Welcome to DR1.
I'm a "yank" too, but it strikes me as a little out of the norm to refer to yourself that way (spend some time on the other side of the pond?)
There is much biased, judgemental, opinionated, unsolicited advice for foreigners marrying Dominicans in the archives. Much of it is spot on, but it's in code and can't be understood by those in love.
Good luck with the everything.