Santo Domingo atyour Fingertips

A Guide for Studentsto Living and Studying

in Santo Domingo

IN SANTO DOMINGO

Hispaniola Academia Caribe de Lenguas, Santo Domingo

Version 2.2 , Dec 2011

©This material is property of Hispaniola Academia Caribe de Lenguas, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Special thanks to Doc. LynneGuitar for her precious contribute and her special friendship

Traveling to the Caribbean, studyingin the Dominican Republic, living inSanto Domingo–all this will be anexciting experience for you. You will

visit another part of the world, encounter aculture with many centuries of history andtraditions; you will hear different points ofview, observe that things are being done in adifferent way, smell different aromas, tastenew flavors. These perceptions and the com-prehension of them are likely to stimulatemajor changes in you. You may end up with adifferent view of the world and yourself. Isn’tthis what you are coming for?

All you need for this is cu-riosity and openness: observe,listen, try out, understandand learn. Most of all,don’t judge, but ratherappreciate the diversityyou encounter and tryto understandwhere the dif-ferences arecoming from.

Relate them to the cultural and historicalcontext you will be learning about (and whichyou may want to start reading about beforeyou commence this journey.)

You will notice that Dominicans havemany different values and priorities thanAmericans. For example, convenience andspeed of transaction seem less important topeople in the Dominican Republic than in theU.S. Spending time and hanging togetherwith friends and family, on the other hand, isan essential element and takes up a large partof their life. Differences in values have funda-mental significance and a large impact oneveryday life. Again, observe and listen, shareyour experiences and ideas, but don’t impo-

se your, or the American way of life,upon others.

Most probably there will also be adifficult aspect during the first fewweeks of this great learning experien-ce: the so-called culture shock. It re-fers to a state of physical and emo-tional discomfort when living in anew environment. After an initial

This guide is intended to provideyou with essential informationfor your stay in the DominicanRepublic. It not only contains

hands-on practical information, e.g., howto get around in Santo Domingo or how toorder a meal, but it is also a guide thathelps you to understand the Dominicanpeople: their culture, their way of doing

things, and how and why these may bedifferent than in your home country. Wehope this package will prepare for your“arrival and survival” in Santo Domingoand will continue to serve you as a refer-ence for your entire stay.

Enjoy reading it. We are looking forwardto seeing you soon in Santo Domingo.

Introducción

Travel broadens the mind…

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period of excitement about the exotic im-pressions, you may find yourself becominginsecure about how to handle this new envi-ronment, critical about how certain things aredone in your host country, angry that thingsseem more difficult to achieve.

Be patient, keep your sense of humor, becurious, and make Dominican friends–theseare just a few hints for overcoming this com-mon phenomenon.

Similarly challenging are the problems youmay face when returning home, full of newimpressions and insights, confronting yourold environment that will not have changedalong with you. This phenomenon is calledreverse culture shock or re-entry shock.

If you are interested in learning moreabout culture shock, reverse culture/re-entryshock and how to cope with them, here aresome suggestions:

"Racial" categories-Here in the DominicanRepublic, the concept of race is very different

than it is in the U.S. Here there is wide-openacceptance of what Americans call "people ofcolor" at all levels of society, for mostDominicans are one of a wide variety of shadesof brown, the result of centuries of intermar-riage among Europeans, Africans and Indians.Nonetheless, it is far more difficult formorenos, very dark-colored Dominicans, to getahead, for they are frequently mistaken forHaitians, and there has been bitter enmity forcenturies between the two republics that sharethis one small island. In general, the whiter youare, the easier it is for you to get ahead and toget good jobs in the Dominican Republic, butwith education, hard work and perseverance-and most particularly with money and/or polit-ical pull-even the darkest Dominican can enterthe most elite business and social circles. In theend, what makes you "white" is less color-based and more based upon your level of edu-cation, your occupation, your friends, how youdress, etc.

There is more to preparing yourtrip to the Dominican Republicthan just purchasing an airline tic-ket and packing your suitcase.

There are many details to arrange before-hand, such as obtaining a passport, gettinga visa (if necessary), etc. As such, it is al-ways a good idea to plan ahead.

YOUR DOCUMENTATION

Passport Once you have decided to come to

the Dominican Republic, it is important

to have a valid passport. A passport and areturn ticket lets British, Canadian, andU.S. citizens remain for 90 days. While youare on the island, we recommend that youmake a copy of it and carry it with you ins-tead of the original.

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http://www.intlcounselingservices.net/3a.htmlhttp://wings.buffalo.edu/studyabroad/rculture.html (on reverse culture shock)http://www.worldwide.edu/planning_guide/Culture_Re-entry_Shock/ (in depth)

Preparing for the trip

Upon arrival everyone entering thecountry has to obtain a tourist card. Thetourist card can be purchased at a boothnear the immigration booths for $10. Also,to exit the Dominican Republic, one has topay an additional $10.

School Information SheetIt is important to bring your School In-

formation sheet with you. This letter hasthe address of the school, so have it handyin your purse or hand luggage during yourtrip. You will also receive the address ofyour accommodation 1-2 weeks before yourdeparture via email. Make sure to take youraccommodation address with you also. Ifyou like, you can write these addresses atthe end if this handbook to keep with you.

VisasVisa requirements can and do change

without notice. It is your responsibility todetermine whether or not you require a vi-sa or any other documentation to enterThe Dominican Republic.

NOTE: Hispaniola Academia Caribe deLenguas. will not be held liable for a failure onyour part to obtain the necessary documenta-tion needed to enter the Dominican Republic.

The Dominican Embassies in eachcountry determine the specific require-ments necessary for obtaining a visa. If youhave any uncertainty as to your visa statusplease contact the Dominican Embassy at:

http://www.domrep.org/

In case of a stay of more than three butless than six months, a visa is required. Also,if you are a resident of the U.S. but do nothold U.S. citizenship, a visa may be required.

Travel/Medical InsuranceCheck to see if your health insurance or

other policies cover you for medical expen-ses and/or baggage lost while abroad. Ifyou have an American Express credit cardthat may provide coverage as well. You maybe able to purchase insurance throughyour travel agent or you can call one of thefollowing companies:

Travelex: 1-800-228-9792Scholastic Overseas Services: 1-800-767-1403Travelers: 1-800-243-3174

NOTE: Travel & Medical insurance is highlyrecommended.

Money We recommend that you bring some

cash for the trip for the first few daysand an international creditcard, to be able to withdrawmoney during your stay. Youcan also bring travelers checksto exchange money at the bank(most charge a high fee).

NOTE: In Santo Domingo and other touristareas you may be approached by people in thestreet to change money. Don’t do it, it is illegaland can get you into serious trouble, make su-re you stick with the banks and hotels.

Count on some pocket–money for otherpersonal expense, for example: excursions

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The money you need to bring with youmainly depends on the accommodation typeyou choose and your living style. We recom-mend that you budget approximately $150-$250 per week. It is possible to spend muchless and of course you could spend muchmore if you shop a lot, go out every night, etc

during the weekends (23-28 dollars). If youwish to participate in some of the cultural ac-tivities, you must pay some money. Forexample, a movie ticket costs about 4 to 5dollars. Local public transportation is cheap.

All major credit cards are accepted bymany commercial establishments like ho-tels and gift shops. If you must pay by cre-dit card, be sure there is no special com-mission, and check to be sure that the ulti-mate price is in pesos, not dollars. .

Climate and ClothingIt doesn’t matter when you go to the

Dominican Republic, because you’ll findthe temperatures pretty much the same

from month to month. On average,the temperatures in most of the Domi-

nican Republic are around theupper 80s F (upper 20s C), fa-lling a few degrees during the

night. The weather is hot andhumid with tropical tempera-

tures all year long but it is ne-ver unpleasant thanks to winds

and breezes and huge cumulusclouds which hide the sun forlong periods. The rainy season is

from June to October. Hurricanesmay sometimes occur during this

time.

In Santo Domingo,the temperaturesduring the day arequite reasonable un-til about noon, whenthe sun, standingstraight overhead,tends to becomevery hot. By twoor three in thea f t e r n o o n ,

the temperatures moderate considerably.Being near the sea, the climate is influen-ced by morning and evening breezes, whichfurther alleviate the tropical heat. Eveningsare always mild, almost perfect. Santo Do-mingo has two pronounced rainy seasons:one in the fall, and one in early summer.Rain arrives in brief squalls and thundershowers, usually no longer than 20 or 30minutes in duration. Things can get humidin Santo Domingo, especially during andimmediately after a squall. Only during thelate summer and fall, at the height of thehurricane season, is Santo Domingo indanger of hurricanes.

Santo Domingo annually averagesaround 55 in of rain a year. Showers, fre-quent during the rainy season, occur oftenat night, sometimes very late, leaving thedays sunny and mild.

Suggestions for Clothing:Two pairs of comfortable shoes, one pair

of formal shoes, one dressy outfit, swim-suit/beach wear, T-shirts or lightweight cot-ton good sunglasses, sunscreen (SPF 8 or15+), beach towel, toiletries, umbrella (du-ring rainy season), beach shoes (such as Te-vas), hat/cap, travel alarm clock, insect re-pellent, camera and film, dictionary, a mo-ney belt or shoulder wallet.

NOTE: Dominicans for the mostpart tend to dress well!

• Bring casual (but mo-dest) clothing to school.

• Easy care fabric is advi-sable.

• Bring at least one outfitfor dress up occasions.

• Bring comfortableclothes and shoes forschool and travel.

Finally you are in The DominicanRepublic! Soon you will be inyour new home with your Do-minican host family or with

your flat mates.

If you are using the airport transfer service.

If you have reques-ted the airport transferservice, a representativefrom the school willmeet you at the airportand will take you toyour accommoda-tions. The cost forairport pickup willbe more expensi-ve from the PuertaPlata and Punta Ca-na airports thanfrom the main air-port, Las Americas since they are veryfar from Santo Domingo.

NOTE: Somebody is waiting for you to pickyou up and waiting time is limited according to theestimate hour of incoming. Any change and/ordelay MUST be communicate immediately to thenumber (809) 856-5026 and only to this number toavoid loosing the pick-up. If, for same reason,nobody answer, try in 10 minutes again or leave aclear message with all the new data: the messagewill be heard in a very short time.

