Why do people live in the DR

Fred

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Feb 20, 2002
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With all the negative press that I read on this board regarding the DR, such as corruption, lack of electricity, water, high cost of food rice beans etc. Other than the weather, why would anyone want to live there?

If you take all of the variables such as quality of life medical attention ect. the DR falls short on all of these.
 

Ken

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Jan 1, 2002
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These negative factors don't directly affect the expat community very much. What was you point on medical attention? If you pick your doctors, as you should anywhere, it is very good.

In fact, your put down of medical care is really quite humorous. My family and friends in Canada and US wish it was as good there as it is here, now that most medical services are provided in HMO's, etc. Long waits for appointments, no consulatation of a specialist without referral from your "general" doctor, long wait to see the specialist after getting the referral, need to get advance approval from insurance company before many procedures.

Here, if we decide to see a doctor today we can do so, even if it is a specialist, we can do so. We may have to wait for him/her to see a few patients that got to office before we did, but we'll be seen. And when with the doctor, we know that he/she is truly interested in us. Then before leaving we pay a bill that is a small fraction of that charged in the US.

Personally, I would put medical care on the list of positives. My wife and I have a couple of doctors we wouldn't trade for any we have ever had in the US.
 

Criss Colon

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Jan 2, 2002
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I am here for the SEX!

The weather is also good.My children have a large extended family to love,niuture, and care for them.The food is good.The beer is good.The country is beautiful,and has a wide range of geographic and climactic zones.Rivers,lakes,and beaches.

If your car breaks down in the middle of the street,50 people will appear from out of the air to push you,and then repair your car,"For Free"!!

If you have no food,and no money,you will have food and a place to stay!!

People who decide to live in "Foreign Countries" often enjoy being "Big Fish,in Little Ponds"!

If you have a good job,you have nice benefits,and get a lot of respect!

As "White",fairly well-to-do foreigners,we are treated well by the Dominicans.

The peso today is at 37 to 1!!!!!

Dominican people come in all colors,sizes,and are sexy and friendly!

Cris Colon 8 years and counting!
 

amy2761

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Mar 16, 2003
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The peso today is at 37 to 1!!!!!
- Criss Colon


Learn your lesson folks ..... work in a dollar economy and live in Pesos!

Stay well,
Amy

1yr and counting
 

Aguayo

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Oct 11, 2003
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Real Health care value

Ken said:
My family and friends in Canada and US wish it was as good there as it is here, ...

When I came to Canada from Argentina the bigger surprise I got was that the Canadian health care was far inferior to what I was accustomed to in my country.
It was really amazing finding out that a first world country was behind a third world one in health care, so I?m not surprised at all reading your post.

IMHO one should not be unduly impressed for big and shiny hospitals full of modern equipment, but see which is the real value that one gets and how much freedom the system allows to the patient.
Here in Canada I feel than the medical/phamaceuthical guild is fully in control and the system is designed to perpetuate that situation and extract as money as possible from the taxpayers funded health care, without providing good healthcare value to the ?enslaved? patient.

That is one of the reason because I look forward to living in DR.
 

AZB

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Jan 2, 2002
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I live in this country for Rice and beans. I just love eating white rice and (beanless) beans. There is just something about this dish that I just can't get enough of. Please please, how do you make this so tasty without even adding salt?
I am going to tatoo on my butt "rice & beans power".
 

PJT

Silver
Jan 8, 2002
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Why am I here?

I?m here for the warm weather.
It sure beats winter in New England

I?m here for the warm people. If you are sick, strangers (friends you have just met) will drop in; bring food, and comfort, they ask nothing in return. If you?re hot and tired during a long walk, strangers will invite you into their homes to share a cold drink. If you are hungry, a poor person will give you their last bit of food. If you make good mention about something in a Dominican?s home they will give it to you.

I?m here so I can do what I want to do. If I want to paint the house purple with orange stars or plant banana trees in the front yard or change a light bulb, nobody gives a heck. I don?t have to get approval from city hall or from the neighborhood historic association.

I?m here for family. Nothing can be better to spend time and share love in the campo with aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends, playing dominoes, drinking, eating, picking fresh fruit, riding the horses, and talk about the everything under the sun. You find grandma and grandpa still taking care of the family and being cared for themselves.

You can hug a kid. ?and not be considered a predator.

My Dollars buy a lot of Pesos.


Regards, PJT
 
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GringoCArlos

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Jan 9, 2002
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Fred , one reason we might post many negative things here, is to SCARE AWAY the mobs of northamericanos and europas who would move here if they truly knew what life was like here.

And we don't want that, DO WE???

Life in the DR would truly become hell on wheels if all of a sudden, mobs of norteamericanos moved in here, and immediately started trying to turn this country in yet ANOTHER U.S.A., and that's the reason many of us came here - to get away from all of that mierda, so that we could live our lives in peace (not necessarily in quiet though).

Here, the gobierno can say anything they want to - because we know it ain't gonna happen, and it never will. If they look at you, you just go "boo" and they go after someone easier.
 

Chris

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Oct 21, 2002
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Despite the problems, there is a sense of freedom here that I've not experienced in the three other countries that I've lived in. One can be truly independent, and live like a hermit, or have a social life like a butterfly, or hit it somewhere in between. I can mostly say what I want, and do what I want. There is no 'keeping up with the Jonesses' type of social pressure. The community is still open and friendly and accept you for what and who you are. The expat community is different from anywhere else that I've been - less moaning and groaning and talking about 'back home'. People are exceedingly helpful.

Rice and beans are good - but the fruit and vegetables are just great. This is why I live here, for the fruit and vegetables.

