Banco de Chile

I just returned from the Banco de Chile, where I picked up my stipend payment for the first time ever. The program I am in pays a stipend every month for personal expenses. The stipend itself isn´t a whole lot, compared to what one might get in the US...but, in Chile, it is decent for a volunteer stipend.

So, I got up this morning to go to the bank. I took a collectivo, as I was kind of putzing around this morning and didn´t allow for walking time. I hadn´t a clue how long it would take to get the stipend or what problems might arise...so I wanted to get there close to 9am, when they opened.

I walk in and right away, I am reading the signs, trying to figure out which desk I was supposed to go to. The client services seemed to be the right starting place, so I stood behind the man that was being helped. I stood a comfortable distance away, seeing how I didn´t want to be in his business. ya? Well, as I am waiting, this Huaso comes up to me with a check in his hand talking to me as though he was asking me where he needed to go to deposit his check. I had to laugh to myself because, obviously, I am not from Chile and there are plenty of people in this bank that are from Chile who may know more than I know about the bank. But, by my judgement and knowledge of basic banking proceedures in the US, I pointed over to the window that said Caja and said, that might be a good choice. And, luckiy for him, there wasn´t a line.

I went back to just patiently waiting when these other men come in the door. The three men walk right up to the counter as though they think they will be the next ones to be served when, from my point of view, I was obviously waiting in line! Again, Chileans don´t wait in line. They are so incredibly impatient. So, because I didn´t want to wait any longer and because there was no way these Machistas were going to get ahead of me...I budged right back! When the guy that was being helped was done, the service guy looks at the other men and I am staring at him thinking...if you choose them over me I might have to be a bit verbally aggressive. LUCKILY, the one guy decided to be a caballero (gentelman) and say that I was here first. Thank you!

I told the Banker I was here to pick up my electronic deposit. He took my fancy Chilean Carnet identification Card, entered some numbers, printed me a check and sent me to the caja to cash it. Waa Laa! It was that simple! I couldn´t believe it!

I had to come right home after cashing the check because it was too much money to be carrying on me. I haven´t had any problems with safety or feeling like I am not safe in the streets because I say hello to just about everyone and they smile and usually say hellos back...but when I have cash on me...more than $20 (us)...I don´t like it.

A note about cashing a check in Chile. We sign our names on the back of a check, on the line that says, sign here. BUT, here in Chile, you sign it on the front. The guy at the caja told me to sign the front...in the middle perpendicular to the other writing...and I just looked at him and said...the front? He says yes. I take the check and the pen and ask again...right here? Right across the front? He looks at me again and says...yes. I say Ok...and he hands me my cash. Ok.

Alright...now i need to walk to school. It looks as though it could rain today...but it probably won´t, seeing how it has looked like it was going to rain several days in the last week and it never does. Tis the climate I guess.

Ciao!