele”: Demasiado fantasioso e inverosimil.
Pasta de dientes: Dentífrico.
Pastel: Tonto, torpe, ingenuo // Que busca llamar la atención.
Pataleta: Berrinche
Patudo: Aprovechado, descarado.
Pavo: Dícese de la persona distraída o lenta.
“Patear la perra”: Reclamar, quejarse amargamente.
Pechar: Pedir prestado o regalado.
Pega: Trabajo.
“Peinar la muñeca”: Volverse loco // Hacer cosas absurdas e ilógicas.
Pelar: Criticar a una persona en su ausencia, calumniar.
Pelolais: Tribu urbana, constituida por niñas de clase alta (ABC1) de colegios católicos, cabellera rubia y lisa (lacia). Se mueven en auto, participan de fiestas top, tienen novios deportistas de futuro brillante (ingeniero comerciales, de seguro), se visten de colores pasteles, zapatillas o sandalias con lentejuelas, asisten frecuentemente a misa y van a fiestas y paseos a balnearios de moda.
Peludo: Que tiene mucho pelo // Complicado, difícil.
Penca: Pene // Algo que es de muy mala calidad // Situación muy desagradable e incómoda.
Pendejo: Vello púbico // Menor de edad, niño // Persona que se comporta como un niño, inmaduro.
Peñascazo: Piedrazo.
Perla: Persona que se comporta como un príncipe “el perla quiere que le lleven el desayuno a la cama…”
Perno: Tonto bueno, nerd.
Perro: Forma muy informal de dirigirse a un amigo (¿Cómo va, perro?”).
Perraje: Amigos.
Pescar: Poner atención. Darse por aludido.
Picada: Lugar muy económico donde comer o adquirir algún servicio. Es un buen dato, una buena recomendación, una información exclusiva.
Picado: Estar ofendido, sentido o envidioso hacia otra persona.
“Picado de la Araña”: Pícaro, caliente. Hombre obsesionado con el sexo. (Esto proviene de que el veneno de la araña del trigo provoca, entre otras cosas, una fuerte y dolorosa erección).
Picanear: Apurar, presionar a otro.
Picante: Persona de poca educación y mal gusto, vulgar // Objeto barato y cuyo diseño es de mal gusto // Que pica en la boca al comerse.
Picarla: Apurarse, darse prisa.
Pichanga: Partido de fútbol informal // Picadillo de quesos, jamón y verduras en vinagre.
Pichicatear: Modificar, adulterar.
Pico: Pene // Expresión para señalar que algo de igual “Pico con eso”.
Pierna: Pareja de una persona. Generalmente utilizado para relaciones informales.
Pierna peluda: Pareja, de sexo masculino, de una persona.
Pifiar: Fallar, errar // Silbido de reprobación, abucheo.
Pilas: Baterías alcalinas o recargables, no mayores a las tipo “D”.
Pililo: Niño de la calle //Por extensión, cualquiera que ande mal vestido y desaseado.
Pilucho: Desnudo
Pinchar: Atraer a alguien. Ligar con alguien.
Pinganilla: Persona sin importancia, de poca valía.
Pinpón (PingPong): Tenis de mesa.
Pinta: Aspecto, look, facha.
Pintoso: Persona de buen aspecto.
Piñufla: Ordinario, de mala calidad, de imitación.
Piola: Cuerda, cordel, hilo // Simpático, agradable, bueno, bien. //Quitado de bullas // “Pasar piola”: que no se notó.
Pirata: Copia ilegal de algo, falsificado.
Pirateado: Falsificado o copiado ilegalmente.
“Pisar el palito”: Caer en la trampa.
Piscola: Mezcla de CocaCola y pisco (destilado de uva).
Pitearse algo o a alguien: Romper un objeto o matar a una persona.
Piti: Corto de vista.
Pito: Cigarro de marihuana.
Pituto: Dícese de la ventaja con que cuenta una persona, para cualquier labor, por tener amigos o familiares en su área de desempeño. // Contacto útil con que se cuenta para conseguir un negocio u optar a un cargo. // Tubo pequeño y sobresaliente de un objeto, que al ser jalado, permite abrir una puerta o accionar algún dispositivo // Trabajo temporal y esporádico.
Plancha: Vergüenza
Pocho: Satisfecho o saturado de comida.
Poh: Abreviación de “pues”. De uso muy común en Chile, para terminar casi cualquier oración.
Polera: Camiseta, playera, remera.
Pollera: Falda larga y amplia, que forma parte del atuendo tradicional femenino, en muchos países latinos.
Pollerudo(a): Persona que vive colgado de las faldas de su madre, apegado a su madre. Mamón.
Pollo: Inexperto y tímido. Que se deja engañar o abusar.
Pololo: Novio // Trabajo temporal
Polola: Novia
Porro: Cigarro de Marihuana // Estudiante de malas calificaciones.
Potable: Dícese de la persona que no es del todo desagradable a la vista.
Poto: Culo, trasero.
Potón(a): Que tiene un gran culo.
Producirse: Pone excesivo cuidado en el vestir o la apariencia personal.
Producido: Dícese de la persona u objeto sobre el que se ha puesto excesivo cuidado en su preparación.
Promo: Promoción.
Pucha: Expresión de desazón.
Pucho: Cigarrillo.
Pulento: Ordinario, vulgar // Increíble, buenísimo, excelente.
Punga: Ordinario // Delincuente.
“Puta la weá”: Expresión de estrema frustración.

