-Where were you born?

I was born in Pula, Croatia.

-In which country and city are you living now?

Santiago, Chile.

-Are you living alone or with your family?

Alone.

-How long have you been living in Chile?

 Almost 2 years.

-What is your age?

39

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Chile?

Well, I was living a rat race life in Toronto, Canada and was getting little tired of it. Thinking of possibilities to change my lifestyle, I decided to try teaching English somewhere in Latin America. Mental preparation for such a big change took around 2 years, and finally in July 2009 I made the cut. I chose Chile as I found this excellent government-based program that allowed me to get my feet wet in teaching English. As I'm not a native English speaker and I had no experience teaching English, I took that chance. 

-Was it hard to get a visa or a work permit?

Actually, it was amazingly easy....Well after I just moved here, the semi-volunteering program I was in took care of all the paperwork and thanks to them I got 1-year temporary visa. The following year, just before the temporary visa expired, I applied for a permanent one backed up by my just-obtained English teaching 8-month contract. A few months later, I got a permanent visa, basically after 1.5 years of living in Chile.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

No, it is easy getting medical insurance in Chile, well .... all you have to do is pay. There are lots of options, and it is compulsory to have one if you have an official job. Also, unless you prove you had health insurance for a period of time, you won't fulfill the requirements for a permanent visa. Medical insurance is big business in Chile, where many benefit including the government and they make sure you don't stick around without having one. 

Of course, it is still optional, but getting medical help without insurance is expensive here. 

-How do you make your living in Chile? Do you have any type of income generated?

Last few months I've been working as an I/T support engineer for an American company here in Santiago. I applied online directly through the company's web site and after a series of interviews, finally 3-4 months later I was presented with the job offer. Even though the process of getting this job was quite straightforward, I must say I'd never heard from any other company where I applied for jobs and sent my resumes.

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language? Please add your thoughts on local customs and whether it's important for expats to respect/observe local customs.

You can get by in Santiago without speaking much Spanish, especially if your job doesn't require its knowledge (teaching English for example) and you hang out with English speakers all the time. However, one can't experience local culture without speaking the language. My Spanish is at a fluent level, but I'm still working on my level of comfort, as to communicate and understand Chileans, due to their speed of talking and use of local jargon; one's language skills have to be at an extremely high level to be taken seriously here.

Chileans are quite conservative and shy, but extremely helpful and friendly. I learned that I always have to make the first move in order to start a conversation with people I don't know, even though I still don't feel very comfortable due to my language insecurity.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?

I do, but as I haven't lived in my homeland (Croatia) for almost 20 years now, I am used to missing family members and friends. I compensate living my life so far abroad by visiting home often and staying in touch through Skype.

-Do you have other plans for the future?

Well I've just started this new job that I am happy with, and I've decided to stay here for at least 2 more years. In the future, I 'll probably think of settling down in Europe, Spain or homeland Croatia, but who knows.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

Cost varies depending on where in Santiago you want to live. For a long time I had been renting a room for $220/month in the center that is considered more economical area to live. Now I live in more expensive part of the city and I pay around $480 monthly for a 1-bedroom apartment in a brand new building (utilities are additional). I have friends who live in center of the city and they pay between $300 and $400 for a 1-bedroom apartment.

-What is the cost of living in Chile?

Chile is considered to be one of the most expensive countries in Latin America, but it is still easy to get by on a fairly low budget. One can live comfortably with $700-800 a month by sharing accommodation, not eating at expensive restaurants, and using public transportation. For a more comfortable life, that will include monthly trips to the beach or ski slopes, around $1000 will suffice.

-What do you think about the Chileans?

One of the main reasons why I love living here is the way I have been treated  by the locals. They show a lot of respect to us foreigners and are flattered that we chose their country to settle down. People in Santiago are little colder that people in the country, but they are still welcoming. However, it isn't easy at all to get integrated into Chilean society. They are extremely family and friend focused and they won't allow you to easily become part of their lives. I started feeling rewards of my patience just recently as I think I am breaking the barriers now. The secret is in taking initiative and not just waiting for things to happen.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Chile?

Well as I mentioned before, I like the way I am treated here, I feel more special that I felt anywhere else. Weather is great with lots of sunny days, well at least in Santiago. Beach and skiing are only an hour away. Chile is a country where I found a good balance of Latin American culture, stable economy, safety, and uncorrupted government. I also like how things are unpredictable here, well maybe this fact applies to all Latin American countries.

I don't like how people act on public transportation, they get quite rude and don't show much compassion for others. Local food is boring, thank God for the abundance of Peruvian restaurants.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Chile?

