Quality Of Life In D.r ??

mariainspain

New member
May 12, 2007
29
0
0
hello again,

i just wondered if there is actually any quality of life in the dom rep apart from desperate men/women looking for 'love'

sorry about the sarcasm, but...

is there not a better way of life for children there???

is the pace of life not slower ??

isnt the wildlife and marine life good ??

please, isnt there anybody who has a better quality of life out there or is it just the crappest place on the earth.

because i was led to believe differently.

appreciate objective opinions

maria
 

Chris

Gold
Oct 21, 2002
7,951
28
0
www.caribbetech.com
mariainspain, posters have given you good answers on some of the other threads. You will only see and experience the differences from country to country when you actually live here for a while. All the discussions in the world is not going to give you a better flavor than the one already presented on this board.

I would suggest take some time off, rent a place on the North Coast, buy tickets for you and your kids and try it out first.
 

Chirimoya

Well-known member
Dec 9, 2002
17,850
982
113
Thing is, taking into account the elements you state you wish to avoid eliminates the main options - big cities are fast-paced, north coast is full of expats, and crime is on the rise. It is better for children in some ways - this being a child-centered culture, but lacking in others. Quality of life is superior in some ways, inferior in others - especially when it comes to state services.

Santiago and Jarabacoa might just fit your criteria, but as Chris says, you really need to come and see for yourself.
 

Ken

Platinum
Jan 1, 2002
13,884
495
83
maria, there are a lot of us on the message board that are not chasing girls and who have lived here a long time. Chris, Hillbilly, Rocky, Eddy are names that immediately come to mind. Hillbilly has been here more than 30 years, I'm in my 21st, Rocky a year or two more than me, not sure about Eddy and Chris, but they are old timers. We are not forced to stay here and would not still be here if this was as bad as some of the posters make it sound.

Whether this is the place for you is not something you can learn from this message board. You have to come here and spend enough time to determine if you can adjust to the pace of life, Dominican time, the way things are done here,etc.
 

Lambada

Gold
Mar 4, 2004
9,478
410
0
80
www.ginniebedggood.com
Nearly 15 years here & we're not moving. :) All of the long termers still here have made all the expat adjustments they need to & are content. Remember that you get posts from people at the 1)unconscious incompetence stage then at the 2) conscious incompetence stage then at 3) the conscious competence stage (sometimes the most strident of all :cheeky:) & finally 4) at the unconscious competence stage. Most of the contented long termers are in stage 4. I've written an article on this on a travel writers site if you want me to send you the link. You, Maria, are already a long term expat, are you not? So much of the stuff people go through is already behind you. Talk to people like JDSauser. He was already a long term expat when he moved here and his process of settling whilst maybe not complete as yet, has been far less traumatic than many. Like you, he came with fluent Spanish. Makes a difference. :)
 

vegasdiva

New member
Dec 2, 2006
50
0
0
Lambada, I?m interested in your link to your article. I?m also interested to know more about the expats on this site . . . why did they decide to move to the RD? What do they do to support themselves? All I've seen so far is that Rocky owns a bar. I'm also curious about this apparent oxymoron: you (not you personally, but the general advice given by many of you who've made the leap) say come experience it, come live here and try it out, ==== at the same time, anyone who says "I'm going to do it now" seems to get trashed. Maybe your article will explain this.

The next time I'm there, I'd love to meet some of you (end of June, in Higuey, Santiago, and Sto. Dom.) but I admit I'm intimidated. I can't tell if you really want anymore "foreigners" there. And I understand not wanting anymore of an "invasion" from outsiders. It happens here in the US in many places.

I agree with Mariaspain's question, isn't there something more to the RD than all the negatives???? I would guess that most of us reading this board have found something positive there. That?s why we spend our time at this site and not others.

And this being the Living forum, well . . .

can anyone explain, what gives?
\\

ps. this site is FULL of information!!! I'm in awe of how much so many of you know about so many topics. And I'm grateful to you for sharing it. I just don't understand the negativity when anyone mentions they're considering moving there. (I get the humidity, blackouts, drugs & crime - anywhere you won't find that? -, corrupt govt -again, anywhere it's not happening? -, ) There is something incredibly positive about what drew me or others to this place.
 

mariainspain

New member
May 12, 2007
29
0
0
many thanks for the info everybody.

i agree with vegasdiva, you cant be sure if some of the posters are saying such negatives because they dont want more foreigners there, god if i could have my village back to how it was 5 yrs ago i would.

