Two years into our South American adventure, still contemplating the meaning of “home,” I’ve found myself temporarily living in California.  The more time I’ve spent in California, the more I’ve realized that home truly is where your heart is, and my heart is with my toddler and husband back in Valdivia, Chile.  As homesick as I’ve been, my 3 week visit which morphed into a 3 month stay in California has been eye-opening.

Between, Photo Flickr by ChrisK4u

I used to find great humor in the amount of drama, and in particular the media’s pure enjoyment in reporting on political drama when I lived in Peru, Italy, and Argentina.  People and political parties were polarized, politicians said crazy things, and the resulting spectacle was even better than watching Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (I know I shouldn’t be watching it, but did you see her shoes?!)  Chile seemed quite staid by comparison.  Even when students took to the streets protesting for education reform in Chile, the news was reported in a very even-handed manner compared to the drama applied to news in these other countries.

After spending two years away from the U.S., I am now simply blown away by the way the mainstream news outlets are reporting stories in the U.S.  All news has become political, and watching the spectacle seems to have become America’s most popular pastime.  Politics, and winning at any cost has become the national sport and obsession.   Chileans still prefer the sport of soccer to politics, and I’m finding that soccer is growing on me.

Another thing that strikes me is the difference in how Chileans and Americans relate to strangers.  In Chile, strangers insert themselves into my life on a regular basis.  They tell me to wear warmer clothes, provide unsolicited parenting advice, and regularly give my toddler food without first asking permission.  This can be great or a nuisance (or a great nuisance), and initially made me very uncomfortable.  However, all of this paternalism comes from a good place, and helps me feel like others are looking out for me.

In contrast, I went for a walk a few weeks ago in California, and just my luck slipped on a patch of ice and fell like a ton of bricks right onto my tailbone.  While I was sitting for a good 5 minutes, moaning and cursing like a sailor (allowed as long as my daughter isn’t in earshot, right?), a car drove by and a security guard peered at me from across the street.  If anyone asked, I would have said that I was fine, and didn’t need any help, but no one asked!  After living in Southern Chile, it felt very strange to me that none of the onlookers did a thing, that they regarded a stranger’s fall as none of their business.  It made me feel very alone.  I haven’t yet tested this, but I have a feeling that if I were to have a bad fall in Valdivia, I’d at least receive a lecture to be more careful walking on an icy day!

Don’t get me wrong, there are aspects of both North American and South American cultures that I love and which drive me crazy.  One is not better than the other; they’re just different and it always feels to me like walking into a whole different world when I step off of the airplane onto another continent with its distinct set of rules and norms.  For other expats, tourists, and visitors to Chile from North America (and to the U.S. from Chile), I’d love to get your feedback around things that have surprised you when making the trek up north to visit friends and family.