Moving On, Up and Out : Culture Shock?

On the school grounds children playing.

It's one thing to know that things will be different when you travel to a new place, but it's another to actually experience it. As what some might refer to as an 'experienced' travel, I always find myself going through a period of adjustment. Even with this being my second trip to Chile I am aware of the differences between the culture I grew up in and the one I am in now. Ask any Kentuckian and they will tell you, "Kentucky is the best place on Earth." Sweet tea. Front porch sitting. Food with way too much salt and pepper to be health, but it sure does taste good. Yes the cliches are true for the most part. Behind every stereotype there is some truth because it is merely the brains way of helping people to recognize something immediately. Our brains desire order. Psych major coming out in me. I love being from Kentucky. I love being able to come back from wherever I've been and call that sweet bluegrass state my home. Though in reality, staying put has never been in my blood. There is something so fascinating about meeting new people and going to new places. Traveling is also something I never thought I'd actually be able to do, let's just say I didn't grow up with a lot of things in my family.

The school's banner.

Now I'm going to admit something that might shock a few, so grab your seats ladies and gents. I am an introvert. Yep. I said it. For too long I have taken this to be a condemnation when it's not and shouldn't be considered one by society. Psychologically speaking the difference between an introvert and an extrovert is that the former are literally able to entertain themselves while the later need to be stimulated by outside sources. It's all in the brain chemistry really. When I first went to college I was determined to not be such an introvert. In some ways I've succeeded and others I have not. It's not to be confused with not liking people or even being around them. Having the company of others isn't necessarily painful for me, but I actually enjoy being alone at times. A thought that others might not be able to fathom. God has blessed me with many people here that care how I spend my time and don't want me to be lonely while I'm here. Everyday I meet more people that invite me to be social with them and I love it! The hardest part is for me to take them up on it by asking them to keep me company during my free time. Ironic I know, but I still have that southern upbringing that taught me that it's rude to invite yourself to places. In due time I guess...

Here I will try to discuss some of the things that I have noticed as being different for me. Now this could be just because personally I find it interesting or it is so starkly different that if I ignored it it would be doing an injustice to the Chilean culture (not being melodramatic or anything). Since lists seem to be the current thing right now let's try one here!

6 Culture Shocks Experienced in Chile:

1. Handshakes to Besos. Here's a little Spanish for y'all, besos means kisses. So everyone in the states knows the standard greeting when meeting someone new is a nice, distance keeping, handshake. Chileans are a little more... let's say friendlier. Greeting a new acquaintance or an old friend is the same here. You touch your right checks and "kiss." I use this term lightly because some there is lip to cheek contact and other times just the sound is made. Another common greeting along with this is also a hug. Now I'm not uncomfortable per se over this new greeting but I never seem to remember it so I just come off as awkward and rude. 

2. Tea or Coffee? A single day has not gone by where I haven't had a cup of coffee and/or hot tea. My thoughts on this is that Chileans secretly believe that a meal literally cannot be finished without having something hot to drink. (Clearly this is a dramatization! I'm sarcastic, sorry not sorry?) So my hot tea, with more sugar than normal for here, is the closest I get to my southern sweet tea. I don't drink sodas so I basically live on sweet tea in the states. Over the past month I have grown a taste for black coffee with only sugar in it. 

3. Peanut Butter Jelly Time. For many Americans it is common knowledge that we are a part of a select few that actually enjoy peanut butter. When I was doing my grocery shopping for my dinners I was worried about finding some of this wonderful delicacy. Success! I found peanut butter but ran into a problem I'd never thought of. Chileans like jams and jellies. It appears that you can find almost any fruit in this grand form... except grape. Normally this wouldn't be a big deal, unless you really really want grape jelly on your pb&j. 

4. Juicy Juice. Speaking of Chileans liking all things fruit related. I've decided they like to juice lots of things as well. The local Jumbo (equivalent of a Wal-Mart) has an aisle for just these juiced fruit items. No joke. Pineapples, oranges, apples, mangos, pears, peaches and more! Bananas would be juiced if it was possible I'm sure. Then you get into combining these lovely juices together to get fruit concoctions. 

5. Over There! Come Here! Okay. This next one is strange and I'm not sure if I can describe it in full detail and it has two parts. These are both body gestures that I have witnessed people doing. The first is when pointing at something, hands full usually but not always, they use their lips to point. It's like puckering your lips for a kiss but then pointing them in the direction you're talking about. Personally, I find it hysterical. Secondly, when trying to call someone to come towards them the gesture includes sticking their hand out, palm down, and curling the fingers toward the wrist. To me it looks like a cat using it's paw to get your attention.

6. Desayuno. Almuerzo. Once? (Breakfast. Lunch. Eleven?) Breakfast here is usually a light meal that is just bread with cheese along with coffee or tea. For me I eat this meal at the school on week days and typically have ham and cheese sandwich with coffee. Sometimes I opt for a cup cake type item for something sweet. Lunches are the largest meal of the day here, which is probably healthier in the long run. Often a salad is given with a this meal, which consists or some cold vegetable (lettuce, carrots, celery, corn, green beans, etc.) with either vinegar or lemon juice with salt on it. Personally I haven't taken to a liking of this part of the meal and often opt out. Once literally translates to the number eleven. This is the dinner that Chileans have and it is often a cold sandwich or even leftovers from lunch. It is never eaten as late as 11PM and even Chileans aren't sure where the term comes from though there are speculations. Google it if it interest you.

The hot springs.

I know there are more, and more that will come to mind later, but for now this seems sufficient enough for me. As you've probably figured out by now I really like to talk about Kentucky. Mostly for comparison purposes but nonetheless I love my old Kentucky home. Which brings me to the last thing I want to discuss for this entry. A few weekends ago I went to the termas (hot springs) with a group of teachers from the school. Now this isn't my first time visiting the termas, I went three years ago on my last visit, but it was my first time to this particular one. My opinion on them remains the same, they are nice but over all kinda boring, though I do think it is something you should experience for yourself. The drive to the location is what I'm more interested in describing here. While Kentucky has the Appalachia Mountains they are nothing compared to the Andes. See, Appalachia has a nice slow rolling hill progression into the mountains on both sides. In contrast, the Andes appear to be jutting up straight from the ground out of nothing. It's really quite a sight to take in. The peaks of these mountains are eternally capped with snow as well, making the breathe taking view all the more impressive. One of my favorite things about travel is seeing the natural landscapes. No masterpiece compares to God's masterpiece. Chileans have a saying about Chile and all it's natural wonders. It goes a little something like this:

Just outside the hot springs.

"In the beginning of time, God created the wonders of the world. When he was finished, however, he saw that he had many leftover pieces. He had parts of rivers and valleys, of oceans and lakes, of glaciers and deserts, of mountains and forests, and of meadows and hills. Rather than to let such beauty go to waste, God put them all together and cast them to the most remote corner of the earth. This is how Chile was born."

- A Chilean Legend

Me in front of one of the hot springs.