Arrival at Las Americas International Air-port

Las Americas is Santo Domingo’s in-ternational airport, located about 35 minu-

tes from Santo Domingo. When you first arrive, you’ll think it iskind of dirty and crowded, but the air-

port works pretty well, and you canget through it easily with a little fo-reknowledge. FIRST, buy your tou-

rist card at the point of departureOR on the incoming plane. SE-

COND, try to get to the baggagecarousal quickly, and watch your lug-gage carefully.

Dominican immigration laws allowtourists to stay up to 90 days with a Tou-rist Card which costs $10US and may bepurchased at accredited DominicanConsulates abroad or upon their arrivalin one of the country's international air-ports.

For an extension of time in the coun-try you may call the General Direction ofImmigration, Tel: 685-2535 and pay asmall fee. You can choose to wait untilyour departure and pay directly at theairport for the extra period you stayed

in the Dominican Republic. Tips for Students:

How to get to your Accommodation

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1. After landing, try to go out of the air-plane quickly and go to the tourist carddesk with your passport, $10US cash, flightdetails (arrival and departure), and destina-tion address in Santo Domingo. Before arri-ving at the immigration desk, first go to theright side of the room and buy the TouristCard ($10US), and then go to the immigra-tion desk. Keep the receipt. The line will getreally long very quickly.

2. Change a little bit of money at theairport, enough for the weekend.

3. If you are using the school’s airportpickup service, a representative from theschool will be at arrivals waiting for you.

Look for a sign with either your name or thename of the school.

4.Do not trust anybody at the airportto give you a ride, go directly to a taxi par-ked outside. The taxi costs $25-30US fromthe Las Americas airport. Settle on a pricebefore you get in.

Autobuses and guaguas Metro Tours and Cari-

be Tours are the largestbus companies in thecountry, with large, com-fortable buses for long-range travel to all destina-tions. Their buses are mo-dern and normally in exce-llent condition, the scheduleis strict, and drivers are nor-mally well trained.

Long-range travelmay be made also with minor com-panies that run smaller buses and who nor-mally charge cheaper prices. These smallerbuses are often called guaguas. These gua-guas make more stops and are less comfor-table than the big buses.

Most guaguas are used for urban routesand, in this case, the number of seats is not

Logistics and transportation

NOTE: Somebody is waiting for you to giveyou the keys of your accommodation and wai-ting time is limited according to the estimatehour of incoming. Any change and/or delayMUST be communicate immediately to thenumber (809) 856-5026 and only to this num-ber. If, for same reason, nobody answer, try in10 minutes again or leave a clear message withall the new data: the message will be heard in avery short time.

enough for the number of passengers, forthey adopt the norm of placing 3 passengerson 2 seats, to which Dominicans are accusto-med, but it might make you uncomfortable.This kind of transportation is not strictly orga-nized, either. There are no fixed bus stops.Just make a sign when you are in the streetand wish to board, or scream "!Déjenme!"or something when you are onboard and wish to leave. It can bea fun or frustrating experience,depending on your point of view.

Urban service is also of-fered by OMSA, a state-owned company with largebuses, fixed bus stops,longer routes than mostguaguas, and cheap prices…but they are very crowded.

Apart from any consideration of thequality, the system seems to work, and it ispossible to go everywhere using variouskinds of public transportation and, often,within reasonable time frames.

Carros públicos and motoconchosThe urban king of transportation is the

carro público (often called a concho). It is akind of shared taxi, although it is a normalcar, that has a fixed route. Carros públicoscarry 2 passengers in the front seat and 4passengers in the back—yes, plus the dri-ver. Carros públicos are everywhere and gonearly everywhere along short urban routes.You can ride in one, then get out and switchto another, and another… but for longerdistances, it’s better to take a guagua.

Where there are no carros públicos andin some places where public transportationis not available, there are usually motocon-

chos. These are motorcycle taxis. Each mo-toconcho carries up to 2 passengers, plusthe driver, and takes you directly to yourdestination. It is a fun transportation op-tion, but sometimes pretty dangerous.

TaxiTaxi rides are normally inex-

pensive in Santo Domingo; howe-ver, it’s not a good idea in the

Dominican Republic tohail taxis from the

street, unless you arevery experienced.They can usuallyfound at most cor-

ners in principle areas,e.g.: El Conde, Plaza Cen-

tral, and at most bus/guaguastations.

Alternatively, you can phone a taxi com-pany directly and request a cab (these ha-ve the cheapest rates because they are ra-dio dispatched). Here are some companiesin the Capital:

- Apolo Taxi (809) 537-0000, - Aero Taxi (809) 686-1212 - Anacaona Taxi (809) 530-4800.

Once you give your address, you will beput on hold while the dispatcher locates ataxi. HOLD THE LINE. The dispatcher willconfirm your booking and give you thenumber of the taxi, the color, and the ap-proximate waiting time.

Use only licensed taxis with a taxi shield.Unofficial taxis are likely to overcharge you.Standardized taxi rates do not exist. Al-ways agree upon a price before the ride bytelling the driver where you are going andasking how much (Cuanto cuesta?).

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Taxis are a very safe means of transpor-tation, however, a few drivers may try to ripyou off, e.g. by taking the long way to yourdestination, if they can tell you are a foreig-ner. One way to prevent this is to have alook at a map to know generally in whichdirection you should be headed before youget into the taxi.

Car hire• It may or may not be cheaper or more

convenient to arrange a car rental fromhome. To rent a car in the DominicanRepublic, you must be over 21 and havehad your driver’s license for at least ayear. Payment with a credit card is re-commended, otherwise you will need toleave a substantial cash deposit. Thereare dozens of agencies but according toour experience, international ones aremore reliable. At the moment of rental,

particular emphasis must be placed onthe insurance and damages policies.

• Note that, unless you speak Spanishwell enough to ask for and to unders-tand route directions, it is not advisableto rent a car because, in general, roadsin the Dominican Republic are not wellmarked.

• A special note about Police: they havethe right (and often do it) to stop youjust for a control. They do not need aspecial reason to check your documentsand your car. Very often they do that asan excuse to ask you for some tip: it isup to you to accept or not (Lo siento notengo minudo – sorry I have no change).

• You are supposed to stop when a policeindicate it you but late at night or in avery isolated place when just one or two"officers" are present… it is common togo ahead. Use your discretion doing that.

The Dominican Peso (DOP or RD$)

Bank notes and coins Peso notes come in denominations of

2000, 1000, 500, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins

come in denominations of 5 pesos and 1peso. There are also coins worth 50, 25, 10,and 5 cents, but they are seldom used.

Credit cards and ATMAll mayor credit cards are honored. You

can use it nearly everywhere. ATM machi-nes are also present widely and debit cardsare also accepted in many establishments.

Money and banking

(most are open Mon-Fri until 4:30PM and Sat until noon), or at a Casa de Cambio, which are es- pecially prevalent in tourist districts. Do not,however, change money on the street, nomatter how high a rate of exchange is offe- red. The risk of being short-changed is not worth the extra percentage points.

Dominican currency is the peso. Rates ofexchange vary, but generally waiver around38 pesos to 1 American dollar. You can ex- change dollars for pesos at any bank

The use of credit cards is convenient evenif the risk of fraud is high: all charges that youdeny will be easily credited back from thecredit card company at the moment of yourcomplaint. On the other side you avoid theneed to carry much cash with you…

Just in case: before your arrival in Domi-nican Republic you can fix with your bank apolicy of safety for your card. If the amountis higher than what you fixed no internatio-nal use will be possible without your pre-vious permission/call.

Changing moneyWhen it is time for you to change money,

there are a number of things that you shouldconsider. Planning ahead is the best way to ma-ke sure that you will get good exchange ratesand thus get the most pesos for your dollars.

Exchange Rate: The exchange rate youwill receive for your dollars will vary almostdaily, based on the official exchange rate. Itwill also vary based on where you changemoney, i.e. bank vs. change office. Finally,the exchange rate will always be less favo-rable in tourist areas and in places whereyou may have no other choice.

Commission: Normally no commissionis charged.

The best way to make sure that you get thebest exchange rate for your money is to planahead and to do a bit of looking around. Thefollowing are some suggestions and informa-tion about where to exchange money. Also: ifyou carry traveler’s checks, you will need toshow your passport in order to exchangethem. In this case, the exchange will be lower.

BanksYou may exchange money at many

banks in Santo Domingo, often at the

counter marked Cambio. The exchange ra-tes vary from bank to bank, but should al-ways be posted somewhere in the bank.Bank hours are generally 8.30am–16:30pmfrom Monday to Friday. They are closed Sa-turdays (although some are open untilnoon), Sundays and national holidays.

We suggest: Banco Leon–Calle Isabel laCatólica, esquina Mercedes.

Commercial change offices (Casasde Cambio)

These exchange offices are located th-roughout the city and are especially concen-trated in tourist areas. They often have mo-re favorable exchange rates than the banks,hence they are an economically wise choice.

We suggest: Doña Elsa, Calle Isabel laCatólica, esquina Luperon.

NOTE: School secretariat will inform you uponrequest about the daily rate.

NOTE: School secretariat is also available tochange your money while you are in class. Beforeyou enter you lessons you may leave the currencyto secretary and we will send somebody to changeit for you so when you get out from class you willreceive your “pesos”.

Getting Money From HomeReceiving money from the United States

can go from being easy to being extremelycomplicated. The mail service is slow andunpredictable, and charges for wire transferservices and the like are expensive.

NEVER have cash mailed to you fromhome. It can easily be lost or stolen andcannot be replaced. Below are some sug-gestions for receiving money from home.

Automatic teller machines (ATM):This is the easiest, safest and most economi-cal way to receive money from the U.S., as-

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suming of course that you have an ATM cardwith a PIN (your secret Personal Identifica-tion Number) that works on one of the inter-national banking systems like Cirrus, Plus,Mastercard, Visa, Maestro, etc. If you do, allyou need to do is locate a machine that dis-plays the logo of the system your card uses.You will withdraw money in pesos, and theamount in dollars will be debited from youraccount at home. The exchange rates forthese transactions are often very good andmost U.S. banks charge only small fees.

This is also an excellent way of receivingmoney in case of an emergency, as someo-ne at home can deposit money into yourAmerican account and you can withdraw it,usually within a day or two.

Credit card cash advance: If youdon’t have a PIN, you can also get a cashadvance from your credit card at mostbanks during regular hours. There is often aconsiderable charge for this, however, bothat the bank here and at your home bank.

