Dominican
Republic Q&A
[Ellen Ducy de Perez (at right) has kindly allowed us to post some of the information she shared with Goshen College SST students.]
Q: From whom and when did the Dominican Republic gain its independence?
A: In 1697, the western portion (now Haiti) of Hispaniola was given to France. In 1795, the entire island was ceded. Rebellious slaves seized Santo Domingo in 1801 and established Haiti as the first independent country in Latin America. The resulting Haitian domination of the Dominicans (1822 to 1844) left a legacy of mistrust and strained relations that still endures. The Dominicans declared independence in 1844. Spain returned intermittently between local attempts at government. After an occupation by U.S. marines (1918-24), a constitutional government was established.
Q: After the arrival of the Spaniards, how long did the Indian population last? What were the types of Indians here?
A: In pre-Columbian times, Arawaks and Tainos occupied the island. The arrival of Columbus in 1492 brought Christianity, colonization, slavery, and disease, decimating the native population within decades (from 500,000 to 500 in 50 years). With the vanishing indigenous workforce came the increased importation of West Africans to provide cheap labor for the mines, sugar plantations, and cattle farms.
Q: What “firsts” in the history of the Western hemisphere have to do with Santo Domingo? (three are mentioned, though there are more).
A: The first permanent European settlement in the New World was established in 1496 as Santo Domingo, the city from which Spain set out to conquer the Americas. Here stands the first New World university and Catholic church. Santo Domingo’s Colonial Zone is one of the great treasures of Spanish America today, with many original buildings intact and restored.
Q: Give the name of the 20th
century Dominican dictator. Tell what he did to the Haitians.
A: Rafael Leonidas Trujillo gained the presidency in 1930 and ruled for three decades until he was assassinated in 1961. His merciless persecution of Haitians in the late 1930s further added to the list of grievances between the two countries. His death brought a division of the army, civilian unrest, and political revolt.
Q: What is the form of government
in the Dominican Republic?
A: The president and vice president are elected by the people. A bicameral Congress of Senators and Deputies is also directly elected, as are local officials. National and local elections are held simultaneously every four years. The voting age is 18. There are 29 provinces. A nine-member Supreme Court is appointed by the Senate.
Q: Tell me the name, height and location
of the highest mountain in the Caribbean?
A: The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with Haiti. Covering 18,815 square miles (48,730 square kilometers), it is about half the size of Indiana. The central mountain range, Cordillera Central, boasts the highest point in the Caribbean, Pico Duarte, at just higher than 10,000 feet (3,048 meters). The Cibao Valley lies in the heart of the country and is the major agricultural area. This land of contrasts provides a wide variety of landscapes, from deserts in the southwest to alpine forests in the central mountains. Sugarcane fields spread over vast coastal plains in the north and east, and banana plantations cover most of the tropical peninsula of Samaná. Pebble beaches under rocky cliffs afford spectacular views on the southern coast. Elsewhere, white sand beaches and warm waters attract tourists to popular resort areas.
Q: On what is the economy based?
A: The economy is based on agriculture. Coffee, sugar, pineapple, cocoa, tobacco, and rice are key crops, both for export and domestic use. Fluctuating world prices impact earnings and contribute to a volatile domestic market. Inflation is usually high. Earnings from Dominican Yorks are often sent back to families in the Republic; the money constitutes an import source of revenues. Tourism is another vital source of income. The currency is the peso (RD$). Industrial activity includes sugar refining, cement, and pharmaceuticals. Assembly plants for various products are located in duty-free zones. The environment has suffered from the exploitation of mineral and natural resources, but efforts at conservation are being made.
Q: Is there free public education through high school as in the U.S.?
A: Free public education is provided through the high school level. Attendance is mandatory to sixth grade, but many children cannot attend or do not complete school for various reasons (work, lack of transport, lack of money to buy required uniforms), especially in the campo. Whereas three-fourths of Dominicans begin school, only one-third finishes. Scarce funding results in limited resources and understaffed facilities. Parents and teacher must provide basic supplies like pencils and paper. Textbooks and other materials are scarce. Many urban families send their children to private schools called colegios. University education is available, and trade schools provide technical training. The adult literacy rate is estimated to be about 75 percent.
