As a long time fan, first time poster to Dr1 I have noticed many threads on unfortunate things that has happened to expats and tourist in DR. Being a season traveler to DR as put me in the stereotypical mind set that most Dominicans are out to take advantage on foreigners, until my last trip Jun 2011.
As I finished filling up my jeepeta at the Texaco station in La Vega, my car would not start. With my limited mechanical skills I popped the hood (bonnet for others) to look for anything disconnected. Unable to find anything wrong left me to ask a guy that was filling up next to me for a jump, but the engine would not start.
The man said that he knows a good friend that can come and look at my car, I agreed, but I was thinking that this was going to cost me big. The mechanic came (with an ajudante) and after 30 mins found the problem and fixed it. By this time a good crowd had formed around my car, I told my wife to start getting the cash ready because I knew I would have to pay an arm and a leg to the guy who called the mechanic, the mechanic, his helper, guy who filled my tank and probably the watchman enjoying the spectacle.
To my surprise and shock, the guy who made the call nor the mechanic wanted to accept my money, they told me that they just wanted to help. I insisted and gave it to them for their trouble, but the point here is that I was guilty of stereotyping people trying to help in order to make money.
What is your good Dominican Samaritan story, enquiring minds want to know, Gracias.
As I finished filling up my jeepeta at the Texaco station in La Vega, my car would not start. With my limited mechanical skills I popped the hood (bonnet for others) to look for anything disconnected. Unable to find anything wrong left me to ask a guy that was filling up next to me for a jump, but the engine would not start.
The man said that he knows a good friend that can come and look at my car, I agreed, but I was thinking that this was going to cost me big. The mechanic came (with an ajudante) and after 30 mins found the problem and fixed it. By this time a good crowd had formed around my car, I told my wife to start getting the cash ready because I knew I would have to pay an arm and a leg to the guy who called the mechanic, the mechanic, his helper, guy who filled my tank and probably the watchman enjoying the spectacle.
To my surprise and shock, the guy who made the call nor the mechanic wanted to accept my money, they told me that they just wanted to help. I insisted and gave it to them for their trouble, but the point here is that I was guilty of stereotyping people trying to help in order to make money.
What is your good Dominican Samaritan story, enquiring minds want to know, Gracias.