American Express or Western Union:Another way to receive money from abroadis through American Express, even if you donot carry an American Express Card, Wes-tern Union. However, it is expensive andmust be done during their business hours.Anyone at home, with or without an Ameri-can Express Card, can arrange for money tobe wired to you at the American Express of-fice or Western Union office in Santo Do-mingo. It usually takes two days for the mo-ney to arrive for the American Express and 1to 2 hours for Western Union.

You can vist http://www.westernunion.com/info/select Country.asp to find the nearest Western union Agency

Wire transfer to the school:You can ask your parents to send you a

wire transfer to school account. You willreceive the money in Dominican pesos cashas soon as the wire transfer will be credited(usually 24-48 hours). Some bank fees mayapply depending by the source of the transfer.

Additional tips about ban-king and exchanging money

• Avoid exchanging money in hotels, res-taurants, stores, and railroad stations.The rate is usually not very good.

• Never let an individual who offers you pe-sos for your dollars on the street exchan-ge money for you, no matter how goodthe exchange rate is; counterfeit bills ha-ve already appeared, and in general, youare likely to be ripped off.

• Try to avoid exchanging money on theweekends; since the exchange officesknow you are desperate, they may tryand take advantage of the situation.

• When possible, use a credit card for ho-tels, restaurants, train tickets, and majorpurchases in order to save your cash andtraveler's checks for later. The exchangerate on credit card purchases is oftenone of the best you can get.

• Always be aware of your surroundingswhen exchanging money. Take the extratime to understand your transaction andput your money away safely. If you ex-change money at an exchange place, theirwalk-up counters can be an invitation forpeople to watch your entire transactionfrom the street behind you: BE ALERT!

Useful vocabulary for currency exchangeCuál es la tasa de cambio hoy? - What is the exchange rate today?Dónde puedo cambiar dólares? - Where can I exchange dollars?

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Public telephonesIn the Dominican Republic you can find

public phones that accept coins or phonecards with a numeric code. If you find aphone with a slot for mo-ney, it can be activatedby inserting at least 5RD$.

Comunication centers(such as the Verizon cen-ter on El Conde) are agood alternative. You ma-ke your phone call, and alittle display shows howmuch are you spending inRD$. At the end of yourcall/calls, you pay at thedesk with cash and/or acredit or debit card.

NOTE: Emergency calls (911) from any phoneare free of charge.

Calling abroadThere are different ways to make calls

outside of the Dominican Republic, rangingfrom good value to horrendously expensive.

Phone cards: An economical way toplace international calls is by using the Co-muniCard phone card, available in variousvalues, and obtainable at any colmado (lo-

cal general stores) and lots of shops. Withthis card, you can call anywhere in worldfrom any telephone.

You rub off the strip to reveal your "ac-count number" and dial the toll-free

number from a public or priva-te phone to access the

provider. Then you fo-llow the recorded ins-tructions (which arealso written on thecards).

Commun ica t i onCenters: Every city has one

or more communication cen-ters with different fares. Near school,

the Verizon center, on the Conde street,offers telephone, fax and internet servicesfor reasonable rates.

Time Zones: Remember that, while theU.S. is on Daylight Savings Time (from Oc-tober through March), you are one hourahead of the East Coast, two hours aheadof the Midwest, and four hours ahead of theWest Coast. The rest of the year, Dominicantime is the same as Eastern Standard Time.

Dialing instructionsTo call the U.S. from the Dominican Re-

public:

Communication

The Dominican Republic belongs to theU.S. phone network. To call the U.S. fromthe Dominican Republic, it is not necessarythe 011 code, but just the 1 and then thearea code and phone number.

1 + Area Code + Local Number.

To call another country from the Domi-nican Republic (not the U.S.):

011 + Country Code (see list below)+ City (Area) Code + Local Number.

Here are some commonly used countryand city codes:

Austria (43) - Vienna (1)Belgium (32) - Brussels (2)France (33) - Paris (1)Germany (49) - Berlin (30), Munich (89)United Kingdom (44) - London (171) or (181)Greece (30) - Athens (1)Holland (31) - Amsterdam (20)Italy (39) - Rome (6)Japan (81) - Tokyo (3)Spain (34) - Madrid (1)Switzerland (41) - Zurich (1)

To call within the Dominican Republic:

- Local Number for local calls- 1+ local number for national long dis-

tance (out of the city)- 1+ number for wired telephone to any

cellular phone- number only for cellular phone to any

national phone (cellular or wired)

ExampleTo call the Hispaniola office in Santo

Domingo (wired telephone):

- from inside the city : 809 689-8350- from anywhere else in the Dominican

Republic:1-809 689-8350- from a cellular phone anywhere in the

Dominican Republic: 809 689-8350- from abroad: + 809 689 8350 *

To call the Hispaniola emergency cellular:from a wired telephone anywhere inDominicanRepublic: 1-809-856-5026from a cellular phone anywhere inDominican Republic: 809-856-5026from abroad: + 809 856 5026 *

To call the Dominican Republicfrom abroad:

The Dominican Republic belongs to theU.S. phone network. To call the DominicanRepublic from the U.S., it is not necessaryto dial the 011 code, but just the 1 andthen the area code (809). To call the DRfrom anywhere else in the world, you needto dial the international 011 code, then thearea code (809) then the number.

International Code (different inevery country; 1 from the US)

+ 809 (Dominican Republic's CountryCode) + Local Number

Example: To call the Hispaniola office in Santo

Domingo from the U.S.: 1 809 856 5026

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NOTE: The numbers "809", "829" and “849” indicate the Dominican Republic in the international telephonic system. In this case the sign "+" indicates the number/s you have to dial to call abroad. This number/s may change from country to country (may be 1 or 0 or 00 or 01 or 001or 011..). Please refer to a local provider.

Indicating the timeSome official functions use the 24-hour

international system when referring to ti-me, although people in conversation usual-ly do not. Normally the "am-pm" system isthe most widely used.

The Post OfficeThe local post office can be found near

the Cathedral, on calle Isabel la Católicabetween El Conde and Billini. It is usuallyopen weekdays from 8.30am–4.00pm, andSaturdays from 8.30am–12.30pm.

The post office is the only reliable wayto send mail. Mail boxes in the street arenot reliable.

We recommend using Priority Mail (Co-rreo Prioritario) with guaranteed delivery ti-mes (within the Dominican Republic, nextday, to the U.S., 3 days, rest of the world,4-9 days). It’s faster and only marginallymore expensive. Ask for sellos (stamps)posta prioritaria and you’ll re-ceive thestamps andadditional prio-rity stickers to bestuck to the letter. Noadditional AIRMAILsticker is necessary sin-ce posta prioritaria is al-ways mailed by air.

Useful vocabularyUn sello postalA stamp / Direccion / Address

Posta prioritariaPriority Mail / Un sobre / An envelope

Vía aéreaAir mail / Una postal / A postcard

E-mail and InternetInternet terminals are available at the

school at no charge. You can also receivee-mail via the school e-mail address: info-@hispaniola.org. Tell your friends and fa-mily to always mention your name in thesubject line of the e-mail!

Internet Café closest to school: VerizonCommunication Center, calle El Conde.

NewspapersIf you want to keep up

with the world, there areoptions for you in SantoDomingo. To read inEnglish, you can buymost U.S. papers at theshop located on ArzobispoNouel between Hostos andMeriño. Local newspapers can be found forsale at any corner.

You should also try to read a newspaperin Spanish. Beginners in Spanish should tryto read Listin Diario; for the vocabularyused is relatively simple. El Caribe is a hig-

her quality newspaper, thus may bemore difficult to understand. Do-

minican magazines of generalinterest include Mercado fea-turing articles on the Domini-can Republic and on world

affairs, Estrategia y Nego-cios featuring articles

on business in DR,Banca, focused onbank and finance,

and Suceso, focusedon scandalistic press.

Also interesting isthe monthly Guia al Dia

with a review of social/cultural/entertain-ment activities of the month.

15

Etiquette in the DominicanRepublic

Most Dominicans, particularly citizensof Santo Domingo who are used to foreig-ners, are fairly tolerant about the cul-tural differences between themselvesand Americans, provided they feel youare making the effort to "fit in." You, too,therefore, should try to be understandingabout their differences and attempt tounderstand rather than just toleratethem, or become frustrated. Living inSanto Domingo is your chance tolearn about the Dominican cultureand different ways of doing things.Your success will depend on howopen your mind is.

Always remember to be consi-derate, respectful, polite, and opti-mistic in all your dealings: at home,the post office, the store, withfriends, in the bus, etc. When youenter a room or store, acknowledge the pre-sence of others by saying "Buenos dias" or"Buenas tardes," for example. Similarly, whenyou leave a shop or an office (even if you areonly looking), thank them ("Muchas gracias").

GreetingsSocial relations are still formal in the Do-

minican Republic. When speaking to anyadult, you must use the “Usted,” the formal

form of address. First names are not used asoften as they are in the U.S. When ad-

dressing a man, call him "Señor +(last name)," and a woman,"Señora + (last name)." You

may use the "tu," the informal formof address, with friends, children, and

students of your own age; with adultsONLY when they tell you to do so.

Hugging, kissing, and

holding hands Dominicans seldom

just shake hands. That’sconsidered to be somew-

hat too formal, cold, rude.They kiss each other hello and

goodbye on the cheek. The trick is to turnyour head slightly to the left and kiss his orher right cheek, while they’re kissing your

right cheek. The kiss will no doubt be follo-wed and/or preceded by a hug. It is not con-sidered to be unmanly for a man to greetanother close male friend or family memberin this way, either, although the Americanthump on the back or hearty handshake isbecoming more common. Women friendswalk hand in hand or arm in arm down thestreet without fear of being labeled gay—it’s how friends show their affection. Like-wise, mothers and fathers still cuddle their

children, hug them, kiss them, and walk hand

16

When in Santo Domingo…

in hand with them in public, without the chil-dren being in the least bit embarrassed. It’swonderful.

MannersDominicans may appear to you as being

more formal even at home. Avoid slouchingwhen sitting, and never put your feet on thefurniture: It is considered bad manners in theU.S., but is extremely rude in the DominicanRepublic. Also, if staying with a family, obser-ve respectable hours: Don't sleep the entireday away and if you do come home late atnight, do your best not to disturb the othersat home.

Table mannersWhen at the dining table, you should keep

both hands above the table. The U.S. way ofkeeping one hand on your lap while you eatis not considered proper.

Furthermore, Dominicans don't switchhands when using a fork and a knife to cutfood; they simply turn the fork around andput the bite of food in their mouth. If youcan't do this, don't worry, they'll understand.

