What makes travel so thrilling, so wonderful and rewarding? I think it’s the adventure in finding out how similarities crop up in the most unexpected places. Differences make travel adventurous. Similarities make it comfortable. I love the place where these two merge.
This year the World Race will take me to 11 places I have never yet explored. It will immerse me in cultures I have only dreamed of engaging. I’m finding that in the Dominican Republic the outward, superficial culture drastically differs from that in the United States. However, beneath the surface lies humanity. I mean that , people are people. We have societal eccentricities that make us unique, but over all, we were created by one maker. Humans are humans, with fairly similar parts and functions.
It is our worldly atmosphere and culture that creates the plethora of variations in our attitudes, standards and behaviors.
Here in the Dominican Republic:
- motorcycles outnumber cars/trucks.
- Men wear long pants and collared shirts, despite the immense heat.
- Dogs run wild everywhere, without special names like Fluffy, Duke or Lassie; they are all called Perro (means dog in Spanish).
- City wide power-outages are common, roughly once a week.
- Children roam the streets at all hours unsupervised and sometimes undressed (partially).
- Cat calls are hisses and sound like an scheming snake.
- Church services are two hours and occur Sunday, Monday, Thursday and Friday. Drinking water must be purchased from a Water Station; tap water is not ok.
- Houses vary drastically from area to area, ranging from large stucco homes with iron gates and tiled driveways to small, unstable rooms of cement covered in a collage of tin.
- Roosters and chickens are not just for the country. In the rich neighborhoods they crow sporadically throughout the day.
- Staring is not taboo. When you are looking at someone and they turn to you… it is acceptable to maintain eye contact.
- Vendors roam through neighborhoods peddling their goods and produce.
- “Bancas” are actually 24 hour, brightly colored Lottery stands that appear on nearly every street corner.
- It is not uncommon to see a horse or cow tied to someone’s front gate.
- Airing the family laundry is a necessity
In the midst of all these differences, I find that the human spirit remains largely unchanged.
- People are loving.
- Generosity abounds. At any given moment they are hospitable, giving and joyful.
This woman was making rice when we dropped by. She got out plates made us bowls and said, "Eat, Sit, Enjoy."
- There is always a stack of plastic chairs ready to seat visitors, in any home, any time to any passer-by.
- Greetings and waves can be given on sidewalks or hollered from the car.
- Smiling abounds. It comes from the spirit and can be seen in the eyes of the joyful.
- Even in tiny remote towns, women have a salon for curling, dying and styling their hair.
- The words “God Bless You,” or “Blessings (to you)” can be “hello,” “goodbye” or “how are you?”
I am enthralled with all that God is allowing me to see and experience. It is my hope to convey these sights, sounds and smells of each and every country with you as God exposes them. Tonight when you sleep or tomorrow morning when you wake up, appreciate that it isn't too ravished dogs or cock-a-doodle-doodling roosters! 🙂
