If you have served overseas in non-European nations you will be able to survive the sometimes seeming lack of rules. However, things aren't always what they seem. Of the South American nations, Chile is among the most orderly and well functioning democracies.

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I lived for 12 years in Southern Chile, near town of Panguipulli and in that time, I saw maybe two Africans in town; not very many in the small city of Valdivia either. You would be a curiosity--treated neither with friendliness nor hostility, but respect or maybe just ignored. Do you have a sig other? To find one in Chile, except maybe in Santiago, would be very difficult. Mapuches are the dark-skinned people in Southern Chile--and they are treated mostly with intolerance. I would advise thinking carefully about moving to Chile; what about Costa Rica, Panama or other countries that had African slave populations and therefore a larger black population? There are a number of Asians in Chile, but very few. I would think you would feel very isolated.

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I'm not trying to discourage you. In fact I had plans to move to Chile. But everything I've seen on Chilean tv and read on line on Chilean newspapers recently, has me still thinking about it. And FYI black people nowadays are not rare to find. I suggest you watch videos on youtube under something like" dominicanos en Chile" or Emigrantes en Chile. And you'll see that you'll probably be confused with either coming from the Dominican Republic, Colombia or Haiti in view of the fact that they've been entering the country legally or illegally by the thousands in the last few years. And those people are being treated fair by the Chileans as they see them as hard working people taking jobs that some Chileans don't want to do any more because they're low paying jobs. But unless you're fluent already, I'd recommend you start polishing up your Spanish. One of the videos that I was watching the other day was a newscast from the Chilean tv. And talked about believe or not, 70,000 Spaniards having entered the country recently in view of the financial collapse in Spain and the economic boom in Chile. So, all those thousands of people coming from Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Haiti and now Spain are going to make real estate to get even more expensive in chile. And you can also expect the crime rate to go up. Because they'll be lots of bad apples among those people. Antofagasta is a city has seen some turmoil as locals feel invaded by foreigners who are not exactly welcome. I'm retired from the service too. And spent most of my time stationed in some of those countries. According to one of the videos I watched, Colombians and Venezuelans find Chileans to be rude and not very friendly. So, if you speak Spanish watch those videos so you know what to expect. Good luck.

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Thank you very much for your very extensive reply. I have very happy to hear from you. I will take your advice. It is really something to think about. Right not I am living in Republica Dominicana and I own some land. I see the realestate going up, but they have a huge criminal element here. Really looking to be in a safe secure environment. My spanish is really good, not yet fluent. More than able to hold expansive conversations. Gracias

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Thank you for your reply. I have found that Africans and African Americans are treated totally different. I am also not looking to work. My retirement is about 7k per month. As with most latin American Countries Sociecomics is an important variable. If there are White Americans there, why would I feel isolated? Cultrally White Americans "show alot less racism" when I am overseas. Thank you very much for the Reply I will take your information seriously

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Hello,

I am an African-American on a 12 month/12 country retirement trip. I retired in June. I find I am always treated with respect but there always appears to be a strong sense of curiosity about me. I am never invisible because everywhere I go, not just in Chile, all eyes are on me. I think it is my hair that draws such curiosity and I travel solo quite often. Here in Chile and also in Panama, Belize and Costa Rica, my skin tone is so close to the locals they don't know what to make of me and I kind of like it like that. It's rather entertaining to me. I try not to talk too much so I can keep them wondering. When I do have to speak, I always get tons of smiles when they hear me speak English, and almost always I am asked where I am from. Then they want to talk to me. That's tough because my Spanish sucks so I speak in Spanglish........but mostly English. I don't tie friendship to a color so I rarely have problems making friends no matter where I am. Having lived in Japan, Germany and Italy for the past sixteen years I think it is easier for me to adjust to the expat lifestyle out here on my own without the support of my employer. What I have to say is that I have been to nearly 60 countries and I find it sad and pathetic that in most cultures people of darker skin are looked upon as less. How sad is that? Even within the Japanese culture, (a culture that I loved) some of the lighter Japanese look down upon the darker Japanese. They wear sunscreen and hats and do just about anything to avoid getting darker as it is associated with the working class. I actually found this out from my Japanese friends. So I guess the bottom line is that I don't worry about how I will be treated because my attitude, my smile and my inherent swagger (ha ha ha) works for me every time. I hope I answered your question although I don't "live" here I think the vibe is good. I have three more weeks so if the vibe changes I'll come back to this forum to let you know. I also have to say that I am giving you a female perspective. But I honestly think the same would hold true for a male African American. Also, I agree and have seen proof that African-Americans are treated different from Africans everywhere I have traveled, especially in Italy where I lived for five years. Thank goodness God is color-blind. :) Hope this helps. Ciao.

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