My assignment was with a rural development project, so I was able to accompany locals to see many cities, towns, villages, farmlands and some backroads with beautiful native flora and fauna. This Banana Republic is slowly diversifying in order to bring in cash for its new crops. They have begun to grow Asian vegetables and use organic methods with export markets in mind, but have yet to realize how to grow foods to sustain themselves with the rich soils they have. Well, the USA did invade in the 19th century, and it still has significant influence and power in the Dominican Republic if the abundance of American materialistic goods is any indication. The large younger population yearn to learn, but the economy is geared towards export and tourism.
Most places have men working, because it is traditional for women to stay home.
However, one million men and their families emigrated to the USA, largely settling in New York and Boston. The women are lured to work in European countries, but most wind up being sex girls. Those who stay behind try to work in beauty salons or casinos to earn extra income. When the refugee indians from the American continent came to this big island, they named it Quesqueya Island - the mother of all lands. All Rights Reserved.