~~~~Buenas~~~~
I just returned from a trip to DR/Santo Domingo yesterday and I have the post-travel blues.
I have been reading DR1 for the last five years but decided to officially join the site and post a new members introduction thread now that I am no longer a voyeur.
What can I say about the DR? My mind is still processing everything. At times I felt so bad for taking the things I have here in the U.S. for granted, (i.e. my iPhone, AC, drinkable tap water, "fancy clothes", etc). Other times, I felt like I was in a world so different from my own that it was unreal (the poverty, the beautiful beaches, the new and delicious food, hearing Spanish 24/7), but mostly, I enjoyed my company. I was hosted by my friend of five years now and since I am bi-racial (Black and White), I was generally perceived as Dominican or maybe not such an "extranjera" until I spoke my "Spanish".
Anyhow, I look forward to posting about my experiences in Santo Domingo in the forums here on DR1, I have really enjoyed them over the years.
One observation I would like to address was natural hair (or the lack thereof) on the island. I wear a curly/coily afro and when I walked out into the receiving area of the airport I could just feel the "Dios Mio" in the air. lol. When I went swimming the next two days, I had my hair in flat twists, which look like braids from afar, and I only saw one Dominicana the whole trip with braids in her hair.
The natural hair movement here in the U.S. is very popular as women who previously used relaxers are embracing their real hair texture and my hair is the healthiest it has been in a long time.
Interesting and good topic for conversation, no?
Gracias for todos!
I just returned from a trip to DR/Santo Domingo yesterday and I have the post-travel blues.
I have been reading DR1 for the last five years but decided to officially join the site and post a new members introduction thread now that I am no longer a voyeur.
What can I say about the DR? My mind is still processing everything. At times I felt so bad for taking the things I have here in the U.S. for granted, (i.e. my iPhone, AC, drinkable tap water, "fancy clothes", etc). Other times, I felt like I was in a world so different from my own that it was unreal (the poverty, the beautiful beaches, the new and delicious food, hearing Spanish 24/7), but mostly, I enjoyed my company. I was hosted by my friend of five years now and since I am bi-racial (Black and White), I was generally perceived as Dominican or maybe not such an "extranjera" until I spoke my "Spanish".
Anyhow, I look forward to posting about my experiences in Santo Domingo in the forums here on DR1, I have really enjoyed them over the years.
One observation I would like to address was natural hair (or the lack thereof) on the island. I wear a curly/coily afro and when I walked out into the receiving area of the airport I could just feel the "Dios Mio" in the air. lol. When I went swimming the next two days, I had my hair in flat twists, which look like braids from afar, and I only saw one Dominicana the whole trip with braids in her hair.
The natural hair movement here in the U.S. is very popular as women who previously used relaxers are embracing their real hair texture and my hair is the healthiest it has been in a long time.
Interesting and good topic for conversation, no?
Gracias for todos!