I understand you are in love with DR, but...

[Carolina]

Hi everyone, I am a Dominican girl who came from Dominican Republic at the age of eleven. First of all, my family migrated to the United States because of poverty, and the search of the American Dream. I have learned that many people from different countries when they visit Dominican Republic for the first time, they just fall in love and want to return.

To all of you who want to move to DR, first acknowledge that DR is a poor country. I know that many people who have a superior education would like to introduce their skills to the Dominicans. Well, there is no problem with that idea. The problem underlies that the only people who are going to benefit from that project they want to offer are the rich people. And, what about the poors? If you want to live in Dominican Republic, go with this purpose in your mind, and you are going to enjoy more than what you expected. Try to help the unfortunate ones. What they learn is going to help them later on. And who knows! They are going to be there to help you also. If you have a project you would like to set up in Dominican Republic, remember that there are many poor there. They also need what the rich people are going to take advantage of. This is only a suggestion. We need to help each other. If I would be in your situation, I would set up something that would be beneficial for the unfortunate ones. Don't forget, this is the best experience you could have in your life. I guarantee it!

 

[Dominican in NY]

Hi,

I celebrate your feelings for the unfortunate ones, but, I desagree in your statements reffering to the rich. And this is the kind of thing I have seen in this very board many times, people who think being Dominican and rich is a bad thing.

There are good and bad people among the poor too, people who take adventage of others, who steal, who kill other human being for a couple bucks, who lie, who sell rotten eggs as good ones, etc. etc....

My point here is that we can't throw everyone in the same bag, there are all kinds of people, everywhere.

best of wishes.

 

[Henry]

Carolina, I understand your feelings and I agreed that it would be good to help the poor ones, but to do so you need money, and not just a little bit, from only helping people you cannot feed your family, If you're a millionair it's no problem to do what you suggest, but mostly a millionair doesn't only help, because he knows very well that, if there is nothing coming in, he could be verry poor verry quick. that's the problem. from the other side, for my oppinion, you don't need a million If you can create your life so that you can do it the way you like it, (in a "normal" way) and also you can help others, that is better than having much money and no one who really cares about you. greetings Henry.

 

[JCesar]

Carolina: For starters, can your tell us what YOU and your family are doing to help the poor people in the DR? I mean, you are now on the pathway to the American Dream. Please, be a role model for us. Rethoric will only get you so far.

 

[D.D.]

Dear Carolina,

How true! I am touched with your statement. As a foreigner and person who is in love with the DR and so dedicated to help the poor, It seems like every time I try to benefit the less unfortunate ones, somehow the well-to-do are always there trying to skim off the top. Leaving ZILCH to the needy. I have learned that the hard way.

I also know Dominicans who are supposed to be "RICH" or however they are described, who have gone back to the "CAMPO" and done wonders for their people and the enviroment.

Not only that. I have been unfortunate enough to come across some people with starving families that I helped put plenty of "aroz, habichuela y carne" in their bowl. Bought uniforms for their children so that they can go to school. Paid for their medical expenses and brought toys for the little ones. Only to be told that wasn't good enough!

You see Carolina, the world is a mix of people. No matter where.

Regardless of all this, I encourage foreigners, or for that matter Dominicans, to extend their generosity and "introduce their skills to the Dominicans" to benefit the poor without any fear but being cautious.

Sweet Carolina can also do the same. Get back here whenever it is apropriate to do so to help your people and "you are going to enjoy more than what you expected". If you havn't done that already.

 

[stefanie]

I am one of the accused, the foreigner who has fallen in love with another country. I am actually planning my future, continuing my education ( maybe I should practice my spelling !) to help the people of the DR. My family has asked me many times why I would spend so many years and money on my education only to go work for chickens. My response to them is, "As long as they are primed, plucked, and cleaned, I will work for chickens, mangos, bananas, etc. These will feed me and my child, and I will be getting complete gratification from knowing I have helped those who truley appreciate it." Now do to school prerequisites and other issues my first choice of becoming a Physician Assistant has changed. Also I have heard it can take years before I would be able to practice medicine in the DR. Even with my career change I am trying to pick something that I can do in the DR during the summers, to volunteer my time, until I am comfortable and able to move. If I did not have my child or a concern with her educational options, I probably would not have come back after my first visit. Anywhere you live there are areas stricken with poverty. Whenever I come home from one of my frequent visits, I look at the condemed houses and buildings. I say to my self, and do not take this the wrong way, but Dominicans' dirt floors are cleaner then the way we live. We take so much for granted. I wish some people I know could see and visit the places and people I have. It might make them humble and appreciative of their families and that should be their wealth. Poverty or no poverty I love the DR and will always do what I can to help, even if it is only one child. If a person does good for others only to receive praise, you are not doing for the right.

 

[Mark]

Carolina, I would first like to ask you , has your family reached that American dream, if so, how bad in debt(credit) are they. Are they able to walk down the street at night without fear of being murdered or raped by a (criminal,police,racist)here in the good ole USA. How is the service when they go to certain areas (white areas)(the mall,supermarkets,etc) are they respected as hard working people or seen as something unpleasent. I recently returned from DR for time the first time, I am in love with the country and as a young black man who lives in one of Americas urban cities. (the hood) I can say DR is multi rich in its own way and to tell you the truth the there isnt much a difference. I know of Millions of poor peple right here who need our help despertly (of all nationalities)
( don't get me wrong I love this country. I'm just stating facts)
YOUR ASSINGMENT IS TO STUDY AMERICAS 1.PRISION SYSTEM 2.EDUCATION SYSTEM FOR THE POOR 3.HOMELESS SITUATION 4.HISTORY OF SLAVERY,OPPRESSION,RACISM, 1552-TODAY 5.RATIO OF RICH -POOR
FOOD FOR THOUGHT. ( DON'T BE DISSAPOINTED IF YOU DISCOVER THE DREAM IA LIE)

 

[Maria B. Laurence]

I have just recently visited the DR for three weeks and as you guessed, I fell in love with it. What I most love is that there are businesses that cater to the poor and not so poor. They still have a lot of the old fashioned things along side the modern.I spent a weekend out in the country with no running water and no electricity. This is reality, because we take a lot of things for granted. I will certainly be returning to the DR again for a visit.