Accept the way people are, blend in as much as possible, change your own habits, and you will enjoy this country much much more...

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Chile?

Hmm can't  think of any now...

-Where were you born?

Chile, in Santiago

-In which country and city are you living now?

Belgium, Leuven 

-Are you living alone or with your family?

My husband

-How long have you been living in Belgium?

5 years

-What is your age?

39 

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Belgium?

I was transferred from my job in Chile to the headquarters of a large pharmaceutical company. I accepted because I wanted to live and work in an international setting.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a work permit?

It took me more or less 3 months from the moment I had the interview till I was able to travel. Many documents needed to be translated and for the work permit - even medical permission - was requested including chest X-ray and lab samples.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

No, my company was in charge of this.

-How do you make your living there? Do you have any type of income generated?

The job was the reason of why I am here, so I just accepted the offer of transfer from my country and continued in the same company. 

-Do you speak the local language and do you think it's important to speak the local language?

English and French have  been helpful for my job and my daily activities. I know that if I wanted to get another job I would need to learn Flemish which is very challenging. In almost all Flemish areas and Brussels  there is no need to speak any other language than English. In Wallonia French is a must, even if you go as a tourist: Namur and  Liege for example. They accept well the effort to speak French there. Flemish people would not like to speak French with you unless you are a French speaker. It is very impressive that many Flemish speak also Spanish and German.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes? Describe your favorite recreational activities there or those that are available.

I miss the Chilean food, there are things that are not available here (pisco, quesillo, manjar, dulce de membrillo) including seafood. I discovered one Chilean restaurant and one small Colombian shop in Brussels that have some Chilean items. Family and friends visit us every year and we talk through Skype. The best about Belgium is the amount of holidays to spend in other activities that there is normally no time to do it: sports, reading, traveling and studying or participating in group lessons. There are a lot of groups to learn wine degustation, cooking, art history, painting,etc. I am currently doing a master in the university because I can combine work and studies.

-Do you have other plans for the future?

My husband and I would like to move to another country; we are seeking opportunities in Asia and Latinoamerica.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

My husband bought the house before to meet me. The prices are high compared to my country. The monthly costs are around 1800 euros.  

-What is the cost of living in Belgium?

Supermarket stuff per week is around 120 euros. Most expensive are meat and vegetables. The cheapest are beer and chocolate.

-What do you think about the locals?

In Brussels it is very clear there are neighborhoods of expats. Here in Leuven most of the people are from Belgium or students/workers  from University. Most of my neighbors are young couples with children and almost all of them speak English with me. In general they are very gentle but they do not like direct conversation. If there is a problem they prefer to send an anonymous letter than to ring the bell and talk about the issue. They are very passive and normally they do not complain about things that sometimes I consider as unfair. They make a distinction between foreigners that are coming as expats and those other that are coming as immigrants specially from countries like Morocco, Turkey and Muslim nations. They admire my style and freedom to express myself as a Latina.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Belgium?

Positive are the woods, so well conserved and organized. The food is great; there are many good restaurants  to go and discover. As many people have mentioned, the chocolates are the best in the world as well the frites.

Negative is the weather especially in summer, because it cannot be predicted that there will be sunshine. No customer service in the shops and they are always closed when you need them (after 1900 hours or on Sunday). The building concepts are very rigid and the houses are in general very dark with small windows and garden. The garbage management is very bad in my commune, besides we need to pay for each bag so they just pick it up every 2 weeks (it's a nightmare in summer). 

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Belgium?

Do not expect the international kind of city that you would expect. Brussels is not Paris, London or Madrid. Things work here differently, so you need to be very self-sufficient and independent to survive. If there is a leak, or any other house problem you must wait at least 3 weeks to have someone at home to arrange it.

I was lucky to have a job before I arrived, it gave me all the things I needed including friends and colleagues that are also part of the expat community. I know from many other friends that to find a job for the partner is very difficult. If you have children there is not a lot of help , so you need to find a creche/school in advance.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Belgium?

www.leuven.be and www.visitbelgium.com: these are web sites to know about activities in Brussels and Leuven.

www.sportoase.be: this site is for those who are in Leuven or antwerp to do sports, they have a fitness club, swimming pool, squash, yoga and dance classes.

www.visitgent.be: these are the cities that should be visited as they are great for shopping and culture.

-Where were you born?

Auckland, New Zealand

-In which country and city are you living now?

Brisbane, Australia

-Are you living alone or with your family?

