Positive stories about Dominicans

[Barnabe]

Last year a neighbour asks my wife for a 5000 pesos loan for a surgery she needed.

Well this woman when we are in RD always would invite us for dinner, visit us, that kind of thing.

I was always asking myself "cuando llegara el golpe"?

So when she asked for the loan I told myself "Ya llego"

Last april, she comes and visit us. And PAID my wife!

One of the best surprise I have ever had in the DR.

Barnabé

[sassysarah]

While visiting DR I came across some of the most generous people I've ever met. My mother and I became friends with a young man we met in Sosua, and after only a few hours of knowing him, he invited us to meet his family in Jassica. He telephoned his uncle asking him to come and pick us all up. His uncle arrived a few hours later, and when we got to Nelson's home, his family had prepared a huge lunch for us on the river behind their house. They all welcomed us into their homes as if we were long lost friends, and despite the language barrier I immediately felt warm and loved. We were introduced to EVERYONE, and though the majority of them spoke little or no english, and my spanish at the time was very limited they all greeted us with smiles hugs and kisses. One of the older men living there gave us his home to stay in for a few nights asking absolutely nothing in return. I've lost touch with them in the past year, but their kindness and generosity will always remain in my heart

[beachcomber]

OK' a positive story from the DR this thread is what I need it is too easy to develop island fever and getting engrossed in the problems here and forget the problems where we came from, six years ago when I came here on holiday for the first time I decided I would like to try the cane from the street sellers walking around puerto plata I found a guy eventually in a narrow street he was twice my size carrying a machete and looked like he enjoyed fighting with broken teeth I asked how much the cane would be he wasnot inclining to tell me how much so i expected to get a ripoff having come from Spain but decided to go for it anyway after trying the cane and I asked how much agane he said it's a gift,come on holiday here again he coud of asked me for anything it was his gift and others like him witch made me decided to sell my home in Spain and moved here and I am happy I did.

[platanomami23]

I've traveled to the Dominican Republic twice and will soon be visiting again. I have never met nicer, more welcoming people anywhere. Dominicans are also the most genuine people I have ever dealt with.

My first contact with Dominicans occurred in Louisiana when I was a freshman in college. I became friends with some Dominicans who were also studying there. I immediately felt comfortable just hanging out with them, even though all the hugging and greeting took a little bit to get used to. Their generosity was also so amazing because it was so different from the usual American situation. Like another person mentioned earlier, I was used to automatically saying no if someone asked "Would you like something to drink?" or if they mentioned that you should come visit, because here in the US we say it just to be polite and don't necessarily mean it. However, Dominican moms won't take no for an answer, and one mom offered repeatedly for me to stay with them when I visited the DR and it took a while for me to realize she really meant it.

I first went to the DR two years ago for Christmas and New Year's with my friends. They're from La Romana, but we took many day trips to Bayahibe, Higuey, Dominicus, Boca de Yuma, San Pedro, and Santo Domingo, etc. Everyone was really friendly and helpful, especially considering my limited spanish at that time. I still regularly talk on the phone and email with my friends' parents and one dad even calls me his "hija rubia". Their family truly is a second family for me, as are the families of some of my other friends.

I also went this past October for the Festival Presidente with my sister. We stayed in a small hotel in Santo Domingo because it was for such a short time. This time was different because I didn't have the "safety net" of having my friends show me around. I had to translate everything for my sister who doesn't speak spanish, show her around, and make sure everything worked out. My spanish is much better now, but it was a really good experience having to rely on it so much. The people at the hotel, at the colmada, at the concert, and expecially our taxi drivers were amazingly helpful and friendly. We met a really nice taxi driver who helped us the whole weekend, even negotiating ticket prices with the scalpers outside of the concert and waiting outside the concert for us. One day he even took us to Boca Chica and waited for us, and the price for the whole weekend was way more reasonable than renting a car or trying to drive in that traffic would've been. We also met some nice Dominicans to go out to clubs on the Malecon with.

It was funny at the concert the first night b/c we didn't know that cameras weren't allowed and the hotel was too far away with the traffic to go back and forth. My sister went inside while I waited outside trying to figure out what to do. The security guards and the people working for Presidente repeatedly tried to help her, even with the language barrier, they didn't give up. Finally, they helped us get in even with the cameras, (but we promised them we wouldn't take pictures). We bought some of the guys beer b/c we appreciated the help so much.

Anyways, I love this country so much! I realize there are a lot of problems too, just like anywhere, but it is such an amazing, diverse, friendly country. I've written many of my essays for school about the DR and plan to write my thesis on Dominican immigrants also. I'll be there again for this New Year's party and I plan to return many more times. A friend gave me my nickname "platano mami" because I'm so involved and interested in the DR and sinceramente soy una gringa con un corazon dominicano

[brian richards]

Well while we were Holidaying in the DR, we became friendly with quite a few of the resort workers. One was a sweeper who had holes in his trousers and shoes falling off his feet. So I gave him a pair of my chinos trousers and my leather sandels, only wore them both once, the night before. Then I realised that I forgot to check the pockets, and I had left 1700 pesos in the back pocket. When I spoke to him again I told him what I had done, I expected him to say there wasnt anything in the pockets. He didnt he told me to wait there he would go and get it for me and he would give it back, we told him to keep it.

