CultureGrams from ProQuest helps researchers and students of all ages broaden their understanding of the world and its peoples.
This special page includes in-depth cultural information about Chile (2010 report) and Haiti (2010 report), two countries who have sustained serious damage after a pair of devastating earthquakes as 2010 starts.
CultureGrams (trials + 2 minute video) is an online information resource designed for use by schools and universities, relief and humanitarian agencies, NGOs, businesspeople, diplomats, and even government employees who travel abroad.
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Chile stretches along 2,672 miles (4,300 kilometers) of South America's western coast, but its average width is just more than 112 miles (180 kilometers).
More than one out of every three Chileans lives in the Santiago metropolitan region.
Manjar, made by boiling an unopened can of sweetened condensed milk for hours, is a favorite bread spread and baking ingredient.
Chile's Land & Climate
Because of its north-to-south length, Chile has many different climates and landscapes. The climate ranges from arid desert in the north to temperate in the central region and subarctic in the south. The landscape includes deserts, swamps, forests, the Andes Mountains, beautiful lakes, beaches, rich agricultural regions, volcanoes, and a wide variety of plants and animals.
Chile has been called the "Switzerland of South America" for its natural beauty. The country is subject to relatively frequent earthquakes and resulting tidal waves and tsunamis. Because Chile lies in the Southern Hemisphere, its seasons are opposite those in North America: summer is between December and March.
Local Languages
Spanish, called Castellano, is the official language. But as in all South American countries, some terms common to Chile do not have the same meaning elsewhere. Chileans commonly add a suffix (-ito) to words and names to form diminutives and to show affection. For example, Chaoito is a "small good-bye," while Carlitos means "little Carlos" or "dear Carlos." English is taught in many schools and is understood by some Chileans with more formal education. Small minority groups also speak German (in southern Chile) and Mapuche.
Diet
Many national dishes are prepared with fish, seafood, chicken, beef, beans, eggs, and corn. Different regions feature different foods and dishes, but some favorites include empanadas de horno (meat turnovers with beef, hard-boiled eggs, onions, olives, and raisins), pastel de choclo (a baked meal of beef, chicken, onions, corn, eggs, and spices), cazuela de ave (chicken soup), ensalada chilena (cold tomato-and-onion salad), and seafood casseroles and stews.
On rainy days, children enjoy eating sopaipillas, which are made from a deep-fried pumpkin dough sprinkled with sugar. Manjar, made by boiling an unopened can of sweetened condensed milk for many hours, is a favorite bread spread and baking ingredient. Beverages usually are served at room temperature.
CultureGrams Photo Gallery: Haiti Images taken in Haiti prior to the 2010 earthquake and aftershocks. (Click the sides of the images to navigate.)
Most Haitians are descendants of Black African slaves who came to the island in the 16th century.
When entering a room or joining a group, a person is expected to physically greet each individual.
Most people lack refrigeration and so shop daily for perishable foods.
Haiti's Land & Climate
Haiti covers 10,714 square miles (27,750 square kilometers) of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Just smaller than Maryland, Haiti is comprised of two peninsulas split by the Gulf of Gonave. The mountainous, nearly barren island of Gonave rests in the center of the gulf. Haiti's portion of Hispaniola is significantly more mountainous than the rest of the island, with successive mountain chains running east to west on both peninsulas. The mountains are punctuated by hills and valleys, where most people live and work.
Haiti's climate is warm and only mildly humid. Frost, snow, and ice do not form anywhere—even at the highest elevations. The average temperature in the mountains is 66F (19C), while at Port-au-Prince it is 81F (27C). Spring and autumn are rainy, whereas December through February and June through August are dry. July is the driest summer month. The hurricane season lasts from June to October.
Local Languages
Haitian Creole is the language of daily conversation. French is used in government and business. Only educated adults or secondary school students speak French.
Haitian Creole is a unique mixture of French and African languages. It is similar to Creole spoken on some other Caribbean islands, such as Guadeloupe and Martinique. Haitian Creole is traditionally an oral language, though it had a written form even in the 19th century. Use of written Creole began to spread after the 1940s with the introduction of adult literacy programs. People are increasingly interested in English, which is heard on television broadcasts from the United States. Also, because many Haitian families have a relative in the United States, English is used more often than in the past.
Diet
Haitians usually eat rice and beans every day, although a main meal usually also includes meat, salad, and a vegetable. Rice and corn are staple grains. Spicy foods are most popular. Piman zwazo (small hot pimentos) and garlic are often added to dishes.
Meat is marinated in sauces with ingredients such as sour orange juice, lemon juice, and hot peppers. Pork is the most commonly eaten meat, but Haitians also eat goat, chicken, guinea pig, and seafood (fish, shrimp, conch, crab, etc.). Meat-filled pastries are favorite snacks.
The Arts
Music and dancing are integral to everyday life. In cities, disco, reggae, and konpa (a contemporary version of big band music played in the United States during the 1940s) are popular. Meringue, a mixture of African rhythms and European music, is also popular. Urban residents enjoy a variety of North American music.
Haitian artists and sculptors are known for their unique images and striking colors. One popular art form is sculpture made from cut, pounded, and painted scrap metal. Tap-taps—brightly painted pickup trucks fitted with benches and covered tops—are both a means of transportation and traveling art. Many artists choose Haitian history or daily life for their subjects. Nature is also an important theme. Painted screens, papier-mache art, wood carvings, basketwork, pottery, and painted wooden boxes are prominent crafts.