My husband & I with our 2 Kiwi dogs

-How long have you been living in Australia?

4 years

-What is your age?

37

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Australia?

4 years ago - needed a change of pace.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a work permit?

No, it was simple.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

No

-How do you make your living in Australia? Do you have any type of income generated?

I was lucky, when we decided to move over to Australia I managed to get a transfer through my role at the time in finance. My husband, however, resigned in NZ and came over - he had 4 job offers within the first day of ringing around - a positive attitude goes a long way.

-Do you speak the local language and do you think it's important to speak the local language? Please add your thoughts on local customs and whether it's important for expats to respect/observe local customs.

 Do I speak the local language - Australian - sometimes!!!

 I think it is very important to immerse yourself in the culture when you're living abroad. I spent 15 years travelling and living in countries like Thailand (5 years) Spain (12 months) Chile (8 months) USA (2 years) Canada (18 months) Egypt (6 months) and I loved every single minute of being submersed in different cultures, the food, traditions, customs, food, language - ooohhh I just soak it all up and enjoy the beauty of what all cultures have to offer.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes? Describe your favorite recreational activities there or those that are available.

Sure I miss home, I mean New Zealand is one of the most beautiful countries of the world! Thankfully with Sykpe, Facebook and the likes communication is a lot easier now that it was when I started travelling 20 years ago.

My favourite thing to so in NZ is to go "Pipi Collecting" along the white sandy beaches for dinner! Yumbo!

-Do you have other plans for the future? 

I started a new Internet-based business late last year, www.globalkidsoz.com.au. Even though I have chosen to settle in Brisbane for the time being, I can't get travel out of my mind...this is a fabulous way that I can still immerse myself in learning about other cultures while still having both feet firmly planted on the ground in Brisbane. I love what I do - by sharing different multicultural resources with the education sector of Australia, I get the amazing opportunity to continually learn about other cultures and countries through my work. They say that if you are able to find a job that you're passionate about then you're one lucky person - well, I feel that is exactly what I am...one very lucky person indeed!

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

We bought our house when we first arrived in Brisbane 4 years ago for around $330k. We have since put in a swimming pool, done extensions and  landscaped. But prices are still reasonable in many parts of Brisbane if you're willing to take the time to look.

-What is the cost of living in Australia?

 Reasonable 

-What do you think about the locals?

The people of Brisbane have been so accommodating and welcoming to us - we know all our neighbours and even had friendly introductions from neighbours across the street when we moved in - it's a lovely community feel here.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Australia?

Positives - I love the weather.

Negative - I love the weather - as it means I don't get back to New Zealand as often as I should!! 

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Australia?

Never compare all the great things about New Zealand to the bad things about Australia. If you're talking to an Australian, make sure that you're positive about both countries and not just NZ. After all if you have chosen to live here then there must be plenty of great things to talk about! This goes the same about every country!

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Australia?

My website is www.globalkidsoz.com.au and www.recycledmats.cm.au

My facebook pages are www.facebook.com./globalkidsoz.com.au

www.facebook.com/recycledmats

www.facebook.com/jstranan 

-Where were you born?

Los Angeles, California, USA

-In which country and city are you living now?

Santiago, Chile

-Are you living alone or with your family?

With husband and three kids

-How long have you been living in Chile?

On and off for a year and a half and now moving permanently

-What is your age?

Not telling!

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Chile?  

I have been working in the media in Santiago as a consultant for the past year and a half. I have been traveling to Latin America for the past 15 years for work and I find Chile a very easy place to live and work and have found an excellent school for my three daughters. It just seems like a perfect fit. 

-Was it hard to get a visa or a work permit?

Not at all difficult to get a tourist visa and as long as you have a job, the work permit is straightforward.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

Again, this is not complicated if you have a job.  After living in Scotland for 5 years, it is a shock to have to pay so much for medical insurance, but it is comforting to know I have excellent medical care and a pediatrican...something I took for granted until I moved to the UK.

-How do you make your living in Chile? Do you have any type of income generated?

I have accepted a partnership in a consulting firm in Santiago.  I realize I may not be like the typical person reading this website.  My husband is a freelance journalist and is working outside of Santiago a great deal.  It isn't easy to find a job unless you are part of the international teaching rotation.

-Do you speak the local language and do you think it's important to speak the local language?  

I speak Spanish fluently which is required in my line of work.  Although many Chileans speak English, it is imperative to have knowledge of the language in order to find a well-paying job.  Chileans by and large are well-educated and those that speak English are either well traveled or attended one of the many English standard schools.  If you are traveling outside of Santiago or dealing with the average Chilean you will need Spanish. 

