Los Dominicanos

I think it´s easier for an American to adjust here than for a Dominican to adjust there for one simple reason: the people. People in the US are cold and unwelcoming compared with people in Latin American countries. My family has been so thoughtful and protective, going out of their way to serve me and make me feel comfortable. The accommodations and amenities of life here may be humble, but the people more than make up for the adjustment. The more I travel outside the US, the more I realize how much we are lacking, even though we are highly envied. Money really isn´t everything. In fact, I would argue that it´s very little (if not none) of what makes life good. =)

People live with a greater sense of peace here, even though it´s more dangerous. People enjoy food more here, even though (or maybe because) they have to spend hours preparing it. Life moves a lot slower (there is time built into the lunch break for a nap, my kind of living!). There is greater appreciation for all the little things because every little thing has a much greater impact on their lives. People here say Gracia a Dios for every aspect of the day. They pray and sing a lot (and I mean every day constantly). They are so humble, so grateful, so passionate and so genuine.

They also have different relational norms. I live with a family that has 4 children, all but one of which is already married. The parents, Marina and Cristobal, come from even bigger families. The youngest of the children, the only daughter, is not yet 19 and already married and 5 months pregnant. She, Cristobalina, and her husband Roberto, live very close and are over at my house every day, helping clean and cook. Another of their sons, Cristobal David, and his family live about 10 steps from our house (imagine the backyard of a townhouse and put a house there for your son, lol). They have two sons: Carlos (almost 4) and Ismael (about 2, more commonly called Mimi). The boys might as well live in my house cause they are over every afternoon (after spending the morning at their other grandmothers). It´s great cause they are entertaining and not to mention adorable. They shower me with kisses and hugs and every moment is a performance for me.

In the office, everyone seems to be under thirty (probably closer to 25) and they are all either married with kids, newlyweds or engaged, except two (there are 8 total). Two of the three that are engaged are getting married while I´m here, so I´ll get to go to their weddings (how cool!). The first word they asked for in english was ¨soltero,¨ aka single, to tease the two guys that aren´t married. Talk about a totally different culture, lol.