Cultural Tidbits on Dominican Republic:

The Dominican Republic, which comprises the eastern two-thirds of the sland it shares with Haiti, has enjoyed a stable republican government since 1986 and, over the last decade, it has been the largest and fastest growing economy in the Caribbean.  Dominican people have African, Taino and European roots. It was the first Spanish colony in the new world. The colonizers imported African slaves to replace the Taino that they had killed through violence or disease. There are still vast differences in social class and equality based on racial lines.

The city of Santo Domingo became the Spanish capital of the new World soon after Christopher Columbus “discovered” the Dominican Republic.  Spain ceded control of the island to France in 1795.  In 1804 the African slaves rebelled and took control of the island. France eventually took back control of the island.  Pedro Santana and a group of revolutionarys were able to overthrow the Haitian rule and the Domincan Republic became a nation on February 27, 1884. 

Dominicans are family oriented and are group oriented.  They rely on familial ties and a culture of trust and consensus.  They help one another and are proud of their community. Dominicans are often indirect in their communication.  They don’t like direct conflict and seek to find consensus and harmony.  Friendships are prized and treated with high regard and importance.  Domincans are very warm and hospitable.  They are even open to strangers and creating relationships with them.  In rural areas, anyone can reasonably expect to be invited into a house and be offered a meal or coffee.