Moving to Cabarete - PLEASE HELP?

[carina]

Hi there, I can understand that you are confused, what is written will make sense to you later on, when you get the culture.
I live in Puerto Plata, and I love it here, I live here permanently and this is home for me now. I run my own business.

People are not hiding anything.
I think people might be just sometimes "tired" that people might think a move, long term or not, is just so easy, when it comes to adapting, finding work etc.

Basically, I?d say, Just come.
Find a place to stay that suits your lifestyle and wallet.
Do not expect to find a computer related job in Cabarete. Any drop-out of school kid, plays either computer specialist here, or if they can do a cartoon as well, they are graphical designers..lol
On a more serious note, there are not enough computers in Cabarete. Most are leased with service contracts or people have " their guy" so to speak.
Networking, building up a clientel to have your own customers takes a few years. If you stay for that long, of course you can try to do it.

In Cabarete you might be able to find jobs in bars, restaurants etc. Even there the supply is higher than the demand though. Keep in mind the high unemployment in this country.
Avarage salary for a bar is 4000 pesos a month ( around 130-150 US ) plus tips.

Many people come here to live a few months, a year or longer.
Many of those are happy to live an adventure, to take the day as it comes and to work on low budget works.
Others come to move here, to live here, with either money in the pocket, retirement checks coming in or having businesses.

Go on your adventure, keep an open mind, and give it a shot.

 

[Chris]

Why is it such a huuuge deal to move somewhere and have a different life for a year or so? Why does it take soo long to weigh out the thought of moving temporarily to DR ?? What are you people hiding?? What do you know about DR that you are not typing on this screen... ?? People more less say.. It's beautiful here.. we love it.. but.. Nooo!! don't come.. stay away.. it sucks here.. etc etc etc.. ???

I'm very confused..
Chad

Aha! you did not say for a year or so.. you said you're moving! Living here for a year or so is kinda fun. Making a life and a living here, is sometimes fun and sometimes just like real life - long hours, hard work, infrastructure problems .. the culture, the differences, the people, the power problems, etc etc.,

For a year or so.. heck yes! come on down.. you'll have loads of fun. If you decide to stay, you'll at least know what you're in for... Cabarete is a great place to hang out in.. Sosua has its points as well. Puerto Plata, well, others can tell you about that.

 

[cshine73]

From Canada?

Very cool.. you are orig from Canada?? were abouts??

Thanks for your reply.. prolly the first I've had that is a positive one.
yes.. I do many things aside from the computer field.. but.. that is a very
easy and guaranteed business to get into... and.. good money wherever you go to be honest... I can work for a large hotel.. or a small one.. or.. open my own computer business.. or.. work for an educational institute and teach computers?? All these must be a decent living.. Afford a house maybe even some day... a boat or sea-doo.. jeep.. or motor bikes.. I want to have an easy life.. be successfull and enjoy life and the enviroment and people around me.. Dirty Fast paced Cement City is just not for me anymore.. I've done it for 32 years..

send me a message to cshine73@hotmail.com I appreciate any contacts you may have...

thanks..
Chad

HI there, I live and work in Puerto Plata, like you originally from Canada.

It seems to me that you will be able to find work. HOwever, it will not pay anything near what you are used to. Send me an email or PM and I can intro you to some people in the computer field.

For someone like you, active, surfer, beach type, Cabarete is probably perfect. And if you don't like it you can always move.

Living here is not what you are used to at all. Have you even visited here??? That will tell us a lot, we can then give you more information. Again, search the site for specific info you are looking for.'

 

[carina]

Now I am confused..

Did you read any of the other posts at all?

You can come and live an adventure here, have fun, get to know the culture and people.
Don?t expect to be able to save money here from working.
A barman makes 4000 pesos a month.
Schools have no computers.
Computer classes ( evening ) is available in Puerto Plata, a salary there would be appr. 100 pesos for 1 one evening.
Hotels don?t hire people to handle computers.

Please, do some research instead of bouncing answers you don?t have, it will save you huge amounts of stress later.
Nothing of what you wrote is practice here, or gives you a possibility to a living at all, not even survival.

