I landed in Santiago Chile on August 31, 2010 at 6AM, not knowing exactly what I was supposed to do. But I was comforted by the fact that I could read spanish even if I couldn't understand a word of what people were saying. Plus, other people would be on the same boat as me, I wasn't completely alone. I got in the immigration line with Kite Runner in my hand and I slowly but surely made my way to the immigration officer at the counter, only to realize that I needed to pay my foreign entry fee prior to entering this line (that I had just waited in for 30 minutes). I was directed to some counter that was obscurely placed so that no foreign visitor could every find it on first attempt. So I made my way to the hidden counter with a line that seemed to move at the pace of a snail. I absorbed myself in reading Kite Runner and assured myself that no one around me could see the tears on my face. I finally paid $140 entry fee for US Citizens to enter Chile - which was a rip off compared to the entry fee for non-U.S. citizens ($50) - and made my way back to the immigrations line.
For any one that has been to India, the ambiance at Santiago Airport was quite different. There was no noise or arguments, people were quiet and polite and moved through the line minding their own business. Arriving at the airport in India is a lot like being dropped in a cage of wild animals - survival of the fittest; except for the guarantee that everyone is going to make it out alive, whether you are the first person in line or last person.
Back to my recollection of my first few hours in Chile... As I passed through the duty free shop I heard Black Eyed Peas playing. I made my way to baggage claim, not having the slightest clue whether my suitcase would be there. But my uncertainty soon disappeared as I spotted my brown and pink suitcase with my GW Raas duffel bag just waiting in the corner for me. I'm guessing I took longer than usual to make it out of immigrations and my bag had been placed to the side. After passing through customs, I had to find the domestic flights to Arica, Chile. I was directed to the doors to the left of me where a Chilean man named Juan greeted me. He asked me where I was headed and although I was unsure of his intentions, I kindly replied "Arica, señor." Juan guided me to the elevators and of course they were not working. He then led me to the stairs and proceeded to carry my suitcase up three flights of stairs while I carried my duffel. I thought, "Chileans are so sweet, what a sweet man..." Just as soon as I finished that thought, he stuck his hand out and asked for tip. Of course, I had no Chilean money on me. He directed me to the ATM and I withdrew $20 worth of Chilean currency and I handed him two bills of 2.000 mil pesos. I later found out that I gave him $8 worth of tip for carrying my luggage and I was fooled like all the other "gringos."
I had quite some time until my next flight so I made my way over to the only comforting thing in the strange, new and exhilarating Santiago Airport...DUNKIN DONUTS - good ole Dunkin Donuts. I ordered a cafe con leche, the strongest latte of my life. And once again, the sizes of the cups just proved that Americans supersize everything. I ordered a small and the lady looked at me, holding up a cup, asking me if I wanted that size. I later found out that she gave me the standard large size which is equivalent of an American small cup. I sat down at a table, ready to enjoy my latte when I realized something from my duffel bag was dripping onto my suitcase.
JUST MY LUCK. My shampoo and conditioner had exploded inside my duffel bag soaking my shoes and my socks. The story of my life. I emptied out my duffel and moved everything to my suitcase, but then I needed a bag to put my dirty duffel bag in because I wasn't just about to throw away my precious G-dub raas duffel. I approached the employee trying to ask her for a bag and she looked at me as if I was speaking gibberish. She called her manager who could speak English and he gave me a bag. (ENCOUNTER NUMBER 1 - feeling like an idiot for not being able to say something as simple as bag - bolsillo plástico).
I checked in for my domestic flight and still had over two hours to kill, plus my gate had not been listed yet. I found a cyber zone with computers and internet that I could use for free, but instead I made myself comfortable on the black leather couches there and continued to BBM. After a short time my crackberry battery was low so I made my way through security which is incredibly more lenient than the states. You don't have to take shoes, jackets or anything off nor do you have to remove electronics from your carry on and you are allowed to bring food in. FOOD - that hit the spot :)
Part Two - TO BE CONTINUED.
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