Interview 3: Chile

Me: What is the value of family in your country?

Interviewee: Family is prioritized before anything else in the Chilean culture. Unlike the United States youth try to live at home with their parents as long as possible. They rarely move out during college and only move out once they either find a spouse or get a job that takes them away.

Me: What is your family structure like?

Interviewee: Women are a lot more submissive and embrace the idea of the woman being in charge of cooking, cleaning and taking care of the household. It is accepted and embraced.

Me: How does your home country’s culture different from the US culture? 

Interviewee: Like the previous category talked about it is a lot more family oriented culture. One of the biggest differences in these two cultures would be the drive to success. It seems to be weighed by two different categories. The drive of the Chilean people is not to be wealthy and just hold a prestigious title but community and providing for the needs of those around you (even if not immediate family) come before so many other things.

Me: What are the highlights in your culture?

Interviewee: When people who know Chile think about it, they think about the hospitality people provide and how warm the people are. It is extremely welcoming and has the mentality that everything that is theirs is also yours.

Me: What is the most famous food in your country?

Interviewee: They eat very simple kinds of food. They eat tons of rice, potatoes, chicken, pasta, tomatoes, avocado and BREAD. Every single meal consists of bread and coffee or bread and tea plus whatever else they want to serve. The most famous Chilean dish is called Casuela. It’s a soup with chicken, potatoes, carrots, corn and a few other vegetables.

Me: What are your meals like?

Interviewee: People usually have tiny breakfast, bread and coffee. Lunch is BIG usually they close their businesses for lunch. Then at like 6 they have "Once" which is like an evening snack, usually bread and coffee, then Dinner at like 9pm which is a good healthy size. Portion sizes are not huge for each meal.

Me: What is the education system like?

Interviewee: There are public schools like the US as well as Private schools. The public schools education system is known for being terrible. The middle and upper class all go to private schools. College is very common because it is not very expensive and most people just live with their parents. There are very low level colleges that don’t cost much and get you simple jobs. There are a few large universities where the smart kids go.

Me: How does your country view the US?

Interviewee: They view the U.S as a prideful superpower who is hungry for control and money.

Me: Do a lot of people graduate college in your country?

Interviewee: A lot of people do graduate. It’s viewed as a necessity to live. 

Me: What are the top three social pastimes?

Interviewee: Every kid grows up playing soccer. Rich or poor. The few people who do play basketball or tennis which are about the only two other sports you see are upper class people. The lower class mostly just plays soccer. People love going to the stadium on Sundays and watch soccer matches.

Me: What are the different religions in Chile?

Interviewee: Catholic is the main religion of Chile. Everyone, whether they go to church or not, will claim to be catholic and love Jesus. There is a decent base of Evangelicals and Baptists but Catholics are predominant.

Me: Is it difficult to practice your beliefs freely?

Interviewee: Practicing Christianity or any religion is not looked down upon and freedom of religion is very open and accepted. 

Me: What are some holidays that you celebrate?

Interviewee: 18 September is our biggest holiday. It’s our independence day. It consists of A LOT of drinking and A LOT of eating. A lot of cultural foods like empanadas and other little things. There are cultural dances and parties. May 21st is also a big holiday of a famous Battle against Peru that we celebrate to this day.