 

[cshine73]

Been there did that done that..

Hey there.. Ya.. I've noticed.. lots of peps are slaming a newbie..

I think I would fit in well.. have a good time. and give back waay more to people there than I take.. I mean.. I hope to learn alot.. and.. get a decent job...

I don't want to be in stress city anymore.. I'm the only Systems manager of 4 offices all about 200 km away from each other.. I'm beat up.. I'm overworked and under paid... So. if I can maintain a paycheck.. and a little more of a simple life.. I would be happy.. if I woke up everyday to warm sunshine.... I'd start the day with a smile.. and breath of fresh air not to mention....

I have been to DR yes... a year and a half ago.. to Punta Cana.. I enjoyed it at the resort.. (of course) and realize that living there would not be like being at the resort.. I accept not living like a King there.. but.. I do not want to live in poverty.. with rats and bugs and people dying of starvation left right and center..

Geesh.. Is anyone single in their early 30's and successful in DR ?? Can anyone with a decent job afford a house/condo a boat or jeep or motor bike in DR ??

I've been in the IT/IS field (computers / networking / internet / hardware / software) for over 10 years.. I have completed my educational background in Industrial Engineering.. I'm great with my hands/tools/renovations/repairs/electrical/plumbing etc etc..

I do not want to live in poverty.. I would like to earn a decent living and experience DR for a year or so.. I do not want to go there to pary hard.. and I do not want to work my bunns off to achieve poverty levels either..

With my education, my experience knoledge and what I can give back to DR..
I hope to have a wonderful experience there.. I just need some help from you guys that have experienced it..

I have looked up Cabarete in the search on the forum.. I have read through people's comments.. and suggestions.. Thanks.. but.. ?? they don't seem to be helping me out..

I don't want to have short talk about weather.. and hookers??? I want people to list the pro's and con's... tell me how it is.. what is the best parts.. what are the worst parts??
here are some examples.... just examples.. please let me know if they are true or not..

eg.
Pro:
-Weather is beautiful 99% of the time it is 29-32 degrees celcius.
-Air is clean..
-food is healthy and fresh
-surf is good
-not concrete village
-not fast paced
-not "stress" city

Con:
-cost of living is very very high
-employment opportunities are very low..
-Salary/wages are 1/3 of average Canadian
-hydro guarantee goes out every hour for 20 min?
-don't drink the tap water.. EVER
-DR had a malaria scare


Help me out here.... what are things that will shock/surprise me...
Things I will have a hard time accepting.. Road blocks? Can I just go there and work there legally? Do I need special Identification or work permitt..

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have read most the posts in here.. MAN..I could read for 5 months...
Can someone please take some time out.. and educate me, in a week or a few days.... about living in DR...

Thanks.
Chad

Welcome to DR1.

Unfortunately, some users would rather slam newbies than offer them advise.
Have you ever been to Cabarete? Have you ever been to the Dominican Republic? While it's a great place for a vacation, it's far from paradise to live there. Like Amy2761 said, research the board and them come back with some questions.

 

[carina]

I don?t think it is about slaming a newbie, not at all.
It is just that right now you are dreaming alot, and you are not being realistic.
That is nothing strange, because you have not lived here, and your DR experience is limited to a visit at a resort in Punta Cana.

There are people in your age doing fine here, both locals and expats.
It has for sure taken them alots of money and years to reach that point.
They know the culture, they are fluent in Spanish.

There are more people here, no matter of age, failing big times.
Because of not knowing the culture, not speaking the language, not seeing what can be done or not.

Basically, the truth is if you get hired by someone. No matter if in tourism, if as a bartender or at an internet caf?. It will barely pay your bills, depending on your cost of living. You will make between 4000-8000 pesos /month depending of work. You will not be able to save any money, that is for sure.

People that run their own businesses, have also other incomes, and have made other investments in time, money, knowledge.

In most places, you can work without a workpermit. Most don?t care, even though the law requires something else.
Companies are allowed to have 20 % foreigners as staff.

