mean looks?

[bk_d]

Here people give you a smile as first glance, which gives us the impression of a friendly country.As in many other developping countries people like to watch others and look at them openly and with interest. Often because there's nothing else to do...

also, m'frog, thanks for the explanation, but i'm not sure it can be chalked up to that. i've travelled through many global south/developing countries and been stared at as a strange foreign person, but normally people haven't given me such anger in their stares, as they do here. there's a difference between inquisitiveness and obvious displeasure with one's existence. perhaps it's the inquisitiveness mixed with machismo.

actually, i experienced something like this in vietnam where people were not terribly excited about foreigners. interesting...

[drloca]

Maybe I dont fully understand this but foreigners, whether living or vacationing in the DR, are not a rare or unusual sight, especially in Las Terrenas I found.

[Squat]

Originally Posted by bk_d

...but normally people haven't given me such anger in their stares, as they do here...

I hate to say it, but my feeling is that you carry that anger inside yourself... I walk the same streets you do everyday, so that gives me a certain perspective on the problem.

Anyway, I certainly wish you all the best, and wouldn't want to add any discomfort. Welcome to the Dominican Republic, welcome to Las Terrenas !

I am sure that you'll get to enjoy your stay, you'll end up making some friends, and you might even post your story here afterwards !

[2LeftFeet]

The reason why I asked if you were very pretty is because sometimes people stare at that and are RUDE or if you had something different about you that would make them stare. I travel a lot as well. When I was in China I was stared at by the Chinese people that had never seen blondes before. My co-worker who is Chinese was stared at when she and her sister went to China because she had a crew cut. It was unacceptable there. Women didn't do that. They were not pleased with her hair style and made her very uncomfortable.

[deejaa]

Perhaps the OP is radiating something from deep inside, that is bringing on these reactions to her. Sad for her, not to be able to enjoy the land she is visiting, in confort. And perhaps, as posted earlier, she is wearing sunglasses that are distorting the real world. Sad again.

[miguel]

Originally Posted by 2LeftFeet

The reason why I asked if you were very pretty is because sometimes people stare at that and are RUDE or if you had something different about you that would make them stare. I travel a lot as well. When I was in China I was stared at by the Chinese people that had never seen blondes before. My co-worker who is Chinese was stared at when she and her sister went to China because she had a crew cut. It was unacceptable there. Women didn't do that. They were not pleased with her hair style and made her very uncomfortable.

I do NOT know if my post got "lost in space" of went over members' heads.

SOMEtimes a reason is NOT needed for SOME people to give you dirty looks in the DR.

I am NOT flashy, I am NOT a "cadenudo", I do NOT dress like a hoodlum, I conduct myself as the educated person that I am (or I think I am, whahaha), last I checked, I do NOT have any tattoos or piercings and my hair is NOT "punk rocker" pink.

And I still got dirty looks.

NOT once, NOT twice.....And I am sure it WILL happen again!.

Btw: let me take it a step further so MANY of you understand that this happens:

I have personally seen people give other people dirty looks!.

[ybonabeach]

Here's my 2 cents and words I live by: "it is none of my business what others think of me".

[2LeftFeet]

Miguel you are so right. People are people. I must have missed your post. .. No, I remember now... the one with your nephew who calls you dad and the housekeeper that kept giving you dirty looks for no apparent reason.

Who knows... maybe she was flirting with you Miguel... she was playing hard to get... jajajaja

[miguel]

Originally Posted by 2LeftFeet

Miguel you are so right. People are people. I must have missed your post. .. No, I remember now... the one with your nephew who calls you dad and the housekeeper that kept giving you dirty looks for no apparent reason.

Who knows... maybe she was flirting with you Miguel... she was playing hard to get... jajajaja

Hard to get?....are you kidding me....I was NOT trying to get her.....Although she did NOT look that bad, whahaha!.

Listen, if a person knows ANYTHING about the DR, that person WILL know that if you want to have a person give another person "dirty looks"....:

ALLLLLL you have to do is sit a group of people on the porch (or the sidewalk, or in front of the house) and stare/look at them!!.

In NO time, the "dirty looks" WILL start flying ALLLL over the place!.

Better yet (worse for the person looked at) is that the "dirty looks" WILL be accompanied with a few NOT too nice words!.

For example:

"Listen, Julia, look who is coming this way....I hate that puta.... she thinks her shyt don't stink....that puta thinks she is better than us".......BOOOM, there goes the "dirty look!.

NEVER FAILS!!.

Edited to add:

If you think guys do NOT do this also, I AM THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND!!.

[2LeftFeet]

Miguel, you're too funny!