Food & Clothing:
Chilean cuisine varies with the ecosystem as one travels north to south and from mountain to sea. The wide range of international cuisines available in Santiago adds yet more choices. Try a pastel de choclo (a pie of chicken, corn, onions, and olives) on a hot day by the coast, or kuchen (a fruity flan of German origin) from the cold south. A wide variety of beef dishes (often served with eggs), along with various soups and stews (chupes and curantos), are also available, as are perhaps the world's most delicious avocados.
It should come as no surprise that a country with over 25,000 miles of coastline enjoys an abundance of seafood. From ceviches of clams or sea bass to caldillo de congrio (eel soup) to ostiones a la parmesana (scallops broiled in butter and cheese) to chupe de locos (abalone bread pudding), Chilean chefs and home cooks are masters of their aquatic cuisine.
Wine lovers will be familiar with Chile's world class offerings, and others enjoy licuados (milk shakes, often with fruit), juices, and teas. Pisco, a Chilean brandy, is popularly consumed in a pisco sour with sugar, lemon juice, and egg whites.
Santiago breakfasts tend to be small and simple: a cup of coffee or tea and maybe a slice of toast or a fruit.
Lunch is traditionally eaten between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM and many restaurants offer a menú. This is a set lunch of two or three different options that will consist of a soft drink, bread, salad, a main dish and desert, and is quite inexpensive. A regular menu is also available from which you can choose, but it's more expensive.
Many people in Santiago and Chile enjoy once, or tea, allowing them to hold off until supper which is usually quite late -- if you go out to eat before 10:00 PM the restaurants will be nearly empty.
The maximum tip given by most Chileans at a restaurant is 10%.
Although the water in Santiago is safe, it contains microorganisms that your system may not be accustomed to. It is advisable to drink bottled water if you will be visiting for a short period or, if you plan on staying for a length of time, to adjust slowly to the water. While on the street, drink bottled water. It is similarly not advisable to eat food cooked on the street.
Participants are responsible for their own meals.
Santiago has a seasonal climate, so be prepared to wear shorts and t-shirts in the spring and summer, and warm jackets and sweaters in the fall and winter. A dependable umbrella will come in handy during the rainy season, as will a lighter jacket for spring evenings and fall days. Note that winter sees the need for comfortably warm clothes that can be worn inside and out (central heating is almost nonexistent in Chile - home owners usually use small propane heaters that can be wheeled around the house but are not very efficient). And don't forget alpine ski clothes!
Teachers should be prepared to dress professionally while working. This means dress shoes; nice slacks or skirts; collared shirts, sweaters, or nice blouses. While it is rare for Teachers to wear suits, some of your students will, and certainly many language schools have dress codes that don't permit jeans or athletic shoes. At the least, males will find that having a few ties with them can be an advantage.