Notions and Observations… the Expected, Unexpected, and Inexplicable

So I like making lists because I feel like they have an uncanny ability to capture everything important in an orderly fashion with a minimum about of words. Thus, I am going to make a list right now to capture what Chile has taught me thus far about life and its beautiful country.

1) Unfortunately chilies in Chile are actually not called chilies, they are called ahí. Perhaps more obvious but equally disappointing is that chilly is also not called chilly but rather frío… unacceptable…
2) Signs need not be understood… unless they are the signs that dictate what hours the traffic flows in one direction on the highway and at one time it changes so all cars go the other way (i know I've already used this picture













3) Chilean should be its own language. For example, in Chilean, “Oye huevon poh, teni tre luca por un completo?” signifies “Hey dude, do you have three thousand pesos for a hot dog?” …In Spanish however, it signifies “Hey Big Balls (or Big Eggs) poh, tennis [the French word for three] light up for a complete?”
4) Avocado (Palta) can go in anything… particularly so when it costs a mil (1000 pesos or about 2$) for 12
5) However so can mayonnaise… so watch out
6) Time is really more of a suggestion
7) Brown paper boats can be used to decorate anything











8) Potatoes are undoubtedly the most versatile tuber
9) Never buy knock-off instant coffee… instant coffee is already enough of a knock off
10) Don’t say you are from Chile in Peru
11) Don’t say you are from Chile in Bolivia
12) The War of the Pacific is no laughing matter
13) Language barriers have up and down sides. If you want or need to know or communicate something that you cannot it can be difficult and frustrating. On the other hand, if you don’t want to do something or want somebody to do something for you without questions its pretty easy to play dumb.
14) Pankeke = pancake... Mankeke = mancake?













To be continued…