After 5 years. We are moving back.

Koreano

Bronze
Jan 18, 2012
1,546
0
36
It had been interesting 5 years and I had learned a lot. Looking at the rapid changes for Santiago in past 5 years, I have good feeling that this country will only go up and not down. Road improvements had been impressive (which is first step every developing country takes) also seeing the city of Santiago spreading like wild fire is exciting. But lack of a lot of things for us to live on (although it improved a lot for us Koreans) also pressures of my wife's not being a US citizen yet is paying us a tolls in our livelihood. All of us don't want my wife to lose her legal residence status in US and I can not afford to be separated with her and my son. Few weeks = yes, couple of months = possible, year+= no way. I don't think I can go through weeks when I leave for work at 6:45AM and come back home at 9:45PM and still have some sanity left with our neighbor's washing machine(aka Industrial Compressor) knocking noise wee hours of the night.

There will be whole lot of things I will be missing like culture, music, people and cheap AIs, also abundance of cheap labors that can do some heavy lifting, although I would had to adjust their works when it's done. And conveniences of ordering beer/rum/anything over the phone and get it delivered less then 5 minutes, also paying like $20+ for young kids to put groceries in our car (I always liked when young people hustle.)

I want to thank DR1 for most insightful information that I had gain during my stay. Those that are thinking/planning to move or take a trip are lucky to have such a healthy community and helpful people with vast information and knowledge of every day life in DR.

Now. Does anybody have shipping companies contact? I want to give them calls and check the rates. I will decide upon what to do with quotes on about 100-120 boxes of books, clothes and few others. 1 king size, 1 full size beds, 3 pcs of big size sofa, 1 desk, 6 shelves and few other things. No specific date is set yet but I know we will have several conversations of "Remember when we were back in DR?" for rest of our lives. Good or bad we will have laugh when we look back.

Thank you all!
 

dv8

Gold
Sep 27, 2006
31,266
363
0
first mauricio and now you? DR is losing good people.

all the best for your future elsewhere. enjoy life and best of luck.
 

AlterEgo

Administrator
Staff member
Jan 9, 2009
23,097
6,247
113
South Coast
I wish you the very best, Koreano. 

Don't become a stranger, stop in from time to time and say hello. 
 

cbmitch9

Bronze
Nov 3, 2010
845
8
18
Koreano,

I feel what you are saying. I am in a similar position and will be preparing to move my wife and kids from DR this year, permanently. Love the country but not enough opportunities for them to grow. Good luck with your move.
 

bigbird

Gold
May 1, 2005
7,375
163
0
first mauricio and now you? DR is losing good people.

all the best for your future elsewhere. enjoy life and best of luck.

true, also wasn't that long ago mountainannie and frank recktenwald said adios rep dom.

Best of luck to you and your family Koreano.
 

Mauricio

Gold
Nov 18, 2002
5,607
7
38
Good luck Koreano! Being in the middle of the process I can tell you it's not easy to say good bye, even for me (and  I think you like DR more than I do). 

On moving, in my case it's to Europe , I chose a Dutch company to handle our movement. If there are any issues I prefer to deal with a company in destination than being back there and having to deal with a Dominican company.
 

Koreano

Bronze
Jan 18, 2012
1,546
0
36
first mauricio and now you? DR is losing good people.

all the best for your future elsewhere. enjoy life and best of luck.
I am not worried. Reading things from my breaks, there are still a lot of good people here. At least you along with many others are here to give good directions when they are lost.

I wish you the very best, Koreano. 

Don't become a stranger, stop in from time to time and say hello. 
You bet AE! I will continue to snooping around when I have time.
We are going to go back to old/new home in NJ soon! I just can't wait.

Good for you Koreano, I hope you have a smooth move.
I foresee a bumpy ride. Even though we went back and forth once a year for few weeks, 5+ years are long time, we might need some time to adjust once again. I know for one thing that I got to start moving again, no more being lazy. I will miss fine day, when I used to pay $20RD to have colmado kid brings all 6 jugs into back.

Koreano,

I feel what you are saying. I am in a similar position and will be preparing to move my wife and kids from DR this year, permanently. Love the country but not enough opportunities for them to grow. Good luck with your move.
Thanks cbmitch9, It's very difficult time for us. I feel excited to go back, yet I feel my job is not done. I really wanted to accomplish my mission of my son's ability to converse in three languages. I have Korean and English checked but Spanish is not complete yet.

true, also wasn't that long ago mountainannie and frank recktenwald said adios rep dom.

Best of luck to you and your family Koreano.
Thank you. Maybe it's time for new generation to chime in on things for DR. And it looks like there are plenty of newbs and I see several fresh meats. It will balance out somehow.

Good luck Koreano! Being in the middle of the process I can tell you it's not easy to say good bye, even for me (and  I think you like DR more than I do). 

On moving, in my case it's to Europe , I chose a Dutch company to handle our movement. If there are any issues I prefer to deal with a company in destination than being back there and having to deal with a Dominican company.
Thanks, so how is the transition? I hope everything's good!
I am looking into this as I type this. I know things will be not cheap, but I would love to bring back non electronic and car back with us.
 

