Have you ever considered

korejdk

Bronze
Dec 29, 2006
647
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0
...leaving the DR ? Do you mind sharing why ? Please Lambada, HB, Pichardo, Chris, AZB ( especially ) Chip, Marco, Matilda, Chiri & all...
If so, what made you stay ?
 

DrChrisHE

On Probation!
Jul 23, 2006
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Originally we were only going to be here for a year. At 6 months my Dh's employer asked if we wanted to stay longer. We stayed (now 2 years) because our goals of all 5 of us being fluent and various other things (work related) had NOT yet been met. We are almost there though in many respects...but for us there has to be the right combo of features for leaving (especially having better employment situations for both of us.) As to why we'd want to leave: poor environmental conditions (sanitation, burning of trash & fields), lacking infrastructure (reliable power, potable water, sewers), bugs, heat/humidity, poor public health standards, inability to save money compared to what we expected, boredom with local cuisine, crime, lack or enforcement or arbitrary enforcement of laws, corruption in government, negative influence on our children, lack of our particular religious community (UU)...there are more. I could (and have listed) positive things but you asked WHY consider leaving.

The interesting thing about your question is that the long-stayers will necessarily have a view that is different from the short-timers. I'm sure many people think our time here is short, but it doesn't feel that way. Partially this is true because I can measure time in how much our children have grown up while we've been here.

I'm sure many people will say "Oh well you have those things wherever you go..." However, we have lived in many places and don't believe that this is true. We made a decision many years ago to move out of metropolitan areas to have a better quality of life/living standard. There are many places in the world where one can have the quality of life, healthful conditions, and not go broke.
 

Chip

Platinum
Jul 25, 2007
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Santiago
I haven't really considered mainly because my wife and daughters are happier here.

Also, since my Spanish has really become what I would say fluent in the last year or so, I have made a couple of very good friends and actually like the friendliness of Domincans in general. It makes it easy to have friends and a lot of acquaintances, which is becoming more and more difficult back in the States. Also, communicating with people about anything is never a problem so I almost feel a Domincan at times.

I'm almost in the mode of semi retirement, and so with my kids happy I can work when I want to and pursue other interests, probably such as teaching physics and engineering at the University at some point, something I have always wanted to do.

It also doesn't hurt that the weather is so great all of the time(I hate the cold and cloudy days), and this island is big enough to really explore.
 

Lambada

Gold
Mar 4, 2004
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www.ginniebedggood.com
...leaving the DR ? Do you mind sharing why ? Please Lambada, HB, Pichardo, Chris, AZB ( especially ) Chip, Marco, Matilda, Chiri & all...
If so, what made you stay ?

Not really. During the Reign of Terror :cheeky: - Hipolito - we had a back up plan B, in case, but it turned out not to be necessary. I would only consider leaving if it became unsafe for me to go about my normal daily routines and it is miles away from that. Should the revolution come I'd stay as long as possible and write about it (by revolution I mean a physical one making it unsafe, not a cultural or social one :) ).

My home is here, my heart is here. I'll be leaving in a wooden box (figuratively that is, in fact I'll be buried here) with a little sign saying 'Do?a Lambada can still see what you're up to...........' ;)
 

Matilda

RIP Lindsay
Sep 13, 2006
5,485
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No never. I am married to a Dominican with Dominica stepkids, and he would never live anywhere else. I have a house, farm, business here - none of which would sell that fast. So those are the practical and economic reasons.

Plus I just couldn't imagine being as happy anywhere else. The weather, the people, the way of life. I am more chilled here, and just simply more content. I could never imagine living in Europe again, even though there are small things I miss.

And where else could I get Brugal???