Q
Quedar la Cagada: Resultar en un desastre (Ej: “¡Chocaron dos trenes! ¡Quedó la cagada!” )
Quedar la Crema: Resultar en un desastre (ver “Quedar la Cagada”).
Quedar la Embarrada: Resultar en un desastre (ver “Quedar la Cagada”).
Quedar la Escoba: Resultar en un desastre (ver “Quedar la Cagada”).
Quedar la Grande: Resultar en un desastre (ver “Quedar la Cagada”).
Quemado: Que tiene mala suerte.
Quiltro: Término despectivo para referirse al perro (u otro animal doméstico) nacido como consecuencia de la cruza de especies diferentes o desconocidas. // Por extensión, cualquier perro callejero.
Quina: 500 pesos chilenos (casi 1 dolar)

R
Rallado: Loco
“Rallar la papa”: Hablar o hacer locuras.
Rancio: Patético, que produce vergüenza ajena.
Rasca: De mala calidad o de mal gusto.
Réclame: Comercial televisivo.
Regla (la): Mestruación.
Resta: Dícese de la persona que no aporta, sólo resta // Aguafiestas.
Rico(a): Millonario(a) // Sabroso(a) // Atractivo(a).
Rollo: Problema, complicación. //Pliegue de las carnes de una persona obesa, particularmente en la zona abdominal.
“Romperse la empanada”: Tener fuerte olor en las axilas.
Roto: Persona del pueblo // Persona sin cultura y de malos modales.

S
“Sacar la vuelta”: Evitar realizar las actividades que uno tiene asignadas, con excusas y distracciones.
“Sacar(se) la chucha/ cresta/ mierda”: Golpear(se) o accidentarse de manera grave y violenta.
Salado: Caro, oneroso. (Salir salado = salir caro)
Sapear: Espiar, instrusear, fisgonear.
Sapo: Trabajador informal que se dedica a indicar a los choferes de micro su distancia respecto las otras máquinas de su recorrido.
Seco: Alguien extremadamente bueno para algún deporte o actividad.
“Sepa Moya”: Indica ignorancia respecto a un tema, equivale a decir “quién sabe”.
Siútico: Amanerado. Que presume costumbres y modales de las clases altas.
Sobrado: Que le falta humildad, arrogante, farsante.
Socio: Amigo, compadre // Manera informal y amistosa de dirigirse a un extraño (”Socio, ¿me da fuego?”)
Sonar: Perder, fracasar.
Suelto, Suelta: Persona que se entrega sexualmente con facilidad.