Q: How may a Dominican show disapproval
without speaking?
A: Dominicans are animated in conversation and have many gestures. Pointing is done with puckered lips instead of a finger. Wrinkling the nose indicates one does not understand, rubbing fingers and the thumb together refers to money, rubbing a palm to an elbow means you are cheap, a finger across the neck means you don’t have money or you don’t have whatever was needed, and an upright wagging forefinger means “no”. To express disapproval, one points (with the lips) at the object and rolls the eyes. “Come here” is indicated with the palm down and fingers motioned first toward the person and then down and is sometimes mistaken by North Americans as “go away”.
Q: What are normal business hours?
A: Business hours vary, but most establishments are open from around 8:00 or 9:00 a.m., closed between 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. and open again until 5:00 or 6:00 p.m. Banks close by 3:00 p.m. Telephone offices do not close at midday and remain open until 10:00 p.m. Most shops are closed on Sunday. Small colmados have their own houses. Street vendors are most busy at midday. Bargaining is common in open-aid markets, in some owner-operated stores, and on the streets. Prices in supermarkets and elsewhere are fixed.
Q: What is the model for Dominican
fashions?
A: Dominicans are clean and well groomed.
They take pride in their personal appearance and place importance on
dressing well. Dominicans draw upon New York fashions, wearing
the latest in dresses, jeans, or athletic shoes. Clothes tend to be dressy, always clean and
well pressed, with bright colors, shiny fabrics, and, for some people, lots
of jewelry. Jeans and short skirts
are acceptable for women in urban areas, but dresses or skirts and blouses
are more common in the countryside. A
special event, such as a town meeting, always requires dressing up. Men wear long pants and stylish shirts, except
at the beaches or if doing manual labor. Professional men wear business suits or the traditional chacabana,
a white shirt worn over dark trousers. Children
are also dressed up, especially for church or visiting.
Q: What is a “Dominican York”?
How many are there?
A: The populations is about 9 million. More than one million of these people live full or part-time in New York City, and are called “Dominican Yorks”. Nearly 40 percent of the population is younger than age 16. The rural population is steadily decreasing through migration to cities. Mixed-race people account for 73 percent of the total population while 16 percent is Caucasian and 11 percent black. The mixed-race group is a combination of Europeans, Spaniards, West African slave descendants and descendants of natives. A minority of Haitians is included in the black population.
Q: What is the weather like in the Dominican Republic?
Q: What is the most popular sedentary
game and the most popular spectator sport?
A: The game of dominos is a national pastime. Outdoor tables in front of homes, bars, and rural colmados (neighborhood markets) are surrounded by men who play for hours, especially on Sundays. Outdoor players are almost exclusively men, but everyone may play at home. Even young children become adept. Cockfighting is another national pastime. Cockfight gambling stakes can be high. The lottery has high participation. Baseball is the most popular sport. Competition is keen, and many Dominicans have become famous major league players in the United States and Canada. Strolling in parks, visiting friends, and watching television are popular activities. A variety of cultural activities (theater, concerts, etc.) are available in large urban areas.
Q: What is a “mecedora” and when is
it used?
A: Visiting is an important form of social recreation, especially in rural areas and poor barrios (neighborhoods). Visits in the home are common, but much socializing also takes place in public (while shopping, washing, and so forth). Women often get together in the kitchen. A visit may be long or short and may occur at any time, usually without prior notice. Urbanites with telephones may call ahead, but whether expected or not, company is always genuinely welcomed. In rural areas, doors are kept open and it is considered strange to close them and not accept visitors. Privacy is unimportant and the desire for solitude is perceived as sadness. Dominicans equate being alone with being lonely. Sitting in mecedoras (rocking chairs) talking or just sharing time is common. Nearly all homes have mecedoras. Visitors are offered something to drink (coffee or juice) and are invited to eat if mealtime is near. It is not impolite to refuse such offers. If guests interrupt (or passersby happen upon) someone eating, the person will immediately and sincerely invite them to share what is left by saying a buen tiempo (You’ve come at a good time). Guest may decline by saying Buen provecho (Enjoy), or they may sit down and eat.
