South America has it's own vibe, the problem with people is that they COMPARE it to where they're from and if you're going to do that then you're going to be unhappy with it all.
A lot of South America is dangerous, you can't do what you want, when you want, wherever you want - you have to get to know the lie of the land and know which places are safe and which aren't.
People are in the main, happy-go-lucky, easily to befriend but then things don't get done or done to a manner not of your satisfaction - or one big pet peeve of foreigners is the atrocious timekeeping of the locals - who hate to be kept on 'La Hora Ingles'
You'll get ripped off there even if you look like a local but don't speak like one - the price goes up as soon as you open your mouth - it's annoying as shit but this goes back to ignorance and a lack of civic education amongst a lot of people - more and more (educated) local people are starting to voice their frustrations against their fellow citizens and their lack of civic education - there is a lack of social intelligence - which stunts social development and that carries on over to actual economic development.
The problem with it is that it CAN look like Europe or North America in some places but it just simply isn't - even Argentina, Uruguay and southern Brazil are like this - the people think and act the bloody same as they do in Colombia or Venezuela.
I think we're going to see the biggest shift towards prosperity for Latin America within this century - especially Pacific Coastal nations such as Peru, Chile, Panama, Colombia etc - but they'll never be first world ever - they will be on par with Thailand, Malaysia and Taiwan - eventually - even though those countries have been independent or been in existence for a few decades and most of Latin America have been independent for over 200 years
but even when it gets there - the people will still be the same - it will still be dangerous, workmen won't give a shit, stuff won't work AND it will be expensive and people will still turn up four hours late for an appointment.
If you're thinking of going there - take it for what it is - just like you would with going to Asia - they do things different - no use getting angry at it all - it will take time to adjust.
There are lots of good things about living there of course but that's another post.