It is important to note that Chile is still a very Catholic and traditional.  There isn't a great deal of PDA on the streets and the club scene is mild compared to most other tourist destinations.  Chileans dress more stylish and European than American and while some young women may wear revealing clothes, they aren't trashy.  So it is best to respect that. 

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?

LA is ultimately home but I have lived all over the world.  Chile has so much to offer that I'll be too busy to get homesick.  If you like the outdoors then you have one of nature's largest playgrounds at your front door. 

-Do you have other plans for the future?

I'd like to see more of Chile, especially the south.  For work I will be traveling a great deal throughout Latin America.  

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

I am renting a home.  It is quite large, but reasonably priced compared with a similar home in LA or a similar neighborhood in any capital city in Latin America. 

A three-bedroom home in El Arrayan (Californians, think Topanga Canyon) can run between  1000- 1400 dollars a month. 500,000 - 700,000.

A similar sized flat or apt in Las Condes will run about the same.

You can find less expensive and possibly larger, older flats in Providencia for less, but anything lower than 400 dollars a month will not have amenities.  

-What is the cost of living in Chile?

Again, this is NOT your typical Latin American city.  It feels more like Southern California than South America.  The cost of living is surprisingly high, especially for luxury items.  The stores in the malls are pricey as well, but if you look around, there are great farmers' markets, good second hand furniture and great discount clothing stores. 

Private schools are pricey if you are coming from Britain where you have good local schools, but the education is fantastic.  The prices are similar to any good American private school. 

-What do you think about the locals? 

The locals are great and very multicultural.  Big diversity due to the large number of European immigrants. There are large German, Italian and Spanish communities.   Most Chileans are well-educated and worldly (mostly because of the european roots), but they do tend to stereotype Americans. 

They are extremely courteous, although not as friendly as other Latin Americans.  Unless you are in an area of only indigenous people, you will see many fair-haired, light-eyed locals so don't expect to stand out unles you are are in typical tourist garb and being obnoxious...or paranoid.  Outside of purse-snatching, the crime is low. 

I am surprised at a previous comment regarding the men in Chile (complaining that the construction workers make catcalls. This happens in any country! Have you been to NY lately?). 

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Chile?

I'd say the earthquakes are definitely a negative! 

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Chile?

Don't assume that Chile is like other developing countries. The standard of living is high, but you pay for it. Again, an issue with the previous reader who complained about the standard of living and has no heating:  Who can live off of 600 dollars a month in ANY capital city and expect the comforts of the States?  Heating is costly.  I have wood burning stoves in my house because the heating costs are insane.  There are stores everywhere selling every appliance, gadget, gizmo you get in the States, but they cost MONEY.   

If you are on a shoestring budget, plan your journey or your stay well or you will run out of money quickly.  

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Chile?

For the lates news (in Spanish)

www.cnnchile.com

www.emol.com

For regional news written mostly by citizen journalists:

http://www.diariosciudadanos.cl/

-Where were you born?

I was born in Little Falls, Minnesota, USA, on June 8th, 1988.

-In which country and city are you living now?

I am now living in Santiago, Chile.

-Are you living alone or with your family?

I live with my husband, who is Chilean, and his family.

-How long have you been living in Chile?

I have been living here since January 15th, 2008.

-What is your age?

I am 20 years old.

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Chile?

I met my now husband, Rodrigo, in Montana in January 2007. He was there on a work permit. I travelled out of the country for my first time to Santiago, Chile, to be with him. I spent just three months here and returned to the US. I came back in January for a longer stay. Rodrigo is my reason for living here. I would have never come here without him being here.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?

You don't need a visa to get into Chile, all you do is pay a fee of $100 and they put a little card into your passport. The card doesn't expire until your passport does. To get a temporary visa isn't very difficult, I am in the process of doing that right now. If you have all the right paperwork there is no reason why you shouldn't get a visa.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

I don't have medical insurance. If I stay here much longer though, I will be looking into it. I did try to go to a doctor once and they won't treat you at all with just a tourist visa.

-How do you make your living in Chile? Do you have any type of income generated?

It was quite easy to get a job here. Rodrigo was receiving emails of new job positions and we just happened to come across one one day.

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language?

I am not fluent in Spanish, not even close. I understand very much though. I can get myself around with my Spanish. I think that is it important to be able to speak Spanish. I am learning more and more every day. It is so hard for me to learn in a school setting though. I have learned so much first hand, no class would have ever taught me that.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?

