Okay, I've read through most of this forum -it's very addictive - and I've debated posting my story, but I figure that you guys offer such diversified advice that it can only help me.
I don't think that my story is a Sankie story (yeah, I know, here we go again) but I can't be too sure, so here it is -
A few weeks ago, I was in POP with a friend on a vacation just to relax and unwind, not looking to hook up. I was fully educated by this sankie forum ( I prepared before hand). I had a great time, and resort workers were all fabulous, not a problem at all.
On day 6 of my 8 day trip, I took a renowned excursion. I caught the eyes of one of the tour guides and as the day wore on, he'd came over and we'd chat for a bit. By the end of the day, he said that he wanted us to keep in touch, and so he gave me his email address. I took it, we smiled, end of tour.
He called my room at the resort (got the number from the tour listing). He said that he just wanted to wish me a good flight back home, and to remind me to keep in touch. I said I was going to be at a certain club for my last night, if he was going to be in the area perhaps we could meet up again.
My friend and I and another couple of tourist guys from the resort went to the club together to save on exorbitant taxi costs. My tour guide was there by himself, nursing his presidente. I went up to greet him, he bought my friend and I a couple of drinks, and I went to dance. By this time, he was sitting at the bar, nursing his Red Bull and alternately watching me. I pulled him out to dance a few times, and he did, but he kept a respectable distance away from me at all times. An hour later, we all called it a night. Tour Guide shook hands with all of us, wished us well, and told me to keep in touch. I reached out for a hug, because it seemed more appropriate to me.
On the plane ride back home - I figured this was a fling that never was. Not even a kiss - but the lack of activity just fuelled the fantasy.
I emailed him when I got back to say Hi. Since then, emails have been exchanged daily. He's quite sweet, and I'm too cynical to be a true romantic, but what woman doesn't like to have a daily ego boost? His words are never over the top, and there are never assumptions. He just says things like he feels like I'm a "gift from God" and that he thinks about me all day long. I have to admit that he was on my mind an awful lot. I would go on dates and be wondering about what my tour guide would think of certain things. I know, not fair to my dates.
Well, we'd been emailing daily for just under 2 weeks when he suddenly says he wants to see me again, has to get to know me better, and he will pay for half of my trip. I tell him it's a crazy impulsive idea. He says that he thought about it and even his mom is happy about his decision. I tell him it'll be high season and it'll be really expensive. When he persists, I decide to call his bluff. Knowing what the chances of identity theft and other banking scams are, and trusting him enough not to be like that, I give him my banking information, thinking that it should reveal his true colours.
A few days later, to my astonishment, I have $1000 deposited into my account. I really don't know how much he makes, but as a working class POP boy who was raised in the country, it couldn't have been easy to part with that much money.
I have since booked my trip as I was encouraged by a friend (male, if it makes any difference) that I should stop overanalyzing, book it before the prices go up, and have fun. That raises a whole new set of concerns about travelling alone, but I'll deal with that later.
Background information, just so the details are clear: He's 23 and I'm 25 (and yes, I'm from Canada).
My concerns are the following:
1) Obviously I have moral issues with using this guys money - but he insisted that it's 100% his idea so I should feel no ways about it
2) I know that "not all resort workers are sankies"...but I never hear about tour guides. They are also frequently in contact with tourists every day...can someone enlighten me on this particular group of men?
3) I've covered all possible ulterior motives, but my ever protective older brother is worried that I may be roped into a slavery/prostition ring. For his sake, I must ask, what are the chances of this in DR?
4) Is my story a common one?
5) What am I overlooking?
Whew. Thanks for reading all of this. Does anyone have any insight for me?
I don't think that my story is a Sankie story (yeah, I know, here we go again) but I can't be too sure, so here it is -
A few weeks ago, I was in POP with a friend on a vacation just to relax and unwind, not looking to hook up. I was fully educated by this sankie forum ( I prepared before hand). I had a great time, and resort workers were all fabulous, not a problem at all.
On day 6 of my 8 day trip, I took a renowned excursion. I caught the eyes of one of the tour guides and as the day wore on, he'd came over and we'd chat for a bit. By the end of the day, he said that he wanted us to keep in touch, and so he gave me his email address. I took it, we smiled, end of tour.
He called my room at the resort (got the number from the tour listing). He said that he just wanted to wish me a good flight back home, and to remind me to keep in touch. I said I was going to be at a certain club for my last night, if he was going to be in the area perhaps we could meet up again.
My friend and I and another couple of tourist guys from the resort went to the club together to save on exorbitant taxi costs. My tour guide was there by himself, nursing his presidente. I went up to greet him, he bought my friend and I a couple of drinks, and I went to dance. By this time, he was sitting at the bar, nursing his Red Bull and alternately watching me. I pulled him out to dance a few times, and he did, but he kept a respectable distance away from me at all times. An hour later, we all called it a night. Tour Guide shook hands with all of us, wished us well, and told me to keep in touch. I reached out for a hug, because it seemed more appropriate to me.
On the plane ride back home - I figured this was a fling that never was. Not even a kiss - but the lack of activity just fuelled the fantasy.
I emailed him when I got back to say Hi. Since then, emails have been exchanged daily. He's quite sweet, and I'm too cynical to be a true romantic, but what woman doesn't like to have a daily ego boost? His words are never over the top, and there are never assumptions. He just says things like he feels like I'm a "gift from God" and that he thinks about me all day long. I have to admit that he was on my mind an awful lot. I would go on dates and be wondering about what my tour guide would think of certain things. I know, not fair to my dates.
Well, we'd been emailing daily for just under 2 weeks when he suddenly says he wants to see me again, has to get to know me better, and he will pay for half of my trip. I tell him it's a crazy impulsive idea. He says that he thought about it and even his mom is happy about his decision. I tell him it'll be high season and it'll be really expensive. When he persists, I decide to call his bluff. Knowing what the chances of identity theft and other banking scams are, and trusting him enough not to be like that, I give him my banking information, thinking that it should reveal his true colours.
A few days later, to my astonishment, I have $1000 deposited into my account. I really don't know how much he makes, but as a working class POP boy who was raised in the country, it couldn't have been easy to part with that much money.
I have since booked my trip as I was encouraged by a friend (male, if it makes any difference) that I should stop overanalyzing, book it before the prices go up, and have fun. That raises a whole new set of concerns about travelling alone, but I'll deal with that later.
Background information, just so the details are clear: He's 23 and I'm 25 (and yes, I'm from Canada).
My concerns are the following:
1) Obviously I have moral issues with using this guys money - but he insisted that it's 100% his idea so I should feel no ways about it
2) I know that "not all resort workers are sankies"...but I never hear about tour guides. They are also frequently in contact with tourists every day...can someone enlighten me on this particular group of men?
3) I've covered all possible ulterior motives, but my ever protective older brother is worried that I may be roped into a slavery/prostition ring. For his sake, I must ask, what are the chances of this in DR?
4) Is my story a common one?
5) What am I overlooking?
Whew. Thanks for reading all of this. Does anyone have any insight for me?