Like most Chilean families, lunch was the biggest meal of the day, usually eaten around two or three in the afternoon. While I was always already starving by the time it hit noon, I embraced the new timing by helping out in the kitchen, chopping onions for the zapallo relleno (stuffed squash), mashing ripe paltas (avocados) and setting the table on the patio.
Because it was summer, everyone was really relaxed, spending most of their time reading, working on house projects and lounging around, taking advantage of the break before work was to start again at the beginning of March. I, however, was still working remotely for my previous job and frantically looking for a place to live.
You’ve probably never rented your own apartment before, but there are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a place. Looking for an apartment can be exciting, but doing so in a new countrywhile using a second language adds quite a thick layer of anxiety to an already complex and time consuming process. In the U.S., I am more familiar with neighborhoods, average prices for rent and what to expect when signing a contract. In Chile, however, I didn’t know these things! I didn’t even know where to start looking! Sometimes moving abroad helps you realize what knowledge you take for granted. Luckily, with the help of some friends and Sofia’s parents, though, I learned what websites to look for open rooms, what to expect from the landlord and whether or not it is appropriate to negotiate prices.
After visiting probably ten different apartments, I settled on a little apartment with a Chilean girl my age named Trini.