T
Taco: Atochamiento, atasco.
Taimarse: Ofenderse, irse para adentro.
Taimado: Persona que frecuentemente se niega a hacer cosas.
Tambito: Idiota, pelotudo, estúpido, lento.
Talla: Chiste, broma, humorada // Helado de agua de palito.
Telele: Soponcio, ataque de nervios.
Teleserie: Telenovela
“Terrible de…(adjetivo)”: Tener alguna característica en exceso (”este tipo es terrible de pesado”, “este grupo es terrible de bueno”)
Tincar: Presentir // Sentir atracción hacia algo o alguien.
Tincada: Presentimiento.
Tiña: Enfermedad frecuente entre los animales callejeros, altamente contagiosa, que produce la progresiva pérdida del cabello de los animales, de manera poco uniforme.
Tiñoso: Quien tiene tiña.
Tirar: Arrojar // Jalar // Besar en los labios // Tener sexo.
Tira: Detective de la policía de investigaciones.
Toalla Nova: Popular marca de toallas de papel. Por extensión, todas las toallas de papel.
Tomar once: Tomar té.
Tollo: Mentira descarada.
Tortilla: Acto sexual entre lesbianas.
Tortilleras: Lesbianas.
Tufo: Hálito, aliento, generalmente desagradable // Hedor.
Tufada: Hedor penetrante.
Tula: Pene
Tuto: Sueño, cansancio.

U
Último: “Ser último” es ser patético, rancio, lo peor.

V
Vaca: Persona que no cumple sus promesas // Mujer muy obesa // Colecta entre amigos, generalmente para comprar pertrechos para una fiesta.
Vacuna (ser vacuna): Lo mismo que ser “Vaca”
Ventarrón: Viento fuerte.
Ventolera: Viento fuerte.
Volada: Fantasía, teoría o pensamiento demasiado fantasioso.
Volado (vola’o): Distraído // Drogado.
Volarse: Drogarse // Excederse en la imaginación (”hizo un proyecto demasiado volado”)

W
Wachaca (o huachaca): Vulgar, inculto.
Wacho(a): Que no tiene pareja // Dócil
Washito(a): Diminutivo de “wacho”. Por extensión, sirve para referirse a cualquier persona, en tono amigable o despectivo, según el contexto // Un hombre extremadamente atractivo, suele acompañarse de la palabra “rico” (washito rico), señalando que dan ganas de comérselo. Cof, cof.
Washón(a): Forma vulgar de referirse a una persona de gran atractivo físico.
Weá (Ver “Huevada”)
Wena: Buena // Felicitación (”¡bien hecho!”) // Saludo (”buen día”)
Weón (o Wevón) (Ver “Huevón”)

Y
Ya: Ahora: “hazlo ya” // Entendido, comprendido, de acuerdo: “ya, lo haré” // Listo, terminado “ya lo hice”.
Yuta: Policía, carabinero.

Z
Zorra: Vulva, vagina, entrepierna femenina. // Prostituta, mujer fácil.

Source: http://www.juanelo.cl/diccionario-de-chilenismos/

Café con Piernas

2010-03-03T06:02:00.000-08:00

Having an urgent need for a coffee, you already might have stumbled into a so called "Café con Piernas" (Coffee with legs) wondering why there are only men and why the waitress is wearing such a short skirt (if she did wear one).

Well, first of all drinking coffee in Chile seems to be man's business and yes, ladies, they want to enjoy the view! There are different levels of "Cafés con piernas" with waitresses not only showing their legs, but also their... - belly, and not only serving coffee, but also offering special services to their customers. These specialized coffeeshops are open and well visited all day, which confirms my suspicion that men actually do think in SEX all the time.

PD: Ladies, !!!GOOD NEWS!!!, some international coffee chains like Starbucks or Havanna found out about the dilemma of chilean women and opened unisex coffeeshops with dressed waitresses and waiters, - and to be honest the coffee is also better there, but that's not the core business of the "Cafés con piernas" anyway.

