1) Do not put toilet paper in the toilets, it clogs them up and is really embarrasing when they start overflowing. The pipes are too old to be able to handle paper.
2) Get good at jumping off of moving objects before you come because the micros (the busses) do not always actually stop to let you off.
3) Do not plan on being able to dry your hands after washing them, the hand dryers only stay on for about ten seconds.
4) Do not plan on sleeping much, Chileans do not start to go out on the weekends until 11pm when they start pregaming. Clubs do not even open until 1am and close at 5am when the after party starts and does not end until about 8am. Wednesday night is the start of the weekend so expect the pubs, clubs, bars, and discos to be packed!
5) Bring lots of warm clothing if you come in the winter or spring. They do not believe in central heating here so every building is very cold. We have one space heater for our whole apartment!
6) Ladies, forget your razor? Not a problem, not everyone shaves here.
7) Grab toilet paper from the outside of the stall or else you will be stuck high and dry (well not so dry.)
8) Take advantage of the cheap wine that is produced in Chile. It is possible to get a good cheap wine for around $1.
9) A novio or novia is not a boyfriend or girlfriend like in other Spanish speaking countries; it is instead your fiancee. Currently my Chilean mom thinks that I am engaged to my boyfriend. If you want to say boyfriend or girlfriend you use the word "pololo."
10) While the men in Chile definitely are more vocal than men in the US they are much more restrained when whistling or yelling at women then the men in Mexico. Ladies, if you want someone to stop bothering you at a pub, bar, disco, or club all you have to say is "Yo tengo un novio" and they will immedietely back off! In Mexico having a boyfriend does not mean a thing and the men will continue to bother you.
11) Your "Nana" is not your grandmother, she is instead your hired help. Nanas clean the house, does the laundry, cooks, and picks up kids from school if neccesary.
12) Enjoy being in a country where it is possible to buy Cuban products since there is no trade embargo between Chile and Cuba. Chileans love Cuban rum (or run as it is called here.)
13) Even if you speak Spanish do not expect to be able to understand the Chileans immediately. Many "modisimos" or slangs are used which makes it very hard to understand the language.
14) While Chile is half the world away from the United States it is still very possible to get "comfort foods" such as Pizza Hut pizza, tex mex food, Heineken, Dominoes pizza, Subway, McDonalds, Burger King and Dunkin Donut's.
15) Do not plan on buying clothing or toiletry items here since they tend to be quite expensive.
Thats all true!! Good review haaha
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