102 CultureShock! Chile
and water. If you are in Chile for a long period of time,
you could sign up for a bottled water service or you may
just want to risk an initial bout of ‘chilenitis’. There are no
long lasting implications and after an episode you should
become immune to some of the common bacteria. However,
if diarrhoea persists you should see a doctor.Public Toilets
Upscale restaurants and shops provide clean and modern
restrooms. However, more modest businesses may not have
toilet paper and it is always a good idea to carry your own
supply. Sewer systems in some older buildings and houses,
especially in rural areas where septic tanks are used, cannot
adequately process toilet paper. In these places, used toilet
paper should be thrown away not flushed. If there is no
wastebasket right next to the toilet, it is a sign that toilet
paper can in fact be flushed.Maids
Many middle-class and upper-class families have maids
(empleadas) or nannies ( nanas). Most Chileans use the terms
interchangeably, but technically nannies take care of the
children in addition to doing the housework. In the past,
most maids lived with the family, but today the number