Finally, observe the manners you learnedas a child: place your napkin on your lap; of-fer food to others before you serve yourself;take small portions and wait until the hos-t(ess) has sat down and begun eating beforeyou start. After dinner, offer to help clear thetable.

Most importantly, try everything! Eating issacred for Dominicans: sharing, trying andenjoying a meal together is very important. Ifyou are a picky eater and are invited to a Do-minican home for dinner–decide for thatnight not to be so picky! You may discovernew dishes that you’ll love.

TIME: A common complaint is that Do-minicans are never on time. That’s true, butnot because they are "lazy" or because theyare "careless" or "unthinking." The Protes-tant equation of "time is money" does notexist here. In the Dominican Republic, peo-ple are more important than things. If a Do-minican has an appointment at 3 p.m. and isen route to keep that appointment, he orshe would think it very rude not to stop andchat with friends and family along the way—far ruder than keeping you waiting. After all,they assume that you will be chatting withsomeone at the appointed location. Andthat’s the best way to pass the time, socia-lizing. Also keep in mind that most Domini-cans use public transportation, so have onlylimited control over how fast or how slowlythey cover the route. And if they are drivingtheir own vehicle or taking a taxi, there areall those tapones (traffic jams) to deal with,which are a fact of life no matter the hour inthe Capital’s busy, congested streets. So re-lax, they’ll join you ahorita--flexible in mea-ning, the word initially meant "right away,"but in the modern Dominican Republic itmeans "whenever."

NO PROBLEMA: Sometimes the Dominicans’tendency to say that there is "no problem" is abig problem for foreigners! It’s a clash of cultu-res. Dominicans don’t want to upset you by sa-ying that they don’t know, are uncertain, or thatthings are not proceeding in a positive way. So,for example, if you ask directions to a particularplace, and they don’t know where it is, they’llpoint you in a convenient direction, assumingthat you’ll ask again up the road and someonethere will know and will give you the correct in-formation. Try not to get frustrated, nor to thinkbadly of them. No one is intentionally lying to youor misleading you. And who knows? You mightjust see something interesting along the uninten-tional route—you might have a serendipitous ad-venture. Remember that time is more flexible he-re, is to be enjoyed, not guarded as a scarce re-source.

17

Pssssst!!! "What is that hissing noise?" manyvisitors ask themselves. It's a Dominican tryingto get a pretty woman's attention, or his malefriend's attention, or another cup of coffee, orperhaps he's trying to get his check from thewaitor. Going "Psssst!" is not rude here, it's howthings get done.

La siesta: Most shops close for siestafrom 1 pm to 3 pm, so get what you needbefore they close. Most shops reopen ataround 3pm and close around 7pm.

GARBAGE & SANITATION- One ofthe biggest complaints that tourists haveabout the Dominican Republic is the garba-ge. True, there is a lot of litter strewnabout, especially in the Capital. This ispartly due to lax anti-litter laws (in the Tru-jillo Era, the country was squeaky clean un-der penalty of death!), partly due to a shor-tage of garbage cans (garbage cans costmoney, which is a scarce resource here),and to too many people living together tooclosely in too small a space. It’s also due,in part, to lack of interest. Who cares aboutlitter when you and your family are trying toscrounge up enough money for food andrent? Do like Dominicans do. Step over oraround the garbage and ignore it as bestyou can. But please remember your man-ners and carry your own litter with you un-til you find a garbage can—hopefully you’llset a good example. (Note that garbage ISpicked up on a regular basis here in the Ca-pital. It just accumulates quickly.)

*A special note about toilet paper &sanitation—The Dominican sewage clea-ning system cannot handle much paper. Inthe bathrooms of private homes, in hotelbathrooms, restaurant bathrooms, bar andnightclub bathrooms, airport bathrooms...In every bathroom here, there are waste re-ceptacles beside the toilet. These are forused toilet paper. Please fold your used toi-

let paper in on itself and place it in the was-tebasket, not in the toilets.

Electricity The current is 110 volts, 60 cycles - just

like in North America. You'll hear much talkabout electrical blackouts, but they occurless frequently than they used to and tendto last only one to two minutes (when they-'re over, everyone claps). Hotels and mostrestaurants have generators.

TimeDominican time is the same as U.S. Eas-

tern Time.

National HolidaysThe majority of the holidays in the Do-

minican Republic coincide with religiousholidays. The school is normally open tostandard course 9-12 but sometimes it ta-kes some one of these holidays off. In thiscase lessons will be held on the nearest sa-turday 9-12. All students will be advisedfew days in advance. However, banks andother institutions may be closed, so planaccordingly.

New Years Day- January 1

Epiphany- January 6

Our Lady of Altagracia– January 21

Duarte’s Birthday– January 26

Independence Day, Carnival– February 27

Good Friday- Easter Sunday- March/April

Labor Day- May 1

Restoration Day– August 16

Our Lady of Las Mercedes– September 24

Constitution Day– November 6

Christmas - December 25

New Years Eve- December 31

18

NOTE: There are some additional regionalholidays, so be aware!

Jobs and what they pay-In many coun-tries of the world, workers work and lazypeople do not. That is not the case here.Here, there are very few jobs available forthe average Dominican, and most of thosejobs pay very little-the average worker hereearns RD$ 2�� per day, about US$7, and islucky to get that; female domestics earnhalf that or less.

So Dominicans use creativity to earnmoney. Little boys at the beach offer to runand buy you cold drinks or cigarettes forthe peso or two of change they hope youwill give them, or will shine your shoes inthe park for RD$5, but are hopeful thatyou'll pay more. Young and old alike sellnuts, fresh fruit, vegetables, flowers, tvantennas, and a wide variety of other prod-ucts at the street corner or driver-directwhen the traffic light turns red, as well asfrom impromptu stands set up in front ofpermanent stores, or they set up shop inparking lots, or sell door to door or alongthe beach.

They sell their services as guides, asdrivers, as translators, as runners, as hairdressers and hair braiders... they sell theirfruits and vegetables, and their hot, sweetcoffee, and homemade empanadas, andcandy and cigarettes, and lottery tickets,etc., etc., etc.

Wherever there are buyers, there aresellers here. If there is a market niche forgoods or services of any kind, a creativeDominican will discover it and fill the niche.Dominicans are not "hassling" you, nor try-ing to "hustle" you. They are trying to earnenough money to live on and to supporttheir familes. Unfortunately, some of the

open niches are for prostitution and otherunsavory activities, mostly becausetourists come here to buy them. Drug useand sales, however, are both harshly dealtwith by the Dominican police and justicesystem, so are not the problem that theyare elsewhere. There's even a market nichefor sympathy, which the multitude of beg-gars both young and old here fill in theirown charismatic ways.

They are human beings trying to survivein a world without welfare, a world thatdepends on your charity. If you can't givemoney, at least smile and say hello.

Improving your SpanishNo matter what level of language you

are studying, there are many ways to im-prove your Spanish on a daily basis. Muchof the reason for studying in a foreigncountry is to have constant access to thelanguage and its speakers. Below are somesuggestions, which may or may not be ob-vious, of ways to improve your Spanishoutside the classroom.

• Try to speak Spanish with your friends asmuch as possible. Even speaking Spa-nish with other language students helpsyou improve your use of the language.Therefore, make the effort and don’t ta-ke the easy route (given that most stu-dents in our school speak English to so-me extent)!

• Frequent typical Dominican places.Making Dominican friends IS easy andif you surround yourself only with ot-her American students, you can be su-re that you won't make Dominicanfriends. By going to bars and cafes "offthe beaten path" you have a betterchance to meet Dominicans and tospeak Spanish.

19

• Try to make conversation with the peo-ple you see every day: the butcher, ba-ker, barkeeper, etc. If you frequent thesame places regularly, the store ownerswill recognize you and take an interest inhow and what you are doing.

• Try to listen to spoken Spanish as much aspossible: watch TV, go to the movies inSpanish, listen to the radio, or shadow aSpanish tour group in a church or museum.

• Try to read everything you see: streetsigns, advertisements, the newspaper,clothing descriptions in store windows,food labels, comic books, magazines. Just

saying the words to yourself, even in yourhead, will help you develop vocabulary.

• Look up words in your dictionary if youdon't know their meaning; if you don'tlook them up when you first see them,you will be twice as frustrated if you stilldon't know their meaning the second(and third) time you see the same word!

• Write it down! Always carry a small note-book with you to jot down the newterms you hear. It will be your source of"real life" vocabulary that you will quick-ly absorb and utilize.

Anyone not familiar with the Domi-nican cuisine, or who is in the Do-minican Republic for the first ti-me, may be surprised to find out

that the Dominican cuisine here is quite dif-ferent from what is called "Dominican food"in the U.S.

Does this mean that Dominicans in theU.S are not real Dominicans? No, but manydishes considered Dominican in the U.S. (a)were imported from Dominicans long ago,and (b) have been adapted more or less to theAmerican taste buds over the time.

Criollo Foods-One of the most fascinatingareas in which to study the blending of cul-tures that became "Dominican" is throughfoodways. Extensive Taíno influence is foundhere in the choice of foods-yucca, squash,beans and other root vegetables are still daily

staples, as they were in the days beforeEuropeans arrived. Taíno influence is evidentin how those daily staples are grown, for manyDominican peasants still grow them on conu-cos (the Taínos' term for their gardens) usingcoas (the Taínos digging sticks).

And Taíno influence is evident in howfoods are prepared-cassabe bread is stillmade in the traditional way, and theDominican national dish of salcocho or san-cocho, a stewed dish made with several meatsand root vegetables seasoned with onion,peppers and bitter orange, is obviously a rela-tive of the Taínos' traditional ajiaco that was astew made of whatever protein was available(mainly fish) and root vegetables seasonedwith peppers and the juice of bitter yucca.

The island's people quickly adoptedEurope's domestic chickens, cows, pigs and

Dominican food and restaurants

2 0

goats, garden vegetables such as let-tuce, parsley, onions, garlic and car-rots, citrus fruits, bananas and plan-tains, and the carbohydrate staple that wasintroduced into the Spanish diet by theMoors-rice.

The Spaniards also introduced sugar andrum, and coffee, all of which are important toDominicans today. From Africa came morevegetables (okra, eggplant), a taste for beer,and new cooking methods, such as steamingfoods in palm leaves, cooking them withcoconut milk, and preparing quipes (these arethe Dominican equivalent of the Arabic rawground beef, whole wheat and spice mixturecalled kibe, but Dominicans roll itinto cones and deep fry it).

