Fivefingers is in town. SD.

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fivefingers

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Jul 8, 2011
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well, you may or may not remember me asking some questions a few months back...but I am now officially living in Santo Domingo Este, and hating it.

Nothing I wasn't ready for though. The country is as awful as I had expected. But there must be something nice to it or people wouldn't be coming here...apart from "cueros" and "sankis".

I have asked the locals what do they love about their country, because they are also constantly barfing on it, and their answer: lots of fruit. Not impressed.

While I plough ahead in search of the kindness of this country, I will try to bear the lack of 24 hour electricity, water, efficiency, cleanliness, organization, friendliness, etc.

My husband, who is dominican, is adapting far less than I. He despises beign back in DR and I really doubt my decision of coming here.

You see we come from Spain, where the financial crisis has made it impossible to get employment. So we left what now seems a perfect, comfortable life, for hidden opportunities in DR. So we knew the country has it's faults. But we were willing to live through them if we can at least make a living.

But after 1 week of no water in our apartment we are really starting to despair.

We have been through the nightmare of getting the electricity contract, the internet contract and now we are focussing on job hunting and schools for my 6 year old starting 2nd grade.

So i will be going around the different sections of the forum. But any info you want to lead with regarding networking places, expat clubs/bars, best schools in the Este area, or better areas to live on a budget with 24 hour elec. and water are very welcome.

I loved the Valeriev thread. Going to get some popcorn and whatch you do my thread. Don't dissapoint me!
 

the gorgon

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Sep 16, 2010
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well, you may or may not remember me asking some questions a few months back...but I am now officially living in Santo Domingo Este, and hating it.

Nothing I wasn't ready for though. The country is as awful as I had expected. But there must be something nice to it or people wouldn't be coming here...apart from "cueros" and "sankis".

I have asked the locals what do they love about their country, because they are also constantly barfing on it, and their answer: lots of fruit. Not impressed.

While I plough ahead in search of the kindness of this country, I will try to bear the lack of 24 hour electricity, water, efficiency, cleanliness, organization, friendliness, etc.

My husband, who is dominican, is adapting far less than I. He despises beign back in DR and I really doubt my decision of coming here.

You see we come from Spain, where the financial crisis has made it impossible to get employment. So we left what now seems a perfect, comfortable life, for hidden opportunities in DR. So we knew the country has it's faults. But we were willing to live through them if we can at least make a living.

But after 1 week of no water in our apartment we are really starting to despair.

We have been through the nightmare of getting the electricity contract, the internet contract and now we are focussing on job hunting and schools for my 6 year old starting 2nd grade.

So i will be going around the different sections of the forum. But any info you want to lead with regarding networking places, expat clubs/bars, best schools in the Este area, or better areas to live on a budget with 24 hour elec. and water are very welcome.

I loved the Valeriev thread. Going to get some popcorn and whatch you do my thread. Don't dissapoint me!

i wish you all the best. i had a neighbor a few months back, who had emigrated to the USA some 30 years ago, and had come back to the DR to retire. he had become Americanized, and had assimilated perfectly to the anglo life of the USA. his wife is also Dominican, but in 30 years had not learned to say good morning in English. they went back to the US to spend Christmas with the kids and grandkids, and he came back alone. the missus says that if he wants to live here, he can, but without her. she refuses to ever come back here, even to visit.

it is hard to make the transition from a place where things work, to one where they do not. the lack of basic stuff drives you crazy. when you have no water in your apartment, the lights go off every few hours, the internet is slower than dial up was 15 years ago, and just other annoyances, you unravel in short order. you have to wonder if it is better to be broke in a moden country, than in one where modernization is on the way, but has been delayed.

i hope things work for you.
 

the gorgon

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Sep 16, 2010
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LOL @ Spain!

23-25% Unemployment
40+% Unemployment in 18-35yr range

I am sure you find this to be a rat-hole (because it is) but I can't say much about the "perfect, comfortable life" you claim to have in Spain. Tell us how much rent/maintenance are you paying (without jobs) for that comfortable life in Spain??? Probably much much more than in here, if you didn't rent, but owned, your opportunity cost would be the rent equivalent for living there.