Mauricio

Gold
Nov 18, 2002
5,607
7
38
Thanks, so how is the transition? I hope everything's good!
I am looking into this as I type this. I know things will be not cheap, but I would love to bring back non electronic and car back with us.



Well, I'm still here , in the process of getting used to the idea, organizing the move, getting quotes from moving companies (20' container incl packing, custom formalities on both ends and unpacking is about 6000 euros. That's about 28m3 of stuff.). It can be done for less, but these people do literally everything. The hardest part for me is loosening the ties: family, friends, church , work , even the simple things like bringing the boys to soccer twice a week, working on my phone from the bench in front of my house while the children are playing , I'll sure miss all that. However February is not a good month to evaluate living in DR, starting as early as April it will be too hot to play or work in the sun or even in the shadow. And that will last till November.

When are you leaving?
 

bachata

Aprendiz de todo profesional de nada
Aug 18, 2007
5,341
1,246
113
Looks like thing are not doing well over there.

JJ
 

keepcoming

Moderator - Living & General Stuff
May 25, 2011
4,732
2,491
113
Best of luck to you and your family Koreano. Sometimes the hardest decisions turn out to be the easiest/best when it comes to the well being of your family...
 

dv8

Gold
Sep 27, 2006
31,266
363
0
koreano, bless you for kind words, my frien :)
you are one of the people who really make the most of their time and i have a feeling you will have a good life wherever you go.

don't worry about spanish, as long as it is used at home and your family puts effort into this, it will work.
 

LTSteve

Gold
Jul 9, 2010
5,449
23
38
It had been interesting 5 years and I had learned a lot. Looking at the rapid changes for Santiago in past 5 years, I have good feeling that this country will only go up and not down. Road improvements had been impressive (which is first step every developing country takes) also seeing the city of Santiago spreading like wild fire is exciting. But lack of a lot of things for us to live on (although it improved a lot for us Koreans) also pressures of my wife's not being a US citizen yet is paying us a tolls in our livelihood. All of us don't want my wife to lose her legal residence status in US and I can not afford to be separated with her and my son. Few weeks = yes, couple of months = possible, year+= no way. I don't think I can go through weeks when I leave for work at 6:45AM and come back home at 9:45PM and still have some sanity left with our neighbor's washing machine(aka Industrial Compressor) knocking noise wee hours of the night.

There will be whole lot of things I will be missing like culture, music, people and cheap AIs, also abundance of cheap labors that can do some heavy lifting, although I would had to adjust their works when it's done. And conveniences of ordering beer/rum/anything over the phone and get it delivered less then 5 minutes, also paying like $20+ for young kids to put groceries in our car (I always liked when young people hustle.)

I want to thank DR1 for most insightful information that I had gain during my stay. Those that are thinking/planning to move or take a trip are lucky to have such a healthy community and helpful people with vast information and knowledge of every day life in DR.

Now. Does anybody have shipping companies contact? I want to give them calls and check the rates. I will decide upon what to do with quotes on about 100-120 boxes of books, clothes and few others. 1 king size, 1 full size beds, 3 pcs of big size sofa, 1 desk, 6 shelves and few other things. No specific date is set yet but I know we will have several conversations of "Remember when we were back in DR?" for rest of our lives. Good or bad we will have laugh when we look back.

Thank you all!

Where are you moving back to? If it is the NYC area than you should be able to find a shipper no problem. Good luck and Good travels.
 

wuarhat

I am a out of touch hippie.
Nov 13, 2006
1,378
89
48
Good luck Koreano. Unless your car is one of a kind, with what you save on shipping and the premium charged on cars here, you will have some change left over if you sell the car here and buy a new one in NJ.

true, also wasn't that long ago mountainannie and frank recktenwald said adios rep dom.

Best of luck to you and your family Koreano.

Wasn't it you that had one foot out the door not too long ago?
 

william webster

Platinum
Jan 16, 2009
30,247
4,329
113
Yes he did but we yanked him back in

The Bird ?????? was flying the coop until he had his wings clipped 

Hahaha
 

Lobo Tropical

Silver
Aug 21, 2010
3,515
521
113
The most important would be for your wife to not lose her US residence status.
The next step to become a US citizen to secure her future.
The education of your son in the USA.
The DR will never be lost, it is easy enough to maintain contact and visit every year.
It is also easy to buy an inexpensive Dominican apartment for future use and visits.
Income generated by you and your wife in the US will make all this possible.
Some things you'll miss, others will be substantially better than here.
 

bigbird

Gold
May 1, 2005
7,375
163
0
Good luck Koreano. Unless your car is one of a kind, with what you save on shipping and the premium charged on cars here, you will have some change left over if you sell the car here and buy a new one in NJ.



Wasn't it you that had one foot out the door not too long ago?

Yes, that was me and the truth is I will always have one foot out the door. I expect one day I will also have my own thread, going back after (fill in the blank) years. I think most have their own time span for la rep dom.
 

william webster

Platinum
Jan 16, 2009
30,247
4,329
113
one foot in the airport, the other foot in your aerie.....

Just keep moving.... as I do.

When feeling fed up , sad, lonely, bored (you name it)
just change the scenery

Works for me - every time