I was asked many times during my four months in the DR the question: ¿Te gusta mi país? Do you like my country?
Personally, I think it’s pretty ballsy to respond to this question- no matter what your opinion actually is- in a negative way. Yeah the States has its issues, but I would still probably get kind of ticked to hear a foreigner go on and on and on about the US being terrible.
So whenever I got asked this question- no matter what I was feeling at the time- I would respond overall positively.
And now, sitting on a half-full JetBlue plane, somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, trying to be all deep and reflective and stuff… the goods totally outweigh the not-so-goods. Both with the country, and my experience in general.
The people:
Well, besides the entry that I just posted about Dominican men and piropos… ignore that one for now… I really did like the people here. Everyone- including women- is so friendly. Example: my university. Some friends from PUCMM have told me that most PUCMM students are snotty, because it’s “the university for the rich kids”, but I really didn’t find that at all. Whether it was doing group projects in class, asking directions, or just waiting in line next to someone in the cafeteria. Even when I had to teach English classes at PUCMM for my TESOL class, all of the students were really respectful. Granted, I don’t know how much of this was due to me being white. It’s definitely possible that attitudes are different towards Dominicans from other universities.
The climate:
Uh. I lived on an island in the Caribbean? Do you really want me to explain and shove in your face one more time that I spent the fall/pre-winter months in paradise, while most of you were scraping ice off your windshield in the morning and turning your car on 5 minutes early to heat it up? No?
The food:
FRIED STREET FOOD. Empanadas, yaroa, yaha, yucca balls…
FRESH FRUIT. Pineapple, mangoes, oranges, avocado, bananas, plantains, coconut…
Those are the two groups that really stand out to me, but also just even day-to-day Dominican cuisine. Rice and beans (which I know realllllllly got to some other students in my group, but I never really had a problem with it), tostones, guac, fresh fruit juice, sweet plantains (sliced plantains with sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg)… Lunch was prepared Monday through Friday by our housekeeper, and there were always at least five plates on the table full of food.
The language:
I had never been confident with my Spanish-speaking abilities before coming to the DR. At all. I couldn’t conjugate an irregular verb to save my life (how I passed 4 years worth of Spanish classes is beyond me) and my American/French accent was laughable. However, after just a few days in the DR, I just wanted to talk as much as I could. And then talk some more. And more. It didn’t take me too long to become comfortable speaking, even though I knew that I was still making mistakes. But I mean, whatever. Cliché, but I’m never going to get better if I never practice. When I’m back in the states, I want to speak Spanish at every opportunity. Hold me to that, someone. Anyone.
And I'm sure I'll have more to add later. It was a great experience. My host family was awesome, the Dominicans I became friends with were great, and I'm also really glad that I got to become close with other Americans. Even though they were often detrimental to my attempt at Spanish-only conversation. Just as I'm sure I was to theirs. (Does that even make sense...?)
I found this site with interesting/informative/funny articles about the DR.
And here they have 21 Things to Know Before Coming to the DR. Not that I think any of you are planning to come to the DR anytime soon, but para que sepan.
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