I agree, Kyle. Keeping an eye on your things all the time is definitely an adjustment.
Abby
· 1 year ago
Haha don't worry Kyle, I had one of those party a little too hardy experiences too, except it was my host brother dragging me to by bed after a party that he brought me to! My favorite drunk gringa story is one that my friend's host mom told me. One night she woke up to hear a micro horn oustide her house. She was confused, because the micros don't run on her street. So she went out to find her gringa exchange student DRIVING THE MICRO!
Sara
· 1 year ago
I always have people telling me that I can't be so nice and trusting all the time. DUH! But, I was raised like this, but it's like erasing 22 years of indocrination. Not gonna happen overnight. Although, I am getting more of a bitch face. I have blatantly igored people who try to ask me for directions on the street. Which made me kind of sad, actually. But, after my few,uh, near misses, I decided you can never be too careful.
I think a lot of it is also that exchange students come from all parts of the US - not just big cities. In my little hometown I DID always lock my doors if I was leaving the house, but if we didn't for whatever reason it didn't matter. And I could leave my backpack lying around my high school for days, and it would still be in the same place when I went back to get it. If I'd been raised in NYC or another big city, however, that probably wouldn't have been the case! So it's not just a US/Chile change so much as a small town/big city change for a lot of us.
That said yes, I think a lot of us as seen as naive for expecting the best rather than always preparing for the worst.
Meredith
· 1 year ago
Good post....I agree that people getting in my face all the time about being careful is frusturating (particularly when I AM being careful).
To be fair, though, your US experience is definitely different than mine--if I saw you in Boston or NYC leaving your place unlocked and your computer unattended, I'd say pretty much the same thing as the Santaguinos (and have with tourists on occasion). From that perspective I can say it's not so much a "hey stupid" thing as it is an "oh god, someone help her!"
Amanda
· 1 year ago
Mine's up!
Isabel
· 1 year ago
I agree with Emily about a small town/big city difference rather than gringo ignorance about being careful with your things difference. While studying here, I was always careful because I was used to it from home but my amazing and impossibly good gringa friend from a tiny town in Massachusetts refused to think people she didn't even know had bad intentions and was repeatedly robbed during her year here. (I absolutely admire her strong belief that all people are inherently good while clutching my bag and cell phone tightly to my chest at the same time)
Also, I never had that drunk gringa experience, but I did get puked on in a taxi here while I was out with my drunk gringa friend so I guess I experienced it and learned from it vicariously through her (she also did the flowers....apologizing to her most mom...realizing she was one of many thing but i guess that nothing tops Abby's drunk gringa driving the micro story!
Amanda
· 1 year ago
Something kind of funny is that now that we're in the states, Oscar is really trustful again. He chats with the beggars who come up to our car, with the weird people who chat with everyone on the bus, he laughs, smiles and is totally friendly to strangers. Oscar is really not like that in the same situations in Chile. Not at all. I love that now we're here people talk with me in the elevator and in line at the grocery store. Oscar is totally into that now. So, there's some hope! Although I'm sure as soon as we set foot in Santiago the distrust will set in again.
Renée
· 1 year ago
I just posted mine. And I love Abby's anecdote about the gringa and the micro!
Mamacita Chilena
· 1 year ago
oh my gosh Abby. That is hands down the best insane gringa story I've ever heard. How did this girl get her hands on a micro?!? I vote you do a whole post on that :P
kumichan83
· 1 year ago
Hiya,
I was able to join this one so here's my post http://stinkbus.blogspot.com/2008/09/group-post-how-chileans-perceive.html I look forward to reading all of these!
About not being able to leave your stuff unattended, well, I don't think I would even do it in the states! In Japan it's generally no problem because it is very, very safe there but there are lots of ladrones in the U.S. and I figured that out even in hickville, Virginia.
lydia
· 1 year ago
slightly rushed, but mines up!
Shannon
· 1 year ago
Hey, my post is up. It's quite short, but I think it gets the job done!
Lori - Blondie in Brazil
· 1 year ago
Great post! Ugh, the safety issue. It is the main reason why I could never settle in Brazil long term. I pretty paranoid always watching my things here. I took normal safety precautions in the US, but the whole leaving my computer really quick and actually hanging my purse on the chair was not an issue at home. Here it definitely is.
When I go back to the States I find myself doing the same things for the first few days and then I realize I can relax a bit. I never knew how good it can feel just to walk around with your camera and knowing that most likely no one is eyeing you to take it when you aren't expecting it. Same with the cell phone. I watched a kid at the park run up behind a lady and knock her phone out of her hand and take off with it one day. I'm not sure how other Brazilians view my actions, but we got warnings before we moved down for sure.
Shannon
· 1 year ago
Maybe I am really stupid, or for the fact that I was only 19 when I got here, but they thought I was very smart for some reason I haven´t figured out yet. Maybe because I knew how to cook. Which at the time caused my now suegra to be jealous that I could take care of her baby boy!
Then again others thought I was very stupid for leaving my family, they must miss me horribly, how could I do something like this to them. hahaha
Emita
· 1 year ago
mines up, finally! And yes, the drunk gringa and the gringa wna story are all stereotypes that are upheld by the general gringo public! I too made my drunk mark on Chilean society, no micro driving though, that is unbelievable! My hope is that once those of us who do have such ridiculous drunken antics can get over it and make a more positive impression on society!
