Bachata: The Soundtrack of Life in the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic has captured my heart. I left there knowing that I was coming back. I would LOVE to buy a house or apartment and live there 30-50% of the year. The people, the culture, the music, the language, the food, everything was more than I expected and I didn't expect much. People were constantly mistaking me for a Dominicana. I figured that would happen since it happened to me in Miami sometimes. From the time I stepped off the plane in Puerto Plata I was "Dominicana," the immigration staff spoke to me in Spanish asking, "Dominicana?" I didn't mind it at all, I just wish that I had remembered more Spanish (I studied it over 10 years ago and have since studied Russian and Japanese) so that I could communicate better with the people there.

I went to visit my friend, Ikuko Shimizu, in the province of Dajabon (on the border of Haiti) where she coordinates various programs for the InterAmerican Development Bank (based in Washington, DC). I was so grateful that she invited me to come and visit. I learned so much about the work in international development and about the people that you actually affect when you work in the field. Ikuko told me that it makes such a difference being there than just sending money there. It solidified my interest in working in the field for international development. This experience has been one great cultural connection and real life work experience all rolled up in one. I could compare how similar African Americans (specifically Southerners) and Dominicans are. It blew me away how many similarities there were besides our hair and skin. It went beyond that. The way they prepared some foods, their hair, dressed, and even some mannerisms. It's hards to describe, but I felt right at home instantly.

The music that was most popular (in this order): Bachata, Merengue, typico (a high speed merengue beat), and Salsa. I heard music everywhere I went in the DR at all times of the day. People would blast bachata from their car stereos (much like African Americans like to do listening to R&B or hip-hop, etc), from their little portable radios and from little discotecs in the middle of the countryside ("el campo") even if there was no electricity, there was music. I have always loved bachata ever since I heard it in Miami as a teenager. Although I never knew how to dance to it. All of these types of music had a dance to it of course that would definitely go under the category of ballroom dancing (always with a partner). The easiest is merengue, which I had mastered in the clubs of Miami in high school. The next is typico, then there is bachata which involves more steps and most difficult to dance to is salsa. I picked up a bit of bachata dancing in the clubs while I was there, but I wasn't confident enough to try Salsa while tons of people were watching me on the dance floor. Salsa is hardcore and I think that I'd like to butcher the dance style in the privacy of my own home, thank you.

Chivelry isn't dead...in the Dominican Republic. The men of the DR are such gentlemen! If Ikuko and I were on our own in the club, then men would come over and ask why we were alone and without a man and would ask us to dance. After the dance, there were no expectations to get your number or harass you for a date later, it was just that, a dance, and their concern that you were having a good time. I noticed a few interesting things from Malco and his friend, who kept us company at the club. When they wanted to order something from the bar, they would clap their hands twice in the air and the waiter would come to get our drink orders. It was a small difference in culture, but it was an interesting observation. Also, when it was time for us to go home, they offered us a ride home (Ikuko knew Malco's cousin it turns out) to make sure that we were okay. I can go on and on about chivelry in the DR, but I'd be all day and I'm sure I wouldn't get to the bottom of the "macho" culture of the DR.

Oh, I'll stop typing and let you enjoy the pictures. If you'd like to hear more stories, I have tons from my one week stay there. Feel free to email me and let me know if you'd like to go for a vacation there, I'd love to be your guide!