San Pedro de Macoris First Time Traveller

[brsboarder]

So, in about 5 days I will be moving to San Pedro from New York. I wanted to say hi to people who might be living there and active on this forum. I will be staying until approximately July and will be volunteering with NPH.org. I am hoping that I will find people to show me around and help me to find my way. I have never been to the Dominican Republic and am excited about this next part of my life. I'm a 22 year old male on his year off before medical school.

[laurapasinifan]

wow did you pick my least favorite city(that I know of so far ) in the DR.

I got lost trying to look for a shortcut to the coast road to get me to Juan Dolio coming from some where on the other side of SPDM.... the route just kept shrinking and shrinking then the lamps posts stopped and it was pitch black.. and I stayed on theis road that eventually was less than the width of my vehicle!! and I was within 2 feet of peopels door steps on BOTH sides of the car!!! and they all were staring at me like I was doing something REALLY stupid.....man was it dark there!!!

there was NO turning around..I would have to back up in thedark a mile or so!!
eventually we saw street lights again way up ahead and finally popped out onto a paved road...

I was till lost...paid a gas station owner 300 pesos and followed him to Juan Dolio.. ha ha

have fun!! and good luck

bad bob

[STEVE G.]

Next time try to use a Highway from San Pedro to get to Juan Dolio ( wide enough for 2 cars )

[laurapasinifan]

Originally Posted by STEVE G.

Next time try to use a Highway from San Pedro to get to Juan Dolio ( wide enough for 2 cars )

yeah stevie wonder...you are at least a day late and for sure a dollar short!! ha ha ha ha

god didnt put me on the highway... you have to get there yourself!! ha ha ha

funny about that highway we almost bought the farm the next night on that BIG 2 lane highway when we ran right up the behind of a monster truck blowing a huge black cloud of exhaust and sporting no lights whats so ever , in the pitch black night( no street lights!) who was doing about 15MPH

bad bob

[Matilda]

I like San Pedro and I am sure you will be fine. There are board members who live there, and those like me that live just down the road in Juan Dolio. When you get in and get settled in feel free to pm me and we'll help you 'find your way'!!!

Welcome

Matilda

[Steve Pindar]

Welcome! Like yourself, I am from NY. My wife, myself and our family also live in San Pedro de Macoris. We love it there! I also know some of the staff from NPH. They're great, and that organizations does a wonderful job in the DR. If you have any questions while there, the staff from NPH can help. Also, Matilda and MommC, in Juan Dolio, are very nice and are extremely helpful.

[Dre Broeders]

I only go to San Pedro de Macoris to go to the supermarket. I live in Juan Dolio.
I always leave San Pedro very quickly. It is very dirty and a lot of criminality.

[DrChrisHE]

B-Don't let these people freak you out!!

And everyone else...STOP PICKING ON MY INTERN!! THIS GUY ISN'T BUYING A HOUSE IN SPM; HE'S VOLUNTEERING AT THE NPH ORPHANAGE for a 6 month stint or so. Yes, I AM sounding like Mama Bear because I've taken responsibility for him unofficially and officially. I was out of internet contact over the holidays (in the US--ironically I have better wifi HERE.) Otherwise I would have seen this post before it went haywire (an expression only REALLY known to those who have used hay baled with wire.)

Geez, everyone gets ALL over me when I point out the negative things about the supposedly lush Juan Dolio but when we get someone who actually WANTS to experience what REAL public health work is like, you POUNCE on them.

B-go read your PMs and your private email.

I'm headed out to NPH now to meet the international med team.
Paz y salud,
Chris

Originally Posted by brsboarder

So, in about 5 days I will be moving to San Pedro from New York. I wanted to say hi to people who might be living there and active on this forum. I will be staying until approximately July and will be volunteering with NPH.org. I am hoping that I will find people to show me around and help me to find my way. I have never been to the Dominican Republic and am excited about this next part of my life. I'm a 22 year old male on his year off before medical school.

[DrChrisHE]

One more thing...how about those who DO actually care to improve this country post some helpful suggestions to this newcomer? His father has been here multiple times for work, but not stayed in the more primitive conditions of fluctuating electric and water. For the most part, this intern will be safely within the 400 acre NPH compound OUTSIDE of SPM in Ramon Santana or with my family in Juan Dolio (in Metro--which while it has its share of problems is NOT a batay!)

[laurapasinifan]

Originally Posted by DrChrisHE

B-Don't let these people freak you out!!

And everyone else...STOP PICKING ON MY INTERN!! THIS GUY ISN'T BUYING A HOUSE IN SPM; HE'S VOLUNTEERING AT THE NPH ORPHANAGE for a 6 month stint or so. Yes, I AM sounding like Mama Bear because I've taken responsibility for him unofficially and officially. I was out of internet contact over the holidays (in the US--ironically I have better wifi HERE.) Otherwise I would have seen this post before it went haywire (an expression only REALLY known to those who have used hay baled with wire.)

Geez, everyone gets ALL over me when I point out the negative things about the supposedly lush Juan Dolio but when we get someone who actually WANTS to experience what REAL public health work is like, you POUNCE on them.

B-go read your PMs and your private email.

I'm headed out to NPH now to meet the international med team.
Paz y salud,
Chris

well one persons real life CAN ACTUALLY be 180 degrees from another persons experiences...doesnt make either one false!

one person goes someplace and has the time of their life another goes and gets robbed and stabbed at the same place...both events are true...but the people who had a great time cant tell the guy who got robbed to stop posting negative stuff!!!!!!!!!

some people run into problems..and I am not talking about the people who ALWAYS post negative crap no matter what...I am talking about real events and experiences..

both sides have to learn to accept that what happened to them doesnt always happen to everyone else.

bob