DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - the essential guide to customs & culture

Reidy620

Bronze
Mar 30, 2008
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www.casaellie.com
Hola Todos,
I was lucky enough to order in advance, and to secure a copy of, the book by Ginnie Bedggood (Lambada) and Ilana Benady entitled "The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture - Dominican Republic" as soon as Amazon.co.uk advertised it.
After having just finished it may I offer the following..
As with most of Lambada's advice the book is succint, relevant and (above all) a bl**dy good read.
If you get the chance to get hold of a copy, jump at the chance as you will not be disappointed. The book is full of tips and advice but is written in a different style to the "Mad Dogs" novel.

"Bushbaby" must be very proud!
Tropical Regards
Ian & Ellie
anpalmisl.gif
 

AlterEgo

Administrator
Staff member
Jan 9, 2009
23,097
6,247
113
South Coast
Hola Todos,
I was lucky enough to order in advance, and to secure a copy of, the book by Ginnie Bedggood (Lambada) and Ilana Benady entitled "The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture - Dominican Republic" as soon as Amazon.co.uk advertised it.
After having just finished it may I offer the following..
As with most of Lambada's advice the book is succint, relevant and (above all) a bl**dy good read.
If you get the chance to get hold of a copy, jump at the chance as you will not be disappointed. The book is full of tips and advice but is written in a different style to the "Mad Dogs" novel.

"Bushbaby" must be very proud!
Tropical Regards
Ian & Ellie
anpalmisl.gif

To Ian and others who may not realize...Lambada's co-author, Ilana Benady, is DR1's own Chirimoya, who also co-authored Aunt Clara's Dominican Cookbook with Clara Gonzalez. [Another treasure!]

Congrats to you Chiri, I'm looking forward to reading it too!

AE
 

AnnaC

Gold
Jan 2, 2002
16,050
418
83
To Ian and others who may not realize...Lambada's co-author, Ilana Benady, is DR1's own Chirimoya, who also co-authored Aunt Clara's Dominican Cookbook with Clara Gonzalez. [Another treasure!]

Congrats to you Chiri, I'm looking forward to reading it too!

AE


You you've done it! You've given her secret identity away:cheeky:

Can't wait to read this book ;)
 

Chirimoya

Well-known member
Dec 9, 2002
17,850
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Thanks so much for the review, Reidy and thanks for all the other kind comments from future readers. It's great to hear what people think and if there are any aspects you think we got wrong or missed out, please send me a PM.

Here is the DR1 approved link to the book
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1857335279?ie=UTF8&tag=dr1-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1857335279">Dominican Republic - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=dr1-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1857335279" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

For information, neither Ginnie (or Grahame, as her next of kin) or I will get any proceeds from the sales of this book as we were paid a joint author's fee. All we get is a sense of pride and achievement - and a warm fuzzy feeling, tinged of course with the great sorrow that Ginnie did not see this result of her hard work.
 

whirleybird

Silver
Feb 27, 2006
3,264
322
83
I was fortunate to get the 2 copies I pre-ordered early in September from Waterstones. Due to other factors, I have only read a small amount so far but know I am going to enjoy it already. Congrats to Llana and so sad for Ginnie but perhaps she and Charlie can secretly get a copy shipped in to their new zone....
 

Alyonka

Silver
Jun 3, 2006
2,757
155
0
Congratulations! This looks like a very interesting and useful book for all of us. Were any discussions we had here, on DR1, used for it? I think we talk about differences in cultures, customs and habits here all the time.
 

Chirimoya

Well-known member
Dec 9, 2002
17,850
982
113
I confess, we had to resort to DR1 for the Sankie chapter as none of us had - ahem - direct experience ;)

Seriously, if you consider the sheer amount of knowledge about the DR that is shared on these boards and the amount of time that Ginnie used to spend and I still spend here, it would be difficult to deny that some of the information absorbed ended up in our book. Naturally, DR1 is mentioned in the book as an invaluable resource.
 

Alyonka

Silver
Jun 3, 2006
2,757
155
0
I confess, we had to resort to DR1 for the Sankie chapter as none of us had - ahem - direct experience ;)

Seriously, if you consider the sheer amount of knowledge about the DR that is shared on these boards and the amount of time that Ginnie used to spend and I still spend here, it would be difficult to deny that some of the information absorbed ended up in our book. Naturally, DR1 is mentioned in the book as an invaluable resource.

I thought so. ;) This is great! I will definitely read the book when I have a chance. I am glad it came out as one of memories of Ginnie.
 

