About Wanderingexpat

Currently Lives:

Citizen of:

Some Forum Posts:

Chile: Free Volunteer Opportunities in Santiago:

I am looking for volunteer opportunities while I am here in Santiago. I have been here for a week and have three more weeks. I don't speak Spanish, well too little to make it count for anything. A few months ago in San Miguel de Allende in Mexico I volunteered feeding the hungry and making mattresses for children living in poverty so I did not need to speak the language. I would like similar opportunities here in Santiago, where Spanish is not a requirement. I have looked but can't find any opportunities to volunteer that aren't tied to money coming out of my pocket for the 'experience. I would like to freely give of my time to any organization that is not asking for money to do so. If you know of any organization that could use some free labor/help, please point me in their direction. I am glad I found this forum. Thanks!

Chile: African American Retired Marine:

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.

Chile: expat group in Santiago:

When in doubt go to Meetup.com. There are two very active expat groups on meetup right now. I am just passing through so I always check out meetup for every city in every country I am traveling to.

Date Joined:

1/3/2016

Total Posts:

3

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0.01