While many have endorsed EE or Central Europe, let me tell you something about Chile.
First of all, nearly half of the skinny nation's (2600 miles long) population is in the capital city of
Santiago. Or maybe only 40% - depending on the census. 14 to 16 million total (ergo 4 to 7 million in S). And it is one of the few in SA gaining population, mostly from neighboring countries. Chile is perhaps the newest member of the OECD - a globalist outfit (YES), but one which is sort of the club for the developed world.
Both of these facts speaks well to its desirability! And around 10% of the population speaks English.
Gaining residency takes about 3 to 4 months. Officially, it is up to 6 - but I hear the former is the norm. (And going through a lawyer is best.)
Once you have that, you can visit nearby MERCOSUR (spell?) countries on that document alone. If you wish to leave, you need to either revisit yearly or else file with the local Chilean Embassy for up to 4 years. After that, you can apply for citizenship.
Expats can either enter Chile on a tourist visa and then look for employment and apply for a temporary residence permit (valid for a year), or they can arrange a work visa prior to their arrival with a firm offer of employment from a Chilean company (normally valid for two years).
I'm told that Las Condes West of Santiago is the richest neighborhood or "commune", and nearby is the one with most of the foreign embassies, Providencia.
Close to the center but towards the west - served by SAs largest and newest metro - is Barrio Italia, a neighborhood of once newer large mansions, since redeveloped into desirable smaller hubs of shops, cafes, and pubs, and flats. I'm told that this might be my style!
Chile is a young nation with old roots, because - unlike Brazil, Venezuela, or Argentina and Columbia - it had no outlet to the Atlantic. In the middle of the last century, Santiago grew from 1 (in 1940) to 2 million (in 1960). And it's seen a great deal of growth since then!
About 70 miles away is Valparaiso (population c. 800,000), with a bay focus so lovely it has been called 'Little San Francisco' because of the similar wandering hilliness.
The mountains, of course, are west of Santiago, reached in only 90 minutes to 2 hours - in other words, much like Denver in the USA, only with opposite directions.
![[Image: Santiago_en_invierno.jpg]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/Santiago_en_invierno.jpg)
The view East from the financial center of Santiago
The climate is warm in the summers, 20 to 30C, and 15 to 20C in winter, and only the coldest night in winter reach freezing temps.
Beaches and desert climates are only some 7 hours to the North, at places like La Serena, population 400,000.
At any rate, the only downside is smog in Santiago valley in winter from temperature inversions.
I hear that Chile is a very affordable step up from central American nations like Panama and Costa Rica, in quality of life and diversity of opportunities. The nation seeks to grow! Thus, overall, there are a lot of win-wins in my Chile outlook!
Why not check it out?
Quote: (12-19-2016 05:58 AM)IronShark Wrote:
South America or Eastern Europe?
Folks,
I did a search on the forum and really couldn't find anything about it. I know many of us (including me) are sick and tired of the rat race in the West (specially Western Europe and North America). And we eventually want to make a move and live in countries which fit better to our values.
I personally have visited both Eastern Europe and South America. Both of them have their pros and cons.
Where do you go if you want to start a new life?
Any ideas? And why?
