Having fallen under Chile's spell when she was younger, it's no surprise that American expat Kyle found herself returning to this South American land several years later. She now lives with her husband in the city of Santiago, where she does some online work. Read about expat Kyle's experiences in Chile, a country that has played -- and is continuing to play -- a major role in her life.	Kyle

-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