all it is now is brits on benefits, major cocaine problems, the town hall grabbing the half of your garden and the owners of the houses having to pay for the offense and it is illegal but they are doing it, eastern europeans opening up more brothels than shops, and if they are not doing that they are breaking into your house burgling you and beating the hell out of you, ontop of this half a mile away, the local skip owner has been emptying septic tanks and dumping pure sewarage and s.it in a field next to houses and the international school, well imagine the smell and disease in 35 degrees heat.

so believe me, i think its a general reflection of the world in general.

a big thanks for all the sound ideas

maria
 

eldorada

New member
Mar 9, 2005
52
0
0
Mariainspain all the advice you have gotten is based on individual experiences and is true whether negative or positive. If you have kids you will want to live in a city like Santiago. The quality of life that you live will really be up to you.
I am not sure about the wildlife but there is an abundance of marine life all around the island.
 

Andy B

Bronze
Jan 1, 2002
774
0
0
www.elmarinique.com
"I am not sure about the wildlife but there is an abundance of marine life all around the island."

There isn't much wildlife other than birds and feral pigs. And in the quest to feed a burgeoning pet shop market, the Dominican parakete (little bright green parrot) has all but been hunted to near extinction. Waters surrounding the island have all but been fished out in less than 140' in an effort to feed a hungry population. This not only includes bottom fish such as grouper and snapper but lobsters as well which primarily feed the hungry tourists. It's sad what's happened/happening to this island's natural resources.
 

KateP

Silver
May 28, 2004
2,845
6
38
I've been in the country now for over 11 years from Juan Dolio to Santo Domingo to more recently Punta Cana and I'm not planning on leaving any time soon. Sure, it's not a perfect country, it's got its bad stuff, but there are plenty of good things too! All depends on what you want to get out of life and how you adapt to new situations. Yes, things are generally a bit slower here and depending on where you live you'll feel it more or less. In Punta Cana for example, the pace is mucho slower than Santo Domingo. There are almost never traffic jams, you don't hear about violence every day, you don't see drug dealers on street corners and you don't even get a feel of what's going on in politics unless you look at the news! (not that I'm saying that all this happends in SD)

My recommendation, keep reading the good and the bad and see if it fits in with what you're looking for.
 

Chichiguita

New member
Dec 30, 2004
156
0
0
taste and see

I don't know if you have had the chance to check it out, but I just found "the Mangu Minute". It is a podcast available monthly through this site. I love it. They talk about what is happening in the country and news from the view point of someone who has lived in the country a long time. This might give you a little bit of a "feel" for things. One of the men is from Boston and the other from London--so the accents in themselves are pretty entertaining (sort of...hmmm..."Car Talk meets the BBC"). Since the discussion covers current events, it is a good way to learn. Nothing beats just plain being there though.
 

AnnaC

Gold
Jan 2, 2002
16,050
418
83
I don't know if you have had the chance to check it out, but I just found "the Mangu Minute". It is a podcast available monthly through this site. I love it. They talk about what is happening in the country and news from the view point of someone who has lived in the country a long time. This might give you a little bit of a "feel" for things. One of the men is from Boston and the other from London--so the accents in themselves are pretty entertaining (sort of...hmmm..."Car Talk meets the BBC"). Since the discussion covers current events, it is a good way to learn. Nothing beats just plain being there though.

Are you talking about Robert and Randy? I think the last one was Nov. 2006 unless I missed something. ;)

http://www.dr1.com/manguminute/
 

Ken

Platinum
Jan 1, 2002
13,884
495
83
Lambada, I like your 4 stages. Have never thought of it that way, but you are right. I would like to read your article.
 

whirleybird

Silver
Feb 27, 2006
3,264
322
83
Nearly 15 years here & we're not moving. :) All of the long termers still here have made all the expat adjustments they need to & are content. Remember that you get posts from people at the 1)unconscious incompetence stage then at the 2) conscious incompetence stage then at 3) the conscious competence stage (sometimes the most strident of all :cheeky:) & finally 4) at the unconscious competence stage. Most of the contented long termers are in stage 4. I've written an article on this on a travel writers site if you want me to send you the link. You, Maria, are already a long term expat, are you not? So much of the stuff people go through is already behind you. Talk to people like JDSauser. He was already a long term expat when he moved here and his process of settling whilst maybe not complete as yet, has been far less traumatic than many. Like you, he came with fluent Spanish. Makes a difference. :)

I used to use that "model" in sales and management training some years ago - which is the most comfortable?
 

