I wish someone had warned me about living in the DR ...

[Matemático]

I'd like to compile a list of what I wish I had known before moving to the DR. And, of course a list of the pleasant surprises as well. Please contribute items in a list format with related explanations. Thanks.

[drescape24]

Really? WTf? Come and find out for yourself, its different for everyone.

drescape24

[Matemático]

Really? WTf? Come and find out for yourself, its different for everyone.

drescape24

You don't say....different for everyone!

[mountainannie]

1, That working as an English teacher for ANYONE will only pay half of what the client is being charged. DUH...

2. That customer service on the phone is twice is fast if you push the button for "English Assistance press 1"

3. If you have a problem, Go directly to the manager.

4. Never tell a Dominican that he or she did something wrong, if you can avoid it. Find a way to make it your fault. Say you did not understand, Say you explained badly. Until they do it wrong the third time. Then dock their pay. Or change providers.

5. Never be confrontational. Be Sweet. Take time to say How Are you? Even if you do not know who is calling because you will not know who is calling because they will not tell you who it is which will drive you nuts but after you ask them how they are, you can apologize (for not recognizing their name) (even if they are a telemarketer which has just started and they do not call often and are very sweet and STILL AMAZINGLY sensitive) .. and ask them their name. If you are not prepared to spend this time, let the call go to voice mail.

6. Get business cards made up quickly. No one will use yours, probably, but you must have them.

7. Make sure that your HAIR and your NAILS are done well.. This counts big time. Make sure your clothes are ironed.. Unless you want to disguise yourselves as tourists and go to the Zona in Flip flops.

8. Open accounts at two local banks. One bank card will not be working when you want money. Do not use your foreign card any where. Period.

9. Get introduced to a Casa De Cambio to cash personal checks if you have a stash of money in the States.

10. Have a stash of money in the States.

11. Get Medical insurance. Everything costs less with medical insurance.

12. Pay your household help LESS than you can imagine as a living wage and then give her a gift when she does not expect it. Like an extra day off.. or just an extra 500 pesos for a good job. Or a referral to a friend.

13. By pirate DVDs. I know. Copyright fraud is UnAmerican. We do not live there. Get over it.

14. If you live in Santo Domingo and have a car and have drive the kids and yourself to work, consider hiring a driver. Jobs at the US Embassy were starting as low as 8k a month which is the minimum wage and this is only a couple of hours a month. This will save you from a chronic ulcer, a really bad temper, fighting with your wife, and cursing the day you ever decided to move here.

15. Join a gym with a pool .. fast fading.. only a few left.. like the Dominican Fiesta, so that the kids and wife can go there for the day.. preferably with sauna and steam..

16. Do not leave a storage shed full of your stuff waiting for you to go back. Just take the photos and the CDs. You can buy more stuff.

17. The stuff you have there really is not worth the price of shipping. Surely you know someone who needs it, right?

18. Goodwill gives you a tax deduction for it.

19. Hard to get rid of stuff, ain't it.

20. No one is ever going to pay you what you are worth.

Read my other article... here .. Changing Perspectives: December 2008

[Mauricio]

Negative
1. cost of life
2. Selfish, inconsiderate people (capital)
3. I didn't remember the summers were this hot
4. I still don't like rice and beans and neither yucca. or sancocho. or locrio. or platanos.
5. Every month there is another imprevisto that takes you out of your budget (like someone said in the other thread, make a budget and double it).
6. I miss the developed world.

Positives:
1. Beautiful country (outside the capital)
2. Nice weather in autumn, winter and spring
3. I couldn't live my work life like I am doing here.
4. Those dominicans that became my friends are better friends than my dutch friends will ever be.

[El Hason]

Negative
1. cost of life
2. Selfish, inconsiderate people (capital)
3. I didn't remember the summers were this hot
4. I still don't like rice and beans and neither yucca. or sancocho. or locrio. or platanos.
5. Every month there is another imprevisto that takes you out of your budget (like someone said in the other thread, make a budget and double it).
6. I miss the developed world.

Positives:
1. Beautiful country (outside the capital)
2. Nice weather in autumn, winter and spring
3. I couldn't live my work life like I am doing here.
4. Those dominicans that became my friends are better friends than my dutch friends will ever be.

Just curious. You were to outline more negative than positives. What exactly keeps you there? Or the 4 positives means that much more to you? Forgive my ignorance

[Dark_Scorpion]

Both lists. Pretty available women.
Der Fish

The women are overrated. Please stop. Men like you are ruining DR women because they think they are God's gift to mankind. They are not. Dominican women are second rate in bed and terrible conversationists and I've been with enough of them to know

[Dark_Scorpion]

I'd like to compile a list of what I wish I had known before moving to the DR. And, of course a list of the pleasant surprises as well. Please contribute items in a list format with related explanations. Thanks.

I already gave a list months ago so I won't do that again. What I will tell you is that the best benefits of living in the DR are NOT THE PEOPLE. This includes the women. The women, prostitution wise, are cheap in price but so are their services, they are no match for a $1,000 an hour top rated American ex pornstar, in looks or performance. I've been with them so I should know. If you want mind blowing sex save your money and hire top rated American girls. If you want cheap but mediocre sex come to the DR.

The best part about living in the DR is the lifestyle. The weather. The beach. I'm indifferent to Dominicans themselves and sometimes find them annoying. They tend to be backward, incompetent, corrupt, or all the above. There are good Dominicans to but they seem to be underrepresented. The energy costs are also a benefit, last month my power bill was $12, clearly you will never see a $12 power bill in the USA. If you can look past the people the DR is wonderful. If not you won't like it here.

[DRob]

I already gave a list months ago so I won't do that again. What I will tell you is that the best benefits of living in the DR are NOT THE PEOPLE. This includes the women. The women, prostitution wise, are cheap in price but so are their services, they are no match for a $1,000 an hour top rated American ex pornstar hooker, in looks or performance. I've been with them so I should know. If you want mind blowing sex save your money and hire top rated American girls. If you want cheap but mediocre sex come to the DR.

The best part about living in the DR is the lifestyle. The weather. The beach. I'm indifferent to Dominicans themselves and sometimes find them annoying. They tend to be backward, incompetent, corrupt, or all the above. There are good Dominicans to but they seem to be underrepresented. The energy costs are also a benefit, last month my power bill was $12, clearly you will never see a $12 power bill in the USA. If you can look past the people the DR is wonderful. If not you won't like it here.

"If you can look past the people the DR is wonderful."

Isn't that a bit like saying "It would be a great school, if it weren't for the students and teachers?" lol

Our favorite nihilist is baaaaack.....

[frank recktenwald]

The women are overrated. Please stop. Men like you are ruining DR women because they think they are God's gift to mankind. They are not. Dominican women are second rate in bed and terrible conversationists and I've been with enough of them to know

You don't read books anymore?