It was during the Semana Santa (the week before Easter that is the Catholic celebration to commemorate the last seven days of the earthly life of Jesus Christ), and there was little private transit on the road. Public transportation was scarce as well, so after waiting more than 30 minutes without seeing any buses or public cars, I decided to hoof it the few blocks that remained for me to reach my apartment. About three meters later, I heard something and turned around to see if it was perhaps that bus finally coming. But, it wasn’t. It was a pasola (a type of motor scooter popular in the area) with two guys on it who were checking me out as they went on by.

Normally this would be a passing event that was not worth noting, and would hardly be considered disturbing.  However, after being robbed several months back, I’d started being more observant of my surroundings, and noticed these guys were doing more than checking me out. In actual fact, it seemed more like they were taking an inventory of what I had on me.

At the end of the block, they stopped, and acted like they were fixing something on their bike, as they stole glances to check my progress. A heartbeat after that I had considered my options, and decided that I could make it back to a little house (where a Dominican family had been sitting outside) and safely wait there. Which, I did. They watched me for a second, probably judging their options, and then quickly jumped on their bike and sped off.

The Reasons Why

This is just one of several stories like it. When I came to the island, more than 14 years ago, there was little noteworthy crime. However, the last few years has seen a marked and dramatic increase in crime, especially against tourists and foreigners.

An Associated Press investigation done recently noted that U.S. deportation laws that have recently been passed and enforced have shipped foreign-born criminals back to their homelands, resulting in a dramatic rise in crime in those countries. Eighty-percent of these are sent to Caribbean and South American countries.  The Dominican Today reported that by June of this year 792 deportees had been sent to the Dominican Republic.

Safety and Other Basic Precautions

The U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs cautions visitors and foreign residents to be aware of the current tide of robberies, pick pocketing, and other types of street and petty crimes, that are targeting foreigners and sites several examples of such.

The International Travel section of the U.S. Department of State’s official website recommends the following to assist travelers in avoiding robbery attempts:

• Not wearing or displaying anything that looks valuable.
• Limiting cash and credit cards carried on their person.
• Take particular care leaving airports, or at times that criminals can take advantage of (like during power outages).
• Avoid traveling alone.

Crime can happen anywhere, but since surroundings are unfamiliar more care should be taken when traveling to foreign counties. Also, in closing, I would add that I don’t recommend travel during the Semana Santa, and that it would be a good idea to be wary on isolated roads…

Skincare Using Sunscreen

In order to get adequate protection from the sun’s ultraviolet rays you should use enough SPF 15, or higher, rated sunscreen to form a film on the area of skin that will be exposed to the sun. It is important to make sure to apply it 30 minutes before you go out into the sun so that there is time for your skin to absorb it. Also, sunscreen should be reapplied every 2-4 hours or after any activity that wears it off (like swimming, drying off with a towel, exercising, or perspiration) to avoid getting burnt and sun damaged skin. Daily sunscreen use effectively protects areas of the skin exposed to sunlight from getting burnt.
A cloudy Dominican day only filters out 20 percent of ultraviolet rays; leaving a remaining 80 percent that can cause a serious burn if no precautions are taken. So, if you are concerned with skincare, make sure to put sunscreen on even if you’re not going to be in direct sunlight.

Sun Tanning Tips

If you choose to lay on the beach and tan you should make sure to use a tanning lotion that has a broad spectrum nonacneginic element to keep your pores clean and prevent them from enlarging from sun exposure. In order to limit your UV exposure and risk of serious skin damage, avoid tanning from 11am-3pm. If you take any medications, make sure it doesn’t cause heightened sensitivity to the sun. And if you use moisturizing body lotion on your skin afterwards it will help your skin to retain its elasticity, keep your tan longer, and slow signs of sun damage and aging.

Despite taking protective measures, at some point you will get sun burnt, but you want to avoid frequent sunburns. Otherwise, your skin will start to show signs of sun damage. The good news is that there are quite a few sun damage, and sunburn, remedies and treatments that you can use.

Aloe Vera, also called a “burn plant” according to my dictionary, is naturalized in many areas of the island and easy to find. Just cut open one of the leaves and put the natural salve directly onto the burn, or go to the nearest pharmacy and buy a bottled version that you can keep in the fridge and apply when needed.

