92 CultureShock! Chile
of Santiago, such as downtown, Parque Forestal or República
Street. There are some beautiful old houses and modern
apartment buildings in these municipalities. They are also
better served by public transportation and located nearer
to supermarkets and other stores.
It is important to keep in mind that people move to Chile
under many different circumstances. Students and people
new to the workforce will experience a different side of Chile
from those upper level employees sent by their firms with
hefty incentive packages. For the latter, most likely you will
live in the most affluent parts of town, and although you
may consider yourself middle-class in your home country,
in Chile you will live like the wealthy. Do not believe that
the majority of Chileans have access to all the creature
comforts that you do, like a spacious house, central heating
and private schools. Other expats who move to Chile on
their own, may not enjoy the benefits a large international
firm provides, but will get to know Chile on a more intimate
level,living as the majority of Chileans do.CLIMATE
Due to the fact that Chile is in the southern hemisphere, the
seasons are reversed from those in the northern hemisphere.
Winter begins in April and September signals the advent of
spring. The first of November is a public holiday that marks
the unofficial beginning of summer. Schools have summer
vacation from Christmas until the end of February. Many
offices close for vacation in February. If you arrive in Chile in
January or February, it will be very difficult to locate people.
Everyone returns to their regular schedule in March as the
temperatures begin to drop and classes resume.
The central region, where Santiago is located, has a
Mediterranean climate. Spring and fall are mild and quite
pleasant. Winters are cold and damp. Santiago has an
average annual rainfall of about 355 mm (14 inches), most
of which occurs between April and September. Temperatures
drop down to 3°C (37.4°F), leaving you with a chill that
cannot be shaken. In summer, temperatures can soar to
34°C (93°F) or higher. However, it is a very dry heat that is