- Thread starter whirleybird
- Start date
Dishonest Dominican workers?????
Ma cheri amour, (cue the music)
I don't blame Chip for anything.
His way of dealing with it , is his way.
There was no disrespect intended ... just adding to the "caught" statement.
After all, how do you "catch" ? You bait and trap, I guess.
Just not often seen with people
This was an elaborate scheme to catch....... one can agree, or disagree
Don't you think? N'est-ce pas?
Firstly, you colonials are funny...200 years is not old. It takes that long to grow a decent lawn.
And of all the people on this board why would you criticise my grammar? What did she ever do to you?
Really, why the childish sniping? I make a valid point about bigotry related to the christian cult and you cry like a school child. Obviously hit a raw nerve.
So to reiterate the point with which you seem to disagree:
Poverty is economic, not genetic.
Inshallah.
I am stung by you two.... I have re-read the prior posts and encourage you to do the same
It appears to me that some of the others advocate keeping a distance.. maintaining the "employer" position.
I agree with that stance
If that means that Jack ain't the master... so what.. he ain't.. and I doubt he wants to be
Life and business is not a "free for all"... there is a structure and - as has been pointed out - the less developed countries, like the DR, embrace that structure more than others..
My opinion-- argue, if you will ... but with all of them, not just me
So, keep swinging the hammer to hit the nail, the same as you did 200 years ago...
Today , there are pneumatic ones that hit harder and faster
This is DR related in the societal sense.... I trust
WW
Sorry, missed your post while doing another
I will be the first to agree about 200 yrs being nothing.... Russia/Communism didn't make it 100 years.... hurray, I guess
As for the 200 yr decent lawn..... you need a new gardner
)reread your comment about the grammar.... my grammar.... what did she ever do to you?
I don't get it.... my? she? but- OK enough of the grammar, English is not everybody's first language.... point taken
I'm not a student of the christian cult (capitals , maybe?) but so what?
Aren't Christians kind to others? Good Samaritans... so on
"Poverty is economic, not generic"..... eeeee.... I have trouble w/ that
Not so in some places, difficult in others
Too long to get into
Inshalla..... I need a translation.... sorry
I didn't mean to upset you... just commenting on the thread
This is tedious..... I don't like it - DR1 Bob won't like it
but if I don't respond ?? and if I do ???
WW
Let's see, I noticed RD2000 missing out of my wallet one day in my LOCKED offoce where the maid was forbidden to enter and I decided to leave some money in a SECRET location HIDDEN inside of my LOCKED office and you have a problem with that.
Why don't you take your crap somewhere else? Shows how much you know about the Bible too; you're supposed to use your brain.
I said genetic not generic.
You do not have basic reading skills or the wits to debate so I will leave it at this.
Again, Poverty is economic, not genetic (but ignorance apparently is).
LMAO
You do not have basic reading skills or the wits to debate so I will leave it at this.
Again, Poverty is economic, not genetic (but ignorance apparently is).
LMAO
I guess you missed the part where I said I wasn't raised to judge people by their wealth or color for that matter and the fact that we treated this lady like family. I know you aren't actually interested in what my posts say but just couldn't resist.
As I see it, all one has to do is mention God or Jesus and on this forum and all sorts of types come out of the woodwork to show their prejudice.
Regardless of anything else - you caught a theif.
Well done - good work.
How anybody could object to that is beyond me.
But then he does seem a little unstable, to say the least.
I think he has been drinking this afternoon.
In retrospect after reading Pedrochemicals post I realize that I'm the one who is not actually taking the time to read posts not the other away around.
I apologize and furthermore I agree with what pedrochemical has said.
Furthermore pedrochemical I will take the time to read your posts and contemplate them rather than doing what I so despise; being a hypocrite.
I apologize and furthermore I agree with what pedrochemical has said.
Furthermore pedrochemical I will take the time to read your posts and contemplate them rather than doing what I so despise; being a hypocrite.
