What's it *really* like in the DR?

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kbaley

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Jun 7, 2013
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I'm still new and navigating around and I'm curious if the forum paints an accurate picture of daily life in DR. There are plenty of discussions on high crime, security, bad driving and roads, failing electricity, etc. But for the expats out there, there must have been a reason you moved to DR. And for citizens and long-time residents, I have yet to meet someone from the DR who wouldn't passionately and patriotically defend the greatness of his/her homeland.

I know there's a tendency for people to focus on the negative. But I'm genuinely curious about what it's like on a daily basis. Is the threat of crime a constant stress? Do you sit on your porch at the end of the day with a malt-based beverage and say, "I wouldn't do anything different"? For the expats, is it the same rat-race you left with different issues? Are the people you deal with regularly a source of headaches or inspiration?
 

Olly

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Mar 12, 2007
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You read my comments on the Bahamas versa DR North coast but obviosly did not take it on board. As Island Dreaming says - some are the very best and others the very worst! Apathy often stops the middle ground being put forward. Look at all Olly and the Team posts and it will give you some idea of reality here.

Hope you make it here?

Olly and the Team

Ps I think I spelt you name incorrectly - sorry !
 

RG84

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May 21, 2010
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I'm still new and navigating around and I'm curious if the forum paints an accurate picture of daily life in DR.


I think you are going to find that an "accurate picture" of daily life is going to be different based on your disposition and experience in life.

I haven't been here long but I'm enjoying it. I'm not working, which means I get up when I want to, go to the stores when it's not crowded, avoid as much traffic as I can. I'm interacting with locals everyday so my "accurate picture" might be different from someone who has to be at work on time, needs to make time to go shopping which would probably but them in crazy traffic, and other things that would cause stress.

As another poster stated, it's some where in the middle. Only you can make your can paint your "accurate picture"
 

Luperon

Who empowered China's crime against humanity?
Jun 28, 2004
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Daily life is about where you live and how much money you have. Life can be great in almost any country with enough $$$.
 

Criss Colon

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Jan 2, 2002
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In the DR,Money really CAN Buy Happiness!
A LOT of money that is!
Meanwhile, those Dominicans who are so "Patriotic & Passionate" about their homeland, chose not to live here!????????
They "Voted With Their Feet"!
I have noticed several Expats here have decided "Enough" and are leaving, some after 18 years.
Drugs have put the "Nail', in the DR's Coffin"!
Crime is so rampant is Santo Domingo, that the military has been brought in to patrol even the main streets.
I am not "Afraid", but I am "Prepared"!
I initially came here 27 years ago for cheap sex with beautiful young Dominicanas.
It has been a great reason to "STRAY", Ooooops, I mean "STAY"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
 

Curacaoleno

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Apr 26, 2013
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Kbaley, I believe that there is also a lot of poverty and crime in the Bahamas.. How did you handle that?

Its all about experience, backgrounds etc. My island Curacao has also a lot of crime but I never feel afraid.. why, I know the people here, Speak the language, know the places where to go and not to go. But for a tourist straight out out of Kansas some parts may look dangerous to him.

Sometimes its even better to live between the locals than living in a resort with security..

I have driven in the RD and didnt found it scary (I have a lot of driving experience in the Caribbean, Europa and Central America) but maybe if you do end up in an accident it may be a whole different experience.

Dominicans are very proud of their county but quiet a lot have never left the country so how can the assess how things are in their country if for example they have never been in an very organised western European country?
 
Everyone's experience will be different. My Wife and I have not had a relaxing first 5 months here but that is b/c of all our construction and improvements and having one problem after another with electricity, plumbing, car troubles, new water system, new sewage built, new roof, extortionists about building a pool and wall so close to the ocean.....
The guy who owned the house before us was the cheapest guy ever so we had to fix everything. Throw in my cat dying and my wife having a breast cancer scare, it has sucked.
We don't live in a gated community so it is also a bit different dealing will very poor locals and the not so poor expats on the ocean. Locals pretend to be friends but all they want is our Money....

You will learn a lot and listen to suggestions on the pro DR1'ers!

Saying all of that we have had some great laughs, beautiful view, walk 3 feet and swim in our pool or walk 5 feet and swim in the ocean.
Adopted 4 dogs, 3 rescue. We have also met some of the most helpful, kind, giving people here.
I wouldn't move back to Vancouver b/c I know once the construction is done it will calm down and not be sooooo crazy with at least 5 men around our house 6 days a week 7-7.

