By vgosalvez11
This week, one of my program friends casually mentioned to me that we are already 25% through our program. (((The total is 20 week and we only have 15 left.))) I was astonished by this. I can already feel that this semester is going by so fast! It feels like I have been here forever, but at the same time, as if I should have endless time ahead of me.
I think a major contribution to my comfort level and immersion here in Santiago is living with a Chilean host family. Living with a host family has its pros and cons, of course, but at the moment I feel like it’s the best decision I could have made.
My hosts are an older married couple, Julio and Santina, who have been retired for years. They have been absolutely lovely, making me feel at home and teaching me about Santiago and Chilean culture and politics. I have my own area in the house—in fact, it is a building that is separate from the main house, with my own little bedroom and bathroom and even a little couch area. It appears me that this was probably the area for a Nana (a Chilean live-in maid). (((So I am very comfortable here.))) However, I can’t help mentioning that even the house is significantly different from ones in the US. There is no gas or central heating at all, so when winter comes, we will be using gas or electric space heaters to keep warm. The water is heated by gas and there is no hot water tank, so it heats as it comes out. (Luckily, it’s still in the 70s-80s here, so no problem with a little cold water so far).
For my meals, I eat with the family, which is lovely. I get an authentically Chilean meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the company of at least my host mother and often my host father. My host mother is a pretty great cook, and I know this is not something to be taken for granted. Generally speaking, Chilean food can be famously bland (probably like English food). The major staples seem to be rice, chicken, avocado, tomato and a variety of bean soups.
As I said, my host mom cooks much better than most, and makes a variety of food, including some classically Italian foods — even still, I think Chileans could benefit from being introduced to some simple spices, and maybe (god please) some hot sauce. Of course, beyond the food, meal times are a great opportunity to catch up on the local news (which plays on the television) and discuss political issues both in Chile and in the US. If we aren’t discussing politics, I get to hear about their adorable grandchild or more details of their day to day life in Santiago.
Staying in a home is obviously very different from living on campus at GW. For one thing, rather than rolling from my bed in Ivory 20 feet to Duques in leggings and a sweater… I have to take a 20 minute walk and a metro 9 stops or two different buses to get to class. My travels vary day by day because I take classes at three different campuses and two different schools. On average, it takes me 40 to 80 minutes to get from my front door to class. (And remember when I used to complain about the walk to E Street…) Further, this commute doesn’t just exist for getting to class, it is for getting anywhere from the closest pharmacy (a 15 minute walk) to the museum district (50 minute metro ride) or to the nightlife center of Santiago (45 minute bus ride).
These long commutes are just something the people of Santiago are used to. Santiago is a huge city and a large number of people don’t drive, so public transportation is pretty expansive and reliable, even if it seems slow. Living with family is the norm for Chilean University students, as there are not dorms on campus. If a student lives on their own in an apartment, it is usually because they are from far outside of the Santiago area and cannot commute. In fact, students prefer to live with their families because it saves money, and also because they can get their families to take care of them.
After these weeks with my host family, I have to say that I am starting to agree. Of course, in some ways I miss the autonomy of living on my own. I miss being able to cook my own meals or decide to have ice cream for dinner if I so choose. In addition, it’s odd not living in the same building as so many of my friends and class mates, and I could for sure do without the 40 minute metro ride is a very warm and squishy metro car.
BUT—beyond all that, living with a family makes my experience so much more real. I get to speak Spanish and watch Chilean news in my home. But, more than anything, it is pretty great to have a family that cares that you get home safe and that you are eating a healthier meal than the Ben and Jerry diet. Moral of the story: If you are studying abroad, live with a host family. Just do it. And, if you are coming to Chile, bring some hot sauce.