You CAN't Beat Them!!!!

[MikeFisher]

I have a question: how many of you posters speak Spanish?
Not defending the clumsiness of the Dominicans but I reckon a language barrier might cause quite a few of the problems, just speaking from experience.

a language barrier is always a huge barrier,
and it will never be taken without learning the language well at least.
you never really dive into any culture without beeing fluent in the language such culture is lived in.

Mike

 

[bigbird]

Do like I do. Early afternoon matinees. I'm usually the only guy in the theater........

JD thing is I really am not a movie person. I go to the movies to please my lady friend and kid. I have seen 9 out of 10 new releases of kiddie movies.

For me boring, but at the end of the flick the kid is happy, la madre is happy and that is all that matters.

I have a few really favorite blue ray movies I can watch time and time again at my crib. All have the Spanish language option, just wish American Sniper had this option.

 

[Commander Ooh La La USN]

The mother in law cut up the bath sheets to make regular towels ,my steak knives who knows where they are. The other kitchen knives I could shave with them Now can't cut butter .But she has a heart of gold I can always get more towels and hide my steak knives.

You guys sound awful. This is like a literal dichotomy between Captain Save'em and King Midas. Almost all the comments minus CC's are overboard on the Simping and absolutely nil on the reigning in the wastefulness. The inappropriate simping set the paradigm for WANTING TO MEET some foreign guy. It also makes you look soft because she can willingly, purposely waste your money replacing things she damaged or gave away to her family that never had those things(and then they subsequently damage them because they never had such finery or had them stolen by other people who never had those things).
Anything that sounds like "I d rather have her destroy my nice things and not complain just so I can have a woman" sounds like Simping because it is. And for the record Simping is never the preferable course of events.

His Royal Majesty Lord Belly Button Kidney Bean, House of Donkey Kong

 

[Jelly]

I understand the general consensus that you must live in the DR 24/7/365 to truly 'get' this thread. However, some of us who do not, still can understand. My DH and I were visiting the DR, where he is from. We went to the beach with the family one afternoon and DH decided he wanted to take a few pictures, so took the camera off down the beach. Some time later he returned to where the rest of were and asked if I had a plastic bag. I still had the plastic bag from security clearance at the airport for my liquids in my purse, so passed him that, asking if it was big enough. Oh yes, he said. 30 minutes later he arrived back with a drenched and ruined (of course) camera. He wanted to swim out to rocks a little ways off shore to take some pictures and was adamant that the plastic bag I gave him must have had holes in it - as it didn't keep the camera from getting wet. Seriously. And this man is in a position of leadership in a business in Canada. His entire family, responding, si si, the bag is defective. Seriously?

 

[the gorgon]

I could have told you that would happen. It's happened to me dozens of times. He knew if he brought back something different, you'd chew him out for not buying exactly what you wanted.

More so because you gave him a sample of what you wanted.

now that you mention it, you do have a point. sadly, i explained to him that the bottle i gave him was the size i wanted. i guess he took it to mean that sized bottle of Agua International. maybe he thinks it is special water.

 

[Commander Ooh La La USN]

I have forbidden any cans to be opened with a knife. No matter where I am, she finds me with the can/s and the hand-held can opener. I've tried to show her how it works, but she wont even try, just says she can't do it. One thing I have accomplished is that she rinses the top of the can before it gets opened. Baby steps.

And this is what I dont get. It is physically a punch with a winding key. It is a simple screw. As long as she doesnt have carpal tunnel she should be able to use it.
Now I ask how important to you that she explicitly use the can opener? And how important is it to her? Is her job on the line? When you think about it was Cruella DeVille a bad person or did she just want a nice coat to wear to the company Christmas party?

His Royal Majesty Lord Belly Button Kidney Bean, House of Donkey Kong

 

[AlterEgo]

And this is what I dont get. It is physically a punch with a winding key. It is a simple screw. As long as she doesnt have carpal tunnel she should be able to use it.
Now I ask how important to you that she explicitly use the can opener? And how important is it to her? Is her job on the line? When you think about it was Cruella DeVille a bad person or did she just want a nice coat to wear to the company Christmas party?

His Royal Majesty Lord Belly Button Kidney Bean, House of Donkey Kong

You're right, in the scheme of things it is a very minor issue. I'd much rather open the cans for her than have her open them with my knives. It works for us.