Eating outThere are a num-

ber of different typesof eating establish-ments in the Domini-can Republic.They vary in pri-

ce, menu, size and quality.They fall into the following categories:

The menuMenus sometimes are displayed outside,

but not normally. It’s best to check the pricesbefore you decide to eat somewhere.

There is a full range of res-taurants in the city whe-re you can find any cui-sine you desire, fromthe familiar American

fast-foods to exotic in-ternational dishes. Note

that Dominicans are espe-cially fond of pizza, fried

chicken, and ice cream, all ofwhich are abundant.

Restaurant: Formalrestaurant offering morerefined and expensive di-ning; you are expected toorder a meal consisting ofat least two courses.

Comedor: Casual, of-ten family-run place withsimple, hearty dishes anda menu often written inchalk on a board, ratherthan printed and handedto you.

Pizzeria: What youwould expect: usually arustic place for pizza, sa-lads and starters; often

fairly inexpensive. Cafeteria: Place with

ready-made hot foodto take out or to eatat one of the fewsmall tables oftenavailable.

Fast Food: Sa-me franchises as inthe U.S.

Pica pollo: Sellsfried chicken or chickencooked on a spit.

Chimi: Ham-

burger or pork sandwichprepared in the street withspecial seasonings. Theseare delicious to eat, espe-cially when accompaniedby typically very cold Pre-

sidente (the mostpopular local beer).

21

Generally speaking, street food here in thecapital is safe for most people to eat (thosewith super-sensitive stomachs know who theyare and should avoid street vendors), thoughit’s best to look for the most popular vendorsand eat at key times of day, so that the foodis fresh.

When going out for dinner, Dominicans willeither have a simple pizza evening, perhapsadding a starter to their pizza, or will order themain dish with a dessert. The menu in Domi-nican Republic looks something like this:

Picadera: Spanish-style appetizers. Coldlittle snacks to accompany your drink (trago).Good at any time.Entrada: Appetizers in the U.S. style, to eatbefore the main course.Plato fuerte: Main courses–always servedwith side dishes (you choose among options).Pizza: Depending where you are, you can findpizza thin and crispy or thick and doughy. Thepizza can be for one person or familiar (perso-nal o grande). Toppings by request.

Postres Desserts--Cake, fruit, ice cream.Try el flan de leche.

Caffè: Coffee–it is not so nor-mal to drink coffee after eat-ing as it is in theU.S.. TypicalDominican coffeeis stronger thanAmerican style;often availableas expresso.

Don’t worry, un-less you’re inan expensi-ve restaurant,you're under nopressure to or-

der a certain number of courses. It's perfectlynormal to order just a picadera and a drink (tra-go), or just your trago.

Some places offer a fixed-price tourist me-nu (menú del dia) including a La Bandera(beans and rice, salad, choice of meat).

Drinking alcohol Beer and rum are inexpensive in the Domi-

nican Republic, and young Dominicans haverelatively easy access to alcohol. Great alco-hol consumers, Dominicans drink their tragosat any moment and consider it sacred. Theynever leave half of their drink if they have tomove. Any restaurant, bar, disco, comedor,etc., will provide a plastic glass so you can ta-ke your drink with you.

In any social activity, an alcoholic drink isa "must," but normally the drink is just social.In any case, don’t make a bad impression,bydrinking more than you can handle, losingcontrol and getting yourself into trouble, pos-sibly with the police, who have no tolerancewith drunkards with bad manners with anddisturbing behavior. Being seen drunk in pu-blic is considered to be in very poor taste.

Getting the check at abar or restaurant is not

automatic in theR e p u b l i cR e p u b l i c .

The waiter will notbring it to you just becauseyou've finished your meal,

your dessert, andyour coffee. To doso would be con-sidered the heightof rudeness here!

You virtually"own" the

t a b l e

until you call for the check (with a hearty"Psssst!" as described above), pay it, and getup and leave.

TippingWaiters in the Dominican Republic receive

a poor salary. Tips are essential. When you paythe bill, you are already charged with a 10% tip,by law (and a 16% tax, making a 26% ex-tra that is not normally reflected in themenu’s prices). You should leave extramoney if you received good service, butplease do not go by the U.S. rule andleave 20% or more. Honestly, you willruin the prices and the waiters’ attitudes,who may in future expect the same fromevery client. A good rule of thumb isto leave around 5% to 10%. If servi-ce has been slack or rude, don'tfeel ashamed to leave nothin-g–or to check the bill in detail,as there is still the very occa-sional restaurateur who beco-mes strangely poor at mathe-matics when dealing with tou-rists.

Grocery shoppingIf you choose to eat in, the possibilities are

endless as to what you can buy. Doing thegrocery shopping is part of the experienceand fun of cooking and eating, e.g. withfriends. In most neighborhoods, you’ll find asupermercado. There are a number of chainsin Santo Domingo, among others, Nacional,Despensa, and Dominicano.

However, the more traditional way is tobuy your food in small grocery shops calledcolmados. It is a mom-and-pop store aroundthe corner with a small selection of almosteverything you need in the Dominican kit-chen. For produce, local markets (many open-air) are the best for freshness and price.

SAFETY

Food and WaterTake it easy the first few days in the Domi-

nican Republic (eat and drink with modera-tion). Allow your body time to adjust to thedifferent foods, drinks, climate, etc. Be carefulwith respect to buying food from street ven-

ders. If you must eat this food, buyfrom a vender where you see many Do-minicans eating. While many peoplenever experience problems eating thefood from street venders, to be on thesafe side, just avoid them altogether. Be

careful with undercooked dishesand avoid un-refrigerated

dairy products. Wipeoff the top of any

can or bottle be-fore you drinkfrom it. Stick tobottled water.

All watershould be regar-

ded as being po-tentially contamina-

ted and sterilizationshould be considered essential.

Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or ma-king ice should have first been boiled or other-wise purified. Milk is pasteurized. Powdered ortinned milk is available. Only eat well-cookedmeat, preferably served hot. Many Dominicansdo not eat fish because of contamination, soavoid eating fish at low end restaurants. Saladmay carry increased risk: vegetables should bealways cooked and fruit peeled.

DRINKING WATER: Drink lots of waterto avoid dehydration in the tropical heat,but drink only bottled water or the 1-pesoplastic bags. Don’t worry about ice. All iceused or sold commercially is made from pu-rified water.

23

SUN PROTECTION: Walk and stand inthe shade whenever you can, and wear sunprotection lotion for those times when youcan’t find shade (minimum #15). Super sun-sensitive people will want to wear long sleevesand a brimmed hat, or maybe even carry a"parasol." Sunglasses are almost a necessityfor everyone. As mentioned above, drink lotsof bottled water to avoid dehydration.

Passport SecurityWe recommend that you make three pho-

tocopies of your passport’s photo page andplace them in a "strategic" place, e.g., in yoursuitcase or a drawer in your room. While inSanto Domingo, you should carry a photo-copy with you at all times. Carry your actualpassport with you only when you need to ex-change money, check into a hotel while trave-ling (even within the Dominican Republic), orcross the Dominican border. When not in use,the passport should be put safely away so-mewhere in your room, hidden from view.

General safety advice for Santo Do-mingo

Santo Domingo is a surprisingly safe city.Apart from the occasional pickpocket, espe-cially in tourist areas, or late-night mugging,there is little true violence in Santo Domingo.Nevertheless, normal and common sense pre-cautions are important, as they are at home:

• Never carry large sums of money withyou.

• Avoid carrying your passport with you.Carry a photocopy instead. Take yourpassport with you only when exchangingmoney or traveling.

• Carry your wallet in a front or breast poc-ket; never carry it in a back pocket! Carryyour purse or bag with the strap hungdiagonally across your torso, tucked un-der your arm when possible. When on abus or in a crowded place (e.g. a market),

keep your hand on your wallet, or on thezipper or clip of the bag. You shouldn'tcarry anything of value in a backpack,since they are easily rummaged throughwithout you knowing it! Though theyseem practical, fanny packs are an invi-tation for most thieves!

Watch your step when out walking! Pedes-trians do NOT have the right of way. Lookboth ways and wait until traffic is clear tocross streets. And look DOWN as well aheadwhile walking to avoid twisted ankles or worsein the many areas where the sidewalks arebroken or water-valve covers are missing.

• Finally: Watch out and use your head!Safety at homeFortunately, most homes and apartments

are very safe and the chances of an incidentare very slim. However, you are responsiblefor keeping your home safe. Here are someimportant rules to follow concerning homesafety:

• Never write your name or address onyour keys! If they are lost, this is a directindication to your house and belong-ings. Lost keys should be reportedimmediately to the Hispaniola schoolsecretariat

• Keep the windows of your room andapartment securely locked when you arenot home.

• Keep your personal belongings of valuelocked in a suitcase or closet.

• Never let anyone you don't know intothe building.

Living in your apartmentFor your own safety in your rented apart-

ment you must observe the following rules:

• Keep shared areas (kitchen, bathroom,lounge if applicable) clean and tidy,

24

wash your dishes after meals, and takeout your garbage.

• Don’t bring alcohol and/or drugs intothe apartment.

• Don’t have parties, and avoid other noi-se at night that would only provokeneighbors to call the police–with fore-seeable consequences.

• Overnight guests are not permitted.

Violation of these basic rules will lead toexpulsion from the apartment and, in seriouscases, from the program. There will be zero to-lerance!

Safety while travelingBuses/Guaguas: The buses in Santo Do-

mingo, by U.S. standards, are very safe. Ho-wever, at rush hours buses can become verycrowded, and this is the ideal working envi-ronment for pickpockets. Follow the generalsafety procedures described above.

Carros Públicos: When riding in public cars(also called conchos) get your 10-peso fee outbefore you enter the car and guard yourpurse on your lap.

Hired Cars: If you decide to drive yourown car" agregarle: "This option should beconsidered only if you are a very experi-mented driver as roads inDominican Republic are "not verygood" while traffic is very "anar-chic". In case you decide torent a car, never forget tohire a full-cover insur-ance, a handy copyof your docu-ments (photoID&drivinglicence), adetailed map of Dominican Republicand cellular phone.

Also, possibly DON'T leave the carparked in the street during the night.