I miss my home and family all the time. I had a visit home for a very short time in July, coming back here was really hard. Living in a city as large as Santiago is so hard for me, I am a country girl. The whole clubbing scene was never something that I was very interested in.

My favorite things to do here are usually out of the city. Taking little day trips into the mountains and just walking around exploring, or going on a trip to the beach are my favorite things to do here. In the city I love to people watch. How people act and dress just amazes me all the time. I could never get bored of sitting on the subway just watching people.

-Do you have other plans for the future?

For the future, I plan on being able to travel around Chile more as well as other South American countries. Rodrigo and I will be going back to the US for a little over a year, but after that we will be back here in Chile until he is finished with college.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

I don't have a place of my own, but I have looked. To live in the nicer side of Santiago, the higher class area, the price is up to $300 for one bedroom and month.

-What is the cost of living in Chile?

People that come here for trips and short times seem to think that everything here is cheap. It isn't until you have been here for a long time that you realize how expensive it really is. I make about 600 US dollars a month here. In the end, I don't end up saving very much - with food, transportation, and other things I have to pay for.

-What do you think about the Chileans?

Chileans, what do I think of them? Well, where do I begin? They are different than people from the US. For the most part I enjoy them. It is very difficult for me to make friends just because of the culture difference. People here are shocked that I am 20 years old and not living with my parents still, plus the fact that I am married.

Chilean men are easier to get a long with, but they only are after one thing it seems. The women just plain don't understand me and my upbringing. I can't find people my age to hang out with because I am in a whole different maurity level than they are. They haven't left their parents' house yet and I have been out since I was 18 years old.

Other than trying to make friends it is difficult being a blonde here. Not only do they stare at me because of my hair and green eyes, they don't stop when you notice them staring. It is very annoying, not only that I just feel creeped out most of the time. They have what is called "piropo" in Spanish which is a cat call. I think these cat calls are horrible. Men, usually construction workers, will shout horribly rude and nasty comments to you in the street. I have a hard time keeping walking without wanting to say something equally rude back.

A lot of the people here assume that I am rich because I am from the United States. It drives me insane when I have to pitch in more for a party just because I am American. Also telling a taxi driver that you are American is a bad idea. They will charge you more because they assume you are just rolling in cash.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Chile?

The positive thing about being here is that I am learning and seeing things that many people my age have not seen, many things that people never get to see in their lives. I am living something I never thought I would. It is a good thing to see the world; it gives a person a more open mind.

I would have to say the worst thing about living in this country is the standard of living. The house I live doesn't have heat nor does it have air conditioning. There are many things that I took for granted in the US. The dishwasher, the clothes dryer, heat, and having my own car.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Chile?

What tips do I have? Well, for one I recommend that you see as much as you can, try everything at least once, and keep any valuable jewelry at home. Also before you leave you should let all your credit/debit card companies know that you will be out of the country.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Chile?

Well there is quite a group of expats blogging. These are a few I read regularly:

http://ohquepasa.blogspot.com

http://soylajet.blogspot.com

http://whatsarasays.blogspot.com

And this is my personal blog: http://shannontripsandfalls.blogspot.com

-Where were you born?

Birmingham, England

-In which country and city are you living now?

Valparaiso, Chile

-Are you living alone or with your family?

Alone

-How long have you been living in Chile?

About a year and half on a permanent basis. Before that, I lived in Buenos Aires for 3 years and made regular trips to Chile for personal reasons.

-What is your age?

30

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Chile?

It just kind of happened. I moved to Ecuador in 2003 to teach English, left after 3 months, travelled through Argentina and then Chile where I met my then girlfriend. After 3 years in Argentina we moved back to Chile...the personal relationship didn't work out but I'm still here and loving Valparaiso!

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?

No, getting residency is really easy. There are various ways of organising a visa and you can do it all once you're actually in the country (Chilean embassies always say that this isn't possible but the easiest and fastest way of sorting out residency is to arrive as a tourist and change your status once you find a job or have a business idea).

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

I have private medical insurance here. It costs me something like US$120/month but I have not the faintest idea how to use it. Luckily, I haven't had any need to so far.

-How do you make your living in Chile? Do you have any type of income generated?

I set up my own company helping other foreigners buy real estate in Chile. At the same time, I'm involved in the regeneration of Valparaiso by restoring and converting old, damaged houses into apartments. http://pacificfive.co.uk

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language?

Yes, my Spanish is pretty much fluent. I think you can get by in Chile if you don't speak Spanish but you'll never become part of the society here. Everyday life is so much easier if you speak the local language. Things that would take hours for a non-speaker to achieve can be sorted out in a matter of minutes if you speak Spanish. You'll also get ripped off a lot less in local markets if you speak Spanish. Learn Spanish!

