Hei

As a new user I just want to say hei.

Nice site. I don't live in the Dominican Republic but currently in
London where I'm doing a master in Diplomatic Studies.
Norwegian by birth.

My time in the Dominican Republic, a year or so during the last
two years, has mostly been spent in Boca Chica and Santo
Domingo. I looked in vain for a decent university to do my MA
so I ended up in London.

My last visit in Boca Chica was really a mixed but interesting
experience. Living in private accomodation, as I've got plenty
of local friends there, I got nightly visitors that pinched a fair bit
of my personal belongings and money. Those doing it were
those annoying streetkids who's arms I will soon break, Luiggi
et al for those familiar with them. Reporting it to the local police
was obviously no good but I finally got them towed in myself.
The police recovered my stuff and told me I could come back for
it the following morning. Out of a mistaken sense of common
courtesy I didn`t inquire about the money. The following morning
I turned up at the police station only to find out that the police
no longer had it. Got some nice excuses but I never saw my
stuff again.I hope the police officer or whoever who currently
owns my stuff enjoys that CD collection as much as I did, and
that the shirts suits him nicely.

I've always wanted to live there for a while and maybe work or
study, esp. as I've got a part-time bird, but I now suspect it's
worth the hassle. Will try again though, when done here.

As for the women earning their living ( and the living of others )
at night in calle Duarte I've got some friends among them as
well. I'm having a hard time explaining them that I don't see the
point in paying them x00 pesos for a job I'll be doing and would
only last ten seconds or so anyways.

Eventually I'll be writing essays/a thesis about the place. About
how national culture and it's effect on behaviour at work and
another, probably dealing with the country's, and Haiti's, political
and economical development. If anyone is dying to provide good, personal histories as well as recent/relevant literature I'd be most delighted, even grateful. I will search the archives
and this site myself, but I still ask for the heck of it.

But I'm waffeling, all I wanted to say was hei hei for now.

Arve

Those cement sniffing kids on Duarte St. were the ones that entered my house. Mind you, I lived behind 3 steel doors on the 3rd floor, they entered my flat by climbing up on the outside. With regard to such a stupidity and skill I figured it was a fair deal to
them. The ultimate insult, though it kept me fairly happy, was leaving my laptop behind. It's not THAT crap.

I reckon that if you really want to hang around in such a place for
an extended period of time you have to accept being ripped off
from time to time, it's part of the experience. I've never had
problems on the street though, apart one failed attempt to rob me by some guys on a motorcycle. Neither have I been cheated of
change like you mentioned but I know it happens to many.

Calle Duarte can be a bit dodgy but in some ways it's "safer" now.
I think certain people are trying to clean up a bit. It's not all that
appealing but I go there 'cos I've got friends there. It's just an
interesting setting with a lot of people very different from what I'm used to, and you do get a Master's degree in survival pretty
fast. U'd better. It can be fun to see tourists like me acting
stupidly like me and get robbed..like me.. in places like La Noria,
just the very thought brings back fond memories of my "cucarachitas"..

The reason I go to Boca Chica at all is cos I through helping out
with the teaching in the local school got several friends in the area and it's easier to go back than to find something new. And for all the bad things that might happen, I quite like the lot I know
down there and dominicans in general. Sometime, even though I
might not get to work there ( doesnt seem to be a demand for a
politcal scientist/future diplomat ) I'll get to see more of the country.

In any case I'd never want to live permanently without a gun and
I'm currently taking intensive courses in martial arts. Up until now
I have only been able to retaliate vs taxi drivers in Santo Domingo. Cutting up their seats, spilling coke, throwing rubbish
and chewing gum etc, depending on what they charge. Childish but it's great therapy.

best wishes and all.