Curiosities in the Dominican Republic

Golo100 · #1 04-10-2002, 12:56 PM

-New York City Board of Education is searching for 500 teachers in the Caribbean, including the Dominican Republic. It seems the shortage of bilingual teachers is critical in the big apple. It reminds me of a similar situation in North Carolina, where bilingual teachers can name their price, but cannot afford Charlotte.

However, there will be few takers here. Bilingual teachers with a background conmensurate with NYC standards are heavily recruited here in DR and better paid(relatively) than New York teachers. Salary in NYC starts at US$2500 a month($31,000 a year). But most of your salary is spent for rent, utilities, food and transportation. There is little left for anything else. On top of that, they will be catering to the most difficult chopo students in N.Y. They will have to wear bullet-proof vests.

-The last commercial space available at The Acropolis Mall on Churchill Avenue, Piantini, a small 57.72 sq.mtr.(620sq.ft.) room is being sold for US$5000 a meter, or $US465 per sq.ft. In pesos we are talking $90,000 per mtr. the most expensive commercial real estate in this nation. I guess just the maintenance fee would run you about $15-20,000 per month or more. Compare that to space at Charles Summer Ave. at about $20,000 or the rest of the city at between $15-20,000 for commercial built space. You have to sell quite a bit of merchandise to come up with the mortgage.

-Other comparisons worth checking. Metro Country Club Villas with over 600 sq.mtrs.(6460sq.ft.)are selling just over US$250,000, or $370 a sq. mtr. Costa Bavaro units sell for US$500,000 in slightly larger lots. Cap Cana is for the super rich.

-For the first time apartments in the Oriental Zone are going over $1,000,000 pesos. Even in the Carrefour area, a chopo neighborhood they are going for $1,450,000 for 3 bdrms.

-K-Mart is closing more than 700 stores worldwide, yet they insist on opening in DR. Levi Strauss is cutting 20% of their labor force and will stop manufacturing. How will that affect our Levi's shops? Stores and shops are closing very fast in DR malls, but just as soon, new ones open up in the same locations closed.

-The Male Revue Show "Solo Para Mujeres"(Only for Women) opening tomorrow at the Jaragua was sued by Sonia Luna, an overrated DR TV hostess who runs a show with a similar registered name. She owns the property rights in DR. The whole thing was another shameful example of publicity in her part. I would not be surprised if both shows got together to plant this fight to arouse controversy. Both shows are worth beans.

-Pump and Circumstances: The orderly and dignified manner of the state funeral for the Lady Queen of England(this one goes into history) contrasts with the "chopo" funeral of our Jose Francisco Peña Gomez. We definetly have a long way to go!!! And, with the Haitians coming, our funerals will turn into voodoo parties.

-Maria Felix, the most admired hispanic movie actress in the last 50 years, who just died, was a playgirl who had as many, or more romances than Liz Taylor. She even spent a much publicized one-night stand with an Arab Sheik. So ladies(Jan and company) that just goes to show you that to be respected and admired you don't have to be a nun.

-Friends of Luis Medrano, the DR show promoter who brought you acts like Luis Miguel, published a paid statement on Diario Libre attacking some unknown detractors of the the promoter. They went as far as to call them "rats". Chopos attacking each other!!

-Punta Cana is now the #1 tourist airport in DR. Its passenger load exceeds Las Americas Airport, shamefully named recently after Jose Francisco Peña Gomez, the Chopo's hero. Thank god it was the airport and not one of the streets in my neighborhood!!!
And for the foreign hypocrites, let me know how many would like to have their streets named after ML King or Malcolm X?

-Who are the fools who call 1-976 numbers? Get this one...."Española de 37 años. Me gustaria tener amigos Dominicanos para fines serios., soltera, muy bonita, con buena posicion economica". Guess who answers the call?...A fat lipped Haitiana-looking, 250 lbs. chopa. Check your phone bill!!!

-Our new Dominican Major League Manager for the Detorit Tigers, Luis Pujols, was fired by the Dominican Winter League team Leones del Escogido. It seems Pujols only lands on losers. The Detroit Tigers(sorry Suarezn) are the Titanic of baseball. He will get paid handsomely though for ending last and a sure firing soon. Is our league that tough that you get fired here but get hired by the Major Leagues?

For the rest hahahahahahah!

-TW

Isaac Green · #2 04-10-2002, 01:10 PM

Golo,

I see you just could not resist that comment about
Haiti now could you?

