I have been away from the DR for almost three months now. My return flight is booked for August 18th but since the power situation hit rock bottom I am seriously considering extending my absence from the DR.
I face this decision with a very heavy heart, because I am missing the country I call home and was looking forward to getting back into my routine there, seeing my all friends there, and taking my son, who is now four, to his wonderful new pre-school in Santo Domingo.
On the other hand, I have no real urgent reason to go back, so my reasoning is - why should I subject myself - and my son - to the current conditions when I have a comfortable alternative here at my parents' house in Gibraltar?
As some of you may remember from the power crisis this last January, what I find most difficult about living without electricity is the pollution from all the big generators that surround our house, including the Diamond Mall, Diamond Plaza, and at least two neighbouring apartment blocks. We ourselves do not have a planta, just an inverter which cannot stand the strain of 22 hours in 24 without power.
If it were just me, I would bite the bullet and go back. I have lived in far more adverse conditions than this in my time, and part of me would consider it a challenge. However, since becoming a parent I look at things differently. I was wracked with guilt about subjecting my son to those levels of pollution in January, and seriously considered leaving the country then if things did not improve.
As things stand, I am entirely in two minds about what to do. With only six days to go I still haven't made a decision. My husband returned to the DR yesterday and when we spoke he said that things seemed a little better, but that he hadn't been there long enough to provide a basis upon which to decide. My other option is to wait another month and then decide.
So - - what do I do? Comments and advice welcomed. And if anyone is passing near the second southernmost tip of Europe, a Presidente would be most welcome to help me drown my considerable sorrows.
Chiri
I face this decision with a very heavy heart, because I am missing the country I call home and was looking forward to getting back into my routine there, seeing my all friends there, and taking my son, who is now four, to his wonderful new pre-school in Santo Domingo.
On the other hand, I have no real urgent reason to go back, so my reasoning is - why should I subject myself - and my son - to the current conditions when I have a comfortable alternative here at my parents' house in Gibraltar?
As some of you may remember from the power crisis this last January, what I find most difficult about living without electricity is the pollution from all the big generators that surround our house, including the Diamond Mall, Diamond Plaza, and at least two neighbouring apartment blocks. We ourselves do not have a planta, just an inverter which cannot stand the strain of 22 hours in 24 without power.
If it were just me, I would bite the bullet and go back. I have lived in far more adverse conditions than this in my time, and part of me would consider it a challenge. However, since becoming a parent I look at things differently. I was wracked with guilt about subjecting my son to those levels of pollution in January, and seriously considered leaving the country then if things did not improve.
As things stand, I am entirely in two minds about what to do. With only six days to go I still haven't made a decision. My husband returned to the DR yesterday and when we spoke he said that things seemed a little better, but that he hadn't been there long enough to provide a basis upon which to decide. My other option is to wait another month and then decide.
So - - what do I do? Comments and advice welcomed. And if anyone is passing near the second southernmost tip of Europe, a Presidente would be most welcome to help me drown my considerable sorrows.
Chiri
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