Dominican Republic Recap and Dictionary

It is a wonderful country where modern meets traditional. One minute you feel like you are stepping 50 years back in time, whilst others you are back in the present. It is a country where nature is still so untouched and unspoilt in many places, and yet so exploited by tourism in others.

This is the country where woman are women, and men are men. Men spend their Saturdays drinking and catching up, and the women spend all day at the beauty salon. No matter how poor they are, they will always manage to find money to spend on themselves, even though their children may run hungry.

This is where there are no traffic rules, or at least all rules are ignored. People will try to rip you off, as being white to them, means you have money, lots of it. It is nothing against you personally; it is just a view of stealing from the rich and giving to the poor as in Robin Hood.

Women here sweep dirt off dirt, and no matter how little or much they have, they will always try to keep it tidy around them. They often live in houses, which we could call huts, that have no electricity, and just mud floors. The life from city and countryside is like 2 different worlds.

The Dominican Republic is where you can pick your own mango and avocado of the trees, or buy it on the street corner all cut up and covered in honey. It is where you can enjoy a quiet white sand beach, feeling like you are the only person alive, or you can share the beach with thousands of others.

The contrast in this country is vast, and you have to love it. I have never seen so many churches before. They are on every corner, on every street, in every city, town or village, but yet at the same time I have never seen more prostitution.

The weather here is wonderful although the 100% humidity takes a little time getting used to. Even when it rains here, it does not bother you, as the air is still so warm and you know that the sun will shine again shortly.

Backpacking is unusual in this country, so if anyone asks you how many years you had to go to Uni to become a backpacker, don’t be shocked!

Dominicans talk about love and sex as if it is the same thing. It is all very casual, and they will just as easily tell a passer by that they love them (Mamacita, te quiero mucho), as they will tell their girlfriend, wife and lover. They seem to think that bringing children into the world with 10 different fathers is not a problem, and that they will take care of themselves. The first question any Dominican will ask you is if you are married, and how many kids you have. They will hardly ever ask your name, or about your background.

Transport in the Dominican Republic is fantastic, it is so easy to get around, even to the smallest little villages, and it is not very expensive, unless you get ripped off of course;). I loved travelling on Gua Gua’s, it was cheap, personal, and you did not arrive at your final destination with a cold. It is a wonderful experience to talk to the locals, and see much of the Dominican nature on the way. It is wonderful, unless you expect everything to run on time! There will be some waiting, but when you are in the Caribbean, you just have to take things as they come. Don’t stress, you are after all travelling, and trying to experience their way of living.

Cockfighting and Baseball is big here. You will see the arenas for these sports everywhere. Dancing is something else you will see lots of. It is so great to see that these people have no inhibitions, and they dance everywhere as long as there is music. People will happily sing on the bus, on the street, or anywhere else if they feel like it. They are very spontaneous, and seem so happy, even though many of them are so poor. Music is so important to them and their culture.

Beer and Rum is greatly enjoyed and consumed here. In the more rural areas you can only buy a bottle of rum at the bar with the mix you want, rather than a drink readily mixed. It is great and very economic, especially if you are with friends. Beer is always served in big bottles in a holder of tree, hat helps keep it cold. This is shared between friends, and drunken out of tiny plastic cups (Reminds me of the ones you use at the dentist’s office).

Motoconcho is an own phenomenon here. I have never seen so many different things on the back of a moped. They use this as a means of transportation from everything between a family of 5, to a washing machine, dryer, planks and other building material, pigs, dogs, birds in a cage, cookers, computers, and people!
This is their most important means of transport. Either you own pone yourself, or you pay for someone to take you from A-B. You have to get onto these considering the risks, as they drive as madmen, and they have little to no consideration for you as a passenger or your “cargo”.

The supermarket is seldom just a supermarket; is also a local drinking hole until nine at night. This is where the locals often gather to catch up on the last gossip over a drink whilst shopping for their dinner at the same time.

The snorkel, and general outdoors adventures here are great. There is so much too choose from both inland, and on the coast, but always check around first before choosing whom to go with. Make sure you always brink everything you need for the day. Take advantage of the possibilities as the nature in this country is truly amazing.

I have never before met more racist people; a black man will call someone else black in a condescending way. Colour here means a lot. The lighter skinned you are, the higher up on the social ladder you are usually.

Food here is very starchy and full of carbs. It is hard to find salads, and healthy food, all foods contain rice, plantains, bread fruit, sweet potato, beans and chicken. They also eat a lot of fried banana, and yucca root. This is not the place to go to loose weight or to remain the weight you are. My weight has sky rocketed, and it seemed inevitable!



Dictionary (Important words and phrases):

Gua gua: minivan made into a bus, which holds up to 30 people at it’s worst.
Motoconcho: A Moped used for transporting people and goods, either privately or as a “taxi”.
Colmado: Little supermarket that transforms into pub at nighttimes.
Mamacita te quiero mucho: is a chat up line which apparently very respectful….. (Not sure about this)
Gringo: Foreigner, an especially used for Americans.
Hanky Panky: A Dominican man who looks for a foreign woman to take him out of the country. He will do anything for her, until goal is reached.
Kooger: Older woman looking for company in younger Dominican man
Baina: Thing (used for anything and everything)
Guapo: can also mean angry in this country (means handsome in Spanish), it all depends on what tone of voice you use.
Bachata: Dominican country music (great stuff), and great dance.
Merengue: Favourite music here, and heard everywhere.
Publico: Bus
Mangoo: Typical mashed plantain breakfast cooked with butter, milk and salt.
Parcha: Passion fruit juice. GREATEST EVER!
OFF: Insect repellent
After Bite: A spray for after all those pesky bites…. It helps a little.

Tips from one traveller to another:
1. Always use insect repellent with deet content over 20%
2. Never scratch your bites.
3. Eat fresh fruit whenever you can
4. Watch out for Dominican men
5. Learn to dance whilst there
6. Snorkel as much as you can
7. If I guy or girl seems interested in you, they might be prostitutes, so just be aware and awake.
8. Always carry Repellent and Sun screen (water proof)
9. Always stay in hotels or hostels with safes.
10. Enjoy the adventure

Lessons I have learnt:

1. Try never to compare one country to another. We are all from different backgrounds, cultures, and living standards. The sooner you get into the rhythm of life of where you are, the more you will enjoy it.

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