Dear Slicksport, I visited the DR in the early 90s with a national and lived with his family in two different places. The DR is like a 3rd world country in most areas. Your best bet would be to go with a government type job to an established medical center. I spent time in the capitol city. The people did not have electricity except when the government decided to turn it on for a few hours per day. Most water is obtained through wells. Children had to walk for miles to attend grade schools. The government section of the city had electricity most of the time(but not always.) the people in that small section of the city were a little better off than the rest. His relatives in that area had a more comfortable home than the others we stayed in. As a white person, I went to areas where they did not usually see white people and they were very shocked. The carker a person is the more they are prejudiced against. My friend and his siblings ranged from light-like Italian to light-skinned black. He had a very dark black friend who talked about being very prejudiced against by the nationals. The government is socialistic from what I understood. the river that went through the city, the main water supply, was charcoal gray.
In the rural area where we stayed the people were open and friendly. No running water or electricity. The small town we came through is some kind of tourist city. The tourist resort area is nice and expensive. The cost of living is much, much less than ours if you live like the people. Learn Spanish! Get your shots! There are not a lot of medical facilities there. Their salaries are low and most people live in poverty, unless they have an education-like lawyers and government workers. When I was there, there were soldiers carrying weapons openly on the streets-if you are prepared for that. Because of the poverty, there is a lot of medical problems and crime. My friend bribed a customs guy at the airport to get a 32" screen tv in for his mother. Voodoo is practiced there-if you are ready for that. Are you aware of some of the medical situations that you would be seeing? I got a wierd rash there and was able to buy some sauve at a local drug store with the help of my friends. Do not drink the water or use any ice! Catch the rain like they do! I got really sick from using ice in one pop. I almost passed out and could barely walk for two days. Thank God my friends mother is a naturalist healer! She gave me a tea made from grapefruit leaves with a large amount of salt in it. It cleared me up by the 2nd day. The country is lush. The people like baseball, as a few of the countrymen have broken out of poverty by going pro.
A sad story. I was visiting other relative's rural home, I saw about a 3 year old girl sitting in the nieghbors yard. I glanced at her at different points of the day, from going in and out of the house and their yard. And the outhouse was in between the two houses. After a 3 hour visit, I commented that the little girl was very quiet and sure had not moved around a lot. She had two older brothers who would go in and out of their house and yard. I had seen her in a few different spots during the day. But I had not seen anyone interact with her for more than a few minutes at a time. They all told me that she had been born with a spinal condition and would never walk. The family did not have the money to take her to a medical Dr. I met her and her family. She liked me a lot. She doesn't talk. She sits in a woven chair that has a whole in the middle for when she goes to the bathroom. It was deplorable. I almost threw up at the idea of her existence. But instead, I spent a few minutes with everyone interacting with her. Something I always wonder about is if she is alive and what her quality of life is, if it ever improved? What would be done with a girl like that after her mother died? I can only imagine what possible abuse might occur.
I visited the local rural school and spoke with two of the classes. There were no maps and only a few things on the walls. They did have some books and there were doors to lock to keep thieves out. Most people still do not get to go to school. I knew and have seen people live in worse conditions, but it is still heart-wrenching to see it. The zoo is interesting, on open model, to see.
That is my overview. I hope that I gave you some insight and some info to consider. I would really check out the situation that you are going to and have a job before you go there. I enjoy latin people and their cultures. It's best to be prepared before you go. Medical people are desperately needed and you could make an impact if that's what you want. If you want to breeze by, pick somewhere else. Most of the 3rd world countries I have been in, there is not running water or electricity even at the hospitals. The emergency rooms usually have plastic over them or are just open to the outdoors, where other people are. Mexico just had plastic. Liberia, Africa the door was open. Russia, they had facilities but no equipment or medicine to give out in their communist way. Most of these countries still wash out plastic tubing used to run blood and medicines-just for an idea.
I do not want to discourage you in any way, just reporting honestly. I am wondering why you would want to go there? Look it up on the web.
For people from the domnican republic or lived there is it that bad based on what this person has said?
The DR is not that bad just like Haiti. There are places that are worst than others just like America. Vodou is practiced there mostly by the border to Haiti. In the DR it is called Veinte-Uno Divisiones. It is a rich, strong religion like the culture. The DR is lucky because it got the lush, green part of the island. Don't let a report from the 90's discourage you from going. One thing for sure if don't drink the water. The rest you should be fine. do you have a guide to help you through the country?
Reply:All 3'rd world countries are very bad. I do know a wonderful, young Christian couple who came from there [their families broke away from the traditional catholism and became born- again believers] . This couple met while going to school in N.Y.C. they went back to the D.R.for the wedding. I know she wore a beautiful gown and had a lovely wedding, her parents gave them land to build on, for when they return in a few years. So I guess it all depends on the family's circumstances, because I know she was living with a relative in N.Y.C. and was only allowed to date with a chaperone.
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