There is a thread in the living section, What are people getting paid, there you can see the avarage salaries for different jobs.

 

[cshine73]

Thank YOU!

Thank You for your words and advice..
You sound well spoken.. and like you could give good advice..

You say the average montly salary working at a bar is 4000 pesos a month ( around 130-150 US ) plus tips. ?? I'm confused.. haha... yet again..
The apartments I have look into renting in Cabarete are furnished 2 bedroom Apartments.. and they are asking 450.00 US /month ???
Something doesn't seem right?
I don't see how anyone could squish the hours of 3 or 4 months worth of a full time job into 1 month and not even cover rent? (earn only $140.00 US /month...?? but rent is 450.00 US /month) There are not enough hours in a day to work 4 full time jobs?? I don't get it..

HELP!!!!

Chad

Hi there, I can understand that you are confused, what is written will make sense to you later on, when you get the culture.
I live in Puerto Plata, and I love it here, I live here permanently and this is home for me now. I run my own business.

People are not hiding anything.
I think people might be just sometimes "tired" that people might think a move, long term or not, is just so easy, when it comes to adapting, finding work etc.

Basically, I?d say, Just come.
Find a place to stay that suits your lifestyle and wallet.
Do not expect to find a computer related job in Cabarete. Any drop-out of school kid, plays either computer specialist here, or if they can do a cartoon as well, they are graphical designers..lol
On a more serious note, there are not enough computers in Cabarete. Most are leased with service contracts or people have " their guy" so to speak.
Networking, building up a clientel to have your own customers takes a few years. If you stay for that long, of course you can try to do it.

In Cabarete you might be able to find jobs in bars, restaurants etc. Even there the supply is higher than the demand though. Keep in mind the high unemployment in this country.
Avarage salary for a bar is 4000 pesos a month ( around 130-150 US ) plus tips.

Many people come here to live a few months, a year or longer.
Many of those are happy to live an adventure, to take the day as it comes and to work on low budget works.
Others come to move here, to live here, with either money in the pocket, retirement checks coming in or having businesses.

Go on your adventure, keep an open mind, and give it a shot.

 

[carina]

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have read most the posts in here.. MAN..I could read for 5 months...
Can someone please take some time out.. and educate me, in a week or a few days.... about living in DR...

It is your personal experience that will matter, and it?s part of the trip.

 

[clara]

Chad,
People who make 4000 pesos a month do not rent apartments that cost 400 dollars a month. While you have stated that you do not want to live in poverty, a monthly salary of 4000 pesos is not enough to support the desired lifestyle you describe.

Good luck.
Clara

 

[Chris]

Can someone please take some time out.. and educate me, in a week or a few days.... about living in DR...

Thanks.
Chad

No, cause it does not take a week or a few days. The old Dorothy comment comes to mind... This 'aint Kansas. Why don't you come here and figure it out all by yourself. Why should someone take time out when you don't want to listen when we tell you what is what on our favorite board. We live here buddy! It is time you listen - open your ears and your eyes.

Your best bet is to come on down without expectation of a job, live a few months, meet some people, get to know the lay of the land, find your feet as I said before and then make a decision if it is for you or not.

Lifestyle - Great!
Fresh Food - Wonderful, if you can keep the fridge cold enough with the power outages to keep it fresh.
Chances of a paying job - Poor if at all!
Chances of you making your IT skills into a meaningful business - We've done that, but I would not give you a good chance here... Most every high school jock here is an IT specialist.

A "Teach Yourself DR in 5 Days" does not exist. A good friend, a good network engineer is currently earning 2000 pesos per course per semester... Not much eh! Don't depend too much on those IT skills. What are they anyways?

But, if you can learn this place, learn to hack it and learn to love it, you can be happy here.

Most of us love it and that is why we are here, but the DR is not for everyone. You need to figure out all by your lonesome whether it is for you.

I'm tired of this now.

 

[cshine73]

not even survival ??

Give me a break...??
When I was there.. there were lots of people there surviving just fine???
Zipping around in jeeps.. mopeds.. motorcycles... boats.. sea doos..

