We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto...

We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto.

In Chile…

… if it’s not powdered (most cases), milk comes in 1 liter boxes; unrefrigerated, and mostly whole.

… you may see upwards of 20 dogs in a 1 block walk. Most of them don’t have owners.

… showers are cold (for us at least).

… people greet one another with touching cheeks, and kisses into the air.

… there are sometimes random horses or cows just walking along the roads or on the beaches.

… hosts/hostesses may invite you to partake in a cup of instant coffee that is stored next to their TV in their entertainment center.

… a bus may double its maximum capacity on a regular basis.

… almost every neighbor sells something (popsicles, firewood, photocopies, bread, etc.).

… peanut butter is hard to come by (but VERY much enjoyed by my teammates). Cookies, on the other hand, are very cheap (30 cents on average for a tube of 8), and are enjoyed here on an almost daily basis.

… a family might share dinner at 10 pm.

… traffic laws don’t really matter.

… each person in the home is greeted personally when a person enters or exits the house.

… busses, stores, and even the post office play English music.

… New Year’s Eve and Day are a way bigger deal than Christmas.

… children call their elders “Tio” (uncle) or “Tia” (aunt). It is very common for us to walk down the street and be greeted by our neighbor kids running toward us and yelling, “TIA!”

… potatoes, cucumbers, and tomatoes are eaten quite often, but almost always without peels/skins.

… you must travel 25 minutes by bus to reach the post office where a man will check a handwritten log to see if you’ve received a letter.

… blonde hair, moustaches, and beards are not common.

… food packaging and store names frequently utilize English words (for example: “Easy”  - the hardware store, “Jumbo” – the Wal-Mart-ish store, “Energy Balls” – the Cocoa Puffs equivalent, etc.).

… most houses are surrounded by a metal fence with vertical bars.

… microwaves don’t exist. Neither does Ranch dressing.

… you can purchase a popsicle or ice cream bar from a corner store for about 60 cents.

… there are several basketball courts around, but hardly anyone plays basketball.

… homes are heated with wood stoves, and food is cooked on small gas stoves.

… little motorboat water taxis exist.

… hot dogs, instant coffee, and bread are staples of the diet.

… you tip your bagger at the grocery store.

… people have 2 last names – first the last name of your father, then your mother.

… cheese comes almost exclusively in slices, and is always white; never yellow.

… you might see a snow-tipped volcano in your backyard, or wild dolphins near the beach.

… light switches are horizontal, not vertical.

… the stars are the clearest I’ve ever seen.