D.I.E

Describe- All over Chile there is a simple way of greeting people. Whether you know them well or are meeting for the first time, you greet one another with a kiss on the cheek and big hug. They will speak to you and introduce themselves if they don’t already know you and then use that as their way of engaging you into a conversation. This was used in all areas, whether my host family, the school students, our Chilean teachers, or people we met along the way.

Interpret- The Chileans have this greeting within their culture and is a standard way to greet someone. Odd looks were given if I didn’t go in for a hug or if I didn’t initiate it because it is an expectation that a hug and kiss are given. This hug and kiss is a way to warm up easily to one another and makes for an easy way to enter a conversation or meeting. I see it as something to present yourself as someone who is caring and open to talk and helps create and inviting feel to all of the people we met.

Evaluate- I thought it was extremely awkward in the beginning and thought I would get used to it after 2.5 weeks, but I absolutely did not. I think it reflects my own comfort because it takes a lot for me to be touchy with people, and I normally have to get really close to them first before showing that side of myself. So, it was definitely a shock and something that forced me out of my comfort zone to hug and kiss people I had never met before and had no connection yet with them. Although it was out of my comfort zone it really forced me to be more open and helped me to warm up to people faster than I would normally at home.