Maeskizzle
· 1 year ago
Word on the gringo naivety down here. I went through it too when I was first here, but caught on fast bc I'm paranoid by nature. I always-in the summer especially-see gringo tourists here and I often think "Oh. They are totally going to get robbed." Either because they are walking around with their camera in their hands or waay too much gear and pretty distracted and lost. Sometimes I give advice, other times, I just think "Oh, well they'll learn quickly." One day, V and I were talking with this dude from New Zealand. He'd gotten his backpack robbed the day before. His nephew's ashes were in an urn in the backpack because he'd brought them to spread them in Chile. I felt terribly for him. I'm sure the thief poured them out in the street somewhere and sold the urn.
Rune
· 1 year ago
Hi there,
Good post. I come from Glasgow, Scotland and have travelled to various places around the world. In Glasgow we wouldn't dream of leaving things unattended but there isn't a high incidence of violent street robbery. The same goes for much of Europe.
I've had my share of people trying to sucker me into street robberies while travelling.
As a native of Glasgow I can affect a harsh accent and threatening manner if provoked. This seems to do the trick.
I think that if you keep your wits about you then you can avoid trouble. It's a shame what happened to the New Zealand bloke.
We have our share of people puking at 4am after having one too many.
Take care y'all
Rune
Rune
· 1 year ago
And, erm, I've done it myself, then promised that I'll never drink again. ;)
Gus
· 1 year ago
Hi there again...
Thanks for your comment on my blog.
This might sound a little akward, but... can I participate in this topic or is it too late?
Hope to read your answer soon
Gus
Mamacita Chilena
· 1 year ago
Hi Gus, of course you are welcome to participate in the group blogging! At this point while I'll definitely put up a link if you choose to write about this topic, I'm not sure how many people are still coming back to this post but feel free.
And we'll be group blogging again on Friday on a topic TBD so just join in!
Gus
· 1 year ago
Thanks for the answer ...
So, it's already up.
Tell me what you think please
Thanks and take care
Tyffanie
· 1 year ago
Kyle, I finally got around to writing on this topic!!! Eeeek...two weeks late! Oh well! Here it is: http://lachilenguita.blogspot.com/2008/10/group-blog-topic-what-chileans-think-of.html
All Comments
DUH! But, I was raised like this, but it's like erasing 22 years of indocrination. Not gonna happen overnight.
Although, I am getting more of a bitch face. I have blatantly igored people who try to ask me for directions on the street. Which made me kind of sad, actually. But, after my few,uh, near misses, I decided you can never be too careful.
That said yes, I think a lot of us as seen as naive for expecting the best rather than always preparing for the worst.
To be fair, though, your US experience is definitely different than mine--if I saw you in Boston or NYC leaving your place unlocked and your computer unattended, I'd say pretty much the same thing as the Santaguinos (and have with tourists on occasion). From that perspective I can say it's not so much a "hey stupid" thing as it is an "oh god, someone help her!"
Also, I never had that drunk gringa experience, but I did get puked on in a taxi here while I was out with my drunk gringa friend so I guess I experienced it and learned from it vicariously through her (she also did the flowers....apologizing to her most mom...realizing she was one of many thing
but i guess that nothing tops Abby's drunk gringa driving the micro story!
I was able to join this one so here's my post
http://stinkbus.blogspot.com/2008/09/group-post-how-chileans-perceive.html
I look forward to reading all of these!
About not being able to leave your stuff unattended, well, I don't think I would even do it in the states! In Japan it's generally no problem because it is very, very safe there but there are lots of ladrones in the U.S. and I figured that out even in hickville, Virginia.
When I go back to the States I find myself doing the same things for the first few days and then I realize I can relax a bit. I never knew how good it can feel just to walk around with your camera and knowing that most likely no one is eyeing you to take it when you aren't expecting it. Same with the cell phone. I watched a kid at the park run up behind a lady and knock her phone out of her hand and take off with it one day. I'm not sure how other Brazilians view my actions, but we got warnings before we moved down for sure.
Then again others thought I was very stupid for leaving my family, they must miss me horribly, how could I do something like this to them. hahaha
And yes, the drunk gringa and the gringa wna story are all stereotypes that are upheld by the general gringo public! I too made my drunk mark on Chilean society, no micro driving though, that is unbelievable! My hope is that once those of us who do have such ridiculous drunken antics can get over it and make a more positive impression on society!
Good post. I come from Glasgow, Scotland and have travelled to various places around the world. In Glasgow we wouldn't dream of leaving things unattended but there isn't a high incidence of violent street robbery. The same goes for much of Europe.
I've had my share of people trying to sucker me into street robberies while travelling.
As a native of Glasgow I can affect a harsh accent and threatening manner if provoked. This seems to do the trick.
I think that if you keep your wits about you then you can avoid trouble. It's a shame what happened to the New Zealand bloke.
We have our share of people puking at 4am after having one too many.
Take care y'all
Rune
Thanks for your comment on my blog.
This might sound a little akward, but... can I participate in this topic or is it too late?
Hope to read your answer soon
Gus
And we'll be group blogging again on Friday on a topic TBD so just join in!
So, it's already up.
Tell me what you think please
Thanks and take care
http://lachilenguita.blogspot.com/2008/10/group-blog-topic-what-chileans-think-of.html