Can I ask how you mananged not to die there? you survived right?
What do you do for a living??

Bouncing answers I don't have?? Slow down a bit... I'm here to ask questions and get answers.. and none of you want to answer questions..
Are you on this forum to help people.. encourage people.. or discourage people? You make it out to be soo nasty there.... are you there now??

How do you like it? How are you surviving?? What's in your fridge.. do
you have a fridge? How does your stuff stay cold when the power goes out?
Wait.. do you have a house / apt? Do you even have walls around you??
Do you live on the street?? How (seeing there are nooo computers there.. it seems like you are doing pretty good at reading these and replying??

Again.. for a place that just completely sucks... You seem to like it.. and you seem to be doing ok...

Only the best survive... right.. dunno who said it.. but.. Work hard towards what you want.. and you shall receive.. Seems like you have worked hard to be able to live it up in paradise... How come people are so negative.. yet.. they did it themself?

Chad

Did you read any of the other posts at all?

You can come and live an adventure here, have fun, get to know the culture and people.
Don?t expect to be able to save money here from working.
A barman makes 4000 pesos a month.
Schools have no computers.
Computer classes ( evening ) is available in Puerto Plata, a salary there would be appr. 100 pesos for 1 one evening.
Hotels don?t hire people to handle computers.

Please, do some research instead of bouncing answers you don?t have, it will save you huge amounts of stress later.
Nothing of what you wrote is practice here, or gives you a possibility to a living at all, not even survival.

 

[carina]

Chad,
People who make 4000 pesos a month do not rent apartments that cost 400 dollars a month. While you have stated that you do not want to live in poverty, a monthly salary of 4000 pesos is not enough to support the desired lifestyle you describe.

Good luck.
Clara

Well put Clara.
The apartments you mention are for "gringos", people with weekend apartments, people with some money one way or another ( just plain rich, business owners, investors etc etc ). And for short term, not permanent, visitors/tourists.

You don?t get more paid at a job just because you are a foreigner, and you will anyway have to prove yourself when applying for work, in terms why you would be more suited than a local.
Salary is local for a local job.

 

[carina]

Please go back and read the latest post of Chris, it says it all.
I couldn?t have said it better myself.

Give me a break...??
When I was there.. there were lots of people there surviving just fine???
Zipping around in jeeps.. mopeds.. motorcycles... boats.. sea doos..

Can I ask how you mananged not to die there? you survived right?
What do you do for a living??

Bouncing answers I don't have?? Slow down a bit... I'm here to ask questions and get answers.. and none of you want to answer questions..
Are you on this forum to help people.. encourage people.. or discourage people? You make it out to be soo nasty there.... are you there now??

How do you like it? How are you surviving?? What's in your fridge.. do
you have a fridge? How does your stuff stay cold when the power goes out?
Wait.. do you have a house / apt? Do you even have walls around you??
Do you live on the street?? How (seeing there are nooo computers there.. it seems like you are doing pretty good at reading these and replying??

Again.. for a place that just completely sucks... You seem to like it.. and you seem to be doing ok...

Only the best survive... right.. dunno who said it.. but.. Work hard towards what you want.. and you shall receive.. Seems like you have worked hard to be able to live it up in paradise... How come people are so negative.. yet.. they did it themself?

Chad

 

[cshine73]

Year or so!

Ya.. I don't mind busines.. and working... I don't want to come there and party drain my bank account....
I for sure DO NOT want to wake up to "air quality advisory" smog.. traffic jams..rush hour traffic.. and busy busy busy crazy city fake people..

I don't want to just come down for a good time.. for a holiday.
I want to try to get a decent job that floats my bills and them some.. Earn
an honest living... buy property there maybe eventually? (a condo?)

But.. no. I'm not packing my home.. and moving permanently... but.. I will stay for a while.. and/or... make a good living. and enjoy my environment while I work.. here.. I work. and live in concrete villiage... it's just not for me.. I'd rather work. and when I leave work.. at least the walk or drive home is senic.. and after work.. I don't drive to a gym.. inside an air conditoned mall.. and work out.. staring at a wall covered in TV's showing the news and murders/accidents etc etc etc.. If I can get a job somewhere.. and enjoy the environment... and I was safe... life would be good.... is that possible there??

or does everyone eat out of garbage bins.eat road kill.. salvage food out of dumpsters there.. is everyone in DR workign to achieve at the highest.. poverty???

