please read Natalie
Don't be too trusting, ..... take care of yourself.
Unfortunately there is more to the story, she is already in love with a Dominican that is like most, dirt poor, worked in the AI she frequented and is a young guy with perfect ABS and not a dime to the families name, and unfortunately, the very common problems with alcohol in the family.
This move is to help them out and get closer in relationship.
The context is everything unfortunately, for example, "I" only had one kid, because you really need at least 10K -30K extra a year to raise a kid. Many in DR and all around the world might base it on if there is food in the kitchen for the next week, for some it is even less than that.
So when a dirt poor person has 5 kids, it is very much a life style.
It is all fine to know someone who is friendly and cares and will do what ever for you, but when you are that poor, you would imagine you would figure you can't afford to be economically knocked back by alchohol, or maybe you can't afford another kid.
You are not being "downwardly mobile", Natalie, you are on a water slide to the very bottom of survival.
PLEASE, take the following advice.
1) Talk to your parents, and take their advise to heart, they care for you, even if you think they are cold.
2) I hate to talk like a Muslim, but having a guy is not everything, dress more modestly, and try to find happiness with in your self before you seek it in others.
3) Finally, when you do go down there, and I am sure you will, take the memories back, there is no greater teacher of morality and wisdom than personal memories.
I guess I got pretty poetic there .....