My home away from home :)
The Dominican culture has been so interesting to experience. They definitely have the attitude of "people first and everything else second." Nothing else is important compared to relationships. It's so funny because in America if you have a problem with someone than you go and confront them on it, but here the Dominicans rahter just deal with the problem than go to you about it and possibly offend you. they are more about people than about business. It's so funny because here they go a lot by what they feel. It's very laid back. They might miss work a couple days if they don't feel like going (and only if they can afford it.)
We've found out that if you go somewhere like a restaurant or a colmado (little store on the streets)- it's very important not to just jump into what you want to order or buy because that would be extremely rude here. First you must ask how they are doing and talk to them a little about their life first and then you can talk business. Isn't tht how it should be? If you have an appointmen but you see a friend on the street and stop and talk to them making you late for your appointment- that is exremely acceptable. Relationships first. Business/tasks second. I wonder what America would look like if we embraced that.
Here it is very common for about 20 different people to stop in and out, off and on, either just to talk or eat a meal everyday. The cool thing is, is that its never planned...it's not "scheduled in" like what we do back home. I just can't get over how much I love the open community here, where home is open to all. (Reminds me of Brown City Camp!) The other day we had a barbeque and before you know it people from the whole street walked over and it was like a community barbeque before we knew it. It was awesome. Here's some other cool culture things that we've learned....
-they have no concept of "schedule," nobody has a calender here...there's really no need for one! (some haven't even seen one before)
-If you want chicken, you don't go to the grocery store- you kill whatever is in your backyard.
-you always greet EVERYONE cheek to cheek-even if they are complete strangers!
-It is totally acceptable for a women to have kids from 3 or 4 different guys but to not be married and to be a single mom (very common here).
-If someone comes to your house you ALWAYS give them something of yours (a lot of times food).
-Alone/privacy time is inheard of
-saying "your getting fat" is a major compliment!
-Dominicans are rest oriented. Everyday at noon, all businesses close down and everyone goes home (school sincluded) and has a big lunch with the family. Then everyone takes a siesta (a nap)....this has not been challenging to adjust to! :)
-when you say you will be there at 7, its not a big deal if you show up at 8 or 9.
-Our friends down the street, their Mama is 1 of 25 kids! Big families here! (I'm guessing there are a lot of half brothers/sisters involved)
-Electricity and running water comes and goes. Some days you have it, some days you don't.
-Not a lot of people (including Mama) know how to drive a car because all they use is motos.
-Kids aren't supervised like back home You see a lot of kids of all ages wlaking aorund the city, the streets, late at night/during the day it doesn't matter
-Kids act like adults. We see 11 and 12 year old girls cooking, cleaning, taking care of the little ones just like an adult!
-Dominicans want to have lighter skin- we wish we had darker skin (funny how you always want what you don't have)
-Lunch is their biggest meal, where dinner is ours.
Well here are just some of the cultural things that we've been learning and experiencing! It's been such a good learning experience! There is a lot to learn from the Dominican people!
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We've found out that if you go somewhere like a restaurant or a colmado (little store on the streets)- it's very important not to just jump into what you want to order or buy because that would be extremely rude here. First you must ask how they are doing and talk to them a little about their life first and then you can talk business. Isn't tht how it should be? If you have an appointmen but you see a friend on the street and stop and talk to them making you late for your appointment- that is exremely acceptable. Relationships first. Business/tasks second. I wonder what America would look like if we embraced that.
Here it is very common for about 20 different people to stop in and out, off and on, either just to talk or eat a meal everyday. The cool thing is, is that its never planned...it's not "scheduled in" like what we do back home. I just can't get over how much I love the open community here, where home is open to all. (Reminds me of Brown City Camp!) The other day we had a barbeque and before you know it people from the whole street walked over and it was like a community barbeque before we knew it. It was awesome. Here's some other cool culture things that we've learned....
-they have no concept of "schedule," nobody has a calender here...there's really no need for one! (some haven't even seen one before)
-If you want chicken, you don't go to the grocery store- you kill whatever is in your backyard.
-you always greet EVERYONE cheek to cheek-even if they are complete strangers!
-It is totally acceptable for a women to have kids from 3 or 4 different guys but to not be married and to be a single mom (very common here).
-If someone comes to your house you ALWAYS give them something of yours (a lot of times food).
-Alone/privacy time is inheard of
-saying "your getting fat" is a major compliment!
-Dominicans are rest oriented. Everyday at noon, all businesses close down and everyone goes home (school sincluded) and has a big lunch with the family. Then everyone takes a siesta (a nap)....this has not been challenging to adjust to! :)
-when you say you will be there at 7, its not a big deal if you show up at 8 or 9.
-Our friends down the street, their Mama is 1 of 25 kids! Big families here! (I'm guessing there are a lot of half brothers/sisters involved)
-Electricity and running water comes and goes. Some days you have it, some days you don't.
-Not a lot of people (including Mama) know how to drive a car because all they use is motos.
-Kids aren't supervised like back home You see a lot of kids of all ages wlaking aorund the city, the streets, late at night/during the day it doesn't matter
-Kids act like adults. We see 11 and 12 year old girls cooking, cleaning, taking care of the little ones just like an adult!
-Dominicans want to have lighter skin- we wish we had darker skin (funny how you always want what you don't have)
-Lunch is their biggest meal, where dinner is ours.
Well here are just some of the cultural things that we've been learning and experiencing! It's been such a good learning experience! There is a lot to learn from the Dominican people!
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