College daughter wil likely be spending 6 months in Santiago as part of study-abroad. I know absolutely nothing about Chile - could some one give me a brief description of what life is like for a regular person living in or near Santiago - things like what type of housing, safety, does everyone drive a car, safety, what people do for entertainment/fun, safety, transportation system, safety.

Thanks.

Chile is a modern country and the safest in South America. Santiago is a large city and has the usual petty crime,although less than many cities in the northern hemisphere.

A better, and more updated, link:
http://www.allsantiago.com/

We felt very safe in Santiago walking, taking cabs, and the metro. The people are very kind and helpful. If my child were going to South America to study, Santiago would be my choice.

I spent 2 months studying abroad in Santiago about 2 years ago. Absolutely loved it. I did not need a car, as the metro and cabs were fine to get around the city. The bus system had problems, but living so close to the metro, I did not ride a bus. I lived in a "residencia" which was a dorm-like building with shared bathrooms and a large kitchen in the basement. It was in Providencia, a mid to upper class part of the city and I felt safe. I was about a 10 min walk to the metro and then about a 15 min ride to the universities (Universidad de Chile, Catolica). One person lived with a native, and he preferred living with other students, but others that have gone stayed with a host family and enjoyed their time.

Thank you - this is helpful. She would be doing a home-stay with a host family in Santiago and attending one of the 2 universities, taking classes with regular Chilean students. She has done a fair amount of research and agrees with poster above who would pick Santiago as the preferred destination in South America. She wants a total immersion in Spanish language and local culture prior to returning to US for her final year and a half in college.

There are many more universities in Santiago than just two. It depends which ones her university has agreements with. Different faculties can be in different parts of the city as well.

Sorry for my ignorance - of course in a city of that size there would be more than 2 universities. This is all very new to me - and her school makes all the arrangements anyway. I am just being a nervous mother.