A day in Santiago
An average day in Santiago is, seemingly, pretty average these days. I battle first world-style traffic – the kind that comes from affluence and more cars per capita – on my way to my modern high-rise office, often following the unloading of purse and coat with a Starbucks run. When I hear English spoken, I no longer start and stare. Even Japanese doesn’t catch me off-guard.
I move through my days much as I would in any major world city. An influx in imported products may have me spending more, but I miss less (or is it that I’ve acclimated?). The boom in variety among Santiago restaurants means I can eat just about whatever my heart desires. My friends and I are all BlackBerried and iPhoned and Facebooked to the gills.
And then, there’s this. Just outside the central part of Santiago but still very much in the city, bordering a shiny new business park. An open field. Horses grazing free, although I assume the piebald at least belongs to the boy on the bike who came along and tried to catch him as I was taking photos.
A little reminder that while parts of the capital may be a modern metropolis, and I may live a globalized, international lifestyle, much of Chile – and even Santiago itself – falls outside my day-to-day.
Love this post! And that 1st pic…wow!!!
Thanks!
Love the last pic with the horses. The post was very interesting to read and I think that more and more parts of the world pass through the same radical changes as Santiago.
I agree, I think there are a lot of cities that in some ways are totally modern and developed and in others are still as they have been for years. Always good to remember that our individual realities aren’t the only realities, right?
It’s so interesting to see a place from the perspective of someone who lives there. I like to envision living in the places that I visit, but I know that I never truly capture what it’s like. I want to visit Santiago, and now I won’t have to imagine what it would be like to live there. Thank you.
You are very welcome, Leah! Although I’m guessing the kid catching his horse and I probably don’t have the same daily routine
It’s interesting to think how different people’s experiences can be in the same city, whether residents or visitors.
Such a nice contrast!
It really stuck out to me to see the new business park with such a countryside setting right next door.
I actually know very little about Chile, so it’s funny to hear that Santiago can really just be like any other big city. The photo of the skyline is really beautiful! Love the mountains in the background.
I kind of take the mountains for granted on a normal day here, but on a day like today, when it’s clear blue skies after several days of rain (which of course means snow on the mountains), they’re still stunning.
hi there – your title “dont call me Gringa” – rang such a loud bell in my head – I used to live in Santiago and being English everyone (chileno) called me Gringa…at first I didnt mind, but sooner or later it gets to you and now nearly 40 years later I returned last year and there it was AGAIN……GRINGA!!!! Oh well nothing changes ……
Haha, the funny thing is that I actually don’t mind it at all (see my about page). It’s really not an offensive term here, and I say it myself. Sorry it bugged you on your recent trip!
[...] therefore opportunities exist the length and breadth of the country, and not only in the capital, Santiago de Chile, and big cities of Concepción and Valparaiso. Chileans consider learning English as an opportunity [...]
[...] therefore opportunities exist the length and breadth of the country, and not only in the capital, Santiago de Chile, and big cities of Concepción and [...]