What Chileans miss the most when they travel or live abroad?
Although Chile has no big tradition being a country with large migration flows to its territory and also Chileans are not a large number in international tourism statistics, every day we are more Chileans who travel or go to live abroad.
There are about 1,200,000 Chileans traveling abroad annually.
60% of Chileans traveling moves across land borders, so the main destinations are the neighboring countries. Mainly to Argentina, but also to USA and Europe.
It is about 1 million Chileans living abroad and many of them do in the northern hemisphere, which has customs and culture very different from ours.
And it is when you are immersed in a different culture in which it’s easier to remember all the beautiful and good things about your country, you tend to forget all that criticism that had taken place before and nostalgia takes over your being.
These are the things Chileans miss the most when we travel:
1. To always have a mountain as a reference
Chileans are used to always have the mountain ridge or another geographical reference to locate themselves.
I’ve found myself very lost in some flat cities and unconsciously seeking a mountain in places where there are none and felt very lost. Thank you Google Maps for the help!
Even in the areas around Santiago there’s many options to do beautiful trekkings
2. The earth occasionally shaking
Chile is a seismic country, located in the Pacific Ring of Fire.
Those born on this side of the planet are kind of used to feeling that the earth moves under our feet once in a while.
We know what to do and when to worry … now everything is different if you drink an earthquake.
Perhaps the best idea is to always have close to a Chilean … if trembles and he or she are quiet, everything is fine … but if they care is because you really have to do.
3. Vendors and musicians on the beach, streets, micros – (now also in the subway)
Something that bothers us sometimes, but we miss when we travel is to buy ice cream, chewing gum, chocolate and soft drinks on the way home.
The trip sometimes brings surprises with excellent musicians and comedians that make public transport their stage.
Even on the beach, you can buy almost anything without leaving your towel.
4. The music…that means cumbia or cueca
There’s nothing like a good Cumbia, salsa or bachata. Many Latinos hate them but most of us really like these rhythms.
Even if you’re not a good dancer, this is the music that we associate with the holidays and celebrations.
The cueca brava or chora, that danced in neighborhoods and towns is an unmistakable cultural expression and includes meals and drinks that Chileans have attached to our hearts.
5. Slang and bad words on the street
Chileans are known for our playful and special adaptation of the Spanish language. Although we try to deny it, we feel at home when we hear some bad words.
6. The friendly greetings: weeeeena weón
If you walk in any city in the world and you suddenly hear something like: weeeeenaaaa, Chileans immediately know there’s a fellow Chilean traveling there.
We are effusive, we hug strongly and long among friends as a way to express our joy of meeting the ones we love.
7. To Celebrate “The 18” officially known as Fiestas Patrias (or National Holidays)
It is definitely one of my favorite dates. Every September 18th the completion of the first Board of Governors is remembered and celebrated (and not the Independence of Chile as many thinks).
And Chileans love to celebrate this date! We wait for this the whole year and many cities are organized around the Fondas or Ramadas where you can find typical dances as cueca and others from abroad as cumbia or reggaeton.
You wanna know how to celebrate the National Holidays?
8. Yelling C H I for football matches
There is a characteristic way of singing Chile’s name and all Chileans know how to do it. Especially when we celebrate the victory of our team in a big or international game.
If you’ve been long enough in Chile I’m sure you’ve heard this!
9. The Food
I have to be very clear that the most important value of our country is not the food, but the impressive and beautiful nature.
There are more options in the neighboring countries and a greater variety of flavors and dishes even with international awards, like Peruvian.
No matter how simple Chilean food is, there are some delicious things we miss a lot when traveling outside the country for a long time.
The simplicity that characterizes our kitchen, makes many preparations be inevitably linked to our stomach and above all … to our hearts. And it’s these simple things the ones Chileans miss the most when they are abroad.
These are the things Chileans miss (mostly what I miss too) the most when I’m out of Chile:
-
- Marraquetas
- Empanadas
- Avocados
- Manjar
- Sopaipillas
- Some candies & chocolates: negritas, super 8, sunny, manjar
- Good quality and cheap wine, as drinks made with it as Terremoto, wine & melon (melón con vino), Chirimoya Alegre and Borgoña.
- Piscola, and being half pisco-half Coke.
- Completos and Churrascos Italianos
- Choripán
- Mote con huesillos
- Pastel de choclos
- Humitas
- Sea Food (machas a la parmesana, locos, paila marina)
- Nestle cooking cream.
10. A Chilean toaster always handly at home (especially when you’re cooking rice!!!)
0 Comments