 

[the gorgon]

I understand the general consensus that you must live in the DR 24/7/365 to truly 'get' this thread. However, some of us who do not, still can understand. My DH and I were visiting the DR, where he is from. We went to the beach with the family one afternoon and DH decided he wanted to take a few pictures, so took the camera off down the beach. Some time later he returned to where the rest of were and asked if I had a plastic bag. I still had the plastic bag from security clearance at the airport for my liquids in my purse, so passed him that, asking if it was big enough. Oh yes, he said. 30 minutes later he arrived back with a drenched and ruined (of course) camera. He wanted to swim out to rocks a little ways off shore to take some pictures and was adamant that the plastic bag I gave him must have had holes in it - as it didn't keep the camera from getting wet. Seriously. And this man is in a position of leadership in a business in Canada. His entire family, responding, si si, the bag is defective. Seriously?

surely you did not expect him to say that it was his fault for packing the thing in a bag that was not sufficient for his intended purpose. the eventuality must have been the fault of the bag. it is never anyone?s fault in this land.

 

[the gorgon]

And this is what I dont get. It is physically a punch with a winding key. It is a simple screw. As long as she doesnt have carpal tunnel she should be able to use it.
Now I ask how important to you that she explicitly use the can opener? And how important is it to her? Is her job on the line? When you think about it was Cruella DeVille a bad person or did she just want a nice coat to wear to the company Christmas party?

His Royal Majesty Lord Belly Button Kidney Bean, House of Donkey Kong

my buddy lives with an absolutely wonderful lady from the bushes behind Imbert. genuine campesina, but just a wonderful human being. she also once tried to open a can of herring with one of his knives, and he stopped her, and handed her a can opener. this is the simple type that you jam into the lid and use a wrist action to cut around it.

she had never seen one in her life. so, i can imagine her trying to get the hang of the one with the twist handle.

 

[dv8]

resize the picture.

 

[Cdn_Gringo]

My parents taught me and I taught my kids...

You cannot appreciate the value of something unless you have worked long enough to earn the money to buy said thing. Many Dominicans know that a Lexus is a "nicer" car than a Volkswagen but have no grasp of the difference in quality and price. The same can be said when comparing a run of the mill chef's knife with a Wusthof. Cheap pharmacy store digital camera and a Canon etc.

It will be a while before the cost to replace things if they break them creeps into the mental process of deciding if it is a good idea to go swimming with a camera or open a can with a filleting knife.

 

[dv8]

i bought a cheap knife for a maid, for peeling platanos (i don't let her cook). i said that if i see any damage to our regular knives she will have to pay for them and they cost more than she makes in a month. her choice.

 

[the gorgon]

My parents taught me and I taught my kids...

You cannot appreciate the value of something unless you have worked long enough to earn the money to buy said thing. Many Dominicans know that a Lexus is a "nicer" car than a Volkswagen but have no grasp of the difference in quality and price. The same can be said when comparing a run of the mill chef's knife with a Wusthof. Cheap pharmacy store digital camera and a Canon etc.

It will be a while before the cost to replace things if they break them creeps into the mental process of deciding if it is a good idea to go swimming with a camera or open a can with a filleting knife.

the upper echelons of Dominican society are every bit as normal as anyone else from any other country. they recognize good stuff, and they can appreciate it when they see it. they have had enough exposure to be able to tell the difference between a decent knife and a piece of crap.

sadly, the everyday guy has never been exposed to anything, and it is sad to see how uninformed they are. there is such a colossal gap between Dominicans who have exposure and those who have none.. simple things, which we take for granted, are mysteries to them. i have had girls who , when they see my spice rack, just look at it for long periods of time, trying to figure out why someone would have so many different spices, in bottles, and on a structure designed to organize them. then again, when your list of spices includes a sopita cube, salt, and cilantro, rubbed sage will leave you mystified.

 

[Berzin]

I have a question: how many of you posters speak Spanish?
Not defending the clumsiness of the Dominicans but I reckon a language barrier might cause quite a few of the problems, just speaking from experience.

Many times I've lamented the fact that that I know Spanish because it just makes things worse.

Sometimes it's better not to know why they do what they do, or have to be subjected to the manner in which they reason things out.