Safety for womenMACHISMO & PIROPOS: Much has

been written about Latin American machis-mo, the ancient tradition that is so oppositeto the ideals of modern Women’s Liberation.If you are female, please do not be offendedwhen a Dominican man opens doors for you,offers his hand or his arm, assists you acrossa street, or any of a number of other caballe-roso (gentlemanly) things he may insist ondoing, including commenting on your beauty,your charm, etc., in a way that may seem toyou to be excessive or even rude (see "Piro-pos" in the section that follows). It is a long-standing Dominican tradition to be excessi-vely, attentively a gentleman around womenof all ages. Despite what is often seen by fo-reigners as too much machismo "posing," Do-

minican men are farmore free to express

their loving feelingsand emotions with

their children,friends, and fa-

mily members,whether male or fe-

male, than most Ameri-cans or Europeans. It’s

not even unusual to seetwo Dominican men dan-

cing together—merengue,of course, or other fast-paced

music, not a romantic bolero.

Piropos (wolf calls)—ManyAmerican and European womenbecome upset because of all thepiropos thrown their way by Domi-nican men. They interpret the re-marks and suggestions as "wolfcalls," but in point of fact the wordis more properly translated as

25

"compliments." Americans and Europeans are"exotics" here, thus are almost all seen ashandsome or beautiful. And Dominican mengenuinely appreciate even large women andolder women of all nationalities, seeing themfor the attributes they have…. And when aDominican man sees a beautiful woman, hecan’t help but comment upon her beauty and,frequently, how he’d like to spend time withher. In point of fact, a Dominican man wouldthink it horribly rude and uncultured not tosay something complimentary to a beautifulwoman as she passes by. So please do not in-terpret either the remarks or the men who ma-ke them by the standards of your home coun-try. The piropos are compliments by apprecia-tive men. Smile, say "gracias," and walk on.

Especially young foreign women will ex-perience this well-known phenomenon ofpiropos in the Dominican Republic. In gene-ral, it doesn’t go beyond staring, whistling,calling out and honking, but it can becomeannoying. Here are some important sugges-tions to follow:

• Pay attention to how you dress: try not toshow too much skin (tank tops, shortskirts or pants) if you aren't comfortableattracting attention. Avoiding "touristy" at-tire (college shirts, sneakers, Birkenstocks)can also prevent unwanted attention.

• Adopt the attitude of Dominican women:walk like you know where you are going,avoid eye contact (sunglasses may behelpful) and meet all advances with dig-nity, silence, and an impassive gaze.

• If somebody is bothering you on anovercrowded bus, move toward the dri-ver or turn to another person next toyou. Most Dominicans are embarrassedby the treatment that foreign women re-ceive in the Dominican Republic and willbe supportive and helpful if they see thatyou are being bothered.

• Hitchhiking is an absolute NO-NO! • Above all, use common sense. Don't

walk around alone late at night (let's say,after 11pm). Don’t put yourself at riskwhen you might not know how to hand-le the situation.

Pssssst!!! "What is that hissing noise?"many visitors ask themselves. It's a Dominicantrying to get a pretty woman's attention, or hismale friend's attention, or another cup of cof-fee, or perhaps he's trying to get his checkfrom the waitor. Going "Psssst!" is not rudehere, it's how things get done.

POLICE HEADQUARTERS:Palacio de la PoliciaLepoldo Navarro Tel: (809) 221-2151For thefts, passport problems etc.

26

Living with a Dominican Family

Host families are a very important partof your overall language immersion expe-rience because you will not only have theopportunity to learn about the culture butalso you will be able to practice Spanish.

What is the family like?The process of selecting host families is

in the hands of the schools. The homes areall middle class by local standards. (Thismeans a little lower than U.S. middle class).The family may be a married couple or awoman with or without children. There is afamily atmosphere and only Spanish isspoken in the home. You will find it easy tomake friends with the other students in thehome and there may be other students inthe family with you.

Meals. According to your choice youmay be provided with meals. MostDominican people tend to eat meals muchlater than you may be used to.

Breakfast usually consists of coffee ormilk, juices, fruits and rolls. Lunch is themost important meal of the day, usuallyserved between 2pm and 4pm. Dinner is alighter meal usually eaten from 7 to7:30pm. Unless you have indicated specialdiet restrictions on your application form,you should not expect your family to makeyou special meals. If for some reason youare having dinner elsewhere, please becourteous and notify your family of yourchange of plans.

Bed linens and laundry. Linens areprovided by your family and will bechanged once a week. You will need tobring a towel and all personal toiletries.Laundry is included but for delicate wearyou may prefer to wash it yourself or use aprofessional laundry. There are also someLaundromats in the city of Santo Domingo.

Telephone. The cost of the telephoneand phone calls in the Dominican Republicis very expensive compared with othercountries. You can receive calls in the ho-me, but you cannot make any calls. Thereare many public telephones where you canmake telephone calls.

Showers. Students are allowed andstrongly suggested to have 2 or 3 shower daily.

Suggestions for establishing a goodrelationship with the family

Common sense. Making your stay withthe family a pleasant one depends on you.We recommend that you observe the familyand adapt your behavior according to thenorms and schedules of the household.

NOTE: You should consider the host family asyour own, but recognize that you are a guest intheir home. Take special consideration to ob-serve and follow the household norms, suchas turning off the light when you leave a room,keep noise to a minimum at night, keep yourroom organized and clean, etc Also, make su-re to close and lock doors and gates properly-it may seem silly, but many locks here seem tohave tricks to them. Learn them before you getlocked out or lock someone else out.

27

Accommodation

Communication with the family. Ob-serve, listen, and ask questions and talk.We recommend that during the first fewdays you are in the host family home, thatyou observe the family’s routine, listen clo-sely when a family member tells you somet-hing about the family’s particular normsand ask when you do not know how to actor react in a particular situation. But youdon’t need to worry, the family is used tohaving international students in their homeand is always available to help make yourstay more comfortable. If you have anydoubts you can talk to the family as if it we-re your own family.

We adviseyou to make

every effort tospeak with the familymembers and try to

get tok n o w

them better.The family will bepleased to learnabout you and thecountry you co-me from and

would like to helpyou in your study of the Spa-

nish language and culture.

Living in an Apartment

Living in an apartment, is a good optionif you prefer more independence. It is alsoa good way to make international friends.

What are the apartments like?Most apartments are located in the co-

lonial center, just a short distance from theschool. Usually students rent private rooms

and share a communal kitchen and bath-rooms with other students.

Normally, furnished apartments have 3to 5 bedrooms, with one or two bath-rooms, a fully equipped kitchen without awashing machine, and a living room with atelevision. The apartments are located nomore than 20 minutes walk from theschool.

Apartment mates. The people you willshare the apartment with are internationalstudents from the school. The number ofstudents in each apartment varies, depen-ding on the apartment and the time of year.Some apartments have 2-3 students andothers, between 5-8. The school makesevery effort to place students of differentnative languages in the apartments/resi-dences, so that students always will bespeaking Spanish. The school will also pla-ce male and female students in the sameapartment, unless the student specificallyrequests to be placed in this type of apart-ment. The school will never place two stu-dents of the opposite sex (that don’t knoweach other) in a shared room.

Meals. There are no meals provided inthis option, but you can make arrange-ments with the school secretary to gettwo to three meals a day. We also recom-mend that you discuss with the other stu-dents at the beginning to decide whetheryou will cook meals together or separa-tely.

Bed linens and towels. Bed linen isprovided, although you will need to bringyour own towels and personal belongings.

Cleaning. The school doesn’t providesa cleaning service so you should divide upsome of the basic cleaning responsibilitiesamong everyone who lives there.

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Suggestions for establishing a goodrelationship with your apartment mates

Making your stay a pleasant one de-pends to a large extent on you. As a res-ponsible adult, take extra care with your be-havior: maintain common areas clean, keepnoise to a minimum at night, etc. In general,respect the other students’ schedules andcustoms. We recommend that you make aneffort to get to know the other people livingin the apartment. Take into account thatsince each person comes from a differentculture, their reactions and behavior, andeven their foods, may be somewhat diffe-rent from what you are used to. It is best tokeep an open mind in each situation.

Hot Water-Due to the mild climate, homesin the Dominican Republic usually only havehot water in the shower. Most use an electricheating device for this purpose, so do not ex-pect a steaming hot stream of water like youare accustomed to at home. Since these de-vices work through an instant heating pro-cess, the more you open the water, the col-der the water gets. To activate the heatingdevice, a small flow of water is required. Fullyopen the faucet and then reduce the flow ofwater until you get an acceptable water tem-perature. If you feel that the water tempera-ture is unacceptable, talk to the family/ownerabout this problem. If nothing improves,please talk to your home stay coordinator.

Note: in case of apartment accommodation aUS$100 deposit apply. Deposit has to be paidthe day of the check-in to receive the set ofkeys and will be paid back the day of leavingwhen the set of keys will be returned to the ad-ministration. Please note that without the depo-sit the administration will retain the set of keys.

Note:Another US$100 deposit apply if you wishto use the security box (when available) Deposithas to be paid the day of the check-in to receivethe key and will be paid back the day of leavingwhen the key will be returned to the administration

HEALTH

Health IssuesWhile the Dominican Republic is gene-

rally considered a safe place to visit, thosewho plan to do extensive traveling maywant to take the following health concernsinto advisement. For the most up-to-dateinformation we recommend that you con-tact: your local doctor with your plans totravel abroad, and the CDC (Center for Di-sease Control) hotline at 404-332-4559 forrecorded messages about disease preven-tion when traveling, or visit there web siteat www.cdc.gov.

Diseases-Malaria risk, exclusively in the malignant

falciparum form, exists throughout the yearin rural areas of the western provinces ofMonte Cristi, Estrella and Valverde (easternpart). Chloroquine is the recommendedprophylaxis.

Rabies is present. For those at high risk,vaccination before arrival should be consi-dered. If you are bitten, seek medical advi-ce without delay.

Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present.Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh wa-ter. Swimming pools which are well-chlori-nated and maintained are safe.

Diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis hasbeen reported. Hepatitis A may occur.

Emergency aid (emergencias)Emergency Aid (emergencias) with a

doctor on hand can be found in all publichospitals and private clinics. Emergencytreatment in public hospitals is free, butmedicines you are prescribed have to bepaid for in full.

29

3�

Clinics and emergencias near theschool:

- Ospedale Padre Billini (public), CalleSantome between Billini and Nouel,Tel. 686-2833

- Clinica Abreu (not public), av. Indipen-dencia esq. Beller 42, Tel. 688-4411.

Emergency phone number: 911In case of any emergency. Simply state

whether you need police, ambulance, or fi-re service.