Thanks for your input..

Chad

Aha! you did not say for a year or so.. you said you're moving! Living here for a year or so is kinda fun. Making a life and a living here, is sometimes fun and sometimes just like real life - long hours, hard work, infrastructure problems .. the culture, the differences, the people, the power problems, etc etc.,

For a year or so.. heck yes! come on down.. you'll have loads of fun. If you decide to stay, you'll at least know what you're in for... Cabarete is a great place to hang out in.. Sosua has its points as well. Puerto Plata, well, others can tell you about that.

 

[Shelley]

just wing it

Hi Chad
I have not lived in the DR but my husband is from there and I have visited several times. It truly is different in the cities then in a Punta Cana resort. I am often shocked how people survive. It's culture shock and I shake my head in disbelief about one thing or another every time I'm there. Is the air clean? Well, the air is clean at the beach but it's hard to take a fresh breath when driving through Puerto Plata among all the motoconcho. Are the beaches nice? Yes. Is there a lot of poverty even though most people work several hours a day trying to get by? You better believe it!! It's not easy. Whichever poster wrote that those apartments are for gringos with money was right. From what I have experienced, most Domincan families live several people to a family home that they've had for years. Everyone contributes to the monthly bills. From what I've seen there are very few 30 somethings who have their own $400 per month apartment. Most people do live on very meager salaries. Because you have not been to that part of the country, my suggestion would be to go visit. Have enough money put aside for a least a couple of months without counting on a salary to help you get by. When you get there try and meet some people and follow up on some leads. As grouchy as some posters may be on this board, they may be the same people who can hook you up with jobs later. It's just that they often hear a different person each week with plans just as yours. Most are not prepared and fail. Just go and have fun. If you find a job and a nice place to stay for a while..fantasic!! If not, at least you will have an adventure and a great vacation for a few months. Good luck!

 

[cshine73]

Tired of it?

Ok... so from your post.. I am reading.. I am watching.
Everyone is dancing and no one is talking
Eveyone is saying.. listen to us.. learn about it first.... but.. ??? HELLLOOO are any of you listenting to me.. I understand it's different... I'm asking you to tell me, teach me the things you are telling me to learn?? Everyone says.. "go learn about DR.. go read about DR.. do some investigation.." etc etc.. IS ANYONE READING THIS... THIS IS HOW I'M TRYING TO LEARN ABOUT IT... I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT.... HERE... NOW!!!... STOP TELLING ME TO GO LEARN... if all you can tell me is.. it's different.. and look into it... ??? than thanks for your input.. or lack of.... All these warnings and advice not to come... but.. no one is specific about the warnings.. or specific with their advice.. everyone just likes to offer 2 cents worth.. I want more than 2 cents advice..
Tell me abou the people.. the culture.. I have read it.. I've read it's different... how to drive.. drive honk honking lingo.. laws.. etc etc etc etc....

you said
"But, if you can learn this place, learn to hack it and learn to love it, you can be happy here." YES.. I want to learn Oh wise one... Please... teach me... stop just telling me to learn it... Tell me what I need to learn.. that is what this forum is for??? or so I thought... but. it just seems like people like flapping their chops on here.. everyone claims to have good advice.. they start to give good advice.. but..can't finish giving it.. and can't back it up... I don't get it...

?? you are tired of DR now??
Oh boy.. that is promissing.. ????
uug...

No, cause it does not take a week or a few days. The old Dorothy comment comes to mind... This 'aint Kansas. Why don't you come here and figure it out all by yourself. Why should someone take time out when you don't want to listen when we tell you what is what on our favorite board. We live here buddy! It is time you listen - open your ears and your eyes.

Your best bet is to come on down without expectation of a job, live a few months, meet some people, get to know the lay of the land, find your feet as I said before and then make a decision if it is for you or not.

