How to make friends in Antofagasta and northern Chile
· Callumbra
Antofagasta and the cities of the north welcome many people who arrive for work, especially in mining, often on shift rotations and far from their families. Building a circle of friends in those conditions is hard, but it can be done.
If you work shifts
Your days off are your chance. Pick one or two activities you can repeat on every break, instead of waiting until you have «normal» free time. Many sports and outdoor groups adapt to different schedules.
Activities to meet people
- Beach sports and walks along the coast.
- Group trips to the desert and the region's natural areas.
- Gyms and group classes: seeing each other at the same time every week makes it easier to chat.
- Groups of people who came from other regions or other countries: they share the same experience.
Stay in touch with your people
Being far away doesn't mean being alone. A video call with your family or friends on shift days helps a lot; and meeting new people online can also make the nights easier.
If you meet up with someone you met online
- Talk several times first, ideally on video.
- Choose a public place for the first meetup and tell someone.
- Get there and back on your own.
A way to start
On Callumbra you can talk on video with new people from your phone, with nothing to install, on your days off or after your shift. There's a country filter (not a city one). It's 18+ only.