Before setting off, we had some preconceptions about what it would be like living in a van in a foreign country. Some were confirmed, some weren't, and there were some surprises.

Specifically South America

1. There is no "stealth"

I mean, we're obviously both gringoes, but we had hoped that the older, local van with Chilean plates would help us blend in. It turns out that everywhere we want to go, other #vanlifers want to go....everyone knows this is a camper.

In General

1. Things are really never clean or dry.

You live in your mudroom, and drying things takes space you don't have!

2. You'll come to appreciate some really little things.

Like a parking site with both water and electricity, or a good wifi connection you can pick up from the street.

3. You spend a lot more time doing chores.

In a house, you might go grocery shopping once or twice a week. In a van, with little storage space and even less refrigeration, it's more like once a day. You have to clean up every day, and good organization is everything.

4. You have to keep track of a lot more.

What's my battery level at? I should park in the sun to keep the panels going. How much clean water do I have? How long have I been doing dishes? Don't want the gray water to overflow In a city: make sure to go to the bathroom after dinner or while shopping, since there aren't any public facilities around.