May, if you are opened minded person with street smartness then you will feel comfirtable anywhere. But if you possess genuine humor that dominicans can relate to then you will be the center of the attention of the crowd. They will all accept you with open arms. Dominicans are very simple people who only want to laugh and joke around over a few drinks all the time. Even when they have serious problems in the minds, they still find time to get away from it all and enjoy a little laughter and listen to some music.
Last night I was invited to go to Ahi-Bar to meet my friend's friends. As I walked in, they all had a practical joke waiting to be pulled on me. But me being AZB, I was all prepared and surprised them all. They asked me if I were a chiropractor in santiago but I replied that chiropractic is my cover, in actuality, I have a business in santiago for which I am not so proud of. The girls curiously asked me what type of a business? So with a straight face i told them that I cleaned septic tanks (limpieza de pozos septicos). They curiously asked me the name of the company, so I replied "chupa mierda CXA". It means "sh*T sucking". They all rolled off their chair with a huge laughter. I still kept my straight face and said, "you see what I mean, no one takes it seriously...". Then I gave them my telephone number "1-200-****" (a toll free number).
Now this is simple dirty humor and they all laughed so hard, I guess the drinks had something to do with it. They asked me how long I have been living in DR. I said 6 years or more, I am not sure. they said, how could that be that you are not sure, I said, because I was drunk for the first 2 years in puerto plata.
I know its not so funny as you read it but you had to be there in person and over a few drinks even the lamest person will crack.
S there you have it, the secret to winning a dominican friendship, be funny but in a genuine way, not memorized jokes and no american humor that they can't understand.have a nice day,
AZB
P.S. these girls were no chopas. they were bankers who came in their own late model cars and one actually paid my bill. She insisted.