Chip,
I always respect your posts. You live here, your spouse and children are Dominican... and you obviously have a grasp of reality of what goes on here. However, I think this site is particularly opposed to "religious" references and some have taken your posts literally.
I, personally, take no side one way or the other with those references. However... obviously there are those that do. That being said, it does not dilute what you have said. Never back down.. this is a website forum... stand your ground because you have every right to state your opinions!... respectfully in my opinion!
These people know something you don't, and you overstepped your boundaries as a guest in their home with your behavior.
I don't understand why this was so difficult for you to understand to the point where the friendship was strained. If you wanted to take a tour, why not ask your friends to take you around?
That is the first and in my opinion biggest mistake many expats and tourists make.
It seems as if the first thing some people want to do after getting off the plane is go hang out with the motos or take a tour of the taxistas' barrio.
Bottom line, and this is true everywhere-the domestic help are employees.
They are not friends.
Amongst other misconceptions, the "REAL" DR (or any other country, for that matter) does not exist in the slums, barrios and poor campos. It's not as if the more poverty-stricken and humble the people are, the more genuinely Dominican they are.
This is an utter falsehood. It's not elitist, it's just the truth. I believe it's because some expats and tourists cannot fathom people living well if they are not from a Western, developed country so they think the middle and upper-middle classes of these countries are somehow inauthentic.
Poverty isn't culture. It's just a sad state of living.
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My husband's brother owns a small restaurant in SD that caters to locals. When our son was in college he spent most of a summer in SD and became buddies with one of the guys who worked in the kitchen. You would think he'd become friends with an ax-murderer. The family was very upset with him and told him it wasn't "appropriate" for him to be friends with him. Culture clash at its finest. Our son was indignant. They felt the friendship threatened the stature of the family. As Americans we find that hard to grasp - my husband understood it perfectly of course, but because he's lived in the US so long [surrounded by Americans, not in a Dominican enclave] he told our son to just ignore them.
AE
We've been lucky with both our trabajadoras. The one we had in the capital was with us for 8 years. Then one in Punta Cana since we moved here less than 2 years ago.
I tend to be less formal - and require less formality - than other employers - I can't really take being called "do?a" seriously, for example, but in both cases the employees themselves have drawn the line and said no when I (or my visitors) asked them to sit down at the main table and eat with us.
I've seen good and bad employers here. My husband's family all treat their trabajadoras well - combining the "one of the family" without blurring certain boundaries.
A couple of my neighbours in Santo Domingo, though, appeared to change maids and nannies more often than underwear, and I could only conclude that unless they were incredibly unlucky, they were simply not fair employers.
I tend to be less formal - and require less formality - than other employers - I can't really take being called "do?a" seriously, for example, but in both cases the employees themselves have drawn the line and said no when I (or my visitors) asked them to sit down at the main table and eat with us.
I've seen good and bad employers here. My husband's family all treat their trabajadoras well - combining the "one of the family" without blurring certain boundaries.
A couple of my neighbours in Santo Domingo, though, appeared to change maids and nannies more often than underwear, and I could only conclude that unless they were incredibly unlucky, they were simply not fair employers.
With regard to how we treated our secong housemaid, she ate with us when she wanted at the main table at lunch and also got an hour and a half (and sometimes more) to watch the novelas and chismiar with the wife. I wouldn't talk with her if I had to but certainly didn't give her dirty looks. I just got tired of getting asked for something everytime I smiled or greeted her; it was as if I had a sign that said - "hay que aprovecharlo".
Soy Britanico, pero no Rico
Interesting views expressed...shame about the falling-out. It appears that the majority of you find that your Dominican and Haitian workers are honest and good to have around. I find in all situations where I've needed help this has been the case.
Of course there are exceptions...we're all human beings after all. I've long stopped thinking, for example, that all Englishmen represent; fairness, decency, discretion, courtesy, honesty etc...that naively wore off. However it doesn't stop me trying to behave in a way towards people that reflects how I would like to be treated.
I come from an English middle-class background.
