The Basics

Welcome to Chile, A land of diversity, wonder, and great beauty. One of my first memories of my trip to Chile is that of a legend I heard which gives an account of how Chile came to be:

"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

Looking more closely, it is easy to see how this legend emerged. Chile is a very long, thin country that is located in the extreme southwest of South America. The closest neighbors include Argentina to the east, and Bolivia and Peru to the north. The entire country at its widest point is only about 300 miles wide, yet to travel its 2,500 mile length would be about equal to going from the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula to Ketchikan, Alaska. If you stop to think about the wide variety of climates and land between Baja and Alaska, the fact that such geographic diversity could exist in a single country is quite amazing.

Many people have e-mailed me to ask what Chileans eat. While the Chilean diet tends to vary based on geographic location, I found a consistency in two different areas. First, because of the proximity to the Pacific Ocean throughout all Chile, there was always a great variety of seafoods available in stores and restaurants. Second, I found Chileans to be quite fond of breads, cheeses, and meats, which would seem to be a reflection of European influences.

Chile is as geographically isolated as it is diverse. To the south, Chile reaches into the cold and inhospitable Antarctic zone. To the west, the shores are pounded by hundreds of miles of the great Pacific Ocean. In the north, Chile is home to the Atacama Desert, one of the most arid lands in the world. Finally, to the east, the huge Andes mountain range runs nearly the entire length of the country. Because of such isolation and challenging land forms, Chile has become of a country of people who are strong, proud, and extremely innovative.

The population of Chile is approximately 13.5 million people. Of these, 80% live in Chile's urban areas, with nearly half living in the Santiago/Metropolitan Region. This high concentration of people in cities has caused a variety of social and environmental concerns including water contamination, air pollution, a lack of power for energy, and a shortage of jobs. At the same time, however, Chile is making slow but steady strides in the direction on improved environmental regulation, public transportation, and conservation of natural resources.

Another common question asked by students is about the daily life of the Chilean people. Again, because of the great differences in climate and geography throughout Chile, activities, pastimes, and employment are are varied. For the most part, however, life is not that much different than anywhere else. Rural areas tend to be dominated by farms and agriculture, while the large city of Santiago is dominated by large buildings and businesses. Most adults are employed in some fashion, and children for the most part are in school from fall to spring, and off in the summer (note: summer is from December to February in the southern hemisphere!). The young people I observed were very fond of dancing, often going to dance clubs which open at about 11:00 PM and stay open until dawn. Because of the proximity to the Pacific Ocean, beach and water sports are also popular. No pastime, however, can come close to the popularity of soccer, a sport that seems to run through the Chilean bloodstream.

Although Chile has been through some difficult economic times, today it is considered by many to be the "economic jaguar" of Latin America. Major industries include mining, agriculture, tourism, and a very strong coastal fishing industry. This topic is discussed in greater detail in the "economy" section. The monetary unit of Chile is the peso.

The official language of Chile is Spanish, or "Castellano". The dialect is rapid and distinct, with many letters such as D's, S's, and G's often entirely disappearing. For foreigners attempting to learn Spanish, this creates quite a challenge. If you can learn to understand the Chileans, however, you can understand just about any Spanish speaker you may encounter.

In the spirit of the great geographic diversity of the nation, the people of Chile are made up by a variety of races and nationalities including Spanish, English, German, Italian, and Asian. There are also indigenous groups including the Aymara in the north, and the Mapuche in the south.