Concepcion, Chile

Concepcion, Chile

Region Bío Bío
Province Concepción

Population (City and Commune) 223,574

Purpose: Installation of the first batch of Virteasy Dental V2 / VR simulators (https://www.virteasy.com)

Diary

Visa Process: Super easy for a UK citizen. Other than all the COVID stuff. Had to submit my vaccine certificate which took a few weeks to get semi-validated to permit me entering for 30 days. Also had to proof I had COVID insurance, get a PCR test (not the rapid-PCR test that I took) and the like. However, one I was through I was admiringly appreciating all their process. They already had it fully under control. Most of the time governments ask for information to appear in control, but it’s bullshit. Chile was shooting straight. They organised COVID tests on arrival, results available online. They followed up with an email every day asking for a COVID update. Someone messaged me on WhatsApp to confirm everything. They got this down. It’s the only place I’ve seen like this so far.

Arrival

As per the last time, the flights were a pain in the arse. It’s the only time I check-in my luggage, because there’s no much choice with all the changes and it’s the only time my bags get lost on route.

The silver lining is I catch up on a year’s worth of film releases during all the flights and when my baggage gets lost, I get paid to go shopping.

Getting to Work

It was touch and go. I arrived in Concepcion without the simulators having cleared customs. As the days passed, nothing happened. The company which organised delivery was absolutely useless beyond belief.

Eventually the distributor paid to release the simulators. It’s not cheap.

From that moment on, all was good. Setup was smooth, I’m becoming well practiced on it after: Italy. Pakistan. India. One after the other.

I love Chile. It’s a place that takes healthy food seriously; lots of no added sugar options, fresh fruit and veg, good regulations. Then, on the flip side, crazy patisseries everywhere. Some of the most indulgent stuff imaginable. The contrast is amazing.

The Place

I genuinely love Concepcion. I’m tempted to move here and learn Spanish. I only ever felt that way going to Montpellier in France. So I moved there and learnt French.

Stay tuned.