My only complaint is the noise level and that there are no emissions laws. But mostly I can escape these things where I live.
 

quaqualita

Member
Feb 4, 2002
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Why I'm here:
#1: weather
back 'home', I had 9 months/year cold, rain, mud, snow, ice. I was sick with a flue most times. I hate to be freezing, I love hot weather, and sun, sun, sun.

#2: beaches and palm trees
back 'home' I saved every penny and worked overhrs to be able to afford 2 vacations/year, to spend at a nice place with beaches and palm trees. I collected postcards and pictures of nice beaches, I even had a huge sunset beach scene on the wall of my bedroom. Now I have one of the most beautiful beaches right at my door all year. And even after so long time living here, it still feels soooo good to take a walk with family/dogs on the beach after work - even if it's only for 10 minutes.

#3: people
back 'home' 90% of all people are always grumpy, you don't see any smiles, nobody has time to talk.
People here smile, laugh, have fun all day, going shopping here takes me at least douple the time than back 'home', since people who you barely know stop you to talk about live, how you're doing, anything...
Back home I had to learn to change a flat tire by myselft, because nobody would stop to help. Here, I count the seconds until a Dominican stops and changes my tire. (The longest I had to wait for someone to stop was 23 Seconds).

#4: freedom
like PJT mentioned: here I can do what I want, no silly rules of city halls or neighborhood. I can hear loud music after 8 pm, if I want to, I can hang out my laundry to dry on a sunday. And best, I don't need to have my driveway free of snow by latest 7 am :)

#5: family
my daughter is growing up here in paradise. She has a great personallity, which she probably got from the freedom she has here.
Dominicans love children, they stop with whatever they are doing, if a child talks to them and they start imediately to play. Dominicans never would scream at children to be quite, because they play too loud outside.

#6: easy to get residency and work permit:
Maybe DR is not the only country, which had the climate I like and friendly people, but it is one of the (if not THE) easiest to start legally a new life here. I don't need to be a big investor or trying to get an US-greencard. Even 'normal' midclass people can easily get here their legal residence permissions, without spending a fortune on it.


This are the reasons which come immediately in my mind. I'm sure, I would find many more.

quaqualita, 10 years and counting
 

goatfarmnga

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Jun 24, 2003
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Sin Binned (1 week). Enjoy!

If you continue the BS when your back, I'll add another month.

Sometimes I feel like a school teacher trying to dicipline naughty little kids. The two of you need to grow up!
 
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Larry

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Mar 22, 2002
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Sin Binned (1 week). Enjoy!

If you continue the BS when your back, I'll add another month.

Sometimes I feel like a school teacher trying to dicipline naughty little kids. The two of you need to grow up!
 
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Escott

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Jan 14, 2002
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Re: Real Health care value

Aguayo said:
When I came to Canada from Argentina the bigger surprise I got was that the Canadian health care was far inferior to what I was accustomed to in my country.
It was really amazing finding out that a first world country was behind a third world one in health care, so I?m not surprised at all reading your post.
You sure Canada is a first world country?

In the DR you can live much better for LESS than in the US. You can have a maid (full time) Gardener (full time) Nightwatchman (fulltime) Cook (Full time) for less than I pay to live with NOTHING in the US. I pay more in School taxes.

You don't have freezing cold winters where you have to spend half the year INSIDE. You can go for a swim in the ocean every week. If it rains you don't have to shovel it. You don't get a bad back from Shoveling.
 
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AlaninDR

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Dec 17, 2002
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Come on Scott, tell the truth. The real reason you're moving to DR is to get away from those high priced flip flop galoshes.
 

Escott

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Fred said:
With all the negative press that I read on this board regarding the DR, such as corruption, lack of electricity, water, high cost of food rice beans etc. Other than the weather, why would anyone want to live there?

If you take all of the variables such as quality of life medical attention ect. the DR falls short on all of these.
Corruption... I use it to my benefit.

Electricity... I have 24 hours of electric and run a/c without a problem.

Water... I have plenty of water. I use 5 gallon jugs to drink that cost 20 pesos.

Rice and Beans... Who the hell eats rice and beans?
 

bob saunders

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Jan 1, 2002
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Re: Re: Real Health care value

Escott said:
You sure Canada is a first world country?

This coming from a guy from upper New York State.

Most people come for the weather and the bang for their buck. Safer than Florida or California, with less weirdos and less rules.

The very things that most people complain about the DR are the very same things that people everywhere complain about, and yes, Pam, Dominicans complain about the same things; they are just more accepting of the problems.
 

CaribbeanGeorge

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Jan 3, 2002
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Why?

The girls are so easy here ! Round butt like nowhere else.
Ebony rules !
Monkeylover !Monkeylover !Monkeylover !Monkeylover !Monkeylover !Monkeylover !Monkeylover !Monkeylover !:knockedou :p :bandit: ;)
 

Escott

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Jan 14, 2002
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Re: Re: Re: Real Health care value

bob saunders said:
Escott said:
You sure Canada is a first world country?

This coming from a guy from upper New York State.
I have 2 places in NY. One is 20 miles N. of NYC (Airmont NY) which can hardly be considered UPPER NYS. Second place is 90 miles North of NYC which is considered "upstate" from NYC but hardly upstate considering NY is about 600 miles from North to South. You don't go into NYC to catch a play or dinner with Dr1'rs if you are from UPPER NYS and go home that same night.

Heh... Get a map out Bob! LOL

Next thing you are going to tell me that I have someone else drive me! hahaha
 

bob saunders

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you still get more snow than me here on Vancouver Island, but the girls here don't have that overall tan that those beautiful Dominicanas have.

I have yet to live in the DR, but when Yris and move to Jarabacoa, I won't have any problems dealing with the lack of Electricity....etc, because i will make sure I have 24 hr service. If you know the locals and understand how the country works or doesn't work. No problema.