Socialising 75When you are ready to leave
mention that you must be going,
but do not jump up and bolt out
the door. The first time you state
your intention it is merely a
warning that you will be leaving
soon. Conversation should
continue for about 10 to 15
minutes longer. After such time,
you can stand up, state that you
really must be going and ask for
your coat. You may, however,
find it difficult to disengage
yourself from the conversation.
There is a running joke in Chile
that friends continue to chat
even after the car has pulled
away and is driving down the
street. If you have your own
car, it would be appropriate
and greatly appreciated if you
offered a ride to anyone without
one, regardless of whether it is
on your way home or not. If you
do not have a way home, don’t
be surprised if someone you just
met offers you a ride. This is part of Chilean hospitality.
These gestures are really quite nice and attest to a more
relaxed form of visiting that might be lost in the hectic pace
of other societies. Greeting everyone individually allows
you to take a moment and learn people’s names and how
they know the host. You then feel more comfortable and
can enjoy everyone’s company. Mentioning that you need
to leave before you actually do, lets the host know that you
are having a great time and need to leave but find it hard
to be pulled away. Susan returned to the United States and
felt slightly insulted when in the middle of a seemingly good
time her guests said they had to leave, jumped up and were
out the door in three minutes.
Don’t Look The
Other Way
On the surface, Chileans may
appear to be more outgoing than
perhaps your fellow countrymen.
Once you have met someone,
they will go out of their way to
greet you if you happen upon
each other on the street or at
another function. We know of
many Americans who have pre-
tended not to notice someone
for fear of becoming involved in
a long-drawn-out conversation.
Chileans, like all Latinos, do just
the opposite and will track you
down to say hello and ask how
you are doing, even if it is just for
a second. Susan once was sitting
in a running car waiting to pick
up her husband when a friend
passed by. Instead of just waving,
he walked all the way over to the
car just to greet her with a kiss
on the cheek and say hello. Yes,
it can be time-consuming, but it
is a very nice gesture that makes
you feel well liked, respected
and appreciated. If you run into
someone you know, you’d be
better off in the long run stopping
and chatting than being caught
trying to avoid recognition.