Matilda
 

AZB

Platinum
Jan 2, 2002
12,290
519
113
When I was living in puerto plata (1998-2000), I came to a point where I seriously thought I had made a mistake in moving to DR. At first i was happier than ever, living in costambar, ocean view and all. I made friends with expats and dominicans. had a few dominican female friends as well. Then I quickly got bored with all the daily routines. I soon, realized, there was no culture or genuine activities to do or to participate in except, drinking, talking BS with other drunk expats in bars and looking at hookers on malecon. The discos are full of hookers, the expats friends are always with hookers or chasing hookers. girls always in need of money, even the, so called, decent girls were not far away from being semi hookers. I thought I had learned spanish and was proud to be able to speak to street dominicans. hahahahaha. So I thought. But but, why was it I couldn't understand any spanish songs, spanish movies from other countries etc?
It came to a point when I totally gave up with everything there. I came to a premature conclusion that Dominicans were putos, poor, girls were hookers or semi hookers, people were uneducated and all looking for foreigners for $$$$$ and visa. The business was bad too, because expats and dominicans were both, either broke, or too cheap to pay for services that they needed.
So I was thinking of returning to atlanta and starting all over again. Thanks god I have a good, supportive family to help me out in a jam. As I was discussing all this with my american friend who lives in santo domingo, he advised me to stay and promised to find me work in another city. He calls me in a few days to tell me about a clinic in santiago, who were looking for a chiropractor to work in. I went over and they were happy to accept me in their group. from day one, I had come to realize, this was a whole different country. The people were far more educated, it was like a real country, not a senior citizen retirement beach resort. There were real businesses, people with real jobs and real american style grocery stores and the night life was something to write home about; not to mention the women, hahahaha, totally in a different class than the ones in puerto plata. I felt as if I had wasted 2 yrs of my life in the north coast. I had come to realize, I had gotten nothing out of living in the north coast. Except for a few people, I didn't meet any quality folks, expats or dominicans. It became apparent that i had learned no spanish either because I was unable to communicate with the santiagueros.
After this point, my life began to change. I started to make money. I learned spanish better and quickly. Made domincian friends who helped me get back on my feet. I got me a better house to live in, prices were far better here. In short, I found what i was looking for in a latin american country. i was finally with people whom I respected and was happy to live with. Life took the turn for the best but but then, Hipolito came and all went to hell. After 4 yrs of enduring PRD, I had reached another point in my life where I took a decision: if hipolito wins another 4 yrs of term, I am going back. Thanks god, he lost miserably and I was able to stay. Life is not all that great now, in this economy, but compared to my friends in USA and in europe, I think i am still better off here than anywhere else. If I had to move again, I would live in colombia.
AZB
 

Adrian Bye

Bronze
Jul 7, 2002
2,077
138
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I think about moving fairly often.. I may move to NYC or someplace else at somepoint. I can't find the employees I need here and so if I want to grow a team, I can't do it in this country. The combination of needing excellent english and high skills means my potential talent pool is just too small.
 

Bronxboy

Well-known member
Jul 11, 2007
14,107
595
113
When I was living in puerto plata (1998-2000), I came to a point where I seriously thought I had made a mistake in moving to DR. At first i was happier than ever, living in costambar, ocean view and all. I made friends with expats and dominicans. had a few dominican female friends as well. Then I quickly got bored with all the daily routines. I soon, realized, there was no culture or genuine activities to do or to participate in except, drinking, talking BS with other drunk expats in bars and looking at hookers on malecon. The discos are full of hookers, the expats friends are always with hookers or chasing hookers. girls always in need of money, even the, so called, decent girls were not far away from being semi hookers. I thought I had learned spanish and was proud to be able to speak to street dominicans. hahahahaha. So I thought. But but, why was it I couldn't understand any spanish songs, spanish movies from other countries etc?
It came to a point when I totally gave up with everything there. I came to a premature conclusion that Dominicans were putos, poor, girls were hookers or semi hookers, people were uneducated and all looking for foreigners for $$$$$ and visa. The business was bad too, because expats and dominicans were both, either broke, or too cheap to pay for services that they needed.
So I was thinking of returning to atlanta and starting all over again. Thanks god I have a good, supportive family to help me out in a jam. As I was discussing all this with my american friend who lives in santo domingo, he advised me to stay and promised to find me work in another city. He calls me in a few days to tell me about a clinic in santiago, who were looking for a chiropractor to work in. I went over and they were happy to accept me in their group. from day one, I had come to realize, this was a whole different country. The people were far more educated, it was like a real country, not a senior citizen retirement beach resort. There were real businesses, people with real jobs and real american style grocery stores and the night life was something to write home about; not to mention the women, hahahaha, totally in a different class than the ones in puerto plata. I felt as if I had wasted 2 yrs of my life in the north coast. I had come to realize, I had gotten nothing out of living in the north coast. Except for a few people, I didn't meet any quality folks, expats or dominicans. It became apparent that i had learned no spanish either because I was unable to communicate with the santiagueros.
After this point, my life began to change. I started to make money. I learned spanish better and quickly. Made domincian friends who helped me get back on my feet. I got me a better house to live in, prices were far better here. In short, I found what i was looking for in a latin american country. i was finally with people whom I respected and was happy to live with. Life took the turn for the best but but then, Hipolito came and all went to hell. After 4 yrs of enduring PRD, I had reached another point in my life where I took a decision: if hipolito wins another 4 yrs of term, I am going back. Thanks god, he lost miserably and I was able to stay. Life is not all that great now, in this economy, but compared to my friends in USA and in europe, I think i am still better off here than anywhere else. If I had to move again, I would live in colombia.
AZB

Thanks for sharing!!!!
 

