It's funny how one's attitude changes when one morphs from a tourist to a resident.
When I first started coming to the DR in the late 80's, I recall how I felt that the "rules" didn't apply to me, that somehow my tourist status was somewhat a Get Out of Jail Free Card, not that I would do anything that would have landed me in jail.
The same attitude prevailed personally when I returned to the DR starting in 2004. I had changed since my first adventure two decades earlier, but I still had that "bulletproof" feeling. And I knew many who felt more bulletproof than I did. One guy that would hitch a ride down, a meek, mild, balding, pot-bellied milquetoast in Tampa became Porky Bad-Ass as soon as my small plane touched down. Drinking while driving? Pffft! Who's gonna stop him? Pot? No problem, it's everywhere and the chicas dig it.
But when I chose to put my final roots into Dominican soils, far away from the "typical" tourist zones, that attitude changed. I developed an acute sense that I was in Rome now, and needed to respect the Laws of Rome. And the longer I lived in the DR---it's been almost 10 years now---the more aware of not only prevailing law I became but developed a sense of who is trying to help Dominican society, and who thinks the rules don't apply to them.
So the trip in my WayBack Machine got me thinking: what is the correct, proper role of a foreigner travelling or living on DR soil? Do we:
Could be. I don't know.
I know others who say "the rules don't apply to me, I come here to get away from rules and could care less about prevailing culture or where it goes. It's all about me and my needs"
Others say "Dominicans can get away with it, so I'll try to get away with it, too."
I'm curious where you guys stand. What's your opinion? And are you a frequent tourist on a week or two holidays, snowbirds who come and stay for months on end, or do you live here 24/7/365?
Lead, follow or "screw it?" What say you, and why?
When I first started coming to the DR in the late 80's, I recall how I felt that the "rules" didn't apply to me, that somehow my tourist status was somewhat a Get Out of Jail Free Card, not that I would do anything that would have landed me in jail.
The same attitude prevailed personally when I returned to the DR starting in 2004. I had changed since my first adventure two decades earlier, but I still had that "bulletproof" feeling. And I knew many who felt more bulletproof than I did. One guy that would hitch a ride down, a meek, mild, balding, pot-bellied milquetoast in Tampa became Porky Bad-Ass as soon as my small plane touched down. Drinking while driving? Pffft! Who's gonna stop him? Pot? No problem, it's everywhere and the chicas dig it.
But when I chose to put my final roots into Dominican soils, far away from the "typical" tourist zones, that attitude changed. I developed an acute sense that I was in Rome now, and needed to respect the Laws of Rome. And the longer I lived in the DR---it's been almost 10 years now---the more aware of not only prevailing law I became but developed a sense of who is trying to help Dominican society, and who thinks the rules don't apply to them.
So the trip in my WayBack Machine got me thinking: what is the correct, proper role of a foreigner travelling or living on DR soil? Do we:
- Lead by example
- Follow prevailing culture (about which many constantly complain), or
- Just ignore it all and do as we damn well, please?
Could be. I don't know.
I know others who say "the rules don't apply to me, I come here to get away from rules and could care less about prevailing culture or where it goes. It's all about me and my needs"
Others say "Dominicans can get away with it, so I'll try to get away with it, too."
I'm curious where you guys stand. What's your opinion? And are you a frequent tourist on a week or two holidays, snowbirds who come and stay for months on end, or do you live here 24/7/365?
Lead, follow or "screw it?" What say you, and why?