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?

In general, not really. I'm quite a solitary person and I'm just as happy being on my own as I am with company. I'm used to being away from home, having gone to boarding school when I was 8 and half. I like being away from England. I do speak to friends and family on Skype, use facebook to keep in touch and chat on MSN. One of the things I really miss about England is going to the pub with my old friends, the people with whom I grew up and with whom I don't have to make any effort whatsoever. New friends will never know you as well as your school friends. I try to get home at least once a year although this time it's been a year and half and still no trip on the horizon...

-Do you have other plans for the future?

I'm just taking it one day at a time. I know I'll be in Valparaiso for at least one more year due to work commitments. After that...who knows? I'm a bit of an constant traveller and like to move around a lot. Valpo's got me kind of hooked, though. In a good way.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

I bought my place and renovated it. Not cheap. It's difficult to say how much a place might cost as prices are kind of crazy due to Valparaiso being named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Let's say that a reasonable quality apartment conversion in a period building could cost around US$1400/m2.

Rent in Valparaiso is quite cheap - a room in a shared house costs between US$100 and $250 depending on location. Renting an apartment in the part of Valpo that everyone wants to live in (Cerros Concepcion and Alegre) can be tricky due to a lack of supply and high demand. There are plenty of options in the surrounding hills, though.

-What is the cost of living in Chile?

Chile is quite an expensive South American country but you can get by very easily on US$1000/month and less if you're not constantly travelling around. The recent rise in the strength of the Chilean Peso has made the country quite a lot more expensive for those living on foreign currencies, especially the Dollar.

-What do you think about the Chileans?

Chileans love foreigners and are often desperate to have them as friends. Often, this is more to show off to their friends and family that they have a 'foreign friend'. It can be a slightly pathetic status symbol here. Chileans can also be hard to get to know. But I like Chileans quite a lot and find them to be loyal and trustworthy friends in times of crisis, something that I can't say about my Argentine friends from my days of living there. Chileans also like to have the kind of fun an Englishman can also enjoy: namely getting very drunk and dancing badly. This is a part of the culture I really like!

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Chile?

Valparaiso is an awesome city. Totally unique, with a cool vibe and friendly people. Chile is still really cheap compared to the UK, the fruit and veg is ridiculously cheap and incredibly tasty, cheap and excellent wines, the freshest sea food ever, fantastic weather, the most incredible and extreme scenery of pretty much anywhere in the world, living by the Pacific with the Andes in the background, decent local beers, Pisco, friendly locals (once you get to know them), an uncorrupt and honest police force, lack of day-to-day corruption which blights more other South American countries.

On the downside, Chileans can seem a little cheerless and often rude. They don't know how to queue up and have little respect for others, especially in public. Once you get used to and accept the culture, though, the positives definitely outweigh the negatives.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Chile?

Most people go through an "I hate Chile" stage after a few months here (I actually went through it from the first second I stepped off the bus on my backpacking trip 4 and a half years ago but it subsided after a few more trips). Some of this is for cultural reasons but most people complain about the bureaucracy and how 'hard' it is to get things done here. I'd suggest trying to live in Argentina, Peru or Bolivia for a few months - it'll put things in perspective and make you realise that life in Chile is quite a lot easier. It's not perfect - it's a long way from perfect - but compared to her neighbours, Chile is quite a long way down the path to becoming a vaguely normal country!

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Chile?

My own blog all about Valparaiso is: http://corrugatedcity.blogspot.com. There are tons of photos and lots of information about what to do, where to go, where to eat and what to see. It's pretty much the only source of English language info about the city.

I also maintain a list of other Bloggers in Chile here: http://bloggersinchile.blogspot.com.

-Where were you born?

I grew up in the US, leaving for the first time to live in Chile when I was 16. From that initial experience, I caught the travel bug. Since then I have lived and worked in Chile, Moldova, and Cambodia.

-In which country and city are you living now?

Currently I am working in Valparaiso, Chile and living in Viña del Mar, Chile.

-Are you living alone or with your family?

My dog, Harley, has traveled with me everywhere except Cambodia. Other than her, I live with Chilean roommates.

-How long have you been living in Chile?

I have been in Chile (this time) since August 2007; however, I lived here for 1 full year in high school and another year in college. Additionally, I have returned multiple other times for work and pleasure. Somehow, Chile is always the place I come home to. My godson is here as are many of my closest friends.