Golo,

What kind of funeral than do you think would have been appropriate for Pena Gomez now that you bring
up the matter?

jessica__78 · #3 04-10-2002, 01:20 PM

what does "chopo" mean?

Golo100 · #4 04-10-2002, 01:45 PM

Peña Gomez's body should have been sent back to Haiti, where it came from. He deserved a voodo funeral, something he believe in pretty much. Or, havent' you seen the video his friends took with him doing black magic and voodoo ceremonies? Did you see him dressed up in vooddo clothes with his hanky? This was all on national TV and was even used for political ads against him.

You need to brush up on your history and Dominican news to stick with me.

TW

Salomon · #5 04-10-2002, 02:33 PM

As the guys, I am sure, might do a better job at explaining...

The dictionary meaning for Chopo is: a Black poplar-tree, but Dominicans have taken this word and used it to ridicule people who they might think do not meet their social or economic circle or for that matter, people who do not share their ideas or way of thinking. Chopa is used for the female and chopiar is the work done by the chopos.

Dominicans also play around with the word while in the company of their friends. In other words, do not say this word while having an argument or to someone you do not know, as it is could be offensive.
MS

Isaac Green · #6 04-10-2002, 03:01 PM

And look for the 1 millioneth time, when I was in
Santiago just a few months ago I saw these people
all white(missionaries) I do not know what there
religious teachings are however I believe they
are latter day saints I think that when it is
90 + degrees outside and they walk around with
black slacks on and long sleeve shirts that this is a little odd but it is there religion.

I wish that people would stop associating vodoo
with evil. Should I associate the Catholic Church
with evil because some of its priest prey on little boys of course not, stop that damn media
inspired and politically driven rhetoric that
equates vodoo with evil you know that it is just
an attention getter used for selfish reasons.

Golo100 · #7 04-10-2002, 03:03 PM

You are wrong. Ideas have nothing to do with being a chopo. Just because you disagree with somebody does not make him or her a chopo.

There is plenty of material on this in history files in DR1. But to make life easy for you here is a rundown:

Chopos do the following: Talk loud in public, listen to music loud in the streets, cars and at home,throw garbage on the streets, not the trash can,blow their car horns everywhere, scream at people from their windows,hang-dry their clothes from balconies and windows,live in ghettos and rundown neighborhoods in spite of their income, build million dollar houses in ghettos, drive cars with neon plates, cd's hanging from their rearview mirror, women wear colitas 24 hrs. a day, love to wear sneakers instead of shoes,wear lots of gold and jewelry in excess,their idea of listening music is merengue and bachata at 6 a.m. in the morning,or listen to reggae all day long, walk like monkeys,and use rudimentary language, slangs and dirty words.

Just a brief sketch. I could cite more than 5000 qualities that identify chopos. The word is used casually to name the service people in Dominican homes, like maids, washing ladies and clean-up people. 99% of chopos are black or indian skin types with kinky hair.

For instance, Pedro Martinez, perhaps the best pitcher in baseball is a chopo in spite of his millions. His demeanor has not changed. On the other hand, Sammy Sosa, one of the greatest chopos of all time prior to joining the Cubs has refined himself into a fine gentleman. He has used the money well and good advise from P.R. people. His only drawback is that his speech has not improved that much.

TW

Isaac Green · #8 04-10-2002, 03:04 PM

What about the Cubans and Santeria I guess they are evil to, you people here on this board are
too smart and savvy to constantly be made to believe every thing that the popular media says
hasn't anybody ever heard read between the lines?
The media would sell their own mother for a story.

Jan · #9 04-10-2002, 03:12 PM

TW....Saw that little nun remark! Very funny! You always do bring a smile to my face. So where do you suggest I start being the "de-nunning"? The country clubs...or the colmados. Or do I need to call the princes I know? Any suggestions where I should start my new career? All suggestions will be weighed out and thought about deeply.LOL!......think I should get out that black dress or would red be more appropriate?

Golo100 · #10 04-10-2002, 03:28 PM

It all depends. I figure since you always defend the family institution and all goodie-do-good postings on the board, I thought of you and perhaps Pib as ready for nunship.

But if I recall in some of your previous postings you have been reported drinking beer straight from bottles listening to bachata in colmadones, and supposedly picked a chopo boyfriend in a colmado. I may be wrong, but I thought I read one of your posts claiming such credits.

If that's the case, you may be able to follow in Maria Felix's footsteps by just doing it more often.

Hehehehe!!!! Just in fun. I know you are a fine lady.

Hey Isaac: Cubans do santeria with catholic rituals and only casually