So, anyone living in South America?

[Cuxibamba]

Just wondering I live in Ecuador, I have seen someone who is living in Argentina. Who else is living over here?

[bashifuku]

Yep, me - I'm in Colombia. Whereabouts are you in Ecuador?

[Cuxibamba]

Loja. Where are you in Colombia?

[westcoast]

We are in Santiago.

[Cuxibamba]

Cool

[westcoast]

May I ask, how long have you been in S.A? Why did you move? How is your Spanish? How is everyday life?

For me we have been here 8 months, we moved because my husband was offered a transfer we couldn't refuse, we came via Vancouver (I'm British raised a bit later on in Oz, Uni in Canada and DH is Canadian), Shanghai and now Santiago. My Spanish is horrible but I am determined to advance it.

Our day to day life is ok, I get frustrated with the amount if paperwork we need for (it seems) everything but other than that we are really enjoying Chile!

[Cuxibamba]

Eight years- for my work. My Spanish is good (thanks to being here for ages) although I still don't get a lot of slang.

Every day life is great. There's pretty much no expat community, but everyone has been welcoming and kind, and very accepting of us all, so we've blended in a lot more easily.

There's more paperwork here too, I think, but in general, everything is convenient, the supermarkets are good, the discounts at Tía are excellent. Buses are a bit shitty, but travelling around and away from here is easy in general. It's a very safe town, compared to a lot of other places, like Quito. We don't have a car, as taxis are very cheap (like, we can go to the other side of our town for just two dollars).

Life is laid back, slower, than before, too. I really enjoy living here, it's definitely home, our younger DC were all born here too.

[AdoraBell]

We're in Chile.

I don't use this tópic much as I don't see myself as living abroad anymore iyswim, been here ten years.

[westcoast]

Adora where are you in Chile?

[AdoraBell]

Westcoast we are close To Santaigo. And you?

I hope you haven't been effected by the earthquake in the norte.

[westcoast]

We are in Santiago but may be forced to relocate to Rancagua soon (not really looking forward to that). We barley felt the quake, my husband turned to me and said "is that an earthquake?". It was a good reminded to replenish our earthquake kit, water, tinned foods, buy new batteries etc. Let's hope that is the end of the shakes for a while!

[AdoraBell]

I didn't notice it at all, did the one a couple of evenings ago tough, and I had other people's DCs here.

We have an emergency supply in our garage, got caught out in 2010 and learned our lesson.

Fingers crossed you don't have to move.

[TheKangaroo]

I am in Peru and have been for three years, but previously lived in Argentina (Cordoba)

[AdoraBell]

How are you finding Peru?

[TheKangaroo]

Some of it is good, some of it is bad (like anywhere, I suppose). There's a lot of casual racism about, it's noticeable to me but not to a lot of my Peruvian friends and isn't deliberately offensive iyswim but it exists and is a big problem imo. Driving is really, really bad (and cars are very expensive too).

It's cheaper for most things, apart from Internet, TV, the phone and electricity.

Some of it can be brilliant, some of it can be frustrating, the forms and the time for anything to get done is painful and annoying. A lot of things seem a lot bigger and louder in terms of celebrations and it seems very sociable, but that might just be the circle I'm in. The jardins seem very competitive in a way which they weren't in the UK with my eldest two. The fast food is cheaper and I think it's a lot easier to relax and not focus as much of work.

I love it here, it isn't perfect of course, but it's pretty good as far as places go.