- Thread starter mountainannie
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Chile, land of opportunity
There are plenty of Dominicans in Venezuela, and when my wife lived in Colombia in 1990-2 there were quite a few Dominicans in her city.
I have no hard data on immigration to Chile, but I did live there for slightly over a year and have some opinions on why it might be less attractive for a Dominican to immigrate there.
First of all, the overall level of education in Chile is very high compared with most countries in Latin America. (Again, haven't looked up any stats, just going on what I've seen.) The Chilean public education system functions for more than 3 hours a day and the students come away with knowledge, for the most part. The university system in Chile is one of the best in Latin America also. So I would imagine that especially the educated Dominican immigrants would have stiff competition from locals.
Second, Chile already has a steady supply of migrant labor with Bolivians and Peruvians. From what I understand, this labor pool is very cheap and abundant, with strong communities in-country. So I imagine it would be hard for Dominicans to integrate without a particular demand for their labor or existing network of compatriots.
Third, in terms of culture, Dominican and Chilean cultures are polar opposites! Chile is not at all tropical- very cold in terms of weather and, at first, people. And although they do dance the occasional salsa, the sabor that one finds in the DR is not found in Chile on the same scale. Plus, no platanos.
I'm sure there are Dominicans in Chile, but not in a strong presence like in the US or Spain. Perhaps it is also because the Chilean peso doesn't have the same weight as the dollar or euro?
First of all, the overall level of education in Chile is very high compared with most countries in Latin America. (Again, haven't looked up any stats, just going on what I've seen.) The Chilean public education system functions for more than 3 hours a day and the students come away with knowledge, for the most part. The university system in Chile is one of the best in Latin America also. So I would imagine that especially the educated Dominican immigrants would have stiff competition from locals.
Second, Chile already has a steady supply of migrant labor with Bolivians and Peruvians. From what I understand, this labor pool is very cheap and abundant, with strong communities in-country. So I imagine it would be hard for Dominicans to integrate without a particular demand for their labor or existing network of compatriots.
Third, in terms of culture, Dominican and Chilean cultures are polar opposites! Chile is not at all tropical- very cold in terms of weather and, at first, people. And although they do dance the occasional salsa, the sabor that one finds in the DR is not found in Chile on the same scale. Plus, no platanos.
I'm sure there are Dominicans in Chile, but not in a strong presence like in the US or Spain. Perhaps it is also because the Chilean peso doesn't have the same weight as the dollar or euro?
Chile is light years ahead of the DR when it comes to developing start ups or attracting internet based businesses.
Chile Wants Your Poor, Your Huddled Masses, Your Tech Entrepreneurs
I wish the Cyber Park here could get it's act together and offer super incentive's and really work at attracting tech companies.
Chile Wants Your Poor, Your Huddled Masses, Your Tech Entrepreneurs
I wish the Cyber Park here could get it's act together and offer super incentive's and really work at attracting tech companies.
Yes, this was going to be my next comment. There was not a large African slave presence in Chile, so people of African ancestry are very rare.
I will never forget some of the rubbish comments that came out of the mouths of my supposedly liberal progressive friends who donned Che t-shirts and belong to the socialist party. (Don't even get me started on the conservative ones...) At the university were I studied (in Concepcion, which is a large city), there was one professor who was Colombian, I believe, but was of African heritage- dark skin, African hair, etc. I was with a friend when the professor happened to cross our path and my dear friend there said to me, "Mira, aqui viene un mono." I thought it was some weird Chilean phrase and was crushed when I realized what she meant. She truly didn't see how it was offensive.
My boyfriend at the time would literally stop what he was doing and stare at someone of African heritage if he saw one in person. He rarely saw them outside of TV so it was a big deal.
The support infrastructure is not there yet for this phase Robert...
There are three things that need to be addressed before that happens for the DR:
#1- A robust basic infrastructure (like I said above and we're on the way there).
#2- Simplifications of biz laws and bylaws that deal with foreign held companies and rights IN the DR.
#3- We don't have the current higher learning schooling capacity to provide the skilled workforce such companies need to be of any good in the country.
Corruption and the continuance of political interests over national priorities are the things blocking the road to achieving those requirements today.
The gov is willing to risk still providing subsidies to the electrical sector (people) over the proposed plan to eliminate them completely, and have the electrical problem extended beyond December for the long term solutions to take place.
They figure to allow the status quo to continue for the year ending, and then start as soon as Feb or early March (think 27th Feb) on the solution.
We have major problems when the political interests push aside the national interests of the country. The PLD, PRD and PRSC are a hindrance to the long term development of the DR.
It would take a very charismatic leader to bring the people together and under a non PLD, PRD, PRSC flag, bring the country to leave behind corruption and clienteles for our future to take a turn for the better.
I really think that David Mirabal, Juan Luis Guerra or Oscar de la Renta (all three very much respected figures in the DR) can achieve this if they so entered the political run for office.
On the other hand Chile is a country that was forced to accept development under a military system that reduced the social freedoms and natural development of society there, one so strong that today Chile is on the bottom drawer when it comes to social equalities in the region. We all hear and marvel at Santiago's Metro or the metropolitan cities, yet a few steps away and within the city limits one can spot the inequalities very alive and stronger than any other country in the region.
Chile needs to grow up socially, accepting themselves whole before they can begin to accept others settling in the country like foreigners.
A great Latin American country always that you belong to the upper middle class or higher, and when not the standard character must drive/dress the part or else...
Even with money in Chile, you'll still be not accepted in most social circles within the country. Pinochet did a great number on the sociology of Chile...
If you think the problem in Chile is for colored people only:
YouTube - Discriminaci?n de alemanes en Chile
YouTube - Discriminaci?n de alemanes en Chile
A PBS "Frontline" look at just one of Chile's racial problems:
YouTube - Chile: The New Nazis parte 1
YouTube - Chile: The New Nazis parte 1
Geez Pichardo, if you start writing more stuff like this I might start reading your posts again. Glad you finally joined the club of people who love this country and it's people and are not content with the current political situation.
Thanks for the info
OK thanks for all the posts on Chile...... now I have crossed that off my list.
Not that I was really thinking of leaving as the longer I stay, the more I like it here.
But we started this discussion on where Dominicans might be welcomed.
How about Argentina or Uruguay?
I know that there are a lot of Dominicans in Venezuela but do not somehow thing of there as a bright land of economic opportunity.
OK thanks for all the posts on Chile...... now I have crossed that off my list.
Not that I was really thinking of leaving as the longer I stay, the more I like it here.
But we started this discussion on where Dominicans might be welcomed.
How about Argentina or Uruguay?
I know that there are a lot of Dominicans in Venezuela but do not somehow thing of there as a bright land of economic opportunity.