Lifestyle - Great!
Fresh Food - Wonderful, if you can keep the fridge cold enough with the power outages to keep it fresh.
Chances of a paying job - Poor if at all!
Chances of you making your IT skills into a meaningful business - We've done that, but I would not give you a good chance here... Most every high school jock here is an IT specialist.

A "Teach Yourself DR in 5 Days" does not exist. A good friend, a good network engineer is currently earning 2000 pesos per course per semester... Not much eh! Don't depend too much on those IT skills. What are they anyways?

But, if you can learn this place, learn to hack it and learn to love it, you can be happy here.

Most of us love it and that is why we are here, but the DR is not for everyone. You need to figure out all by your lonesome whether it is for you.

I'm tired of this now.

 

[carina]

With that attitude you will not get many replies for sure.

You cannot learn a foreign culture behind a screen, you must live it.
It is as simple as that.

You can though, prepare yourself behind a screen.
Read posts, ask specific questions here for example, read books about the culture and history, learn Spanish, read blogs, read the whole DR1 that is a treasure of facts, law system, residencial info etc etc.

As for now, I see no specific questions that you have put in your postings.

 

[Bob K]

Wow

Chad,
I very rarely answer a post like this one, but I am simply amazed. You have no clue as to what is realalistic for you. From what I am reading you want to come down enjoy life, make lots of money and have everyone love you. Well I reccommed that you come down with lots of money spend it all and lots of the locals will love you. If you come down with enough money to support your life style you have an outside chance of leaving in a year or less with a dollar or two in your pocket. But don't stay too long or you won't even have that.
Listen to what is being said. You have to learn the place on you own. There are lots of folks who will offer to help, but you need to make the effort. There is no spoon feeding here.

Bob K -- soon to be living full time in the DR.

 

[cshine73]

On a More Serious Note...

Hey there.. thanks for the post.. quick comment/question...
in your note.. down near the bottom.. you said -
"On a more serious note, there are not enough computers in Cabarete. Most are leased with service contracts"

So.. these companies that lease out the computers..?? Do they not need very skilled knolegable staff? like.. proffessionals.. not 15 year old children.. Sales staff.. tech staff ..on site repair staff?
Do you know what these leasing companies are called? I'd love to contact them..

Thanks.
Chad

Hi there, I can understand that you are confused, what is written will make sense to you later on, when you get the culture.
I live in Puerto Plata, and I love it here, I live here permanently and this is home for me now. I run my own business.

People are not hiding anything.
I think people might be just sometimes "tired" that people might think a move, long term or not, is just so easy, when it comes to adapting, finding work etc.

Basically, I?d say, Just come.
Find a place to stay that suits your lifestyle and wallet.
Do not expect to find a computer related job in Cabarete. Any drop-out of school kid, plays either computer specialist here, or if they can do a cartoon as well, they are graphical designers..lol
On a more serious note, there are not enough computers in Cabarete. Most are leased with service contracts or people have " their guy" so to speak.
Networking, building up a clientel to have your own customers takes a few years. If you stay for that long, of course you can try to do it.

In Cabarete you might be able to find jobs in bars, restaurants etc. Even there the supply is higher than the demand though. Keep in mind the high unemployment in this country.
Avarage salary for a bar is 4000 pesos a month ( around 130-150 US ) plus tips.

Many people come here to live a few months, a year or longer.
Many of those are happy to live an adventure, to take the day as it comes and to work on low budget works.
Others come to move here, to live here, with either money in the pocket, retirement checks coming in or having businesses.

Go on your adventure, keep an open mind, and give it a shot.

 

[carina]

I have heard of one, located in Santo Domingo. They lease out to internet caf?s etc here in Puerto Plata, for sure to hotels and others on the North coast as well.
I know though, they don?t have staff, travelling around to visit the various places.
Usually they would do some updates, maintenance on a schedule basis, the owner himself or someone he knows.
I know one for example, who owns an internet caf? here in Puerto Plata with 10 computers. He does everything in between himself.

I have no name of this company.