Beer & Avocados — Reflections on Santo Domingo

I have been away from the Dominican Republic for so long, eight months, that, in coming back I can experience it more as an outsider while still retaining my inside perspective. Heat The first thing I feel is the heat which is so intense, enveloping and relentless that one has no choice but to wilt. …

The Pearl of Discomfort

It is a familiar oddity of nature — the grain of sand that irritates the oyster, put it in a state of discomfort, and as a result, the oyster covers the sand with an iridescent coating over and over until the end result is a gorgeous pearl. In this day and age where we are …

Sex Across Borders

Above: Statues at a Karma Sutra Temple in India Here is my personal experience with the three different cultures. America Our founding fathers were Puritans whose religious beliefs were restrictive to say the least. Sex was viewed as a necessary evil for propagation but sinful for any other reason, certainly not something to be enjoyed. …

Life on High-Definition Video

Above: Dominican Republic carnival When I know I’m leaving for Santo Domingo, at first I feel a panic. Of course I’m thrilled to go, but to leave my kids is hard. They are still so young, so fragile, like tissue paper dolls, and they need my guidance, my defense, and the ferocity of my love. …

Llegó Papá (Dominican Hipocrisy)

Above: [Translation] Father has arrived! A better country, but for everyone. Next year is election year and one of the candidates is former president Hipolyto Mejia. He was president when I first came to the Dominican Republic in 2003. When I got to Santo Domingo the peso was trading at 25 to 1 dollar. Within …