Seeing a doctorHispaniola Academia Caribe de Len-

guas, Santo Domingo has a general doctorfor home visits (US$30). If you need a spe-cialist, the nearest clinic is:

Clinica Abreu Tel. 688-4411av. Independencia esq. Beller 42, Mon-Fri 9–12am, 3–7pmAll specialists available. Average price of

1st visit is US$ 40

Pharmacy (farmacia)Pharmacies have a large selection of

medicine. The pharmacists are qualifiedand able to give basic medical advice. So-me are open 24 hours.

Near school:_ Farmacia Mercier, Nouel esq Duarte_ Farmacia San Judas Tadeo, Indepen-

dencia 57, Tel. 685-8165 (24 hours)

Illegal drugsPenalties are very severe in the Domini-

can Republic for possessing or selling nar-cotics. Even to be related with personswho deal with illegal drugs is dangerous. Ifyou violate the Dominican Republic’s nar-cotics laws, you may not be eligible for bail,and there is little either the program or theU.S. Consulate can do. Do not experimentwith drugs in Dominican Republic.

Home-based religion and healing-Although officially Roman Catholic, theaverage Dominican worships in ways quitedifferent from those of strict orthodoxCatholics. Many visitors report thatDominicans are "superstitious." It's morecorrect to say that their home-based reli-gious beliefs and rituals are a vibrant,everyday part of their lives. These beliefsand rituals are a syncretic mixture of vari-ous Indian, African and European beliefsand rituals that are very similar to theSantería beliefs and rituals in Cuba thathave received so much academic andmedia attention in recent decades.

For example, many Dominicans main-tain home "altars" with images of theirfavorite saints, to whom they give gifts andpray to for favors. Each saint has his or herown favorite color, favorite gifts and spe-cial area of expertise-you can buy theseitems in one of the local botánicas. In scat-

Useful vocabulary for aches and painsallergy allergia dizzy mareado/a cramps calambrescough tos fever fiebre a cut heridaband-aid curita flu gripe diarrhea diarreablood sangre fracture fractura stomach-ache dolor de barrigaburn quemadura headache dolor de cabeza vomit vomitoa cold resfriado indigestion indigestion nausea nausea

tered places in the countryside and in theurban barrios, you can find people invokingDominican chanting and dancing rituals(most definitely a cross between Taíno andAfrican rites) to induce the saints to"mount" their worshippers.

Across the country, the traditionaldances, songs, musics and foods used tocelebrate fiestas patronales have ancientroots among Indian, African and earlyChristian rites-try to see one of the ShowFolklórico presentations if you cannot par-ticipate in a festival itself. As for healing,Dominicans seek out those who are wise inthe ancient use of herbs and/or spells. Theygo to them for charms to improve theirlovelife, their luck, their health, etc. And allDominicans apparently know home curesfor whatever ails you! Beware, however, ifyou tell a Dominican that you are not feel-ing well. First and foremost, he or she willmost likely recommend the ancient Taínocure-all of purging yourself at both ends.

Song and dance here are like breathing!-The Taínos celebrated weddings, births,deaths, visitors, coming-of-age ceremonies,all manner of victories, planting and harvestevents, etc., with areitos, communal songand dance celebrations. Music, song anddance were equally important to the Africanswho came both voluntarily and involuntarily,and, to a lesser degree, to the Europeans.Today's Dominicans continue that ancientisland tradition.

Music is a necessity of life here! You willhear the lively sounds of merengue, thenational rhythm, as well as bachata and salsablaring from radios and loudspeakers every-where-at the beach, in buses and taxi cabs,and along the street, where it emanates fromhouses, stores, road-side stalls and passingvehicles. Dominicans sing and dance while

they walk, while they work, while they play….Small perico ripiaos, groups composed ofmusicians playing the güira (a scraper instru-ment), tambora (a special small drum) andbutton accordion or guitar stroll the streetsand sidewalk cafés, playing and singing theirlively tunes. Live concerts are set up manyweekends and every holiday along theMalecón, the broad boulevard that runsalong the Caribbean's edge in the Capital,fronted by luxury hotels, restaurants andbars.

Concerts also take place in the parking lotof the new Puerto Don Diego, the port in theZona Colonial where the cruiseships dock.On nights when there's no live concert,there's radio music blasting from 2�'-highspeakers and hundreds, if not thousands, ofDominicans of all ages to enjoy it until thewee hours of the morning.

You may find the music too loud, and ifyou understand Spanish, you may find thelyrics too boldly suggestive, but you'd have tobe dead not to move your feet to the infec-tious, dynamic rhythms of Dominican music.If you are lucky, you might witness an ancientDominican musical tradition-the serenade.(The gift of a song was one of the most valu-able gifts one Taíno could give another.)

Today it is mostly country men who sere-nade the women they love, but sometimes aman in the city will also do so, hiring some ofhis friends or professional musicians to playwhile he sings his heart out, hoping to win thewoman's favor. If you are very lucky, the ladywill be you!

CARNAVAL!!!--The month of February isan especially festive time in the DominicanRepublic-it's Carnaval time!-with music anddance celebrations throughout the month,increasing in frequency and intensity as the

31

27th approaches, for Carnaval is not only apre-Lenten festival here, it's also a celebra-tion of Dominican independence. And at theend of August/early September, we celebratethe Merengue Festival across the island.

There are also nationwide celebrations ofCorpus Christi and Semana Santa (EasterWeek), not to mention that each of the cities

and towns has its own patron saint, who ishonored with lively fiestas patronales. All ofthese fiestas incorporate song and dancealong with other traditional rituals. One of themost popular is the feast of St. John theBaptist on June 24…. There's always some-thing to celebrate here in the DominicanRepublic! And music and dance are as impor-tant to Dominicans as eating or breathing.

Events and entertainmentThere are many interesting things to do in

Santo Domingo. Whether you like to listen tomusic, dance, drink, or just people-watch,there is something for everyone and for everybudget.

There are three magazines you’ll find atnewsstands with up-to-date listings of all cul-tural events:

La Guía al Día issued once a month, inSpanish.

Uepa–www.uepa.com.doOh! Magazine Thursday supplement of

Listin Diario newspaperBureo Thursday supplement of El Caribe

newspaper

MoviesThere are many movie theaters (cinemas)

in Santo Domingo, all of them multi-room.The schedules can be found in the Domini-can newspapers, at the info point of theschool, and also in many magazines.

A great way to practice your listening skillsin Spanish is to watch a movie. If you are abeginner, choose a movie you have alreadyseen. This way you will be able to follow thestory in Spanish a little better.

Most cinemas show movies in theoriginal English language versionwith subtitles in Spanish.

Cinema Centro ave. Geor-ge Washington ( malecon) te-lefono (809) 687-8710

Broadway cinemasave. 27 de febrero esq.Winston Churchill,Plaza central,

32

Culture & Entertainment

3er nivel, telefono (809) 872-0271At the Acropolis ave. Winston Churchill

3er. nivel (809) 955-1010Palacio del cine ave. 27 de febrero tele-

fono (809) 567-2560Palacio del cine Bella Vista mall ave.

Sarasota, telefono (809) 255-0921

DancingTrío Café Avenida Lincoln 12-A, Plaza

Castilla. Santo DomingoMontecristo Café Avenida Abraham Lin-

coln esq. José Amado Soler. Edificio Concor-dia. Piantini,

Jet Set Avenida Independencia#2253,centro comercial El portal

Guacara Taina Parque Mirador Sur, Av.de la salud

Atarazana 9 calle Las Atarazanas, PlazaEspaña Zona Colonial

Nowhere bar calle Hostos#205 ZonaColonial, Santo Domingo

Eating outEl Conuco Calle Casimiro de Moya#152,

Gazcue santo DomingoMesón D´Bari Calle Hostos 302, esquina

Salomé Ureña, Zona ColonialTony’s comida vegetariana calle 30 de

marzo acsi esqueina Imbert, GazcueMeson de Luis calle Hostos Zona Colo-

nialL’Osteria del Cappuccino, av. Mexico

frente al Teatro Nacional, Gazcue

33

Santo DomingoSanto Domingo, a city of two million

people, was the first city of the New Worldfounded in 1502 by Bartholomew Colum-bus, Christopher Columbus’ brother. Themodern city of Santo Domingo is a thrivingport city, equipped with discotheques,gambling casinos, shops, cafes, chic restau-rants. The center of life in the city is handsdown in the Colonial District of the city, fullof 16th century Spanish architecture.

The Colonial District has been carefullyrestored to retain its original charm, and ishome to the first university, cathedral andhospital built in the New World. The startingpoint would have to be the Parque Colón, apleasant place to have a stroll under leafytrees watching blending in with the locals andlistening to street musicians playing the na-tional music, meringue. Directly south of Par-

Recommended acivities

que Colón lies the oldest church in the Ame-ricas, Catedral Basílica Menor de Santa Maria.This church was completed in 1544, but thebell tower has never been completed.

In the southeastern corner of the Colo-nial District lies the Fortaleza Ozama, a for-tress built in 1503, the oldest military buil-ding complex in the Americas. The bestplace to watch the evening sunset is in thetower there. Around the corner facing thefortress stands a large black statue of oneof the Dominican Republic’s national he-roes, Antonio Montesino, who appealed tothe Spanish government for justice to thenatives in the 16th century.

One of the most interesting sites in San-to Domingo is the Palacio Nacional, loca-ted in the Plaza de la Cultura. This is theseat of the Dominican government and wasbuilt in 1947 by Rafael Trujillo, the fascistpresident that came into power in 1930and ran the country for 31 years.

Also in the Plaza de la Cultura is the Mu-seo del Hombre Dominicano, one of thebest museums in the country. This museumhouses anthropological displays of the in-digenous peoples of the island as well asAfrican slaves and early Spanish conque-rors. Near the museum is the Galeria de Ar-te Moderno, which houses a collection ofmodern art from Spain, Latin America andthe Dominican itself, with special attentiongiven to one of the Dominican masters, Al-bert Ulloa.

One of the must sees in Santo Domingois El Jardín Botánico Nacional, a wonderfulgarden containing 2.5 million square me-ters of flowers, forests, and beautiful foun-tains. If you like orchids, this is the placefor you, with hundreds of varieties en everycolor and size, and once a year the garden

has an orchid competition and sale, whereyou can buy orchids that would fetch over100 dollars in the for next to nothing.

