Party at the Arab College – Viña Del Mar, Chile

The word: “College” in Spanish can be roughly equivalent to an American High School which prepares kids for the University. A Prep School. For post-high school, the Spanish use: “Universidad” (University).

These kids are well-to-do; and Christian. 99% of Chile’a Arabs are Christian.

Over half would be of Palestinian extraction – descendants of Palestinians who started immigrating to Chile around 1890, over 120 years ago. Most are second-, third-, and fourth-generation Chileans and are NOT native speakers of Arabic, but rather Spanish. Most are only part-Arabic. However, the Arabs in Chile are a very well off ethnic group and wield political power above their numbers in the population.

It is certain that they learned some Arabic in their Prep School.