Yoga, Aerobic and Spinning at Cerro San Cristobal

2010-03-02T06:43:00.000-08:00

In my opinion, one of the most beautiful places in Santiago is Cerro San Cristobal. You can reach the top by funicular railway, access from Pio Nono, or walking, on bycicle or by car, access Pedro de Valdivia (there used to be a teleferic, but it's closed now, since it turned out not to be very safe). On top, at the feed of Virgin Mary, you have a great view on Santiago.

If you don't go by funicular railway and decide to just walk up to the top, you may see on your way up some people doing activities like aerobic, spinning or lying around in the grass doing yoga. As far as I understand these sports are organized every summer (from December to March) and are free of charge.

Further details on:

http://www.parquemet.cl/index.php?cat_id=21

Who wants to be a millionaire in Chile

2010-03-02T05:39:00.000-08:00

The chilean peso is worth 0,00138 Euro or 0,00187 USD, so being a millionaire in Chile actually is not very difficult. I've earned millions (of Chilean Pesos) during my 3 years of professional life here ;) .

Since their money actually is of so little value and it's so disturbing to always say "Thousand", "hundred" and so on, Chileans have invented ( or copied from their neighbours?) some words to make life easier:

The word "Luca" describes a 1.000 Peso Note. The origin of the word is not quite clear, -could be from Argentina, America or Spanish Colonial Rulers. (http://etimologias.dechile.net/?luca). It's very common among younger people and recently it's used increasingly in markting, since people seem to respond better to "luca" than to "mil" (see yogaluka in the leisure section) .

The word "Gamba" describes a 100.000 Peso Note. It's less common than "luca" and generally used to specify the price of big acquisitions like a car or a computer...As I just read this word is also used in Argentina, Bolivia and Uruguay to describe a 100 Peso Note.

Earthquake

2010-02-28T09:30:00.000-08:00

I was in a discotheque in the queue at the bar waiting for my drink, when the earth started shaking. Since there are always little tremors i wasn't really scared and actually happy that all those people who were before me in the queue were deciding to leave. I just reacted when i saw a friend of mine, who is chilean and living here his entire life, with a scared face making signs to leave the bar and move towards the exit of the disco. The next morning i felt sort of ashamed to not having realized the dimension of the earthquake seeing all those people in Concepciòn,with there destroyed houses and bridges, which had been broken.

This weekend I really gained respect for the natural powers, since you really feel so small and helpless and don't know how to behave when nature sort of "beats back".

Well, if you are ever during an earthquake in Chile it's good to know that generally the new houses are earthquake-proof. It's recommended to not leave the house and wait under a table or door frame until its over. It's good to have a flashlight and a bottle of water near. If you are in a car park the car at the side of the street, don't drive and stay away from bridges. At the sea stay away from the beach and try to move as far away from the water as you can.

Chilean Romance: 5 steps to heaven

2010-02-25T11:49:00.000-08:00

Ladies,

Dating might be the only thing that actually has a system and strictly obeys to the rules in Chile. So, don't mess it all up wanting to skip some steps, because you might risk your reputation and the admiration of your object of desire:

Step #1: Going out. It doesn't matter whether you go out with a friend or someone you're really into, eather way you will find yourself in a pre-dating situation. Like Harry said to Sally, men and women can't be friends at least that's what chilean men seem to think.

Another version of going out and as dangerous as going out alone with a friend, is the 2+2 Version, consisting in your best female friend wanting to go out with someone she likes, asking YOU to come with her, and asking her "FRIEND" to bring another friend, so that you won't feel so alone, while they are uninhibitedly flirting. This friend of hers can show up with EVERYTHING: from a married man who has trouble with his wife to some sort of skunk that has had his last shower a week ago. In consequence wether you accept depends on how desperate you actually are...

Step #2: Dating. Dating means going out more frecuently and probably meet during the day or even on weekends. You might already be kissing each other, but that thing you have is not as binding as he would have to tell you what he's doing when he isn't with you or you would have the right to be jealous when he prefers going out with his friends.

So, don't you let the monster, you have inside, come out until you get to step #3!!!