whirleybird

Silver
Feb 27, 2006
3,264
322
83
Nearly 15 years here & we're not moving. :) All of the long termers still here have made all the expat adjustments they need to & are content. Remember that you get posts from people at the 1)unconscious incompetence stage then at the 2) conscious incompetence stage then at 3) the conscious competence stage (sometimes the most strident of all :cheeky:) & finally 4) at the unconscious competence stage. Most of the contented long termers are in stage 4. I've written an article on this on a travel writers site if you want me to send you the link. You, Maria, are already a long term expat, are you not? So much of the stuff people go through is already behind you. Talk to people like JDSauser. He was already a long term expat when he moved here and his process of settling whilst maybe not complete as yet, has been far less traumatic than many. Like you, he came with fluent Spanish. Makes a difference. :)

I would also be interested in reading your article please..
 
B

batich

Guest
hello again,

i just wondered if there is actually any quality of life in the dom rep apart from desperate men/women looking for 'love'

sorry about the sarcasm, but...

is there not a better way of life for children there???

is the pace of life not slower ??

isnt the wildlife and marine life good ??

please, isnt there anybody who has a better quality of life out there or is it just the crappest place on the earth.

because i was led to believe differently.

appreciate objective opinions

maria


OK. I do not want more stones from RE people so I`ll keep my thoughts to myself, but folks this is a 42 y.old single mother with two kids. Who just lost her husband. PLease do not forget it. Be human to her.

Most posts of general nature like " We live here in DR for 15 years and we are very happy and do not want to leave" without any specifics sound very much like sales pitch of a desperate sales person.

Please at least give her some exact info like prices for food and professional help, prices to buy or to rent living space in safe areas. What are her chances to sell her house if she decides that DR is not good for her.

What are after school programes in DR schools. Any sport activities. Any creative activities. Any measures to protect children against abuse or crime or drugs or auto accidents.

Ecology. Especially in places like capital and Santiago.

Any social programes for single mothers or children.

Street crime. Sanitation. Political stability in the country.

Of course it is possible to survive. But is it enough to her? Unlike many DR residents she has ALL countries and ALL options open to her.

Please give her the true info . With all respect.
 

Alyonka

Silver
Jun 3, 2006
2,757
155
0
hello again,

i just wondered if there is actually any quality of life in the dom rep apart from desperate men/women looking for 'love'

sorry about the sarcasm, but...

is there not a better way of life for children there???

is the pace of life not slower ??

isnt the wildlife and marine life good ??

please, isnt there anybody who has a better quality of life out there or is it just the crappest place on the earth.

because i was led to believe differently.

appreciate objective opinions

maria

Maria, I am also a parent and also want to relocate just the same way as you do - similar situation - looking for a new place to live for a while. I went to DR a couple of months ago and fell in love with this country. It is beautiful. There is certain special feel to it, I cannot explain. And it has nothing to do with "LOVE" ;) Am I going to relocate there right away? No. I am going back there to do some more research. It is not en easy decision to make esp. if you have children. There are too many pros and cons to think of. Go to the DR and spend some time there. See for yourself.
 

mariainspain

New member
May 12, 2007
29
0
0
I Havent Lost My Husband, I Wish I Had. (sorry). We Divorced 6 Yrs Ago.

I Lost My Boyfirend Over 2 Yrs Ago, He Went To Iraq And Got Shot As A Bodyguard, All Because The Money Was So Appetising.

So As You Can Imagine I Am Not A Materialistic Person As I Have Seen What Money Can Do !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Any How Batich, You Are Right About Giving Me Sound Advice As I Need It And I Am Not Hurrying Into Anything.

I Will Rent For At Least 2 Yrs If I Can.

Any Ideas On Good Rentals In Santiago, Jarabacoa, That Area Etc.....

I Dont Need A Job But A Realistic Idea Of Prices, Rentals, Food, Health Insurance, School Fees.

I Am An English Language Teacher, I Speak Fluent Spanish And Would Even Do Voluntary Work.

I Am A Sensible Person Who Loves Different Cultures, Challenges And Life, After All We Aint Here That Long.

Thanks Everyone

Maria X
 

shadInToronto

On Vacation....
Nov 16, 2003
1,988
0
0
Quality of life is subjective - some people need more than others and that's the basis of assessing their perception of quality of life. You can get a lot of advice from members here, but you need to go and experience living there so you can determine whether it's good for you and your kid.

You have two options:
1. go there and start "living" while learning to adjust to your new home or
2. take a few trips with specific goals (e.g. finding an apartment, opening a bank account, shopping, travelling, .... etc.) to be accomplished then evaluate whether you can adapt.

At least start by taking a trip.