If you moved to Chile and you thought you already knew Spanish, I’m sure that when you get here you realized it was not as easy as you though.
The thing is that Chilean Spanish is very special. Even native Spanish speakers like me found some surprises when we came here.
Don’t feel bad. You’re not alone in this feeling. Many people have experienced this language shock. But, I’m sure you will get the pace with time and practice.
Chileans use some words and expressions that are different from other Spanish countries. Besides, the Chilean accent can make it hard to understand it.
Marco from LatinELE interviewed me for his podcast and we talked about my experience moving from Venezuela to Chile. I share with him some funny and not so funny moments I experienced with Chilean Spanish.
Listen to this episode and learn more about Chilean culture and Chilean Spanish: Link to podcast LatinELE
In this post I tell you a little bit of what we talked about in this episode
1. WHY DID I HAVE TO TRAVEL WITHOUT HAVING BREAKFAST?
The cultural shock you experience when you travel or live in another country can affect us in many ways. It can affect us in things we never though could be different in another country and we though they were normal in our home country. In this episode I share with you what happened and why I traveled without having breakfast.
2. MY EXPERIENCE IN A TAXI
Even though I have been living in Chile for a while and I know what words are allowed, sometimes it’s hard not to express in my Venezuelan Spanish and experience some funny moments.
I was in a taxi with my mom and she said a word that has a different meaning in Chile. I looked at the taxi driver and feel embarrassed. Learn in this episode what word I said and the right word to use in Chile along with other useful Chilean vocabulary.
3. THE FIRST THING I SAID WHEN I GET HERE AND SURPRICED THE SECURITY MAN
The first time I came to Chile for a longer period was in 2009 for and international student exchange. I felt really embarrassed because I bring something in my suitcase that was stolen. But I never though the name of that thing would cause surprise in the security man who helped me with mi problem and a misunderstanding.
4. WHAT I HAD TO DO TO BUY SOMETHING AT THE STORE
Buying in the pharmacy, any store or the supermarket was not as simple as I though. Despite I speak Spanish, when I wanted to buy some products people didn’t understand me because those things have a different name in Chile. In this interview in the podcasts, we give you some examples of words that are different in Chile so you can be prepared when you travel to Chile.
5. WHAT DO I MISS FROM VENEZUELA?
After living in Chile for so many years I am used to the weather, food, and many other things. But there is something I am still missing from Venezuela…. Can you guess what is it? Find it out in this episode.
Listen to this episode here to learn more about the culture and Spanish in Chile: Link to podcast LatinELE
Have you been in Chile before? Tell me in the comments. I would love to read about your experience