Step #3: Pololeo. Generally the man will ask you to "pololear" with him, when he's sure he wants to be with you for a while. Now, you can let out the monster: be jealous, bad-tempered and use the headache excuse whenever you just don't feel like it- he loves you anyway. You can kiss, move in together, be happy, get to know your parents in law, make his friends your friends. Just enjoy this moment of amourousness, without thinking about tomorrow.

Unfortunately most Chilean-Alien relationships end here, since there comes the time to say good-bye and everyone go back to live in his/her country.

Step#4: Engagement: When the man is sure he wants to be with you for a long while he will ask you to marry him. Yes, Chileans do! (Male Germans: Watch and Learn!). Well, the ceremony is like everywhere in the world. Now you have to plan the wedding, and if you want to, and he already passed the monster-test of step #3 you can transform into bridezilla...

Step #5: The wedding: Halleluya, that was hard work!!!

Taxi, Radiotaxi and Colectivo

2010-02-25T05:08:00.000-08:00

Lost? The easiest way home, is to take a cab, you might think! Well, I'm not so sure! Here are some tips on taxis:

The normal cab, which is black and yellow, will pick you up at any corner and probably bring you home if the taxi driver knows your street. If he doesn't you might have to help with a map or indicating a bigger street, that's near. If you're lucky he's in a good temper (almost never happens) and brings you home fast (fasten your seatbelt!!!), honking away all the other traffic participants that are in his (and your) way and restrain you "on purpose" from getting home.

The colectivo, or slug express, also will pick you up at any corner, but !!watch out!! the sign on its roof is not an advertising but indicates where the colectivo is going to, and you won't be the only one it's picking up. Of course it's cheaper than the normal cab and colectivos often get to places where public transport doesn't. The driver generally is more laid-back than his collegue from the individual cab, showing no hurry to getting anywhere at all.

The Radio Taxi, is the pelolais of the cabs, probably you already took one from the airport to the place you are staying at, but in normal life they only pick you up if you previously called by phone and asked one to please, please pick you up. The driver generally is a good-humored, well educated and discrete person, who helps you with your luggage and will answer politely any question you ask. http://www.radiotaxiprovidencia.cl/web/principal.htm

Urban Tribes Part III: Pelolais

2010-02-25T04:37:00.000-08:00

Actually Pelolais is not an expression for an urban tribe but for those adoscelents who live in the upper class sectors and do what upperclass adolescents do all over the world: shopping, playing tennis, golf or some other upperclass sports and meet with other upperclass adolescents.

The related girls are said to speak in a very exaggerated way, proclaiming all the time "Gaya", "Que atroz" and "Te moris".

By trend, Chileans, see us "gringos" all as international relatives of those people, assuming that if we have the money to live for a few month abroad, probably without any income, we must be rich or at least have rich parents...

That's the last entry on urban tribes; on this page you can find information on all movements in Santiago:

http://www.detribusurbanas.com/tipos

Urban Tribes Part II: Skinheads

2010-02-24T11:30:00.000-08:00

Another urban tribe that is always good for some news are the Chilean Skinheads or Neonazis.

They seem to share the missing intelligence with their european combatants, but unlike the latter they don't know what they are actually against and whom to hate.

As I lately heard they are still defining the concept of the enemy and meanwhile walk around on graveyards and defile graves of whomever.

Urban Tribes Part I: Pokemons

2010-02-24T10:40:00.000-08:00

The first time urban tribes entered into public mind of the Chileans was in 2007, when a very unlucky girl, called Natalia, did some x-rated stuff with a friend in a public park after school. Well, I won't go into more detail or who got the film distribution rights, however she might be the most famous representative (sad but true) of the Pokemons, an urban tribe of Santiago.

Pokemons are an average 17 years old, look like they come straight from Japan, and are very promiscuous people. Generally you can see them after school in the "Parque Forestal" or in Providencia. They don't believe in anything special and like to listen to Reggaeton Music. They don't harm anybody, just look a bit ridiculous, - but didn't we all, when we were their age?

