Things I love about Chilenos and Chile

1. They kiss you on the cheek when they arrive and leave. This is great if your a no mates like me. You immediately have friends. And when you go to leave you can kiss all your new friends, even if you didn´t talk to them. This poses problems with a large group. Entry and exit to parties consists of a round of kissing people which can take a while. No wonder Chileans are always late.
2. Booze and food is of upmost important. Going for a walk? lets just stop of at the pulpería and get a whole lot of food and drink. Then we´ll drive up to a picnic spot and drink and eat. Perfect. Not good for general health and weight though... so have decided to start running, even though Helena said I might get a heart attack from the pollution.. surely not?
3. Victor Jara. an amazing mucision that was murdered under Pinochet.
4. No concept of time. I had been warned and I thought this would annoy me but it means your never in a hurry or never stressed. Good things take time. However, I am always on time for my classes and this is generally followed by at least a 20 minute wait for students to turn up. Sometimes my students just leave in the middle of the class. "Marcelo, where has José gone?" "he has a meeting". Why my students can´t set their meetings for the other 8 hours they aren´t in class I don´t know.
5. They love football. Luckily Chile qualified for the world cup last night. This was followed by about 5 hours of yelling and horn tooting and general craziness on the streets of Providencia.
6. They love New Zealand. This works well for me.
7. They love music. Also works well for me.
8. They love dancing. I´m not sooo keen. After a few drinks maybe...