Then there is this other resort worker, good looking guy, not going to say who he is. But we became friendly with him. He told us how he was saving hard to come to the UK to get married, my good lady gave him a £20 note telling him to spend it on arrival to the uk on getting something to eat. We was told that he probably tells everybody that story to get money. Well we have just heard he is in the UK, Getting married. So all though you have to have your wits about you its not all of them telling you a yarn to get your money. We are going to try and find him in the UK just to make sure he is ok.

But I tell you what did upset us is the way most of the tourists treated the resort workers, no please, no thank you, we want, with a we have paid for you to wait on us attitude. How about some respect for the people who go out of their way to ensure you have a supurb vacation. Mind you it wasnt all tourists.

[gringo in dr]

Not too long after I got to the DR I bought a car. One of the first trips I took I got a flat tire. I didn't have a jack or a spare tire. Seemingly out of no where dominicans started to show up to give me a hand. I explained to them that I didn't have a jack or spare. One of them got on a moto concho and soon returned with a jack. Then he road off on the moto again, this time with my tire. When he returned my tire was repaired. The patch cost me 25 or 50 pesos, I don't remember exactly. No one would accept a tip. They were genuinely happy to help me out.

That is the true spirit of the dominican people.

[Paulino]

Originally Posted by gringo in dr

Not too long after I got to the DR I bought a car. One of the first trips I took I got a flat tire. I didn't have a jack or a spare tire. Seemingly out of no where dominicans started to show up to give me a hand. I explained to them that I didn't have a jack or spare. One of them got on a moto concho and soon returned with a jack. Then he road off on the moto again, this time with my tire. When he returned my tire was repaired. The patch cost me 25 or 50 pesos, I don't remember exactly. No one would accept a tip. They were genuinely happy to help me out.

That is the true spirit of the dominican people.

I have a somewhat similar experience to write about.

One day in January 2003 I was returning from Santo Domingo to Esperanza on the Autopista Duarte. My wife and my then 9 months old daughter were travelling with me. My spare tire had already gone flat on the way down, and it was beyond repair. Those were very slim racing sort of tires, not at all suited for Dominican roads. The car had recently been imported from Queens, New York. Being unfamiliar with things in Sto.Dgo. I chose to take a chance that the return trip would go smoothly without any further flats or incidents. It was not to be. Somewhere south of Piedra Blanca I had another flat. So I parked the CR-V on the road shoulder and got out the jack. No sooner was I starting to place the jack under the car than out of the blue appeared a young man offering his help. He lived on a hill right in the median, and had been sitting watching me as I parked the vehicle. He took over the job at hand, and when I told him I had no useable spare he got the whole wheel on his shoulder, flagged down the first and best guagua and told me to follow him. So we rode into Piedra Blanca and walked up to one of the gomero (tire repair) shops. It soon turned out that this tire also was beyond repair. So the gomero had to order new (well, used) tires from Bonao, which took quite a while. All the while this young man (twentyish) was waiting patiently with me, watching the traffic fly by. When the replacements finally arrived (one useable out of two) it was soon put on the rim and back we went, in some other kid's car. All the while my wife had been sitting in the car anxiously awaiting my return, with doors locked. Luckily no attackers (or anyone else) had approached her while she was sitting alone and defenseless in the car. She did have the cellular though, so I had been able to call her and warn her that things would be taking a while.

Unfortunately, after having been overcharged by the gomero (or the tire was unusually expensive) I did not have much cash left for the young man who had helped me out of this critical situation. But he graciously accepted what I could give him, and wished us a safe trip home. Which was completed without further incidents.

Needless to say, I soon had standard tires put on the wheels, and I've never had a flat tire ever since.

Only wish I could get back to that young samaritan and pay him the kind of money he really deserved. I've never been back that way since, though.

[kaliek]

