hello everyone,
(I'm a brand new "newbie" so please go gentle on any obvious naivity! this is also the first time I've posted to ANY forum, so glad to now be part of the electronic world!)
I'm afraid I came to the Dominican and got 'sankied'... But rather than purely slag-off these people, I became interested in the motivation?
During this one trip, I fell in love with the Dominican Republic and began my research, both positive and negative to try to start to understand the culture, etc that is hidden as a tourist.
Whilst I wholeheartedly understand that one cannot apply the cultures in a developed world to the DR, or assume any similarities between your home country and the DR, I wonder what steps are being taken towards creating equality and development?
There is a distinct lack of education in terms of numeracy and literacy, but also correct use of contraception, support and identification of tallents. This, combined with great importance placed upon class, skin colou, a "them and us" approach, which creates further division... Coupled with 40% of the population beneath the minimum food basket line- severe poverty levels- leaves me wondering how these people can improve their quality of life??
Maybe I'm making excuses for my sankies' behaviour, but I think it is easy to judge, when you are shunned from society before becoming a 'sankie', and are faced with very little opportunity to utilise your intellectual (or other strenghts) that would not only enhance the individual's financial and self-worth- but also benefit the country by using individual's strenghts for the ecconomic stability/wealth for the country as a whole??
Think about a developed country- education, equal opp's, apprenticeships, scholarships, student loans, etc. Arent we better for these things? They must have started somewhere..? Are there any programs to educate adults, and help people of limited means, use their strengths to gain a better career? For example, the sankie in question speaks 4 languages which would normally, in a developed country, open a lot of doors...
Instead, is sleeping with tourists, bringing sexual diseases home to his girlfriend that he doesnt understand and possibly cant afford to treat?? This is clearly a monetary motivation, (plus additional sex?) but are there other viable options for someone of this class/ social standing/ poverty??...........
If you havent fallen asleep with my first post, any comments, positive or negative, would be appreciated.
Many thanks,
Cheryl
(I'm a brand new "newbie" so please go gentle on any obvious naivity! this is also the first time I've posted to ANY forum, so glad to now be part of the electronic world!)
I'm afraid I came to the Dominican and got 'sankied'... But rather than purely slag-off these people, I became interested in the motivation?
During this one trip, I fell in love with the Dominican Republic and began my research, both positive and negative to try to start to understand the culture, etc that is hidden as a tourist.
Whilst I wholeheartedly understand that one cannot apply the cultures in a developed world to the DR, or assume any similarities between your home country and the DR, I wonder what steps are being taken towards creating equality and development?
There is a distinct lack of education in terms of numeracy and literacy, but also correct use of contraception, support and identification of tallents. This, combined with great importance placed upon class, skin colou, a "them and us" approach, which creates further division... Coupled with 40% of the population beneath the minimum food basket line- severe poverty levels- leaves me wondering how these people can improve their quality of life??
Maybe I'm making excuses for my sankies' behaviour, but I think it is easy to judge, when you are shunned from society before becoming a 'sankie', and are faced with very little opportunity to utilise your intellectual (or other strenghts) that would not only enhance the individual's financial and self-worth- but also benefit the country by using individual's strenghts for the ecconomic stability/wealth for the country as a whole??
Think about a developed country- education, equal opp's, apprenticeships, scholarships, student loans, etc. Arent we better for these things? They must have started somewhere..? Are there any programs to educate adults, and help people of limited means, use their strengths to gain a better career? For example, the sankie in question speaks 4 languages which would normally, in a developed country, open a lot of doors...
Instead, is sleeping with tourists, bringing sexual diseases home to his girlfriend that he doesnt understand and possibly cant afford to treat?? This is clearly a monetary motivation, (plus additional sex?) but are there other viable options for someone of this class/ social standing/ poverty??...........
If you havent fallen asleep with my first post, any comments, positive or negative, would be appreciated.
Many thanks,
Cheryl