Note of Caution
What you say happened to you can and does happen even in the Carib. And that is especially true of the DR. Be careful and look hard before you leap especially in the DR. Many (not all) are only interested in what they can get from you and think nothing of deception to get what they think they can and then leave you to pick up the pieces (yours and theirs). Honesty as known in the US does not have the same meaning in the DR corruption and half truths are deeply engrained in the culture. After you have been exposed to it for a time you know what to expect but it takes getting burnt a few times first. Ex-pats even the well intentioned ones will often not directly tell you of a deception being pulled on you although they may hint to you about it. Many of them have a vested interest in keeping what they know to themselves in order to survive or be accepted there. While they may not want to see you hurt (thus the hints) they are not free to outright tell you the truth. Finding someone you can truly trust takes time. If you can (learn to or) live in this type of environment you will be OK in the DR. My advice though is Verify, Verify and Verify again. What you hear is often not what is being said. Oh and expect a few surprises
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