-What is your age?

I am 27.

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Chile?

I came to Chile as a Rotary high school exchange student. I didn’t choose the country or, for that matter, know anything about it before I came. I loved my year here and made some of the best friends I have ever had. I returned in college and have always said I would go back. Work took me to other places, but I continued to find a way to return to Chile. For me, this is the perfect mix of expat life and feeling like I belong.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?

Currently I am here with a Fulbright grant. I have always managed to have a job set up in the countries I have worked before arriving. This has allowed me to not have to worry about visas and work permits as my job sites have taken charge of that. I am considering staying here after my grant is completed… so maybe in a couple months I will better be able to answer this question.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

I have medical insurance through my job, but it is a hassle. Also, I am accident prone and have ended up in the hospital or with medical problems each year that I have lived here. Overall, medical coverage is less expensive in the States. That said, if you have to pay everything out of pocket it can get expensive.

-How do you make your living in Chile?

As I mentioned earlier, I am on a Fulbright research grant. The process for applying for one is long and involved. I had to get all of my paperwork in by September 15, 2006 and was not told if I was accepted or not until April 2007. Then, I had until the end of July to move from Phnom Penh Cambodia to Valparaiso, Chile. The positives of coming this way include that Fulbright helped with transport and medical coverage. I knew I had a pay check coming in and I have support from a local organization here.

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language?

I think it is incredibly important to speak the local language. In a country like Chile, I can’t imagine trying to get around in English for any period of time longer than a week's vacation.

In a country like Cambodia, where it is less common to find expat Khmer speakers, being able to say some key phrases was key. It endeared host country locals to me and helped me in numerous situations.

I speak English, Spanish, and Romanian fluently. I speak some conversational Khmer and Japanese.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?

I am used to living away from my family and have worked to find ways to stay close to them. I now have both my parents and my sister’s family using Skype so that we can talk. I also am getting webcams so that I won’t miss my sister’s kids growing up.

As for activities, I am not really sure that there is anything I miss. I wish that books were less expensive here, but I get them sent from the States or going on buying sprees when I am home. I really love some of the jazz clubs and salsa clubs here in town.

-Do you have other plans for the future?

I am planning to continue my life as an expat. I am applying for positions in Chile and throughout Latin America. Part of me would really like to stay here, just to have some stability for a few years. However, that will require me leaving my beach resort home town of Viña del Mar and moving to Santiago. Primarily my plans are contingent on finding a job that will allow me to continue to pay back my student loans and live comfortably in my adopted country.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

Renting is tricky in Valparaiso and Viña del Mar. As they are tourist cities, it is hard to rent things year round. March to December you can get a 1-bedroom apartment for 400-500 USD. If you want to share, you might pay 200 to 300 dollars. A pension, which may or may not include breakfast, all meals, or laundry, should go for about 200 to 300 dollars. However, in the summer, most places want to rent by day or by week and prices skyrocket for the tourist season.

-What is the cost of living in Chile?

Chile is not as inexpensive as many other Central and South American locations; however, you will have access to most luxuries you would have back home. Also, a lot depends on how much you want to spend.

-What do you think about the Chileans?

One of the best things about Chile is the ability to integrate with host country nationals. Personally, all of my friends, the people I work with, and those I hang out with are locals. It does take time in Chile and effort to make friends. But this effort is well worth it. In my case, these are the friends that I have had since high school (in some cases) and plan on having forever.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Chile?

On the positive side, I really enjoy the emphasis on family. I also enjoy a lot of the local culture: cueca, traditional foods, folk music. The country itself is beautiful and both the south and the north are worth the vacation time and money.

On the negative side, machismo (including crude comments in the street) is very strong here and the country and its people can be quite intolerant of minority groups. Racial issues are also touchy.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Chile?

§Work on your Spanish. Speaking the language is so important.

§Get involved and find ways to meet locals.

§Don’t fret over the amount of mayonnaise used here—after a while you will want to put it on your hot dogs and fries.

§If you get the chance, travel. This country has a huge variety of beautiful spots—both the touristy ones and the off the beaten trail ones.

§Learn to buy your fruits and vegetables at the local markets. It helps the economy, is cheaper for you, and they taste better.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Chile?

I have my own blog, http://claresays.wordpress.com/, where I talk a lot about Chile, my life in general, and about what I do (counter-human-trafficking). As it is a site I have had for a while, earlier entries are about my time living in Cambodia. You can also see some of my pictures from around the world (Chile, Cambodia, Moldova, India, Japan, etc.) on the site.

-Where were you born?
I was born in Michigan, USA.

