On Dominicanisms

For those of you who haven’t spent any or much time in the DR, my friend Lauren and I have compiled a list of things that are just straight up Dominican. You'll notice most of these upon touchdown!  

1. People name their babies with couple names (aka a mom named Gisel and a dad named Dawry name their child Gisaury).

2. You can send any child to do any favor for you at any hour of the day.

3. Twelve year olds can buy their parents cigarettes and beer.

4. The fact that Jeffery is spelled Yefri.

5. Putting your hair in rollers and going out in public.

6. Styrofoam....for everything.

7. Putting hot coffee in plastic cups (BPA warnings!?)

8. Responding “ok” to someone saying “thank you.”

9. Wearing white lyrca with red underwear.

10. WhatsApping Jesus quotes and prayers to everyone in your contact list.

11. Littering.

12. Having two cellphones from different carriers to get the best rates...but never actually making phonecalls.

13. Having a wife and a girlfriend.

14. Spaghetti as an acceptable side to rice and beans for lunch. Or fried eggs, fried cheese and fried salami with mushed up plantains for breakfast. 

15. Saying hello and “God Bless” to a bus full of strangers every time you get on one.

16. Blessing someone’s straight hair. Que Dios lo bendiga. 

17. Telling a party full of people you have diarrhea.

18. Sharing cups with strangers.

19. Scrunching your nose up and down to say "WHAT?"

20. Hissting to get someone's attention, call someone's name, order at a restaurant, cat call and more...

21. Offering whatever you’re eating to anyone and everyone in the vicinity no matter where or what it is.

22. Selfie compilations for social media. 

23. This flow. 

24. Styling kids hair in the cutest little twists and braids. 

25. Beaches like this that real Dominicans won't go to because they don't like the sun.

Cayo Tuna, Montecristi

26. Pick-up trucks with more people than should be legal. 

27. Fitting 5 people on a motorcycle. 

28. Clapping raucously when landing in Santo Domingo! (It must be that everyone's so excited to be in this beautiful country!)