Sabía que…? (Did you know…?)

…Haitians carry pots/baskets/etc. on the top of their head, and Dominicans carry things on their shoulders.

…everyone in the DR rides motorcycles and mopeds; it’s not uncommon to find an entire family piled on a single moped, nor is it uncommon to find two men riding together or a mother and several naked babies tucked around her.

…here in the DR, there aren’t separate communities for the rich and the poor (aka “the burbs vs. the projects”); often times you can find a dirt floor shack right next to an big beautiful home with lots of color and perfect landscaping. This is because is Dominican culture, it is assumed that where you were born is where you will spend the rest of your life. If you get rich, you build a nicer house on the same property you already own. Thus, the rich and the poor are used to living side by side. Having said all of this, it is typical to find more poverty in rural areas, because they are further from various resources that urban areas have to offer.

…Dominicans are a mix of Spanish, Taíno (indigenous tribe before Columbus arrived), and African blood. This is why Dominicans can fall almost anywhere on the skin color spectrum.

…racism is very prevalent in the DR, particularly against Haitians, but also against other Dominicans of a darker color. Darker-colored Dominicans are stereo-typed as dangerous, violent, less intelligent, and are seen as criminals and addicts. The darker the skin, the greater the prejudice. (Sounds a little bit familiar unfortunately…)

…because Dominicans typically do not enjoy walking far distances, it is very common to see people offer rides to complete strangers. Hitchhiking is not illegal in this country.

…it is common to hear men hissing at women; it’s their version of a cat-call. Dominican men have a thing for American women; they are seen as a trophy or a prize. When we go through town, we often hear “Marry me!” or “Mi amor!” or “I love you baby!” I mean hey, if they think I really look that attractive in my oversized Orphanage Outreach t-shirt and the beautiful aroma of bug spray and sweat, I’m okay with that.

…here in the DR, prostitution is in fact legal, however, it becomes illegal only when there is a third party involved. In other words, pimps and brothels are illegal (which doesn’t mean nonexistent), but people can choose to prostitute themselves on their own.