Reidy620

Bronze
Mar 30, 2008
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61
www.casaellie.com
Thanks so much for the review, Reidy and thanks for all the other kind comments from future readers. It's great to hear what people think and if there are any aspects you think we got wrong or missed out, please send me a PM.

Here is the DR1 approved link to the book
Dominican Republic - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture
ir


For information, neither Ginnie (or Grahame, as her next of kin) or I will get any proceeds from the sales of this book as we were paid a joint author's fee. All we get is a sense of pride and achievement - and a warm fuzzy feeling, tinged of course with the great sorrow that Ginnie did not see this result of her hard work.

Many thanks for pointing that out AE, we weren't aware.
Thanks for a good read Chiri!
For those in the UK, here is the link for Amazon.co.uk
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Dominican+Republic+-+Culture+Smart!%3A+The+Essential+Guide+to+Customs+%26+Culture+&x=0&y=0
You can even buy a Kindle version!
Warmest regards
Ian & Ellie
anpalmisl.gif
 
Last edited:

BushBaby

Silver
Jan 1, 2002
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www.casabush.org
Hola Todos,
I was lucky enough to order in advance, and to secure a copy of, the book by Ginnie Bedggood (Lambada) and Ilana Benady entitled "The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture - Dominican Republic" as soon as Amazon.co.uk advertised it.
After having just finished it may I offer the following..
As with most of Lambada's advice the book is succint, relevant and (above all) a bl**dy good read.
If you get the chance to get hold of a copy, jump at the chance as you will not be disappointed. The book is full of tips and advice but is written in a different style to the "Mad Dogs" novel.

"Bushbaby" must be very proud!
Tropical Regards
Ian & Ellie
anpalmisl.gif

Bushbaby is excessively proud ......... & honoured to be a good friend of the co author. Mad Dogs sold very well (I have some copies for sale if anyone needs one - profits will go to the Ginnie Bedggood Foundation we are setting up) & this one should do likewise. However, it must be remembered that this book is for the more intrepid holidaymaker - the sort that wantys to get out of the All Inclusive hotel & look around a bit!

The next book that Ilana & Ginnie wrote together should be out in a month or two's time. That one will be for people looking to move here &/or already live here. If you are already an ex-Pat & your finances are limited, you would be better advised to wait for the next book 'Moving To & Living In .....".

Ginnie's share of the royalties will go straight to The Foundation mentioned above - this is already agreed with the publisher. The Ginnie Bedggood Foundation is being set up to fund &/or sponsor better journalistic practices by training or special courses. Writing had become Ginnie's passion & we (another inner circle :bunny::bunny:) are determined to make this a truly successful Foundation. More on this when the time is right (& the money from her accounts in the I.O.M is in place) which should be in a couple of months time! My PM & e-mail boxes are always open to anyone who has ideas for the foundation.
(&/or a few pesos to put in it!! :cheeky:) ~ Grahame.
 

Chirimoya

Well-known member
Dec 9, 2002
17,850
982
113
What would be nice now is for readers to use this thread to write reviews of the Culture Smart Guide for DR1 (like reidy did in the OP), and to review it on Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.uk etc.
 

AnnaC

Gold
Jan 2, 2002
16,050
418
83
Sorry it's taken me so long to read it. I read about half right away and then I got distracted by something shiny.:paranoid:

I recommend this book to everyone no matter how much you think you know the Dominican Republic.

First of all it is very affordable and easy to carry along in your purse and takes very little space in a bag or suitcase.

This book was well written has absolutely everything in it but it's not boring or long winded. Facts from DR History, religion, customs, holidays, right down to dating and what is acceptable to Dominicans.

I cringe every time I read someone who has just come back from the DR for the first time say, "I LOVE THE CULTURE" when in truth they have no idea about the culture and are basing it only on the fact that someone smiled at them and invited them to have coffee at their home. If you are in or are thinking going into a relationship with a Dominican, you need to get this book. You will be surprised at what you should know but don't!

Anyone that is thinking of moving to the DR -- this book is excellent to get a better understanding of how things tick and it will make your life easier every time you think, " why, why, why" do they do it this way.


So to sum it up,
-compact, but in no way lacking info
-very affordable
-covers every aspect of Dominican life, customs, holidays and the Dominican way of thinking

Get this book, I wouldn't be writing this if I didn't believe it was worth it. I've been on DR1 for 11 years know and thought I know everything there was to know but I still found a lot of info I was impressed with.
 
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tarrantino

New member
Jan 12, 2006
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I just ordered my copy and i should get it by Nov. 3 at the latest, I also tried ordering Quisqueya-Mad Dog and the English Couple. WELL on Amazon.com it is selling for over $160. I'm so mad that I didn't get it when I was there last year.