It is a very interesting country to say the least!

Luckily we don't have to work because we would not have had time to work!
 

cleverlemming

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Whenever I get totally fed up with people trying to steal from me, motoconchos trying to kill their passengers by running into me, gomeros who blow valves out of tires, women who want to marry my bank account, viagra-fiend sex tourists and their 13-year-old girlfriends, etc., I always end up striking up a conversation with an average Dominican out on the street somewhere who's warmer, wiser, and more genuine than nine out of ten people I meet in the U.S.
 

kbaley

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Olly and Curacaoleno: I didn't mean this as a comparison between the Bahamas and DR. Crime is rampant here and there is considerable disparity between the poor and rich. Add to that a healthy undercurrent of black vs. white and an even healthier distrust of anything foreign. Their recent clamp-down on foreign work permits is partially the reason for our move, for example.

But that brings up the point of my post. If you listen to the news or read what Bahamians write about their homeland, you'll see people complaining about all of this and more. And in my experience, it doesn't even remotely reflect the reality of life here. There's a reason we've stuck around for 10 years and a reason we'll truly miss the country when we leave. My family and I live a pretty happy life despite relatively high crime, threat of hurricane, lackadaisical work ethic, high cost of living, etc. And I'm betting almost everyone on this board does too. So I was hoping to get some idea of how others do that and I think I've got a decent idea based on the responses.
 
Dec 26, 2011
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I love it and I hate it. It's Paradise and Hell. It could be so much better and it could be so much worse. It feels like the parents left the kids at home and went on vacation... and they're never coming back.
 

brlatm

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Apr 26, 2012
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I love it and I hate it. It's Paradise and Hell. It could be so much better and it could be so much worse. It feels like the parents left the kids at home and went on vacation... and they're never coming back.

This X2!!!!

My family and I moved down here last June and stayed in a rental while building a new place. It has been rather enjoyable and nice with plenty of play time with the kids and wife at the beach in the mountains etc...

On the other hand it has been total hell dealing with contractors that have a lackadaisical attitude, dealing with Politur when my wife was hit by someone just past Janets, me getting a ticket in Cabarete for parking on the wrong side of the street during the day to run into a store (yea my bad I was coming back from Santiago and didn't realize you couldn't park on the south side of the street).

It's all in what you make it for sure, we don't stay out until the wee hours of the morning looking for trouble and are a typical gringo family here on the North Coast just enjoying life and getting along in the community. I use DR1 as a mild guide for living here because I sometimes think that the views placed here are very bitter towards living here (maybe that's just me though). Some of the advice given on where is good food, where is a good place to take a drive and take in the scenery are great advice.

Decipher for yourself what you want to enjoy here in the DR and live it to the fullest that you can.

Ok back into hiding I go!
 

Contango

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Dec 27, 2010
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One thing you will find is a lacking of "Common Sense" in general among Dominicans, not all but a large majority. Common sense can not be taught, and lack of good role models growing up must be the culprit... Having said that I have been told using a "reward system" for good behaviour can be a substitute for common sense. And lastly I am no better or worse than any Dominican we just grew up on different planets in different solar systems, a complete different World... Welcome to earth I sometimes hear myself muttering. Overall you will find they are a happy group of people, they have what we don't have in America, "Community", no matter how odd it all seems..
 

Mauricio

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Nov 18, 2002
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The rat race here is worse. In a developed country you need to keep working, making long hours to keep living your comfortable live, here you need to do the same, to survive....
 

malko

Campesino !! :)
Jan 12, 2013
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In europe, no job = no money= no life, here in dr poor but happy ( and myswiss francs go much futher)..... time stands still in dr, wheras it rushes by in europe.... enough to outweigh all dr s problems......
 

DOC1727

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Aug 30, 2011
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The biggest problem with the different views IMHO, has to do mostly with Expat culture shock and his/her adjusting to a complete new country and culture. I must admit after living in the DR and then moving on to live in other countries in comparison, this has to be the most hardest to navigate, chaotic and disorganized country I have ever visited or lived. What helped me the most when I lived here was the time to adapt to the culture and make the right connections and yes $$$$$ and plenty of it. The more comfortable you are in this country like having a nice car, motto, nice secured house/apt with a reliable source of water, generator, dry generartor (planta seca) appliances TV's Etc., will make a big difference on your attitude and make your life here so much more pleasant.
 
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