 

[susie q]

What a great thread. Thanks, Carolina for starting it.

 

[Carolina]

to those people who misunderstood the message!

My point here was just to help those people who are planning to move to Dominican Republic. Since I have lived in poverty and this is why I have known, and you want to return to Dominican Republic this was just a way to analyze things better. But I am not saying you have to set up this big business. I know it costs money, but first know where you want to start.

In addition to the American Dream, my family knows where they are putting their feet. I suggested this idea because I dream to return to Dominican Republic one day, after I have finished my education, even though it never ends, to help those people who don't even have the bread of every day. But I will help especially the children. They can change the world.

But if you want to return to Dominican Republic and work there, and you just want to be there, then move on. If you love the country you won't look at the circumstances. Enjoy the island.
Thanks...

 

[D.D.]

Re: you are in love for the wrong reasons

Hi Mark,

I say this with all due respect for the way you feel. You are looking at things with the view of a tourist's eye. I think you are in love for the wrong reasons. As a tourist, You met people who catered for you. You met people who showed you good life by laughing at your jokes, bent backwards to please you, flashed smiles that only compares to the beautiful and unique DR sunrise by the Samana peninsula. I don't blame you. I have walked those trails. But you are talking about "stating facts".

Facts? Let me express my feelings to you. It is a fact without any doubt that the DR and it's beautiful people are heaven on earth. No question about it as far as I am concerned. But your somewhat indirect comment that the good "ole USA" is a place where you can't "walk down the street at night without fear of being murdered or raped by criminals, police and racists", a place where in the malls, supermarkets and "white areas" you are "seen as something unpleasant" if you are black, a Latin, or a foreigner is dead wrong. WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

I am a black man as you are. No, I am not a Dominican. I am a foreign born American citizen who is PROUD of being an American. I migrated to the good "ole USA" back in the early seventies. I have lived in California and Arizona for 21 years before my work brought me to the DR eight years ago. I still have a home and a family in the States.

In all these years in the US I have never...never... not even once felt being discriminated. Because I am always careful about not doing things that will make people discriminate against me. If you are unpleasant,and show uneducated behavior people resent you. Not because you are black or something other than white, because your berhaviour simply dosen't belong there. As an example, I was once dining at a very nice restaurant in New York being treated like a king. A wino walks in. A white wino. He was thrown out. You are discriminated for what you are. Not because of your origion or color. Yes,It was there. It existed. I have watched the movies. It is History. That was a long time ago and it is forgotten.

Being a black man with a Haitian face complex in the DR, I have often walked into a colmado to get something and been almost treated like the wino for no apparent reason. Of course that happens if the shop keeper didn't see that I am driving a big SUV. If he sees that I had just jumped out of a shiny Montero, things change. That sounds like discrimination to me! But I don't hold it against the poor guy. He does know better. He is behaving like the foreigner behind the counter at your local 7ELEVEN store back in the states.

I have never worried about walking at night without being mugged in the states either. Because I am cautious about where I walk. If you walk at night with your wife in the barrios of Santo Domingo, the criminals will kill your wife and rape you. You should not have been there.

If you love the DR it is fine. I don't blame you. But can you leave the USA alone with your unkind comments? It is a place where you can be what you want to be.

 

[Mark]

Re: you are in love for the wrong reasons

But of course you can be anything you want to be in the Good ole USA, the opportunities are endless and bottem line (CASH is KING)also (MONEY talks an all BULLSHIT WALK) Now lets talk. As a blackman who's family and friends live here in the USA (Im sure they feel the same way as you do) im sure that you fully understand that these opportunnities were not all ways there for your people, these things were fought hard for through blood and sweat and plenty of tears from our black american ancestors who never gave up the struggle even though so many have tried to deny back then and today simple human rights ask your grandmother how much has changed from when she had to drink out of a differnt water fountain the her class mate. that was then and this is now as I asked (sweet carolina) to do, your asingment is to study Americas prison systems(is it a coinsidence 95% are your brother and sisters are occupents) study the education system all levels (whos to blame?,the kids who grow up illliterite)
Since when(please tell me) does a person have to be careful of the way they act around others, I was raised to be my self in a decent manner, and if he or she doesnt like it, F them. I am inviting you back to the real world (did you hear about Abner Louwima) was he not being careful enough or was that the guy shot 41 times by the police( for pulling out his wallet)(not guilty)the list goes on and on, no country is perfect, but understand whats going on around you outside of Arizona (oh yeah,you don't even live in the US). God bless America. my black American ancestors(SLAVES) along with the Chinese,Irish and Italins built this country from scratch to what it is today.

 

[Claudia]

Re: to those people who misunderstood the message!

As a dominican who lived in the States for many years (and returned to the D.R. two years ago) I totally agree with Carolina.

 

[bill williams]

Re: you are in love for the wrong reasons

Hi D.D.
I like your post very much, as I know you personelly, I know that what you speak of. I also know that what you have tried to do is very true, and very much came from the heart, with only regard to helping the less fortunate. I hope you continue to have this feeling for others.

Bill W.