As there seem to be a lot of people looking to move here at the moment, I thought it might be useful for them to know what were the biggest mistakes I (and others) made and what were the best things we did. So here goes:
Biggest mistakes
1. Getting shot!
2. Buying a gym.
[I]Had 150 members the first month but my little brain didn't work out that there were no monthly deductions from the bank here, so the second month instead of 150 members plus more new ones, there was nobody again as we had to wait for th 150 members to come in and pay, and most didn't as they had no money that month!!! Plus when we bought it the dollar was at 16 pesos (the rent was in dollars) and 6 months later it was over 50!!! Bye bye gym!![/I]
3. Trusting too many people - ex pats and dominicans
4. Not learning how to be a plumber, electrician or car mechanic before I came here - even basic courses!
5. Leaving my kitchen knives in their knife block on the kitchen work top. have got through 3 knife blocks as they were taken to fix things by all the incompetent plumbers, electricians and mechanics.
6. Not putting any money in a CD when the rates at Banco Central were 46%, or even when they were 23%. Dork!!!
Best things
1. Buying a house
After 2 years, and I love it to bits and it has increased a lot in value, but is much harder work than a house in Uk
2. Meeting and marrying my Dominican husband
3. Buying a colmado.
People will always need food and we appeal to all types of people, Dominicans, Haitians, ex pats and tourists. Everything has a price sticker - Dominican prices for everyone - no one gets ripped off
4. Learning Spanish and then creole
5. Taking out medical insurance 3 months before getting shot!
It only paid 350,000 RD$ towards medical bills by my God that helped!
6. Discovering DR1!!
Has given me lots of new friends and although I have only met a few it has really been a lifeline to have contact with like minded intelligent people. (And I am being serious!!)
Anyone else got a list??????
Matilda
Biggest mistakes
1. Getting shot!
2. Buying a gym.
[I]Had 150 members the first month but my little brain didn't work out that there were no monthly deductions from the bank here, so the second month instead of 150 members plus more new ones, there was nobody again as we had to wait for th 150 members to come in and pay, and most didn't as they had no money that month!!! Plus when we bought it the dollar was at 16 pesos (the rent was in dollars) and 6 months later it was over 50!!! Bye bye gym!![/I]
3. Trusting too many people - ex pats and dominicans
4. Not learning how to be a plumber, electrician or car mechanic before I came here - even basic courses!
5. Leaving my kitchen knives in their knife block on the kitchen work top. have got through 3 knife blocks as they were taken to fix things by all the incompetent plumbers, electricians and mechanics.
6. Not putting any money in a CD when the rates at Banco Central were 46%, or even when they were 23%. Dork!!!
Best things
1. Buying a house
After 2 years, and I love it to bits and it has increased a lot in value, but is much harder work than a house in Uk
2. Meeting and marrying my Dominican husband
3. Buying a colmado.
People will always need food and we appeal to all types of people, Dominicans, Haitians, ex pats and tourists. Everything has a price sticker - Dominican prices for everyone - no one gets ripped off
4. Learning Spanish and then creole
5. Taking out medical insurance 3 months before getting shot!
It only paid 350,000 RD$ towards medical bills by my God that helped!
6. Discovering DR1!!
Has given me lots of new friends and although I have only met a few it has really been a lifeline to have contact with like minded intelligent people. (And I am being serious!!)
Anyone else got a list??????
Matilda