-In which country and city are you living now?
Santiago, Chile

-Are you living alone or with your family?
I came down here to study abroad and ended up meeting the Chilean love of my life. We got married and now I live with him

-How long have you been living in Chile?
2.5 years

-What is your age?
23

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Chile?
When I was younger (13) and got an A in Spanish my mom shipped me off to Chile to study abroad. Ever since then I had been dying to come back. When I returned for a second time around of studying abroad, this time in college, I met my Chilean husband. When we were deciding whether to marry and live in the U.S. or Chile, to be honest, a huge factor was the current U.S. government as well as the horrendous visa process we would've had to go through to live there. We both love Chile but we don't plan on being here forever. We are thinking of moving to Europe in a year or two after we have some money saved up. So then I'll be an expat times two after leaving my home country and then my adopted country!

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
Not at all. I came in on a tourist visa and didn't have any trouble getting first a work permit, and then a residence permit once we married.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
Yes, I did not have medical insurance when I first arrived. Fortunately the costs of doctors and hospitals is low here. I ended up in the emergency room and having to go to a ton of doctors and specialists, and including medicine and everything my treatment was under $400 without insurance.

-How do you make your living in Chile? Do you have any type of income generated?
I was originally going to work in the Chilean work force, but quickly realized that with my high monthly student loan payments and the low wages here that wasn't really an option. So I currently work two part-time jobs online, both through U.S. companies.

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
I do speak fluent Spanish, but didn't when I first got here. I think it's extremely important to learn the language if you are planning on spending a significant chunk of time here. If you are just a tourist you'll be able to get by with English. But, if you want to live here and really feel at home, Spanish is imperative. You'll never fully understand cultural nuances without knowing the language. Fortunately most Chileans are very understanding when it comes to horrible gringo accents and vocab mistakes!

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
I never miss "home," because I feel at home here. But, I do miss my family and friends. Keeping in touch is so much harder than you ever think it will be. For me, the most difficult thing is missing out on weddings, babies being born, holidays...those moments you can never get back. But, the experience of being an expat is worth it. I have grown so much as a person being away from everything that is familiar.

As for recreational activities here, the one that has provided the most entertainment for me has been photography. It's become a way for me to show my new life to those in the U.S. who are curious about what Chile's like. And I feel like the more photos I take, the more I learn about this culture. Being behind the camera makes me a more prudent observer. You can see lots of my work at www.lovetotravelchile.com if you're interested.

-Do you have other plans for the future?
My husband and I are saving our money for a year-long trip around the world and then hopefully making a permanent move to somewhere in Europe.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
We live in a house -- my in-laws' home -- so we don't actually pay rent

To buy a two-bedroom apartment in a decent neighborhood in Santiago, with about 60 square meters, will run you upwards of $100,000. Buying is expensive here. But you could rent something of the same size and quality for around $400.00 a month and can even find apartments for as low as $200 a month if you're willing to go to a neighborhood a bit less yuppy.

-What is the cost of living in Chile?
The cost of living here is expensive in relation to the average salary of a Chilean person. For two people, my husband and I spend about $300 a month on food, the average person will probably spend about $70 a month on transportation, rent can be anywhere from $200 and up depending on where you live, and that cost usually includes water. Our electric bill for a big house is only $25 a month.

-What do you think about the Chileans?
The Chilean people are a breed apart from the typical stereotype of South American people. They are not as warm and friendly as most people think they will be. I have found them to be extremely hard to get to know. It's not easy to make friends here. But, the good thing about them is that once they trust you and let you into their circle they are extremely loyal. Once you're in, you're like a brother or sister to them. It's not easy to earn their trust though.

Chilean men seem to love blond women, so be careful if that's your natural color. You'll get catcalled and whistled at to death. I've had so many men propose marriage to me while walking down the street that I've lost track.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Chile?
The positive aspects is that many parts of the country are very modern. The transportation system works relatively well, Santiago is such a big city you can find almost anything you need, there's always something to do here, and the whole country is so long that it covers virtually every landscape you could ever imagine...desert, beaches, mountains, forests, glaciers...you name it, you've got it.

The negatives are that it's a very isolated country and culturally speaking, you'll realize that right away.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Chile?
Get to know as much of the country as you can! Travel to as many different cities as you can because each one has such a unique personality. Santiago can sort of overcome a person and people living there forget that there is a Chile that exists outside of the big city.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Chile?
My personal blog, people tell me it's pretty funny!: Just Married Chilean Style

And my informational/photo blog: LovetoTravelChile