Dominicans in Michigan

Alove · #1 09-14-2005, 10:53 AM

Hello all,

I am an new member. I moved to the Metro Detroit area from NYC - the Heights - about a year ago. I have never experienced a culture shock like I did when I moved here. It is a very segregated state, you are either black or white. I miss my peoples. I want to eat MY foods, listen to MY music, etc. Can you believe there is not a spanish radio station here? Quisqueyanos, where are you?

Alove, MI

deelt · #2 09-14-2005, 11:31 AM

Alove you aren't completely (but are nearly) alone. Contact Rafael Nunez Cedeno at UIC. He can put you in contact with folks in MI. I know there are a few in Ann Arbor (UM) and around MSU.

suarezn · #3 09-14-2005, 12:18 PM

Alove: There are a few of us here in Michigan, albeit nothing remotely close to what you'll find in NY. Some of them even post here from time to time. There are quite a few around Mexicantown in Detroit and a larger group in the Grand Rapids area. There used to be a Dominican restaurant in Livernois Ave., but I think they closed shop. Where are you at specifically? PM me if you wish...

Deelt: What's UIC?

smilez119 · #4 10-04-2005, 04:26 PM

Hi,

I am not Dominican, however I just loved the way my hair was done by a Dominican stylist in Georgia. I wanted to know if you have found a stylist in the metro Detroit area to take care of your hair? If so would you mind sharing that information with me.

Thank you.

purplebunniern · #5 10-05-2005, 12:42 AM

Hey Alove, although Im not dominican, I enjoy the culture. I know there are a number of salsa clubs downtown detroit but as far as Bachata or Merengue Im not so sure. Im still looking myself. If we ever decide to have gathering in TO you are more then welcome to come up( I dont know of anyone besides myself in Windsor that goes)
Good luck with Detroit

Juniper · #6 10-05-2005, 09:07 AM

Greetings from Up North!

I am in Michigan but far from you. We have a cottage in Greenbush, near Oscoda, between Alpena and Tawas; we are on the northeast part of the peninsula on Lake Huron but there is hardly anyone who is familiar with this area. We spend the summers here.

If there are any Dominicans in this part of the world, please let me know.

Juniper

concon_quemao · #7 10-31-2005, 09:32 PM

actually there are some.. i spent some time there years back when a friend of mine's (dominicana) family moved to detroit. it was an experience. no one knew what to make of us. for some reason they only thought the world was split up into arab, mexican, black and white

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alove

Hello all,

I am an new member. I moved to the Metro Detroit area from NYC - the Heights - about a year ago. I have never experienced a culture shock like I did when I moved here. It is a very segregated state, you are either black or white. I miss my peoples. I want to eat MY foods, listen to MY music, etc. Can you believe there is not a spanish radio station here? Quisqueyanos, where are you?

Alove, MI

MissIvana · #8 11-26-2005, 07:03 PM

Welcome to Detroit!

I am 1/2 Dominican and have grown up here in the Metro Detroit Area. You're right, there is not much of a variety here in Michigan. Most people believe I am joking when I tell them people don't know what Dominicans are (in Detroit). Go Figure, look how segregated we are here

*You can find some merengue/bachata in the mix at salseros around Metro Detroit... look here for more information http://www.salsadetroit.com/home.html

Syrita · #9 11-26-2005, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by concon_quemao

actually there are some.. i spent some time there years back when a friend of mine's (dominicana) family moved to detroit. it was an experience. no one knew what to make of us. for some reason they only thought the world was split up into arab, mexican, black and white

You are right. I am a mexican from Michigan and it is not very culturally diverse there. Where i used to live (Grand Rapids) there is quite a large population of mexicans and puerto ricans but i haven't seen or met many dominicans there. The city is somewhat segragated. The hispanic community in Grand Rapids resides on a particular part of town.

MissIvana · #10 11-28-2005, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syrita

You are right. I am a mexican from Michigan and it is not very culturally diverse there. Where i used to live (Grand Rapids) there is quite a large population of mexicans and puerto ricans but i haven't seen or met many dominicans there. The city is somewhat segragated. The hispanic community in Grand Rapids resides on a particular part of town.

Thats so true. I was a team leader at a summer camp for teenage girls this past summer. A Mexican girl from Grand Rapids came. I was the only one who could speak to her to her parents [in spanish]. After the introduction, we began talking about how fast/slow different Hispanics speak spanish [breaking the cultural ice]. She then made a very offensive comment about how "ghetto" Dominicans speak, I almost passed out. I asked her, "what did she think I was?" She was so embarassed, but she explained that she'd never met a Dominican before.