Blending in - tips for foreign residents

[XXKWISIT]

lol@2dlight. There's something to be said for posting on forum while trying to stay awake on a night shift
That 'someone' should read: 'something'

[sarge]

I recently experienced my first apparel don't here! although it is perfectly acceptable to wear skin tight jeans that leave nothing, I mean nothing about the female anatomy to the imagination, and shirts so tight that several buttons have popped off and the bra is visable, the same women donning this uniform will stare and snicker if you go jogging with a bare midriff! so much for always polite to your face... i think there is a fine line between being respectful of a different culture and losing who you are. for example, keeping yourself clean and hygenic in this tropical climate is not negotiable, shower often! but its ok to be who you are. if you have curls and you like 'em, keep 'em... its your hair and that shouldn't be offensive to anyone... anywhere. and that goes for the mani pedi thing too.

[timperry]

If you are wanting some tips, I have a few. Almost everywhere I have ever been I have found a ready smile and some sort of expression of delight at seeing someone goes a long way in overcoming the language or lack of. Kindness is a way of being when your comfortable with who you are no matter where you are..I have been all over the world and I have always made it a habit when approaching anyone of briefly looking directly into their eyes with confidence and acknowledgement as we pass one another it also gives a sense if there is malice present without ever speaking a word I keep my ears sharp if i think there is any sort of danger as you can hear their foot steps fade as the distance grows. Being aware is always a good thing to do. Also it pays to get a third story apartment as no one walking street level can observe you and do not walk anywhere at night, don't get drunk in public as even the police will politely relieve you of your wallet. make sure your gates are secure. Have fun wherever you are and others will want to have fun with you. When I pass a familiar beggar there are days when I give a little something and other days when I say otra dias and give nothing but i SEE them and I let them know that. Do not change money on the street especially if someone offers you an unusaully high rate of exchange they will attempt to mis-direct you and rip you off there are plenty of legit places to change your money. I hope you stay safe but also it is important to enjoy life and to try give others a little hope and happiness if only for a moment

[linmagic]

Timperry, great post! A little bit of kindness and wisdom goes a long way.

Lin

[linmagic]

Just re-read Forum thread title - How to blend in.... we have absolutely no chance especially me with my colouring!

Lin

[jrhartley]

I find just wearing a pair of long trousers can make you almost invisble,wear a chacabana and hey presto you will never be seen again

[hi3cmz]

I arrived DR at 9y/o, as an little asia boy, I used to live in barrios with my mom, who is also single mom at that time, and this was exactly what she did with all dominican people around us. What I want to point out is that dr people is just as nice as you are with them~ with few exception, so be nice, nothing you will lose.

[Mariot]

Originally Posted by cobraboy

-Lower class Dominicans will start conversations with you. Upper class Dominicans rarely will.

i noticed that one, but it became quiet obvious to me last week. i was at a party where i didn't know anybody besides the person that brought me there. now, while people where asking that person who i was and/or i was introduced to them, they would not talk to me directly. even sitting at a table with several friends of said person, nobody would strike up a conversation with me, and talk among themselves, having conversations i could not possibly contribute to, as they revolved around friends and stuff like that. when my friend got a phone call, and i was left there sitting at the table for ten or fifteen minutes, after some time, somebody finally adressed me and said something along the line of: "why don't you speak?"
so what did i do wrong? am i the one having to initiate conversation? i figuered nobody was interested in talking to me, as people more or less ignored my presence. yet me not talking to them apparently was weird.
the normal thing where i'm from, and what i would do when introduced to a stranger at a party where i'm among friends and the introduced person is not, is to talk to that person, and show interest, trying to make that person feel comfortable in a foreign environment. on the other hand, a person that nobody really knows starting to intrude into a conversation i have with my friends, or striking up conversation with people that absolutely show no interest in talking would be considered rude.
the other weird thing was that when my friend returned, and i was talking to the guy that commented on me not talking, she basically started answering every question i was asked. now, while my spanish is at least decent, and i have no problems expressing myself, there is no way i can keep up with the machine gun like rapid fire style of speaking most dominican woman make use of, which basicaly excluded me from the conversation once again. so, what was that all about?

[belgiank]

As an international sales director I have traveled the world, and as I like traveling, I also did it in my spare time...

My general rule is to learn as rapidly as possible the basic language skills to say hi, how are you, good morning ,evening, etc... Not as simple as it sounds, as one of the former companies I worked for sent me to Vietnam for several projects... and every province speaks a completely different dialect... (this far the only language which baffled me completely...)

Now the second rule is to respect the local people, be friendly with them, try to converse with them, respect their local rules of dress, etc... and so far I had no problems....

I now live in Jarabacoa, and maybe this location is different from other locations in the country... but I can only vouch that people here are extremely friendly and helpfull.... Yes, we do get into discussions, and they are saying they do not understand me, and I'm sayin I do not understand them... but we appreciate each other and you have spoken skills, and hands and feet, and we laugh a lot... and yes...

I've been here for 2 months now, and absolutely love the place and the people... My Spanish skills are making giant leaps (especially in the understanding part...) and thanks to our dogs we are quite well known in the village by now...

the people here are great... and my only concern is to improve my latin-american Spanish as soon as possible...