Laziness level over 9k doing "siestas" for several hours and shutting down business completely for vacation seasons ain't getting the country anywhere.

i forgot. Spain is where you Dominicans learned this two hour shutdown at 12pm. i have never understood it. i see guys who have their own one man operation taking 2 hours off to go eat plato del dia, when they could be getting all the trade that is out for lunch, free to go get a haircut, or some such thing. the GDP would benefit if the country abandoned that anachronism.
 

Africaida

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Jun 19, 2009
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Five Fingers, you left Spain and moved to DR with no prospect for jobs and a child ?

If so, you are very courageous.
 

Africaida

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Jun 19, 2009
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and you are very diplomatic.

LOL

Husband being Dominican and the child very young, I guess one could give a try (with good savings). You know, I have seen families (not particularly Dominican) who exaggerates on the opportunities back home for those in the diaspora, that is why I could see someone being tricked into making the move.
From all accounts, things are not easy in Spain...but they have electricity, tapas and good wine !)


I am looking to reading 5fingers posts, they should different and real. I am rooting for her. :)
 
i forgot. Spain is where you Dominicans learned this two hour shutdown at 12pm. i have never understood it. i see guys who have their own one man operation taking 2 hours off to go eat plato del dia, when they could be getting all the trade that is out for lunch, free to go get a haircut, or some such thing. the GDP would benefit if the country abandoned that anachronism.

Can't stand the 2 hour breaks!!! It took almost a year to remember all the places close at that time. (In my area)
 

donP

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Dec 14, 2008
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DR vs. GB

well, you may or may not remember me...

Hmm, were you not fivededitos at some time, too?

About a year ago you were thinking about going to GB or the DR... what made you choose the DR?
SD Este is not the best place to live.
Unless you benefit from living free in your husband's parents' house, I'd rather move somewhere else.

You are now living through the culture shock and illegally, too.
Being married to a Dominican, it's unlikely that you'll be deported.
But if so, let them deport you to GB.... ;)

That would have been the better choice anyway, IMO. :bunny:
[At least they have a social welfare system.]


donP
 

fivefingers

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Jul 8, 2011
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i wish you all the best. i had a neighbor a few months back, who had emigrated to the USA some 30 years ago, and had come back to the DR to retire. he had become Americanized, and had assimilated perfectly to the anglo life of the USA. his wife is also Dominican, but in 30 years had not learned to say good morning in English. they went back to the US to spend Christmas with the kids and grandkids, and he came back alone. the missus says that if he wants to live here, he can, but without her. she refuses to ever come back here, even to visit.

it is hard to make the transition from a place where things work, to one where they do not. the lack of basic stuff drives you crazy. when you have no water in your apartment, the lights go off every few hours, the internet is slower than dial up was 15 years ago, and just other annoyances, you unravel in short order. you have to wonder if it is better to be broke in a moden country, than in one where modernization is on the way, but has been delayed.

i hope things work for you.

You got the gist of things down to a t!
 

Meemselle

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Oct 27, 2014
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I love the 2-hour shutdown! I guess it's because I'm a lazy slacka*** whose goal in life is to do nothing if I don't have to. I personally seethe with joy at the opportunity to sleep for 2 hours in the middle of the day. So NOT New England!

The thing that does make me nuts is the number of religious/civil/bank holidays. My Dominican manager looks at me like I'm insane when I tell him that Corpus Christi is not a day when banks are closed in the US.
 

fivefingers

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Jul 8, 2011
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Yes, it's me. Was debating between UK, Spain and DR.

I chose DR in the end because I thought there would be opportunities for both of us here.

My husband could go back to beign a professional instead of aspiring to beign a second class citizen in Europe. His highest aspirations without speaking good English would have been to be a cleaner at the airport or the likes, after a year or kitchen porter, waiter and packer.

My best aspirations would have been to climb the corporate ladder once again. Not very enticing.