To the west of the city is a remarkablecave complex, Los Tres Ojos de Agua (TheThree Eyes of Water), so-called because itcontains three turquoise lagoons on threedifferent levels, each fed by an under-ground river and surrounded by countlessstalactites, stalagmites and lush tropicalvegetation.

La RomanaOne hour and 45 minutes east of Santo

Domingo is the city of La Romana, home tothe understated elegance and gracefulcharm of the 7000-acre Casa de Campo re-sort, designed by Oscar de la Renta. Nes-tled within the resort is Altos de Chavon, areconstructed 15th-century Mediterranean-style village for culture and art that is per-ched high on a cliff overlooking the tropicalChavon River and Caribbean Sea. Altos deChavon hosts major events in a 5000-seatGreek amphitheatre, built in the traditionaldesign of Epidaurus.

Amber Coast (NorthernCoast)

The Amber Coast is so named becausesome of the most beautiful amber in theworld is mined here. The Amber Museumhouses a display of unusualamber pieces foundin the area.

34

Puerto Plata (Silver Port)Puerto Plata has some of the finest bea-

ches in the Caribbean Islands. It was foun-ded in 1504 and boasts Victorian architec-ture. The Fort San Felipe was built in the1600s by the Spanish to protect the settle-ment from pirates. The Atlantic coast ofthe country is renowned for its miles ofunspoiled beaches that surround PuertoPlata, the most popular being Sosúa. Justtwo miles from the town is the Playa Dora-da resort complex, within which is the JackTar Village resort. Just outside the PlayaDorada complex, in Puerto Plata, is theCostambar Beach Resort, with 5km (3 mi-les) of beach. Mount Isabel de Torres featu-res a cable car that climbs over 760m(2500ft) above sea level. The breathtakingview of the Atlantic and the port of PuertoPlata is well worth the 7-minute climb up tothe top of the mountain. 10 sq km (4 sq mi-les) of botanical gardens can be exploredhere. Rio San Juan is still a virgin land awai-ting the adventurer to discover Playa Gran-de (with a few resorts under construction)and the beautiful Playa Caletón and theGri-Gri lagoon.

Samaná PeninsulaThe Semaná Peninsula is located on the

northern portion of the island, approxima-tely two hours from Puerto Plata's interna-tional airport. Samaná, with its transparentblue waters, miles of unspoilt beaches, and

dozens of caves waiting to be explored, is aromantic paradise. Other resorts includeThe Gran Bahia Beach Resort, Cayo Levan-tado and El Portillo Beach Club.

San CristobalThis town was where the first constitu-

tion was signed on November 6, 1844, andis probably the most visited city besidesSanto Domingo, particularly by those wis-hing to get a closer look at the historical si-tes linked to the life of Trujillo. La Iglesia deSan Cristobal houses Trujillo’s formaltomb, though he may be buried elsewhere.In the church and Caves of Santa María thepatron saint's day is celebrated with drumsand dance rituals.

Azua De CompostelaFounded in 1504 by Diego Velázquez,

who later conquered and destroyed Cubaon three different occasions by fire. In par-ticular, the ruins of the colonial city in Pue-blo Viejo are well worth a visit.

BarahonaHumid with beautiful beaches of white

sand. Cabritos Island, a national park in thecenter of Lake Enriquillo, is the greatestpreserve of the wild American Crocodile,large populations of flamingoes, and twospecies of iguana.

35

Where to shopSanto Domingo offers temptations of

every kind. You will notice immediately thatSanto Domingo is full of shops where youcan browse and buy. Prices are not generallycheaper than in other major cities, but youhave an immense choice ranging from desig-ner labels, decently priced street wear, dis-counted clothes, articles and junk. The ruleis simple: luxury shops and tourist areascharge more, neighborhood shops generallycharge less. During the sales in January andJuly, you may spot some great bargains.

Note that not all shops accept creditcards.

For starters, the major shopping tho-roughfares are:

- Plaza Central 4-floor mall witheverything inside. Cinema, fast food andrestaurants on the top floor. Very popular.Medium prices.

- Acropolis: high-range fashion, leatherand shoe stores, and entertainment floor.

- But also try the shopping streets in thedistricts, such as El Conde (see below), fora wide variety of merchandise at reasona-ble prices.

If digging in piles of second-hand andjunk, and bargaining about your discoveries

is what excites you, Santo Domingo’s mar-kets may be the right place for you. (As al-ways: Beware of pickpockets!)

- Mercado Modelo (every day): whereyou will find everything a tourist can askfor, but bargain the vendors down—the"real" price is half or less of what’s on theprice tag.

- Plaza Criolla (every day): 27 de Fe-brero near Gomez. Shops and service inthe pure Creole style.

Shopping in and about the Zona Co-lonia - Prices in clothing stores, grocerystores and the like are well marked and fi-xed (grocery stores are the best places tobuy such Dominican products as coffee,vanilla, chocolate, and rum). In most shopsthat specialize in souvenirs, however, youcan bargain for lower prices than the stic-ker prices. Expect perhaps a 10-20% reduc-tion--lower prices if you pay in cash (enefectivo), not so big a discount if with acredit card. At the Avenida Mella near CalleSantomé that caters to tourists, you’ll finda vast array of arts and crafts. Best adviceis not to buy anything that does not have aprice tag and to bargain down to approxi-mately half of the listed price, which is clo-ser to the "real" price. It is lively and color-ful, a dynamic crossroads where thecountryside and the city meet. A note of

36

Shopping

37

caution, however: it’s better to buy expen-sive, high-quality jewelry at establishedstores, not in the market stalls, to insurethat you get what you pay for.

Best buys in the DominicanRepublic

• hand rolled cigars• ceramics of all kinds, including the

unique “faceless” dolls and replicas ofTaíno artifacts

• carved and painted wooden sculptu-res and household objects

• drums, maracas and güiras (the latterare rhythmic scraper instruments)

• beautifully carved gourds

• baskets• vanilla & chocolate• stick cinnamon, nutmeg and other

whole spices• rum• Presidente beer• coffee• amber (the Dominican Republic is the

world’s amber capital) • larimar (a creamy turquoise stone uni-

que to the island)• leather goods• CD’s and cassettes of merengues and

bachatas• colorful paintings• imaginative t-shirts, beach wraps, and

towels

Who is who

School location:Calle Arzobispo Nouel #103Casi esquina DuarteZona Colonial

web-page: www.hispaniola.orge-mail: info@hispaniola.orgPlease be at school Monday 8.30am to

take placement test and interview and fixany administrative details.

Regular lessons will start on Tuesday8:30am.

Standard lessons take place monday tofriday, 8:30 to 12:30 with a coffee break10:30-11:00

Intensive Lessons take place in the af-ternoon between 1:00 and 3:00 dependingby the course you selected.

Personal and Special lessons take placeaccording to the custom agenda fixed inadvance

During holiday, lessons will take place 9-

The schoolEmergency number (for incoming day, 24h)

809-856-5026 (cellular)Academia Hispaniola 809-688-9192

General Mr Luca PellegriniDidactic Mrs Julissa PuelloSecretariat: Mrs Ana Guzman

38

12 or moved to the nearest saturday. All stu-dents will be advised few days in advance

COMPLAINTS: Dear client, we do ourbest to ensure you are satisfied with youlanguage vacation; in case you have somecomplaint please inform us as soon as pos-sible. You will be requested to fill in a com-plaint form. We evaluate all complaints ca-refully: we investigate the matter and giveyou a written answer/proposal no later than2 working days.

And/or ask for the complaint form.

Any other or if you feel more comforta-ble you can also direct all your enquires orcomplaints to the secretariat.

Important telephone numbersSchool Address:Calle Arzobispo Nouel #103 Casi

esquina Duarte Zona ColonialTel: 809-689-8350Fax: 809- 688-9192Weekend emergency number (only for

real emergencies, NOT an info line)809- 856-5026

Informations 1411

The Dominican Tourist InformationCenter, located at the corner of AvenidasMexico and 30 de Marzo, Apartment 497,tel: 809-221-4660, fax: 682-3806.

Las Americas International Airport,tel: 809-542-0102.

This booth is operated by multilingualpersonnel can help you in a pinch, thoughthey’re not intended as full-service opera-tions.

Emergency (Police/Ambulance/Fire): 911Hospital (Emergency Aid):Hospital Padre Billini (public)Calle Santome between Billini and Nouel 686-2833

Clinica Abreu (not public), av. Independencia esq. Beller 42 688-4411

Doctor’s Home Visit ask the schoolPolice Central Headquarters:Palacio de la PoliciaLepoldo Navarro 221-2151Taxi: 537-0000U.S. Diplomacy:Embassy:Cesar Nicolas Penson equina L. Navarro 221-2171

689-5882Consulate:Cesar Nicolás Penson equina Máximo Gomez 221-0110

For didactic please enquireMrs Julissa Puello

For accommodation, please enquire Mrs Ana Guzman

39

Don’t forget these items:1. A money belt or shoulder wallet2. A backpack or weekend bag3. Sunscreen and good sunglasses4. Camera and lots of film or digital ca-

mara5. A pair of comfortable walking shoes6. Beach towel, swim wear, sandals,

beach shoes, and a hat (in summer-depending on the location).

7. One nice outfit8. Umbrella 9. Pens and paper10. Travel alarm clock11. Spanish-English dictionary 12. A `501 Spanish Verbs' book13. A travel guide14. Give your family/friends the school

address to send packages

15. Bring some local currency with you(at least $50)

16. Make sure to bring a credit card (andthe PIN number) and a telephonecard

17. Bring emergency numbers and thisorientation guide!!!

Suggested items1. A small padlock2. Ear plugs3. Flashlight4. Daypack5. First aid kit6. Aspirin7. Passport sized photos8. Your personal medicine

While you’re here in the Dominican Re-public, keep an open mind. Be ready to en-joy yourself among a people who have aworld-renowned reputation for being since-rely warm-hearted, open and friendly. Butdo remember that this is a "developingworld." The majority of the people here arenot middle class, like they are in the U.S.,Canada and Europe. There is a small, eliteupper class, a very small middle class, anda vastly huge class of very poor people. You

will definitely see some things here and ha-ve some experiences here that are very dif-ferent from "back home." That doesn’tmean the Dominican people or their waysare wrong—just different. Don’t spendyour precious little time here lamentinghow things could be so much better "if onlythey did it like back in _________." After all,learning something new, having new expe-riences and meeting new people is whatyou came here for, isn’t it?

Checklist

Last but not least