Why did you move to the Caribbean?

Love and work.
I work in international development and moved to the Dominican Republic after meeting my husband through my work. I got a placement with ICD here:
www.ciir.org
They take on 'volunteers' with professional skills who work in local projects, with the idea that they work with a local 'counterpart' worker to whom they transfer these skills. I worked on a community forestry project doing fundraising and communications work. I put inverted commas on 'volunteers' because they get paid relocation expenses, housing and a salary which is not that much by Western standards but it is more than enough to live on locally. They also pay a small amount into a savings account in your home country.
Since then I've worked for two other big-name international development organisations in the DR and in neighbouring Haiti, and do some freelance writing and editing work to supplement my income.

'Volunteer' or not, it's a very good activity to bring your skills and train local people!

It's one way of living in paradise while not losing touch with reality!

Seriously though, the Dominican Republic is a 'soft' placement. It is a country with poverty and problems, sure, but it is relatively safe and all mod cons are available almost everywhere. Less in the remote areas and the smaller towns, but the large urban centres are never far away and the choices for R&R are incomparable.

Haiti, on the other hand... if you like to live dangerously, it's the place to go. Also there are many more opportunities there in this line of work, for obvious reasons and because it's a difficult country to recruit for. I found it very difficult to deal with the fact that I was risking my life by being there, especially now that I have a child. Before that, it would have not been an issue and I would have thrived on the fact that I was working in one of the world's most dangerous spots. Having said that, Haiti does have its saving graces.

You're not alone now, you've made the right choice! (personally, child or not I couldn't live in an high risk country). You're very courageous Chiri!

Julien wrote:

Is it only for this famous cliché: sunny weather,  beautiful beaches, and low cost of life?

Did you move for retirement?

Is it possible for young people to move to the Caribbean and find an interesting job there?

We actually retired here.  At least that was the original intention but we have ended up starting the only craft winery and distillery in The Dominican Republic.  Read the BLOG for more:

http://avocadolibrian.blogspot.com/

Julien wrote:

Is it only for this famous cliché: sunny weather,  beautiful beaches, and low cost of life?

Low cost of life doesn't apply here in PR. The cost of living is comparable with NYC   The beaches and the weather are there, including the hurricanes in 'the season'.

Julien wrote:

Did you move for retirement?

That was the original plan, but after one year I started to make websites for fun. Now it's a fulltime business! (but I don't complain - I like it.)

I was raised in Cuba. It was because my father was transferred from Angola to Cuba for work. And since Angola was communist at the time, nothing like living close to the Che's legend.

Naivity !!!???

I retired to this country more than ten years ago and haven't put up a 'se vende' sign yet.
Prices have gone up tremendously and the exchange rate has come down since LF took power.
So life has become much more expensive for me and I've seen many expats leave because their former budget calculations no longer made ends meet.
Nowadays one has to be aware that the DR is far from being a 'cheap' country.
The supply situation has become very good over the years, recently the government has made an effort to combat crime, which had risen to a level that people called it a 'wave of delinquency'.

Vamos a ver como sigue la cosa....

m'frog

because my partner wanted sunshine and got offered a job and I wanted some peace and quiet in my life!!

I went on a cruise through the Caribbean last winter and I thought it might be fun to try living there a while. I could not - due to previous engagements - try that right away, but in summer, when I was about to be free, I sent three " I might be available" notes to three most interesting organizations in different Caribbean locations and got the best deal ( the best pay, benefitsm fun job and the most interesting location) in Puerto Rico. So I took it and am moving there next month.  I know that if I get bored or don't like it for whatever reason, I can move on after 3 to 6 months, but I can also stay longer, even permanently, if I like.
P.S. I am an early retired highly experienced professional with sought after specialty. Being retired I am able to work for a local - though professional - level of compensation and that makes me attractive as an employee there. Also I do have a track record of bringing measurable results to organizations I work for, far in excess of what I cost, so this is not a viable  option for someone just starting out, I am afraid. Unless you are very lucky or very convincing. ;-) The unemployment there is high. But bored highly skilled retirees might try it. It is fun.

I moved to Dominican Republic mainly because I love the beer! lol!
this is what I tell the Dominicans when the ask. but really, I came here because I liked the way of life. Things are slow and in general easy. Also it was a challenge. I was bored with life in USA and liked it here so I sold all and moved here.
It is not for most people to take this jump but, for me, I am so happy I did it.
Money is not easy to come by. things are a bit expensive. But if you live as a Dominican it can be done with not much income.
Yes, the weather is great, the beaches are beautiful (even though I don't get to the beach often), and the people are interesting. Life here is a challenge and I love it.

We came to the Dominican Republic to retire. That did not last long and now we are involved in real estate. We needed to "unwind" our US lifestyle.  Now that we have been here for a while we still love the beaches, food, people and are getting used to spotty electirc, non potable water and crazy drivers, and have no plans to leave.

Bob K