PD: Dear Nati, I hope that, if you didn't make your hobby your profession, you changed your identity and study in a nice university and never saw those bastards, who were supposed to be your friends and did this awful thing to you, again. Feministly speaking ;)

Yoga

2010-02-24T10:12:00.000-08:00

Santiago is a huuuuuuuuuuuge city, so you may need to relax a bit from all the traffic, people, new impressions and probably endless walks because as a good Eurpoean you decided to explore the city walking, instead of taking the bus or the subway like a good American... I recommend Yogaluka, which is a group of Yogaschools offering low budget classes at CLP $1.000. All further details can be found on their homepage and it is as easy as going to the chosen school, pay and participate...

http://www.yogaluka.cl/contenido/

Obsession with Eggs

2010-02-24T06:39:00.000-08:00

My friend Ximena once told me that a test if you REALLY are adapted to chilean language was to understand the meaning of the phrase of the three "huevones", which is "El huevón huevón , huevón ". Well, if you don't understand yet, don't worry, you will do so soon, since it is impossible having a conversation with a chilean without hearing at least 4 to 10 times a word related with huevo/egg (men usually tend to use it more frecuently than women). I wonder why chilean people are so obsessed with eggs?!
I haven't found an answer yet, probably they once had a scarcity of eggs or maybe it has to do something with men referring to their testicles, I don't know and no Chilean I ever asked about this topic was able to give me a satisfying answer...

Well, here is the Egg-Alphabet:

Huevón (substantiv), normal voice: Guy, Man, Dude
Huevón(substantive), angry voice: Stupid Guy
huevón (adjective): stupid, annoying
Huevona (substantiv), normal voice: Woman, Girl
Huevona (substantive), angry voice: Stupid Woman
Huevada: thing
Puta, la Huevada: Damn!
Me importa un huevo: I don't care

Having read this, would you pass the test of the three "Huevones" now?

PD: Chileans often write "weon" instead of "huevon" but i guess that's just because the word in fact doesn't make any logical sense and I doubt that you'll find it in any dictionary...

El Persa Bio Bio

2010-02-24T06:01:00.000-08:00

El Persa Biobio is like a big flea market 7 days a week. In the street Placer you can find cheap furniture, used computers and chinese imitations of everything. In the side streets there are the so-called "Galpones" where you can also find used stuff like clothes, shoes, tableware etc.

Some Chileans banter about that whenever something has been stolen from you, you can buy it back from the very thief at persa BioBio...

http://www.persa-biobio.com/

La Vega Central

2010-02-24T04:44:00.000-08:00

La Vega Central is a market of fresh fruits and vegetables. As you already might have realized from my "wine" entry, Chile also has the perfect climate for fruits and vegetables, which develop their full flavour and sweetness and are way better than the tropical fruits of central america. La Vega Central is on the other side of Recoleta street vis-a-vis to Patronato. The higienic conditions are not the best and you should wash everything carefully before eating using preferably a vegetable desinfectant which is sold in supermarkets in the fresh fruit section.

Here are some fruits and vegetables you might never have heard of before:

Chirimoya (fruit): Soft fruit with white flesh, often used in desserts called "Chirimoya alegre",which is chririmoya with orange juice.

Pepino Dulce (fruit): Green flesh, very refreshing taste.

Tuna (fruit): cactus fruit, be careful, might have little almost invisible spines.

Mankaki (fruit): Looks like a yellow tomato, very tasteful. Don't get confused with the Kaki, which doesn't have a good taste and leaves a bleaky tongue.

Mote (vegetable/fruit) : popped wheat, used in a dessert/juice called "Mote con Huesillo", consisting of a dried peach in its juice with popped wheat, very refreshing on hot days.

Cochayuyo (vegetable): Alga, don't even try it, unless you like the taste of iodine.

Looking forward to your comments...

Patronato

2010-02-23T12:10:00.000-08:00

Patronato is a district where you can find clothes at very convenient prices. You might have to search a little, since it has more the character of a Bazar than a shopping district, but it will be worth the effort. Experience a piece of Latino Fashion with all its colours, playful cuts and lust for life.

