In a recent report on Corruption in the world, Chile scored an excellent 25 which was the best score of any other South American or Latin American country (a tie with Uruguay). According to “Transparency International”, a privately funded, non partisan global organization, Chile scored almost as well as United States (19) and United Kingdom (17). Other South American neighboring countries such as Brazil, Columbia, and Peru scored 75 while the ultra corrupt Argentina scored an appalling 106. This is not surprising in a country that is listed on the Tier 2 Watch List three years running. One expat hot spot, Panama, scored 84 which ties it with Guatemala. Costa Rica scored 43 and Spain 32. Mexico is another Latin American country that scored a very low 89.

As an English speaking foreigner living in Chile the most common question I get from Chileans is “Why did you move to Chile?” and the most common answer I give is total Spanish language immersion. After that opening statement I then give all the other reasons for choosing Chile. My two children speak Spanish as if they were born here and English as if they were born in the U.S. Arriving to South America at the ages of 4 and 8 we used the highly technical sink or swim method and sent them to the only private school that had openings at that moment. So why Chile and not other Spanish speaking countries? That is another story but to quickly summarize Chile has great infrastructure, excellent universities, a stable economy, the lowest corruption of any other South American country and it is beautiful. So why not experience total Spanish language immersion by relocation to Chile.

Well, not much changed in the real estate market in Chile this year; and that is likely what  is so news worthy for the 2009 to 2010 year, considering the international economic crisis. Although Real Estate prices in Chile did decline or stay flat, they in no way suffered the same collapse as other expat or retirement destinations such as Panama, Spain, or Costa Rica. Even the other neighbors in South America just over the boarder in Argentina took more of a hit to property prices. We will take a look at the most notable Changes in Southern Chile, and Chile in general this year.

Some of the most important questions we receive from families relocating to Chile with Children are about the quality of schools. We thought it appropriate then to ask an expert about schools in Chile. We found an expat mother ( whom will remain anonymous for obvious reasons ), if she would contribute her thoughts on the quality of schools and experience with private schools in Temuco, Chile. Many of the Temuco schools discussed, also have branches across Chile and should serve as a fairly good sample of what to expect from private schools in Chile.