Mi Vida en Viña: What Do I Really Like about Living in Chile?

This weekend I was chatting with a friend and he asked me if I still like living in Chile. Chileans, I have noticed, in general ask foreigners on a regular basis if they like Chile, do they like being in Valparaíso, what parts of the Chile do they like the most, etc. I immediately replied yes.

And my friend looked at me and I realized that this was a different question. The question hinged on the realization that I have now been living here several months and have had an opportunity to "settle in" here and get to know the area. So he asked me again, "Do you really like living here? If so, why?" This was a bigger question. I thought about it for a moment and I said the first two things that came to my mind. (Although saying what immediately comes into my mind is not always a good strategy for me, I think in this case it worked out well.) I realized I do like living here and the two biggest reasons that I think I am happy and enjoying my time here are: the people and the place.

When I first came to Chile, I knew no one. I left a great group of friends and family in the US. (Side note, I am so grateful for all the love, support, care boxes, etc. they have showered me with since I left.) Before I arrived, I was not sure how, where, or when I would meet people and make friends here. Almost four months later, I am so fortunate to have a little community of friends here. We celebrate each other's birthdays, go camping together, eat dinner together, etc. People, I realized, are what have made my time in Chile so incredibly beautiful.

The other aspect of me loving Chile is the place. I love living in the Viña del Mar/Valparaíso area. I wake up to the sound of seagulls and fog horns and fall asleep at night looking at the city lights across the bay. The beaches in Viña are clean and full of life. The architecture and hidden art in Valpo is charming in a style unique to the city.

I am really glad my friend asked me the question, "Do I really like living here?" And I am so happy I could truly answer, "Sí."

A few pics of the people and places-