Staying in Europe would have kept me in the main bread winner role. And it kind of sucks.

DR will offer equal opportunities to us both. And maybe I might even aspire to be a local celebrity (wishful thinking).

But yes, the lack of welfare is overwhelming. Even though we came knowing the ins and outs of this country. I am pretty much down to the fact that we live in a **** hole and I just get on with it. But my husband having experienced how a real country can be, is even more disgusted at beign back.

I really would like to know the positives; please tell me what you enjoy about the country, because I have been here for a month and still haven't been able to make a trip to the beach. Caribbean Paradise my arse! This is hell on Earth. Counting my chelitos so we can make a trip to Boca Chica at least once a month. It is sad.

I have read on other threads about how to eat cheaply, and it's so true. The diet is crap, but if you are on a budget it has to be done. Pl?tanos, rice and beans and very low quality meat, for breakkies, lunch and supper. Soda biscuits for in between.

Now I really do understand when my husband insisted he preferred to stay in Spain even if he would never get a job, than come back here. I though he was exagerating or being extremely negative. But no, he was quite literal.

And I am in that process of doubting my decisions: i ruined our lives! OMG. But then I get out my bottle of rum and I relax for about 5 minutes. Drinking is the only way this country is tolerable, I get the whole colamd?n thing now.

We are in Este because the family lives in this area and the brother in law has the only car in the family. But we will move as soon as we have a job somewhere. Or I could pack it all in and go to the UK by September....

To answer about Spain...yes, our life was comfy there. Basically lived on the same budget we will on here but we had excellent public schools, health system, public transport, safety....and one could go on lovely walks in the street and have a beer. Beer here is soooo expensive! geez. But there weren't any opportunities. So we forfeited all the luxuries of a first world socialist country for this crappy hell hole which might offer us the chance of earning money.

Yup, it sounds crazy. I am courageous, yes...and probably not very smart, and very likely a little off my rocker, and incredibly senseless.

Damm....need a shot of rum....luckily all the windows have hierros and I cannot jump....hold on...i can go up to the roof!

Bottoms up!
 

bigbird

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May 1, 2005
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.......... the lack of basic stuff drives you crazy. when you have no water in your apartment, the lights go off every few hours, the internet is slower than dial up was 15 years ago, and just other annoyances, you unravel in short order. you have to wonder if it is better to be broke in a moden country, than in one where modernization is on the way, but has been delayed..........

A lot depends on where you are living in la rep dom. The OP is in Santo Domingo este and probably experiencing everything you mentioned. If the OP moved across the river to Santo Domingo Centro her and her family would not have ANY of the above problems.

I have water, electricity, peace and quiet 24/7 in Gazcue.
 

fivefingers

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Jul 8, 2011
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lol @ spain being first world.

you should go back, not a lot of opportunities here for foreigners. Well, actually if you do find a high paying job you can actually enjoy things around here. I think what you mentioned of waiting until September is actually a good idea. Try to find a high paying job, things should start to change for you and your family once you can secure that.

exactly! so, how does one find one of those high paying jobs? I do have a good cv and speak many languages. I am specialized in digital marketing with masters degree and top multinational companies as references.
 

fivefingers

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Jul 8, 2011
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A lot depends on where you are living in la rep dom. The OP is in Santo Domingo este and probably experiencing everything you mentioned. If the OP moved across the river to Santo Domingo Centro her and her family would not have ANY of the above problems.

I have water, electricity, peace and quiet 24/7 in Gazcue.

what do you pay in gazcue?
 

windeguy

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Jul 10, 2004
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Someone who shares my love of Santo Domingo. I get it, I really do.

The DR will certainly offer an equal lack of opportunity to you both.

But I do hope I am wrong about that. Good luck.
 

SKY

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Apr 11, 2004
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You would have a much better chance at finding work in Punta Cana. With your qualifications you could easily find work here at a hotel. Some people make a lot of money selling time share style vacations here. And i mean a lot. But some make nothing. Depends on your gift of gab. You seem to have it.
 
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