(Monty Python was right...I knew my place!)...and the only help we had were the occasional builders, carpenters, plumbers etc...who left when they'd either done a superb job, or buggered everything up.
However we treated them kindly and fairly...and they never went short of a cup of tea, a cold drink or a piece of cake...in my opinion...little kindnesses that make any job go more smoothly.
So if I had to employ someone to help in our little house in the Barrio I possess no 'airs and graces' and would treat them with respect.
You see, in my opinion, they are offering their services to me, in exchange for payment...if they are good and kind, I should feel privileged to have them...they are taking on jobs I either can't or don't want to do. I would be tolerant but not stupid. I would urge them to be honest and communicate quickly when things go wrong. Soonest known is soonest mended.
And yes, our humble table is big enough...should they want to eat with us...they are welcome...no "upstairs, downstairs" here...although I have some respect for the structured 'in-service' life of the old Gentrified households of old England.
Now and again I'd treat them, be it ever so humble, to something I'd concocted in the kitchen. A little kindness and mutual respect goes a long way.
I too have visited a wealthy person's home here where the servants were clearly meant to be seen and not heard, or spoken to by visitors...felt totally wrong to me.
Someone in my house, doing my bidding, as a permanent addition to my house is part of my home and a fellow-human being. Incidentally I know from close contact with some Dominicans and Haitians that their sense of integrity is often way more developed than a so-called civilised European might expect...and in that sense, that level of education or indoctrination is to be applauded.
My Dominican wife is a little more reserved than I am but still fair and wise.
Moreover any help we eventually have must be local so they can see their family every day...and if they need a room it should be larger than one that you can 'swing a cat' in. That's all apart from the fact I reckon I might cotton on before 2 years that I had a wrong 'un in the house.
Interesting views expressed...shame about the falling-out. It appears that the majority of you find that your Dominican and Haitian workers are honest and good to have around. I find in all situations where I've needed help this has been the case.
Of course there are exceptions...we're all human beings after all. I've long stopped thinking, for example, that all Englishmen represent; fairness, decency, discretion, courtesy, honesty etc...that naively wore off. However it doesn't stop me trying to behave in a way towards people that reflects how I would like to be treated.
I come from an English middle-class background.
(Monty Python was right...I knew my place!)...and the only help we had were the occasional builders, carpenters, plumbers etc...who left when they'd either done a superb job, or buggered everything up.
However we treated them kindly and fairly...and they never went short of a cup of tea, a cold drink or a piece of cake...in my opinion...little kindnesses that make any job go more smoothly.
So if I had to employ someone to help in our little house in the Barrio I possess no 'airs and graces' and would treat them with respect.
You see, in my opinion, they are offering their services to me, in exchange for payment...if they are good and kind, I should feel privileged to have them...they are taking on jobs I either can't or don't want to do. I would be tolerant but not stupid. I would urge them to be honest and communicate quickly when things go wrong. Soonest known is soonest mended.
And yes, our humble table is big enough...should they want to eat with us...they are welcome...no "upstairs, downstairs" here...although I have some respect for the structured 'in-service' life of the old Gentrified households of old England.
Now and again I'd treat them, be it ever so humble, to something I'd concocted in the kitchen. A little kindness and mutual respect goes a long way.
I too have visited a wealthy person's home here where the servants were clearly meant to be seen and not heard, or spoken to by visitors...felt totally wrong to me.
Someone in my house, doing my bidding, as a permanent addition to my house is part of my home and a fellow-human being. Incidentally I know from close contact with some Dominicans and Haitians that their sense of integrity is often way more developed than a so-called civilised European might expect...and in that sense, that level of education or indoctrination is to be applauded.
My Dominican wife is a little more reserved than I am but still fair and wise.
Moreover any help we eventually have must be local so they can see their family every day...and if they need a room it should be larger than one that you can 'swing a cat' in. That's all apart from the fact I reckon I might cotton on before 2 years that I had a wrong 'un in the house.