Looking at the Harsher Side of the Society (Day 2)

Today was filled with a number of lows. My group and I visited the border of the DR and Haiti. Although I was under the impression that Haiti doesn’t have the greatest standard for living, I wasn’t prepared to actually see any of it. That’s not to say that the country is such a run-down place to live in, I’m only looking at a small portion of the country after-all, but seeing small children begging for food and money was very difficult. Not knowing what to do and having decided to literally turn my back on them, I was frustrated; angry at myself that I was ignoring them.

The Dominican Border

Standing at the border, looking out on the country of Haiti and its difficult living conditions, I see people. People struggling, but trying to get by with whatever they have on them. I know however that not everyone thinks this way. Some people see in different shades of color; elite and poor, refined and filthy, worthy and unworthy. It’s amazing, the stark difference in the Dominican side of the border and along the Haitian side. That and heartbreaking!

The Haitian Side of the Border

But as bad as I felt, I looked at some of the people there who were washing their clothes in the river that served as the border. There was a small family, a little girl, brother, and mother, if memory serves me right. The little girl was splashing her feet in the water and playing around a little, like all kids do. And seeing everyone down below go about their business like it was any other day made me realize something. All the people down in the river aren’t that different from any other people you’ll find. They have their own possessions, their own families, their own perspective of life.

It’s amazing how different and yet so similar the country is because of the history behind the issue.  There was the issue of slavery in the US, Haiti, and Dominican Republic. And as shameful as that was, there was never a massacre of innocent life.

(Read about the origins behind the racial issues on the island Hispaniola in the article Dominican Republic Deportations and the Global Economy).

        The 1937 Haitian massacre was a despicable period in mankind’s history, a disgrace in the name of humanity! The fact that men and women were fatally targeted for the color of their skin, and their failure to pass an idiotic linguistic test, is horrific enough. The tactics and manipulation used to accomplish this is even worse. Trujillo was a very tactical military dictator, I’ll give him that; a little too tactical though. His strategy of using machetes and farmers to disguise the cause of the Haitian murders is too conniving for any normal, caring human being to contrive. He sounds more like a shark who’s tasted blood in his waters, ready to attack whatever is near him, but even a shark may be warmer blooded than Trujillo.

Looking back on this day today, relaxing on my couch with my laptop, watching TV, and responding to social media (average 1st world country stuff), I know there’s more going on in the world. Not because I heard it from the social media I respond to, or the TV I watch. I know because I’ve seen a little of the struggle in person. I’ve seen families washing their clothes in rivers as merchants down the river cross the border to make as much as they can to survive. Heard the sound of little boys begging. But not all I saw was struggle.

(Two Above) Murals Around the courtyard

Before visiting the border we spoke to the Priest of a local Church who worked to help those struggling. He told us about his work and invited us to visit the shelter for boys he’s helped create. Most of the class stayed behind, but a few of us chose to go, and I’m glad we did! The shelter was in a poorer community, but a community no less! The boys I met were of different ages, maybe ranging from 6 to 13, and were welcoming and seemed happy and healthy. Although they were away from their homes and their families, these young boys were taken care of. There were beds and blankets, food and a small learning center with computers and desks. There was even a TV! And also a courtyard for playing sports. 

In an area nearby where so many are struggling, these boys were taken care of. In a society where hundreds are forgotten because of the color of their skin, these kids are remembered. 
All I can really say about that is: faith in humanity - restored!

Another of the Courtyard Murals

Landing in Santo Domingo - Great First Impressions (Day 1)

After my first day in the Dominican Republic I felt somewhat at home, but just not in the best neighborhood. Some areas are better than others, like around the restaurants and memorial area, but in other areas there’s trash on the ground, broken up streets, and not many open stores. The greatest part so far was the food! I haven’t had such a delicious meal in a while! Even the food I ate in Italy didn’t taste as great, with maybe some exceptions of course. Then again, it’s pretty dang hard to mess up chicken (haha!). I’m looking forward to more of the trip, especially the dance lesson, mural painting, and METS Academy; and the beach of course if we go!

A little of the Santiago Airport

There are beautiful Christmas decorations everywhere!

A monument my group and I visited in the memorial area.

Getting ready to bat up!...for a trip to the Caribbean

I remember planning for my short study abroad trip to the Dominican Republic, January 9th to the 15th. The anticipation of a new culture, meeting people of different backgrounds, exploring new sites, and most importantly, getting away from the cold New York weather! (Beach I await thee!)

What I was mainly preparing myself for was the poverty and race issues that I was reading all about. Similar to the US with it’s Mexican border the Dominican Republic has the issue of handling immigration from Haiti and racism against the Haitians, or anyone who looks Haitians. From my understanding, at this point at least, not only are immigrants illegally crossing the border is an issue, but also the children already born in the country aren’t considered Dominican, not even politically! To make matters worse, a number of Haitians were deserted with no paperwork to count them as citizens or even work to help support families. As Jonathan Dimaio wrote in his article A Human Rights Crisis in the Dominican Republic,  

“lack of due process puts many Dominicans who should be legally protected from deportation at risk of being expelled from their birth country” and to make matters worse “Extremists' rhetoric and actions have incited international commentators to make blanket condemnations of the Dominican Republic as a racist country, frustrating and alienating many Dominicans who care deeply for their country, their fellow citizens, and that the migrants who live and work among them are treated fairly”. 

-Jonathan Dimaio 

Based off of what I read, the huge human rights issue is that Haitians in the Dominican Republic aren’t taken care of, are exploited for work, and are eventually left behind and forgotten, and left in poverty. Dominicans are assumed racists, and the government is left with no organized way to clean up any of this mess.

I find the historical background and economic origins of the racial issues in the Caribbean, or anywhere for that matter, to be of utmost importance. Tim Shenk and Alicia Swords’ article Dominican Republic Deportations and the Global Economy is a very eye-opening piece, discussing “the first European colony in the Americas, and [how] for centuries it served as a major entry point to the hemisphere for European immigrants, speculators, military expeditions and the Church” and the “invention of a racialized social hierarchy” to maintain control of the exploited Haitian, darker skinned, workers.

Now as much as I like to keep up with current events, I'm not much of a reader, so as insightful and enlightening as these article, and many others, are there's nothing like seeing it yourself. So enough with the lecture! Let me tell you all about my crash-course in the culture of the Dominican Republic!

Let the games begin!

Hola Amigos! (Unless You Are Amigas, then Apologies Are In Order)

My name is Jaclyn. I'm a Communication Arts Senior of St. John's University, Staten Island (you know, the New York burrough everyone seems to forget). But that's not why you're here is it?

Me neither.

I've made this blog to tell you all about my study abroad trip to the Dominican Republic, January 9th to 15th (Short? Yeah, I think so too). I'll you about the awesome places my class and I went to, the beautiful, and not so beautiful, sights we saw, and what I learned about a new culture, a dark history, a little on humanity, and the big question: Why are Dominicans so crazy about Baseball!

If I've caught your interest then perfect, we'll get along swimingly!

Until next time,

     Hasta Lluego!~