I got this idea while commenting in another thread and thought it would make good conversation here. Here are my observations.
There are 3 ways to live a life in the DR. One is as a poor person, another is middle class and the third is upper class.
As a poor person you can always eat although it would be rice and beans and not be hungry. I don't think people choose to live this way but those that have to can make it.
As a wealthy person you can live a much better life here than you can in the US with the same disposable income. There are a lot of things such as Domestic help, entertainment, weekend getaways and the like that is far less expensive than when I compare it to the states. A long weekend in the US can cost me 500-1000 dollars with out being lavish. In the DR is is between 150-400 dollars being more lavish. Live in maid is 100 dollars US a month or less. You spend more than that a week in the states. Gardener is basically the same along with a guard or a driver. Housing is half the price, cars and imported stuff is more expensive.
As a working middle class person in the DR it really sucks. Difficult to get along unless you have your own sucessful business which is not an easy proposition according to my experience talking with people in the DR and getting to know a few businesses from the inside. Even the guys that "think" they are sharp and possibly are sharp in the US suffer in business in the DR without a "hook" or something that sets them apart from the others. Business is very difficult partly due to the Government chicanery, bribes, propinas, culture and just plain people looking separate you from your money and make it theirs. The actual biggest reason people fail in the DR is because they do NOT understand the culture which is far different from anywhere I have been. Nothing there is straight up and down. Crooked all the way.
The Dominican people while friendly are just different from people you meet in the US. You really need to get a understanding about them which is very difficult unless you invest the time. You have to separate the good from the bad just like anywhere else except in government where they are all bad and you catch no breaks.
Any thoughts or comments on mine based your experiences? Please if you have nothing to add stay out of this thread and fluff up some other one.
There are 3 ways to live a life in the DR. One is as a poor person, another is middle class and the third is upper class.
As a poor person you can always eat although it would be rice and beans and not be hungry. I don't think people choose to live this way but those that have to can make it.
As a wealthy person you can live a much better life here than you can in the US with the same disposable income. There are a lot of things such as Domestic help, entertainment, weekend getaways and the like that is far less expensive than when I compare it to the states. A long weekend in the US can cost me 500-1000 dollars with out being lavish. In the DR is is between 150-400 dollars being more lavish. Live in maid is 100 dollars US a month or less. You spend more than that a week in the states. Gardener is basically the same along with a guard or a driver. Housing is half the price, cars and imported stuff is more expensive.
As a working middle class person in the DR it really sucks. Difficult to get along unless you have your own sucessful business which is not an easy proposition according to my experience talking with people in the DR and getting to know a few businesses from the inside. Even the guys that "think" they are sharp and possibly are sharp in the US suffer in business in the DR without a "hook" or something that sets them apart from the others. Business is very difficult partly due to the Government chicanery, bribes, propinas, culture and just plain people looking separate you from your money and make it theirs. The actual biggest reason people fail in the DR is because they do NOT understand the culture which is far different from anywhere I have been. Nothing there is straight up and down. Crooked all the way.
The Dominican people while friendly are just different from people you meet in the US. You really need to get a understanding about them which is very difficult unless you invest the time. You have to separate the good from the bad just like anywhere else except in government where they are all bad and you catch no breaks.
Any thoughts or comments on mine based your experiences? Please if you have nothing to add stay out of this thread and fluff up some other one.