This is an interesting thread. I don't think Chip is ugly. I agree that people are not nearly as warm in the US or anywhere in the world as in the DR (I heard the same about Costa Rica as well). Of course, sometimes they are really nice and friendly to you for all the wrong reasons, but I did talk to a lot of really nice, open, warm and friendly people in the Dominican Republic who were just that - nice, open and friendly. People in Europe (I am more familiar with Eastern European culture) can be also very warm, nice, friendly and generous but only if they know you. To stranger - not really because it can be dangerous sometimes. In the US - people are so busy, they don't have time for just socializing. Every time someone is being nice to me - I start thinking - they are going to try to sell something to me
