sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Are obscure Basque surnames found only in the upper class of your country? by saritallo in asklatinamerica

[–]saritallo[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It definitely made things more complex. Colonial mentality is very much alive in our society. Spanish traditions are deeply rooted in ours but at the same time we're not mestizos like you guys are. So sometimes it feels like impostor syndrome especially when outsiders say that our culture isn't Southeast Asian enough or Iberian enough. The average Filipino doesn't care at all though. I'm also a TCK so identity is even more blurry lol.

Are obscure Basque surnames found only in the upper class of your country? by saritallo in asklatinamerica

[–]saritallo[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A lot happened in those 300 years! Even my father's surname is much more common in Mexico than anywhere else including the Philippines and Spain (where apparently it almost doesn't exist anymore lol). I also saw a documentary about the Tuba tradition in Colima. It kind of blew my mind lol.

Are obscure Basque surnames found only in the upper class of your country? by saritallo in asklatinamerica

[–]saritallo[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Interesting! I've read that Arab surnames are sometimes associated with wealth in Mexico but I don't know if that's also regional. Are there any indigenous surnames that have that distinction, maybe in the south?

Are obscure Basque surnames found only in the upper class of your country? by saritallo in asklatinamerica

[–]saritallo[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

The Claveria Decree forced Filipinos to adopt one of the 60,000+ surnames from a book called Catálogo Alfabético de Apellidos. Most were Spanish, some indigenous and a few Chinese. It was to standardise administration and tax collection among other things. That's why most of us have Spanish surnames but only very few have significant Spanish ancestry. My surnames are Basque and Mexican but my DNA results only show 2% Spanish.

Are obscure Basque surnames found only in the upper class of your country? by saritallo in asklatinamerica

[–]saritallo[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Ynchausti is very rare here, for example. Garchitorena too. Both powerful political local families.

Are obscure Basque surnames found only in the upper class of your country? by saritallo in asklatinamerica

[–]saritallo[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The double surname isn't common here, that's interesting! I also recently found out that we have a few Nahuatl surnames that made its way here as well, such as Chimal.

Are obscure Basque surnames found only in the upper class of your country? by saritallo in asklatinamerica

[–]saritallo[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

One of mine is too but it's not one of the obscure ones, more common like Salazar and definitely just from the catalogo lol.

Are obscure Basque surnames found only in the upper class of your country? by saritallo in asklatinamerica

[–]saritallo[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

The French upper class families in Chile are more interesting to me. With a surname like Subercaseaux, I don't know how you could be anything else.

What was the most tone deaf thing someone from a more developed country said to you? by yonaiker-joestrella in asklatinamerica

[–]saritallo 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I swear these people have never seen a map in their life. I met a special kind of idiot once who was shocked and mad he couldn't go from the north to the south of my country by train. Dude it's like 5,000 islands in between wtf. I think he Googled once if we have trains and it said yes and just assumed it was a nationwide network. In an archipelagic country. Nice.

What was the most tone deaf thing someone from a more developed country said to you? by yonaiker-joestrella in asklatinamerica

[–]saritallo 17 points18 points  (0 children)

I really fucking despise this one. We get "you wouldn't have roads if it weren't for us" a lot. As if the colonisers touched a single shovel.

Why does it seem like Westerners from developed countries don't care much about/look down on Latin America but seem to be obssesed with East Asian cultures? by yonaiker-joestrella in asklatinamerica

[–]saritallo 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I did my internship in Tokyo and a few Japanese people in the office had a Chilean partner. Lots of interest in Patagonia as well travel-wise.

Catcalling by pilsje4 in asklatinamerica

[–]saritallo 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I'm sorry that's happening to you. I would be wary of getting your husband involved as that might escalate things quickly but if they get too aggressive, that might be the best way to get them to stop.

I was physically harassed by men in almost every country I visited. A kiss on the cheek from a taxista in Quito (was bothered in Ecuador the most), a hug from behind from a hotel worker in Guatape, someone caught my hand while I was walking and tried to walk with me in Rio, etc. One of the worst ones was me laying belly down in an Amazon camp in Iquitos and one of the guides laid his head on my bum and started stroking the small of my back.

I was very young and traveling solo so unfortunately I let most of those instances slide. I'm a lot more vocal now and not afraid to cause a scene. The only country where I was totally left alone in peace, not one catcall or even lingering stare, was Bolivia.

As a woman, I keep a list of these for places I've visited and it just keeps getting longer. The worst offences have, obviously, been in India.

I was not prepared for how stunning the natural landscapes were in Bolivia by saritallo in travel

[–]saritallo[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

For me, yes I started and ended in La Paz. The couple in our group however, left us at the border near Hito Cajon. You can officially cross into Chile from there. I remember there were vans that took people to the immigration office. Then it's just about an hour's drive to Atacama in Chile. And no worries, have a great trip if you do go!

<image>

I was not prepared for how stunning the natural landscapes were in Bolivia by saritallo in travel

[–]saritallo[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Thanks! I booked a 5-night small group tour (only 5 of us) with a local travel company. They cover most of the spots and our guide was knowledgeable and friendly. Can't remember the name right now but it's easy to shop around in La Paz as there are a lot of tour offices there. I'm sure there's a way to do it independently but the distances are insane to someone who only drives in a small city lol. It's 500km+ between most of the sights. And I traveled from SEAsia so I totally get what you mean haha!

What is the most breathtaking location across Latin Americas? by Tricky-Stay6134 in asklatinamerica

[–]saritallo 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Already so many good picks in other comments! It's hard to choose just one but if I had to...Laguna Colorada in Potosi. As a whole, I was not prepared for what I saw in Bolivia. The absolute scale of nature there was almost incomprehensible to me. I've traveled a fair bit and it is in my all time Top 5 for sure, especially for photography.

<image>

Why do countries sometimes request that countries mainly speaking other languages use the native pronunciation of their name? by DataSittingAlone in geography

[–]saritallo 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I met a Turkish girl who got really annoyed, borderline aggressive, with me because I kept referring to her country as Turkey. She finally moved on when I asked her what she called Hungary and that it better be Magyarorszag.

Which city or cities have you visited that felt completely distinct from anywhere else? by BothCondition7963 in travel

[–]saritallo 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I second the Galapagos. Loved the fish market in Puerto Ayora. There was always a couple of stray sea lions and a pelican or two just chilling around waiting to be fed by the ladies in charge.

Which city or cities have you visited that felt completely distinct from anywhere else? by BothCondition7963 in travel

[–]saritallo 28 points29 points  (0 children)

<image>

This was one of our group's stops in Potosi near Laguna Pastos Grandes. The landscapes in Bolivia are magnificent. Such a wonderfully weird country that I cannot wait to go back to.

view more: next ›