Learning about general logistics

The past few days have been very informative, and it's crazy to think we have been here almost a week. This post is about what we are learning about every day necessities.

Grocery stores: There are plenty in the city - from small corner convenient type stores (one is called "Big John" and I keep wondering why they didn't just say "Juan Grande") to huge groceries (one even owned by Walmart called Lider).  The Jumbo is a huge chain that I'm frequenting that I would rival any grocery store in the states.  In addition, it is similar to Target, in that it has lots of household items, including clothes and baby stuff as well as electronics like TVs, but definitely less so.  The good news? They sell lots of chocolate.

Diapers:  Size G diapers in Pampers are size 4 in the states.  On the package they say G, but when you open them, they have the "4" on the back of the diaper just like in the US.  I was surprised to see this and wish they would have just put it on the package so I didn't have to convert Sadie's weight to kilos. What I'm still trying to find are night diapers... more to come on that.

Eating an early dinner with a toddler:  Everyone eats dinner here late, and restaurants typically don't even open until 8.  This is difficult when your child's bedtime is at 7 or 730.  The advice I have received and through our limited experience here are to frequent the restaurants in hotels since they are open all the time.  There are also quite a few cafes that sell salads, sandwiches and the like that are open for early dinner.  There are also apparently a lot of companies that do delivery options from a plethora of restaurants at all times of the day, but I haven't tried that yet.  Sounds like a good option!  Tonight we went to the restaurant in the W Hotel, called Coquinaria.  It was pretty good and great ambiance - Steve compared it to Kramer Books in DC with fewer books and more cooking supplies.

 

Hospitals:  While I haven't gone myself yet, I have heard by many that the best two are Clinica Las Condes and Clinica Alemana.  The latter of which someone said was Chile's Mayo Clinic.  Both are apparently world renown, but I'll judge for myself when I take the tours.  The best part about both are that there are specific departments dedicated to catering to international patients.  You simply email the address on the websites and within 24 hours someone gets back to you.  I have had this quick turnaround with both hospitals, and both places offering to help make appointments, find the right physicians who speak English, etc.  Clinica Alemana does charge a fee for this service, but Clinica Las Condes does not. So worth it when I'm not fluent in the language! 

Sadie's latest: Last night I noticed the 4 canines coming through (FINALLY!), so she has been a little cranky, poor girl.  However, she is starting to talk much more and recognize things and their names.  Her newest words are bus and bird (both mostly just b sounds), but she gets so excited when she sees them.  Best part of the day? When she demanded to eat peanut butter by the spoonfuls straight from the AlGood PB jar.  Yes, I spoil her.  She is in front of her favorite cabinet in the kitchen (that's empty), which she loves to climb in and out of and play peek a boo.  Pretty adorable.