Walking the streets of Santiago

Ever been outside your country and realize that you notice things that you have never ever considered in your own home city/country?

For example, walking down a sidewalk. I never realized that there is a nationalized pattern to public walking. Being a pedestrian in Chicago means that you walk quickly, headphones in and with a purpose. Heels, flip-flops or running shoes on the Lakefront Path and yet, there aren't confused pedestrians or joggers. Even bikes can navigate with purpose along the popular path. Visit New York? Walking rules are similar.

Chicagoans move slightly to the side if someone wants to pass them. They look both ways before making a zig-zag across the sidewalk. If you change direction, you are mostly aware of not running into another person. Crossing the street? Stay "right." We follow the Maritime rules when it comes to head-on pedestrian traffic. Maybe its Midwest manners or survival in the concrete jungle. All I care about is the fact that strangers on the sidewalks are mindful of space. I have never considered US public sidewalk spaces as safe, or comforting. Until these past few days.

That's it! Spatial awareness.

I cannot figure out how spatial awareness works on the public sidewalks of Santiago. People walk on the left, on the right, straight down the middle. Groups of people walk in a straight line across the sidewalk path, straight toward me, see me walking toward them, and don't make space.  Maritime rules do not apply here. I have to move out of the way. Is it because I am blonde (which I am not)?  When walking in the same direction, people don't look behind them before stopping or crossing through others. Pushing is involved. Shoot, bikes don't even say "on your left."

Chilean walking patterns are sporadic and if you can't figure out how join the flow, you will get run over by a 5'2" grandma. I have been wracking my brain over this for a few days. A few theories:

• Santigunos walk like drunk people. Not in a straight line at all 

• Talking on a cell phone gives you the right to walk a sine curve on the sidewalk (math joke…)

• There is a GIANT national game of chicken being played, and I wasn't invited. Someone, people are keeping track of how many people they have run off the sidewalk and are tracking their scores in a national data center. Maybe that is why google came to Chile? 

• The slower one walks, the more of a right they have to space on a sidewalk. So, for a fast-paced USofA city walker that I am, (thanks, Chicago) I have no right-of-way. 

My vote? It's a giant game of Tetrus and I am the lone piece, falling, not knowing where I fit best or how to rotate to orient my fall. 

Despite my frustration with simply walking tranquila down the street, I appreciate the gorgeous weather. …. who am I kidding? Why can't they walk like me - stay to the right, be cautious of your change in direction, and don't take up the whole width of a sidewalk. 

:)