 

[dv8]

the upper echelons of Dominican society are every bit as normal as anyone else from any other country. they recognize good stuff, and they can appreciate it when they see it. they have had enough exposure to be able to tell the difference between a decent knife and a piece of crap.

i don't know about this. rich dominicans have poor uneducated dominicans cook for them, unless they are very wealthy and able to employ a trained chef. as a result they will eat the same lousy food, only plenty of it. and their cans will be opened by knives because it's a poor uneducated dominican doing the job.

 

[PanfilodeVaca]

the upper echelons of Dominican society are every bit as normal as anyone else from any other country. they recognize good stuff, and they can appreciate it when they see it. they have had enough exposure to be able to tell the difference between a decent knife and a piece of crap.

sadly, the everyday guy has never been exposed to anything, and it is sad to see how uninformed they are. there is such a colossal gap between Dominicans who have exposure and those who have none.. simple things, which we take for granted, are mysteries to them. i have had girls who , when they see my spice rack, just look at it for long periods of time, trying to figure out why someone would have so many different spices, in bottles, and on a structure designed to organize them. then again, when your list of spices includes a sopita cube, salt, and cilantro, rubbed sage will leave you mystified.

I wonder myself why I bother to keep dried cilantro in my spice cabinet.

 

[RV429]

This is the first post I can remember reading all 17 pages. Very good stuff. I agree you have to be here 24/7 to fully appreciate the many nuances. LMAO on some of these.
>Getting 200 RD of gas. Well if that's all the money they have then you have to understand that.
>Tupperware: Soo funny and soo true.
>Blaming the maid, so wrong, it's the family, duh. It took me years to get it into my head. Buying a cart full of groceries at Tropical or Players = dumb. The family shows up and eats it all and leaves with bags of stuff. Finally it made sense to accept the Colmado system of buying one day at a time. I now only buy rice/pasta/herbs/veggies in bulk, things that have to be cooked. Family can't eat it and don't visit as often. And our colmado has comparable prices to Players. One meal at a time.
>Non-stick pans = LMAO. It takes only a few weeks until they are ruined no matter mow may times I yell "no Toka con metal".
>Can openers, forget it. Too many relatives and kids nearby, cheap knives is the answer.
> If it is there eat it or drink it. My BIL and FIL will drink any rum left in the cabinet at ay time. So I fill empty bottles with water, they stopped the practice.
So, as I enjoy the comments herein I am reminded of the many complaints I've had over the years and why it just doesn't matter.
Assimilate and deal with it or have a continual headache Is my final thought.

 

[MikeFisher]

I understand the general consensus that you must live in the DR 24/7/365 to truly 'get' this thread. However, some of us who do not, still can understand. My DH and I were visiting the DR, where he is from. We went to the beach with the family one afternoon and DH decided he wanted to take a few pictures, so took the camera off down the beach. Some time later he returned to where the rest of were and asked if I had a plastic bag. I still had the plastic bag from security clearance at the airport for my liquids in my purse, so passed him that, asking if it was big enough. Oh yes, he said. 30 minutes later he arrived back with a drenched and ruined (of course) camera. He wanted to swim out to rocks a little ways off shore to take some pictures and was adamant that the plastic bag I gave him must have had holes in it - as it didn't keep the camera from getting wet. Seriously. And this man is in a position of leadership in a business in Canada. His entire family, responding, si si, the bag is defective. Seriously?

lol
that does not sound like there would be high hurdles set, to become a Leader in Canuckland.

Mike

 

[MikeFisher]

I have one of these wall mounted can openers. The times I've had a visitor, they've mastered this thing pretty quickly.

wall-mounted.
that's it.
they can't steal it.
it would require the use of a Knife(screwdriver) to cut it loose and accidentally take it with 'em to their house after the visit.

Mike

 

[bronzeallspice]

i don't know about this. rich dominicans have poor uneducated dominicans cook for them, unless they are very wealthy and able to employ a trained chef. as a result they will eat the same lousy food, only plenty of it. and their cans will be opened by knives because it's a poor uneducated dominican doing the job.

The same lousy food is eaten in the DR by both rich and poor. Arroz y Habichuelas is the staple everywhere you go.

I've been to many wealthy homes. These people could easily afford a chef but instead preferred to hire
maids that made the regular meals and they ate it with gusto.

Hiring professional chefs is a matter of preference.