Flojos

I found an interesting news article online this morning and thought I'd share (although I should be working on homework). If you can read Spanish, you can find it here.

It says that 55.5% of Chileans considered Chileans to be flojos (lazy) rather than trabajadores (workers)(44%). Hahaha. I'd have to say this is true. Its not so much a I'm-going-to-sit-around-all-day-and-do-nothing sort of laziness, more of a thats-not-so-important-right-now laziness. Like sitting around for an hour chatting after lunch is over, for example. They just take their time more. If you get up earlier than you need to, its odd. Things are more slow-paced here.

The survey also found:
65.7% think that solidarity prevails over individualism; I would agree with this one also- it seems to be more of a united group of people than the US.
61.5% see Chileans as brave, courageous
Chileans are
traditional (according to 78.8% of Chileans)
conservative (according to 64.2%)
pessimists (63.5%)
liars (76%)

Hahaha. I would definitely agree with the traditional and conservative. I haven't particularly noticed pessimism, and in fact my host mom was talking today about the importance of looking on the bright side of things. And liars? Well, if they are, I must get fooled a lot because I haven't especially noticed that either.

The survey also found that Chileans have a lot of pride in the Andes and in the national figures of Pablo Neruda and Gabriela Mistral (Nobel prize winners).

About 67% know what is commemorated on September 18th, which I'm afraid might be pretty good compared to the US. In case you're wondering, it is the date of the first junta of government, basically the first government that Chile set up independent of Spain, even though the country later came under Spanish power again.

Anyway, just some info on the country. Hope I didn't bore you!