Hello all.. I have read numerous reports/articles here and I have yet to notice one from a young african american prospective.. Now with that said please allow me to continue. I knew that this would be serious so let me absorb my 1st 9 day trip to the DR.. Okay Im ready LOL.. Needless to say that this was my first trip abroad(I was'nt into flying) anyway 4 planes later let me just say that im ready to go back right now!!(they cured me of my fear)..I met some wonderful people on the plane that helped me get over it hell I sat on the window all the way there( I know that was very brave of me LOL)..Okay back to my story : I travelled with my best friend on some spur of the moment stuff..We booked thru Expedia and things went rather well.Now prior to going I came here and read as much about the Dr as possible!! I visited as many sites as i could find cause hell I wanted to be well informed. Oh I know what you're wondering did all that info help? YES OF COURSE IT DID LOL.. From gifts for the hotel workers to the ie Pepsi,toys for thier kids,bottled water Candy etc.. (those things did get us extra little perks extra towels etc.. I found the Dominican people to be very intresting. we were there during the stormand did see some cows wash up on the beach and that was very funny. We stayed In Barcelo Naiboa Caribe and it was the Bomb(meaning good) as compared to some of the reviews that I read.The staff was on the ball from the landscaping of the property to the food.Okay after 9 days the food was Getting to me hahahaha although we did eat outside of the resort.I think we stayed in the hotel 1 out of the 9 days(catts were on the move amongst the people) The resort is not the place to be if you are single and looking to hook up but if you want a spot to chill outside of Boca Chica and between SanPedro/ Santo Domingo this is it.. and the price was pretty good. Now for all my New Yorkers/New Jersyans its about 45min each way. At the time the cost was either 20 pesos to BC and 50/60 to SD.. plus 40 to SP.If you are gonna go do one thing first LEARN some SPANISH es mui importante!! Now Needless to say I have never seen so many beautiful women in one place in my life!!(okay maybe Atlanta) but without the attitudes!! Needless to say me an my homie was ballin...I did notice that not too many american women of non european descent were travelling here most of them were in Puerto Rico going to other places which turned out to be really cool LOL...Make no mistake we hung out in the hood and that was quite an eye opener even for us and we grew up in the City!! Yes the Poverty is off the hook but the people seem to be generally happy despite it. I guess if you dont know how poor you are it dosent matter(sad but true).Well we did the BC thang the first night and learned really Quick about the PROs,Clubs,Motorconchos,etc.. it did seem like some folks were in business together with the intent of relieving you of your dough LOL.. I was not having it!!! You have to be concious like if youre back home..Over all it was cool you just have to decide if you want to drive or deal with the busses/cabs..(mucho dinero) but the bus did run pretty good from SD to SP(SanPedro)Yes we did meet nice young ladies of all shades(thier bodies /faces were mui bonita) and they were all pretty cool. So being a brother it was good to see a whole country of people that looked like me..I met a few brothers tha were on the DL with thier DC and that was cool did a little networking and hope to see them there again.HOOKED YOU BET hahaha my homie is back in November and myself in January.. We had a blast and im still kicking it with my new DC..Damn ther is much to say but I just want people to know that you dont have to be afraid to go outside of the resort or believe that things are so bad because despite the bad driving especiallay downtown SD at night the people are really cool.So dont get caught up in other peoples bad expierences and go see for yourself just like we did and if youre a single man(youre gonna LOVE it) my advice Just wear a Rubberband on your arm so when you think youre dreaming you can pop yourself and continue..... Peace for now but I'LLLL be Back...

[jrf]

No new posts for so many months? No positive stories about the Dominicans?
True, not as "sexy" as some of the other posts, such as "inside a cabana" but in the end-it is the people that really make RD great.
I have met many great people there. True, it may take a little while before some of them open up but shown a little kindness and true interest in their lives they give so much more in return.

I will share one. I was last there in March of this year for two weeks.
I spent some time with my friends family and was made to feel very much at home. Even to the point of one of the daughters yelling at me like family when screwing up playing dominos. I had some extra cash and obviously extra time so I bought some paint and spent two days painting the inside and outside of their "humble" home. The others pitched in, we listened to music, shared food and I had a great time.
I truly feel I was the winner in this. What a great experience to be with them and to be made welcome.
Any other stories out there?

[DominicanScotty]

Since discovering my hidden Dominican background in 1993. I began going back in 1994! I am very white skinned due to my mother being a blanca and my father of Irish blood. I also did not speak a work of Spanish at the time because it was never spoken in my house at home. So, I look like a typical tourist even to this day and it doesn't bother me at all.

One day during Hurricane Georges all of the ATM machines were emptied out by panicking people. I could not access my money! I was broke! Now for those of you that do not know this there is nothing more useless to anyone down there then a broke tourist. But I had a lot of Dominican friends and family. One Dominican friend went out an borrowed 10,000 pesos and came back to give it to me! This is unheard of even from an ex-pat to do something like this. I was invited to so many houses for dinner during that hellish week that I never had eaten so much in my life!

Another time I was visiting my family in Jamao del Norte on the other side of the Jamao River. Well, anyone that knows will know that if you don't have a powerful 4X4 to get up the back way of Jamao or across the Jamao River you will have to cross the river by foot. I wasn't dressed for the campo that day and really didn't want to go visit, I was wearing nice clothes. My cousins and their friends actually carried me across the river and all the way up the next hillside as if I was some king or something. Although I protested all the way they insisted that I enjoy the ride. At one point they put me down to rest and my shoes got muddy. When we got to the house they scrubbed my shoes until they looked like new again!

I love these people to tears!!!!