By Candice S., guest blogger studying Spanish and Latin Dance in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
So yesterday Chris and Gabriel, guys from school, showed us how to use the carro public to get to school (Gabriel is in the middle and Chris is on the right by the window). Basically, the cars run the same route all day long, you just have to know which car to get into. So we walked to the area where the cars are that go to Zona Universidad and got in.. little did we know that the 4 of us would be sitting in the back together while Bob sat in front…. And this is normal.
Actually, there are usually 4 passengers in the back and 2 passengers in the front.. not including the driver! Did I mention that the majority of the cars are 90’s model Camry and Accord looking vehicles, and most are standard! Then on top of that the drivers drive wherever they deem worthy.. which usually means the middle of the road. Most of the roads and side streets are one-way, so its just a huge mesh of cars weaving in and out. It's crazy! However, it is much more time and cost efficient. My first day of class on Monday, I took a taxi. He didn’t even know how to get to the school so it took about 30 minutes because he had to keep stopping and asking people on the street for directions, and on top of that it cost me 150 pesos! Which, really isn’t bad to get across town unless you compare it to the total discomfort of the carro publico, which is only 20 pesos, and it only takes 15 mins. You tell me what you would choose..
My host mother (mi madre postiza) is a fantastic 
cook! Dominican food is so flavorful! I try to remember to take a picture of my dinners but I always get greedy and forget! She has made me some variation of potatoes and chicken, or chicken, rice and beans. She always makes me homemade juices sometimes papaya, or mango. The lemonade was the best I have ever tasted my life!! I know what you’re thinking, it’s just lemonade but, no, it was so much more! The fruit is amazing, too. So sweet! DR is a sugar producer and so even the sugar tastes better.
Our guide, Vlad, took us to this disco/restaurante called Olympico across town on Tuesday night and we had so much fun! Just sitting around talking and dancing! Yovani, one of the teachers at the school came. He sings and dances everywhere he goes, so I knew he was the best person to teach me the Bachata! We had a great time. There is a small grocery store on the corner down the street from my house that always has music coming from inside! There are like 5 entrances to this small corner store so the music comes from everywhere, and it's loud! But it's beautiful! It's like a party there every second of the day. I love passing by there on my way to school or on my way home. It just makes me happy. It seems that life here is in the music and dancing. It makes people come alive.
We made it to dance class and I love it! Apparently I’m a natural! The instructors don’t speak any English and I speak VERY little Spanish as of now so its been difficult but its still fun. The instructor put me right onto the floor to start dancing right away as soon as he could see that I was getting it. Poor Heidi had to stay and learn the steps a little longer, but now shes a dancing queen too!
You know, I think Im gonna like it here!
Find out more about AmeriSpan's Spanish schools in the Dominican Republic
See all of AmeriSpan's Language and Fun programs
Read all of Candice's blogs from Santo Domingo
ShareThis