There are a variety of herbal salves are other skincare products that can sooth a sunburn. They contain a variety of natural substances like hemp butter, macadamia nut oil, and an assortment of aromatic essential oils. They are effective, contribute to skin beauty, and smell good.

If you are particularly sensitive to getting burnt, you may want to take extra precautions. Sun protective swimwear, sun protection hats, and long sleeve loose clothing, are good options to use to unwanted skin damage.

What is Sun Damage?

Overexposure to the sun can make skin become dry, leathery, wrinkled, and show other signs of aging. Chronic exposure can even cause carcinoma, lymphoma, and melanoma skin cancer for those who have fairer skin and freckles, or a genetic pre-disposition.

Sun Damage Treatment Methods

There are many natural cosmetics, organic beauty products, natural body creams, facial treatments, and anti aging creams that help remove wrinkles and other signs of skin damage.

Skin peels are among the most effective facial treatments because they take away dead layers of skin, which makes your skin firmer and lessens the signs of wrinkles (like a nonsurgical facelift!).

Common Greetings
Greetings very somewhat. The standard of course being “Hola” or hello. As you walk passed, it is also common to use “Adios” or goodbye as a greeting. Some will continue with “Como Esta Usted” or “how are you”. Often though you will get another greeting, it’s not uncommon for people to know just a little English and they love to practice it. So don’t be surprised to many of the standard English greetings.

While they see foreigners fairly often, we are still a bit novel to them. You will very often hear people mutter (or even shout) Americano as you walk passed, often you will hear it repeatedly from the group. Don’t take offence, for the most part people here like Americans and other foreigners, this seems to be more of a form of entertainment not in any way an insult.

O Yah, there are a couple more greetings you should expect to hear. First if you are white you will hear Rubio (male) or Rubia (Female). This is really a term meaning a person with blond hair. However, it’s applied to most people with light skin, you will hear them even call their lighter skinned Dominican friends that. The other you will hear gives the impression you just stepped on a snake. A hiss or “ssss” is very common to get your attention. More often then not this will happen with males trying to get a females attention or a female trying to get a males attention at least in this context. Women are at least as outgoing here as men are so yes guys, expect to hear some cat calls while walking down the street!

Staying Safe
Walking down the street in pretty much all of the DR including the Campos it’s important to remember that unlike the US and many of other countries, pedestrians do not have the “right of way” at least not in practice. While those in cars, motorcycles, and even large construction vehicles do not try to openly hit you, they also don’t really seem to try not to, at least not until the last second. You are expected to get out of the way and it is really in your best interest to keep that in mind at all times. Cars often use both side of the road, or just drive down the middle when there is no opposing traffic and often even when there is. When walking, always pay attention to what is happening all around you even behind you. YOU are responsible for your own safety.

It’s also good to remember when you are anywhere in the DR, foreigners are considered easy target. Usually this just means they are going to try to get you to pay a little more than something is worth, it’s good to have an idea of the prices of things before you buy, and be ready to dicker the price down if you are in the mood. If not, well, by foreign standards the amount they are going to “gouge” you for really isn’t going to be that much. On small items they may ask another 10- 20 pesos (36 pesos to the US dollar) and that extra 30-60 cents can mean having meat with their dinner that night. Not that everyone is poor here but in the smaller compos the vast majority are.

In addition to the minor ways, in which by far most of the people will try to get a little money from you, there is always the chance of more serious problems. People here DO NOT LIKE thieves. No they don’t count a little price gouging or miss counting in change in with this and minor thievery is rather common so they watch closely for this. However they take major stuff like being mugged very seriously. With this in mind you can feel pretty safe walking down the heavier traffic streets, if you call out thief! You will get attention.

Safety means using common sense! Don’t walk down deserted streets, don’t walk alone, and don’t openly flaunt your money or expensive possessions. When walking down the street, you’re likely to look like obvious tourists however, don’t wander around looking lost. Be aware of your surroundings, have a good idea where you are going or at least look like you do. Don’t walk down the street with your map open, a dumb look on your face and asking for help, put the map away, walk into one of the larger shops and ask. Even this can be risky, they may direct you to an unsafe situation, if at all possible get your directions from the hotel you are staying at.