Dominicans in Miami??

[laurajane]

I live in the DR with my Dominican partner, we have been given an oppurtunity to live and work in North Miami beach. Miami does seem perfect for us, i have spoken to a few people who live and work there and the rich latin culture and climate would be great for my partner, but at the same time the benefits of living in the U.S would be great for me also.

I would like to hear from any Dominicans living in Miami to discuss what they think are the pro?s and con?s and so on.

Thanks

 

[bachata]

I don't live in Miami but I've been there twice in the past three months, the weather is the same as in the DR hot as hell looks you are in Santo Domingo the capital. Hispanic every where you go don't need to speak English at all in this city the radio stations broadcast nice music and talk shows in spanish recently a spent a week over there and I made some friends hanging out in the paking lot of the apartment complex where I was staying at, very different than where I live one year now in the same house and I don't know my next door.
The trafic in Miami is horrible and delincuency is high I don't like this city if we decide to move to Florida it will be to West Palm beach or Jackson Ville.

JJ

 

[CFA123]

laurajane,
i lived in ft lauderdale & worked in miami for about 15 years. lots of cubans, venezuelans, hondurans, nicaraguans, haitians... and a few dominicans. definitely a latin environment.

bachata's analysis is pretty accurate.

i didn't find miami/ft laud area to be a great place to live. little sense of community, people just living their own insular lives. go to work, go home, go shopping, try to get back home as fast as possible.

now... that said, i have a friend who lived in DR until he was 18 or 19... then in new york city the next 15 years. said he would never live anywhere else. he now lives in ft lauderdale & says he can't imagine ever living in new york again. he feels more freedom of driving his own car & not having to rely on public transport, likes the weather better, etc.

if you're going to live/work in the area... when looking for an apartment i would recommend looking northward or westward, preferably broward county (ft lauderdale) & commuting to work. if possible, try to make some commutes during rush hour to your chosen area to see how long it really takes to get there. 15 miles can take you an hour depending on which way you have to travel.

 

[laurajane]

A few people have recommended Coral gables or Pinewood? Do you know these areas?

I plan to go over there very soon for a couple of days to check a few things out.

Thanks

 

[Lando calrisian]

I would live in Aventura, really close to North Miami Beach (or NMB) it has everything, small city with every amenity you would want gyms, stores, cafes, banks within a very, very short drive, central location. Aventura mall is a nice place to hang out if you like mega malls and broward county and the beaches are just minutes away. If you want to be with people that like to show off hard core, head to Kendall and you will find a the latest cars and homes with the latest everything. If you know Spanish this is your place.

 

[Lando calrisian]

Oh but you wanted to know about Dominicanos here in MIA? Sorry, when I first moved here (1989) you could count us with both hands, now we are legion. We have a couple of clubs we're they play plenty of bachata and merengue, El Club Tipico Dominicano and Le Boulevard Cafe (best chimichuris in town) on 36 street and 27 ave NW you got Allapatah the El barrio de los Dominicanos and nearby is el parque Juan Pablo Duarte. On Sunday's there is a 16 hour radio show on 1250am "El gran Domingo con Leonel Pena" El papa de los pollitos. Yes Dominicans are here and we have quite a presence.
Ta to

 

[Lando calrisian]

Sorry again I was gonna head to bed and my contacts we're coming off, I'm not working with all cylinders here. This place was built on drugs and it's presence is still somewhat visible, the cops have done a good job clamping down on it.

Miami is ok though, arts scene is up and coming, if you want to party and see pretty people this is it (I work in South Beach), crime is not that bad just be alert, when my friends come from DR, they say that this place is so orderly and I'm like "whaaaat"? All perception.

Sometimes you feel like your in a foreign country and not in the USA. But it's a living. Oh and the local urban legend is that if you move here married you move away divorced but what the hell do I know...Give it a shot....Hope I helped!

 

[laurajane]

I would live in Aventura, really close to North Miami Beach (or NMB) it has everything, small city with every amenity you would want gyms, stores, cafes, banks within a very, very short drive, central location. Aventura mall is a nice place to hang out if you like mega malls and broward county and the beaches are just minutes away. If you want to be with people that like to show off hard core, head to Kendall and you will find a the latest cars and homes with the latest everything. If you know Spanish this is your place.

I am going to stay in Aventura next week on Williams Island?!?!?!

We dont want to live in a dominican society as such, but i just wondered if dominicans thought it was better but not all together alien. I think it would be a great mix for my partner and i. He has never wanted to leave the DR before, but this oppurtunity maybe very good for us as a family. My reason for asking is that my first concern is for my family and not my business, I would hate for him out of place.

I ahve spoken to a few people who live in miami and they say that allthough miami just like every city has its problems, it has all the benefits of the DR but with the plus of living in the U.S..shopping, medical care, good roads, good schools etc etc.

Both my partner and i speak english and spanish, so no probs there.

Thanks

 

[Lando calrisian]

Williams island!? Score neighbor, that is very nice, blocks away from where I currently reside. Welcome 2 the hood . If you guys ever want to hang or anything at all just holler.

A las ordenes.