Chirimoya

Well-known member
Dec 9, 2002
17,850
982
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I am happy here and have never seriously considered it, unlike my husband who is Dominican. He says that if Punta Cana doesn't work out for us, we should leave the country. He is mainly concerned about the rise in crime and what he considers a crisis of values, excess materialism, etc. I try to explain that the last two especially will be a problem almost anywhere we go, unless we head for the Welsh mountains and live in a teepee. :D

What does make me think twice about staying here is the fact that I come from a place which was recently ranked no. 5 most stable and prosperous in the world. There is zero crime there, and full employment. I do wonder about the wisdom of raising a child in a potentially dangerous and unstable place when I have that option.

As I've said before, this is a lovely country to live in on so many levels, but not that great a place when the chips are down (either at micro or macro level) when you realise that all the things you grew up taking for granted like free, efficient health care, an effective police and legal system, working emergency services, etc. are precarious and unreliable at best, and non-existent at worst.
 

Chip

Platinum
Jul 25, 2007
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429
0
Santiago
Good points Chiri, just a couple of notes. If you do have to mave back to you home more than likely you both would have to work, correct? That means that the kids will be spending less time away from you. This is what is happening in the States to a large degree, and let me tell you, we are paying a large price. Every time I go back I'm astonished to see how the youth act in public, the fould language and complete and utter disrespect for elders - this is one thing you just don't see here in the DR, at least in the campo and city here in Cibao.

Also, with reference to "free" healthcare, as you realize there is no such thing. High taxes are what enables comprehensive services such as these.

We are actually able to live much more comfortably here in the Dr with my salary, and we don't have health insurance. The ironic thing is back in the States me and my wife were rejected by all the major carriers becasue we had pre-existing condition. Talk about nerve racking! I paid more than one visit to the ER room fro my wife and my daughters and it was never less than a thousand dollars, excluding the medecine.

Here an ER vist and two days in the hospital cost me like US350. Also, my wife's c-section was US450 (we had connections).
 

Chirimoya

Well-known member
Dec 9, 2002
17,850
982
113
Good points Chiri, just a couple of notes. If you do have to mave back to you home more than likely you both would have to work, correct? That means that the kids will be spending less time away from you. This is what is happening in the States to a large degree, and let me tell you, we are paying a large price. Every time I go back I'm astonished to see how the youth act in public, the fould language and complete and utter disrespect for elders - this is one thing you just don't see here in the DR, at least in the campo and city here in Cibao.
At least one of us would remain freelance. Even though there is employment, there isn't much in my line of work, so I would probably continue consultancy work for NGOs and translating/editing work from home, like I do here. Mr C is a photographer and he would be best off sticking to that.

Also, with reference to "free" healthcare, as you realize there is no such thing. High taxes are what enables comprehensive services such as these.
Taxes are a mixed bag. I think income tax is about 30%, which is high, but there is no VAT. We pay plenty of tax here in the DR AND have to pay out thousands of US$ a year on private health and education, and what we'd get there in return is much better than what we have to settle for here, especially when it comes to health.

We are actually able to live much more comfortably here in the Dr with my salary, and we don't have health insurance. The ironic thing is back in the States me and my wife were rejected by all the major carriers becasue we had pre-existing condition. Talk about nerve racking! I paid more than one visit to the ER room fro my wife and my daughters and it was never less than a thousand dollars, excluding the medecine.
Not an issue where I come from. Free health care, and if you get a really serious disease they send you to the nearest specialist centre in Spain or to England for treatment - with all expenses paid by the government.

Another element is higher education - Gibraltar, unlike the UK, still covers university tuition and some living costs (the latter calculated according to parental income). That is a huge incentive to go back there as my son would be eligible if we moved back at least two or three years before he would start university. So if we don't go back in the short term, it would be a possibility in about seven years time.
 

AZB

Platinum
Jan 2, 2002
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can I move there? sounds like an ideal place to live. Stone throw away from spain.
AZB
 

Skippy1

New member
Feb 21, 2008
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Snap - I can't help thinking that AZB is a glass half empty rather than a glass half full person, somehow..........

:cheeky:

Rio

Half full or empty I doubt anyone else is as honest and as comprehensive in their responses.
I am sure AZB with a few good friends and a few beers is a great fun guy like anyone else.....
Of all the posters here AZB has my attention most of the time.....but that does not mean I always agree with him.

Skippy1