Tourist-friendly and home to the upbeat musical style called merengue, the Dominican Republic is a Caribbean nation that neighbors Haiti on the island of Hispaniola. Dominican culture blends native, Spanish and African traditions into a unique whole. Here are three things tourists should know when visiting the island nation.
1. Dominican Time ≠ Real Time
When it comes to schedules, Americans run a tight ship. Don’t expect the same sort of rigidity when it comes to Dominican time. Feel free to add thirty, forty or even sixty minutes to any appointment, delivery or meeting time. A taxi driver does not respond to a call within fifteen minutes. Dinner will not be delivered to a hotel room thirty minutes after it’s ordered. If there is an emergency and a doctor is required, even his arrival is going to take a bit. Of course, important things like paying the restaurant tab or the electric bill are expected to be handled promptly, but that goes for anywhere.
2. The Art Of Haggling
Haggling is an accepted and expected custom in most corners of the Latin diaspora. With the exception of shopping in a large boutique or chain department store, anybody can haggle for literally anything with a price attached to it — and sometimes things that aren’t even priced. The pursuit of a bargain is not frowned upon. A sale is a not a sale until it’s paid, and it’s perfectly alright for a tourist or native to save a couple pesos. Food is not exempt: a haggler at a food cart is not a unique sight.
3. Roll With The Customs
Every culture on the planet has its own quirks. The Dominican people have some interesting ones. They might be called superstitious, but it’s best to respect or indulge certain practices.
Interestingly, the Dominicans are familiar with three of the most famous American cities: Boston, Miami and New York. The latter two cities are especially known for their great number of Cuban and Puerto Rican residents, respectively. The connection is obvious: like the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Puerto Rico are Caribbean island nations. Referencing a city that is not one of the three above will likely elicit a blank stare.
Dominicans also become quite elated when their airplane touches down on a runway. They’ll begin applauding, hugging, praying loudly and shaking holy water from small containers over fellow passengers. The relief may stem from having completed another circuit over open water. Granted, it is a good thing when a jet lands on asphalt instead of an ocean wave — it’s not a giant surfboard.
Finally, showers are not next in the queue after meals. The Dominican populace considers this a taboo, much like parents tell children not to jump in the pool after wolfing down three burgers. Dominicans believe bathing after eating may induce cramps, hives, fever or some other side effect. This is not backed by science, but showering after a heavy meal probably isn’t too smart, anyway. At the very least, one may feel nauseous under hot water with a full stomach.
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