Q: What is the usual religion of Dominicans?
Is there religious freedom?
A: Dominicans are 95 percent Catholic
by record, but a much smaller number regularly attends church or follows a
strict doctrine. Rural residents might
combine Catholic traditions with local practices and beliefs.
Although Dominicans are fairly secular, Catholic traditions are evident
in daily life. Some children are taught to “ask blessings”
of their parents and other relatives upon seeing them. They might say, Bendicíon, tía (Bless
me, aunt), and the response is Dios te bendiga (May God bless you). Evangelical Christians, Seventh-Day Adventists,
Latter-day Saints, and other denominations also exist, throughout the country.
A Jewish colony in Sosua dates from World War II immigration policies
what welcomed refugees.
Q: What do Dominicans expect to eat
at their main meal?
A: If Dominicans do not eat rice and beans at midday, they feel they have not eaten. Rice is served at most meals in large quantities, along with such favorites as habichuelas (beans) and yuca (cassava). Yuca is usually boiled or prepared as fritters and also baked into rounds of crisp cracker bread called casabe. Plátanos (plantains) and bananas are plentiful. Mangos, papayas, pineapples, guavas, avocados, and other tropical fruits (passion fruit, coconuts, and start fruit) are grown locally and eaten in season. Small quantities of chicken, beef, pork, or goat may be eaten with a meal. Bacalau (dried fish, usually cod) is eaten in some areas, and fresh fish is only eaten along the coast. Food is usually not spicy.
Q: What is a “sancocho”?
A: The popular national disk is sancocho, a rich stew made with vegetables and meats and served on special occasions. Habichuelas con dulce (a sweetened drink made from beans) is eaten at Easter. Dominican coffee is usually served sweet and strong. National beers and rums are highly regarded and widely consumed, as are bottled soft drinks and sweetened fruit juices.
Q: What pronunciation factor is notable
in Dominican Spanish?
A: The official language is Spanish, but Caribbean phrases, accents, and regional expressions give it a distinct personality. For example, when eating, people request un chin instead of the Spanish un poquito (a little bit) of something. Many people drop the “s” on the end of words, tuning dos (two) into do. Cibao Valley residents, or Cibaeños may pronounce the “r”, “l”, and “i” differently. The formal Spanish form of address for “you” (usted) is used, but urban people prefer the more familiar tú. Some Creole is spoken near the Haitian border and in the bateys (sugarcane villages) where many Haitian workers live.
Q: Why would a Dominican give you
his wrist instead of his hand to shake?
A: Men shake hands firmly when they greet. A wrist or elbow is offered if one’s hand is dirty. Friends may also embrace. Most women kiss each other on the cheek. A man with the confianza of the woman will also kiss her. A hand-shake and ¿Cómo está usted? (How are you?) is a common formal greeting (although with Dominican Spanish among friends it might come out as ¿Cómo ta ute?). It is polite to ask about one’s family. ¡Hola! Is an informal “hi”, as is ¡Saludos! Adults, particularly in the campo (countryside), often address each other as compadre (for men) or comadre (for women). One might not greet a stranger on the street, but one would never enter a room without greeting everyone present. Nor would a person leave a room without saying good-bye to everyone. Formal introductions are rare, but professional titles are used to address respected persons. Older and more prominent people may be addressed as Don or Doña with or without their first name. The use of Doña for older women is especially common.
Q: Why would a person say “psssst”?
A: One says “psssst” to get another’s attention. To hail a taxi or bus, one wags a finder or fingers (depending on the number of passengers needing a ride) in the direction one is going. Numbers are often expressed by one’s fingers instead of verbally. Hands may be clapped to request a check in a restaurant. It is un-lady like to sit with the legs apart and most women ride “sidesaddle” on the backs of motorcycles. Personal space is limited, touching is normal, and crowding is common.