Rude & Disrespectful Folks in Punta Cana

Welcome to reality, that is an accurate list. What were your expectations based on when moving here?

It sounds like you are having a tough time.  I am sorry.

Not everyone can adapt.  Do you have someone you can vent with?  That helps me when I get overwhelmed.

Well, they're rude and disrespectful in Las Terrenas as well. Not sure I'll ever get used to the behavior.

Find someone to talk to (vent with). It does help. 

As well in Santo Domingo:(

My experience customer service in Dominican Republic is very challenging and take it from someone that's been my profession for 40 years.

Confier.  nothing unusual about any or all of those behaviors throughout the DR.

I am reminded of these things each and every time I have to drive somewhere and observe just the driving behavior which puts us all in danger.  Afte 21 years of drving here, that has only gotten worse with more people being able to afford Korean Kias and Hyundais.   I have to remind myself regularly that I moved here for the weather (hey not as good as it was in California admittedly), the lower costs to live here (still true compared to my home country despite the large amount of inflation 'cause that is everywhere), more personal freedom than in the USA,  and most of all my wife who is Dominican and likes it here. 

I am a realist.  Apparently the original poster is also a realist.  Many optimists issue grand platitudes on the people here and often they will be helpful and do good things so it is not all bad.  But that list the OP made shows up all the time.  It is what it is.

The DR is NOT for everyone -  If you cannot learn to live with and/or ignore those behaviors, then the DR may not be for you.

All true. I agree driving is getting worse and worse. After a total of 11 years in Santo Domingo I uprooted and moved back to Puerto Plata.  The driving and traffic, two different but totally intertwined items, was causing me massive stress!  Now I work remote and visit SD 5 days a month. And I hired a full time driver!  I adapted to my surroundings by putting a fix in place.

I agree the DR is not for everyone. This is why we say do not purchase a home/apt/land until you have lived here a chunk of time!

You need to have realistic expectations! That being said, in Casa de Campo, La Romana, where I live the only antisocial behavior I have witnessed is unsafe driving and excessively loud music when neighbors have parties. Other than that Dominican Republic is my happy place.

Traffic in Santo Domingo is a nightmare. I avoid driving at all costs.

Loud music all across but more so in Santo Domingo than other areas.

Jose - until you leave your gated community!

    Jose - until you leave your gated community!
   

    -@planner

Agreed. Gated communities are completely different universes compared to the rest of the island. Even Dominicans behave there.

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Gee Mark what brought this on?

Common knowledge that drivers here are disrespectful at best. 

So let's all take it down a notch or I will invalidate a bunch of olympic.medals!

@Mark Mclaurin

*** But Dominicans in general have their own respect issues.

Expats who expect the DR to be a paradise do not have a realistic view. Like in every country/culture there are annoyances and those listed here are pretty spot-on with my experiences. This forum is a place to discuss them. if you can not adapt to this country/culture and hang on to your way of living and expectations like in your homecountry you will have a hard time here..

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I have found in my time on this big blue marble that if I initially greet someone with friendliness and respect it is returned to me, no matter where I am and if it isn't returned then I don't let it get to me. Many people did respond to the OP and pointed out that this is the way things are and the DR is not for everyone.

My opinion:

it's about culture, morale compass, upbringing, like experience, life attitudes, respect, basically it is  always a "personal choice" how one reacts or interacts with most any situation we encounter in life!

Okay I am putting a stop to this now.  The country is Dominican Republic and we will stick to that or the posts will be removed.  We are not here to bash any country!

@sparks1093

Very true.  A wise old man told me it costs nothing to be nice and when you do that, you get it in return.

Hello everyone,

Please note that several posts have been put aside and others moderated as they were drifting from the initial topic.

All the best

Bhavna

@planner the issue is the only country getting bashed is the DR- where all of us CHOOSE to be ! its one thing to complain about traffic or slow customer service, its quite another to label a whole country rude and disrespectful !

@Karin1 agree 1000%

@Bhavna

Excellent!

@planner.

Applauds!

I enjoy the RD, for us it is a place to wind down as we are starting to enjoy our "silver" years. The country has its own customs and rules. For us we are learning to adapt. Try speaking a little Spanish as it goes a long way. I have seen about 20% of what you have experienced and yet have not experienced  any of it myself. I  shop in the markets, drive a car, buy gas, ect....I hope this brings another perspective as I love this place.

Yes, there are rude and disrespectful people here and that is never going to change because that is just how they are raised.  However, I will say there are also VERY nice people and places here.  The one thing that always gives me a smile is when they say "a su orden", which bascially means "at your service."  Many people say this for the smallest things that they do for me.  Let's be honest, has anyone EVER said that to you in the USA?!?!?!  You get a " you're welcome", but NOT an "at your service."  That, to me, is a very respectful thing to say which gives me hope for some of the people in this country.  It's also all about where you are....some areas are not so nice, education is poor, therefore respect is poor.  That's just how it is.  As many people have said, the DR is not for everyone.

@rfmaurone

as do i , i mean love this place. its an amazing country!

I love living here. I have lived all over the DR and done business in many places.  I see the rudeness, by our terms, not by there's. Understanding the culture will explain a lot!

I remember always thinking how rude, when the person on the other end of the phone hung up!  I hadn't even said goodbye. Well back then both parties paid for the cell phone call!  Now it made sense.

Paradise, is in your head and in your heart. I have been treated rudely at home and here. The difference is at home they "knew" they were being rude and offensive, here not so much.  A religious leader once told me there is a great difference between intentional slights and slights of ignorance. Both have to be forgiven, and the response to each type  of offense should be different. Many expect us to be rude and arrogant. Lets prove them wrong.

@Conifer

And don't forget "leaving their trash on the beach or throwing it by the side of the street!"

I totally agree with this assessment of Dominican expat life....

The main reason I came here was for the natural beauty of the island... which is effectively desecrated by the locals, unless you go way off the beaten track.

    Myself, I can't tolerate the chaos, rudeness, bad traffic, unreliable infrastructure, for more than a week or 10 days at a time. Then I head back to civilization 😊

@planner

Hello Ms D: so you are now located back to PP? Awesome. Regret I've been out of touch with the community but will soon have my own transportation now that my health is almost back. I look forward to getting away to the Sosua/Cabarette beaches in a couple of months & would enjoy the opportunity to meet you if you're not on the road. I hope your back in dancing condition as the last I likely heard from you was just prior to your surgery!! I, like many, enjoy your insightful comments and direction here on the Forum. I hope there'll be an Expat gathering sometime in the fall somewhere along the North Coast - my wife really enjoyed meeting folks! She now has her Canadian Permanent Resident application accepted &I get to take to Alberta in late Jan - that'll be an experience for her!! Cheers for now...

I am currently in Puerto Plata but go back and forth to Santo Domingo.

I think it's about time for a north coast meet up! I will put something together.

Yes my surgery was successful and physio has done the job!  I am back to dancing, thank goodness!

@kaiser sounds like this will not be a home for you.  It's not for everyone for sure.

I too detest the garbage.  And, imagine, it's gotten better.

@Conifer. A Question to ask yourself I guess.