Job Discussion Forums

[ghostdog]

If I am more interested in cultural and intellectual life than sporting or outdoor pursuits, and can live in a large city even though I would, all things being equal, prefer a smaller one, would I be more suited to Santiago or Concepcion? Also, what are the differences in costs and what is public transportation like in Concepcion?

One more consideration: any decent English-language bookshops in either city?

Thanks for any info.

[Bernie]

Hi there,

I�ve lived in both Concepcion and Santiago, and I definately prefer Santiago. That's partly because I�m a big city girl, but partly because of other reasons. However, if you really prefer smaller cities, you wouldn�t sweat about the small stuff. Anyhow...

Conce has some big pluses. It�s got great transport links, especially to the south. It�s about 4 hrs from Temuco, from which you can visit the beautiful lakes region and even take a bus to Argentina. There are at least 2 major bus terminals that I know of and have used. There is good local transport within the city and to nearby towns and beaches. There's an airport. I have been told, however, that it's always cheaper to fly from Santiago.

The cost of accommodation is variable, depending on what you are after. For a just a room (probably with use of the kitchen and living areas too) the range is about 65 000 to 120 000 pesos per month. Quality is variable and most teachers I knew were renting rooms at the high end of this scale. For an apartment I think the range is about 145 000 (plus bills ) and upwards. I knew someone who rented a one bed apt. in a good area at this price.

The university (University of Concepcion) is apparently one of the best in Chile. The university and the city as a whole also have a lot of historical and political significance too. There are lots of universities in Conce which give the city a lively vibe and provide intellectual stimulation in the form of shows and other events.

There are also some nice, leafy suburban areas, especially around the Universidad de Conce campus. There are plenty of cultural centres around town where you can take a dance course or learn to paint etc. I took up the guitar when I was there. There's a big theatre in the center of town where they hold concerts and sometimes operas. They have a foreign film every Tuesday night with cheap entry.

A lot of the interesting stuff, I found, was centred around the main campus of the U. of Concepci�n. It's a lovely area, a really beautiful campus.

I hope this helps.

[Bernie]

BTW, there is an English bookshop in Conce and at least a couple of English lending libraries housed in language institutes in the centre.

[denise]

I second what Bernie said--Concepcion does have a lot to offer. A lot of people up north (in Santiago) kinda turn their noses up at the mention of Concepcion, but it`s really quite nice. The universities (don`t know how many there are--5 or 6?) give the city a very young feel. Even if you're not into the bar and club scene, there are always lectures, forums, etc. being advertised. The yoga studio that I went to always had workshops, guest speakers, etc. Being a smaller city, it`s easier to find and get to such things in Concepcion than in Santiago. And it is a good base for seeing the southern half of the country. You can do weekend trips to Valdivia, Pucon, Villarica, etc. Any further south than Valdivia and it`ll still take a while to get there, though.

d