Chile

In general, Chileans are known to be initially reserved when meeting new people, but naturally friendly.

Respect and common courtesy are highly valued in Chile, but punctuality is not considered a priority. This is because Chileans believe individual people are more important than schedules.

The importance of school attendance, however, is stressed. School-aged children found in public during school hours can be taken into custody by the police. Chilean dress is heavily influenced by trends in Europe and the United States, and most Chileans consider themselves Americans (that is, of the Americas).

One cultural difference your student will need to adjust to is the meal schedule. In Chile, lunch is the largest meal of the day, usually eaten a little later in the afternoon. Chileans then typically eat a lighter meal between 8 and 10 p.m.

Fun Fact: The oldest mummies in the world, the Chinchorro mummies, are located in Chile.