Patronato is located in between the streets of Bellavista, Recoleta, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro.
http://190.196.69.92/barrio/

Wine

2010-02-23T09:28:00.000-08:00

Drink Wine until your mouth gets purple. Chile has one of the best climates and grounds for excellent wines. However red wine is better than white wine. The typical grapes of Chile are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Carmenere. Recommendable wineries are "Doña Dominga", "Coyam", "Cono Sur", "Santa Emiliana" and "Viu Manent among others.

If you would like to visit a winery I recommend to visit "Concha y Toro", which is the third biggest winery in the world and near to Santiago (http://www.conchaytoro.com/). Beautiful!

The biggest selection of national wines can be found in the Wine Shop "El Mundo del Vino" (http://www.elmundodelvino.cl/).

Beer

2010-02-23T07:38:00.000-08:00

Dear Germans,

be careful with the famous " Cerveza"(!!!), beer is so much stronger here, the comercial brands have about 5 to 7 grades, and the private brands have an undefined quantity of grades, but I'm sure that it's higher than the comercial brands.

Some personal recommendations about brands:

Cristal: Ok

Escudo: OK

Heineken: yuck (very personal opinion)

Corona: OK

Brahma: Good

Austral: Very good (love Calafate)

Kunstmann: Very good (love Torobayo)

Some private breweries, who sell their own beer:

Budapest (http://www.cervezadiem.cl/)

HBH (www.cervezahbh.cl)

Other nice places to take a good and cold beer:

Elkika Ilmenau (http://www.restaurantes.emol.com/ficha/index.asp?id_restaurante=3556)

La Fuente Chilena (http://www.restaurantes.emol.com/articulos/detalle_articulo.asp?id_articulo=2968)

La Fuente Alemana (http://www.restaurantes.emol.com/ficha/index.asp?id_restaurante=5395)

Looking forward to your comments...

Sushi

2010-02-23T07:23:00.000-08:00

Sounds strange, but if you come to Chile and have never tried californian sushi, you MUST try it here. I've become addicted to Sushi in Chile, love all those varieties with avocado and philadelphia cheese. My favorite is AKAI Sushi, but the other sushi restaurants are delicious aswell.

http://www.akaisushi.cl/

Soccer on Saturdays

2010-02-23T06:52:00.000-08:00

A very good option to get to know people and do some sports is the female soccerteam of Claudio Saavedra on Saturdays. Unfortunately I never made it to his team since I'm usually very busy on Saturdays but I always see the pictures on Facebook and envy all those girls having obviously a great time. If you are interested just contact Claudio on Facebook and he will give you further details.

Taller 56

2010-02-23T06:12:00.000-08:00

If you stay longer in Santiago and search a space for artistic expression, I can highly recommend Taller 56 which is a painting studio. After some classes of basic painting techniques you can paint all those wonderful pictures you always had in mind. The studio is open from Monday to Friday until 10 Pm and on Saturday Mornings. There is a nice group of students of all ages and all nationalities.

Ah, the picture, I publish, is from my very dear friend Oscar, who's almost part of the taller's furniture...

http://www.taller56.cl/

Donations at the Supermarket

2010-02-23T04:57:00.000-08:00

If you go to the supermarket, and you hear the teller murmuring something about "Hogar de Christo" or "Coaniquem", it's because he's asking you to donate part of your change (generally less than 10 CLP) to one of those national Non-Benefit-Organizations. It's convenient to say "yes", because, left aside the charity of your action, if you don't he will give you all those tiny 1 and 5 Peso coins, which just make your wallet/purse heavier...

Introduction

2010-02-23T04:41:00.000-08:00

I'm living here since 4 years and thought it might be useful tu put all those little tips and hints I usually give to friends, who are visting me or people who come for a practical period to Chile, in a blog. Hope you enjoy it and my english is not to bad (Thought it might be more international in English than in German or Spanish).

Kind regards