Another Aspect of Chilean Culture: Machismo and Piropos

Machismo is an essential part of Latin American culture.

“Piropo” is the name for anything that guys here shout out at girls as they walk by.

My friend and I actually did a powerpoint presentation for class about machismo, piropos and the increased effect of alcohol (mainly pisco).

In fact, it’s such an integral part of Chilean culture that when I turned on the Chilean equivalent of Wheel of Fortune, the category was Piropo, and the answer was “vuelve de mis suenos y entra mi vida” which means, “come out of my dreams and into my life.”

My friend Dan and were going to drink some pisco and go down to the main street in Viña to give out some piropos, but alas, we never got the chance.

Suzy was suggesting funny ones to use.

Por ejemplo, “Señorita, no camine bajo el sol, con este calor ve que los bombones se derriten”

Ayer pasé por tu casa y me tiraste un limón, la cáscara cayó al suelo y el jugo en mi corazón.

A veces me pregunto por qué la vida es tan bella. Ahora ya lo sé: Porqué tu estas en ella.

Quien fuera patito de goma para estar en tu bañera.

Im not going to translate them because it wouldn't do them justice.

Apart from piropos, Chileans take a few things seriously: bread, mayonnaise, pisco, and the conservation of electricity.

There is a bakery on practically every corner, (flanked by liquor stores on either side, naturally), and I always had fresh bread in my house. In terms of Mayo, they put it on EVERYTHING in excessive amounts. If they took half the money they spent on mayonnaise and instead used it on electricity, I wouldn't have had to stumble around my house in the dark every night.