Lessons Learned

Chile, and the entire study abroad experience, is one giant life lesson. Here, I will break down some of the things that I have learned in my time in Chile, in no particular order:

1. Never ever try and drink something on the micro, especially something hot, because no matter how sure you are that the bus will not find any reason to stop (even if the road is deserted, straight, and three lanes across) it will, and you will spill this painfully hot beverage on you, the stranger next to you, and the floor.

2. You are going to get lost, you just are. You will take the wrong micro, hop in a colectivo heading the opposite direction of where you are going, and walk into a sketchy part of town (in this situation, get out your brass knuckles and pepper spray and walk quickly to somewhere with lots of light and people), but it happens. If you are me, it happens a lot.

3. Food is SO much better when it's all made from fresh ingredients.

4. As a precaution, do not put your luggage on your bed, and shake out your clothes away from the bed before putting them in drawers and closets. Bed bugs are sneaky suckers, and can hide anywhere. However, you shouldn't  find many of them in Chile--if you do, they were most likely brought from somewhere else.

5. According to my Chilean family, if you sneeze, cough, sniffle, or show any other sign of contracting an illness, it is probably because you never dry your hair before you leave the house, or because you stay out too late, or because you sometimes walk around barefoot.

6. Bring an umbrella with you to Chile, or promptly buy one once you get here. When it rains, it rains hard and for the entire day, if not two. However, if you are like me and wait to buy an umbrella until a month into your visit, it will never rain again. I also recommend waterproof shoes of some sort.

7. Watch for cars splashing water on you as they pass by in the street. Unfortunately it is not just something that happens in movies.

8. Have your micro money prepared before you get on the micro. However, micro drivers will give change--the largest bill I have handed over was 2,000 pesos, but you could risk it with a $5,000 if you´re feeling lucky.

9. The Chileans claim to be "mentirosos" or liars about a few things: al tiro (right away),  voy y vuelvo (I'm going and I'll be right back), te pago mañana (I'll pay you tomorrow), and solo con la puntita (this one I will not translate because it is tremendously vulgar).

10. On that note, the Chileans are incredibly vulgar and all of their cuss words put ours to shame.

11. Here, those from the good ole U.S. of A are not Americans because technically all of North and South America constitutes "America", thus I am estadounidense, not americana.

12. The piropos, or catcalls, are going to come, but where we see them as offensive or uncomfortable, the Chileans see them as compliments. Therefore, when you get a wolf whistle or a kissy noise on the street, smile a little bit to yourself for being so darn attractive, or at least so obviously foreign, and just keep walking.

13. While classes are definitely important, don't let them stop you from taking advantage of your travel opportunities. Professors are extremely understanding with foreign exchange students who would like to miss a couple classes to go on an amazing trip. That being said, do not try and work the system too much--professors will see right through that, and then you can get yourself into trouble.

14. You absolutely need to develop the ability to laugh at your mistakes, both linguistically and culturally, in this country. Life becomes much easier, and significantly more enjoyable, when you do so.