Seems I Found A Home

As I said before I am coming back home to Dominican Republic. Count down is on!! 21 more days until my big feet touch the Dominican Republic tierra.
I have been trying to find a place to live while I'm still in USA so I don't have to spend the extra money staying in a hotel. Well I have been searching and asking everyone I know to watch out for a place for me for the least amount of money possible as I don't want to spend too much money at first until I get myself organized and figure out just how much money I will be making.
So anyhow, I found a place. I called about it and we got the basic information communicated. Since I've been in USA there are not many people to practice my Spanish with so it is getting a bit rusty and it really was not very good to start with. But I got the basic information and told the guy my friend would come and look at the place for me.
Mamita (my friend - family in DR) went and checked it out . She said it was OK. Not the best but for sure not the worst. But I figure since it is in my price range and its OK it is better than a cardboard box in the street (Which my box would be laid out as I do know a box manufacture in DR...jejej). It's a room in a large house in the area where I want to live. 1 block from Calle el Conde in Colonial Zone. I would have access to the home and can put my things throughout the home. Like my wash machine on the patio, my sofa in the living room and my stuff in the kitchen. There is also a large balcony. It sounds OK for the time being. The only thing I.m not comfortable with is sharing the bathroom. But this will have to be the way it is until I find something better.
I will for sure have to change some of my habits as I will be in a home with outer humans. It will be another challenge. One of the many I've had since I've discovered DR. I am sort of looking forward to this challenge. It will teach me some things I'm sure. I may learn a bit more about the country I have grown to love and have adopted ads my own.
My friend is going today to give the apartment people my deposit and to get the keys. The next step is trying to get my belongings moved into the place while I am still in USA. My belongings are being kept by a friend. I have to organize him and another friend with the truck to get my minimal belongings moved. Not sure if it will work out the way I hope..I'll keep you all informed.

Movie Review - Santo Domingo Blues

I saw the movie Santo Domingo Blues recently. I really enjoyed it. Being away from Dominican Republic when watching it made the movie so much better. It made me long to return home to the island (but then everything makes me want to return to DR).
My favorite parts of the entire movie were the scenes that showed the campo. The real people of the country living their everyday lives. Reality of life away from the cities.

There are many different well known Dominican performers from the past and present represented in this film. The one I most enjoyed was Aridia Ventura. She is known as "The Executioner" because of the way she puts down men in her songs. All we women can appreciate her bitter and true words about the opposite sex. She doesn't preform any longer since she lost her eye sight. This rare performance is very special and informal.

The old timers include Eladio Romero Santos(he has past on but his music is forever with us),Ramón Cordero known as "The Sparrow",and José Manuel Calderón. I loved watching these performers in their element. Sitting in the yard with a little ron or a bien fria (rum or a cold beer) and playing and singing from the soul.

This movie was about Luis Vargas, of course. He was one of the first bachata singers I ever heard. I went to Dominican Republic on a vacation and heard this music. I was not sure if I liked it with the twangy guitar and the strange old sounding voices. So when I returned to USA I ordered the Putumayo Presents: Republica Dominicana CD. This disc had some great songs along with their lyrics and the translations. After listening to it a few times I was hooked. So I searched for this new (new to me) music, even if I didn't understand the lyrics.

Later, after I started understanding more of the language, I realized that Luis Vargas was a bit of a pervert. I liked his form of irreverence, even though his Machismo attitude does irritate me a bit (you must remember I am a woman). He sings songs with double meanings (which is elaborated on in the movie Santo Domingo Blues). He was even banned on the radio for a time. But I enjoy irreverence with style, and I do have to admit Luis Vargas has this attribute. I have seen him in concert and it is a really good time. The enthusiasm he brings to the audience it contagious.

If you would like to learn about Bachata music known as Música de Amargue(music of bitterness) this movie is great. If you want to see some of the real life in Dominican Republic this movie will show this also. For a documentary I thought this movie presented the information in a really entertaining way, not just a bunch of people talking. Another big plus was the narrator, one of my favorites, Luis Dias (read more about Luis Dias and hear a song of his).

For more information on Bachata music

You can rent this movie from Net Flix

To buy the DVD from Amazon...Santo Domingo Blues (2007)

to get the Putumayo Presents: Republica Dominicana CD from Amazon

The official Santo Domingo Blues web site

My Return

I'm coming home!!! I can't believe it is really going to happen. I will be returning to Dominican Republic to live again. To get my life back.
I am trying to find a studio or regular small apartment with electricity included in the Colonial Zone or surrounding area. It needs to be not expensive as I am not exactly sure what my income will be and I don't want to stress out when the rent comes due each month. So if anyone knows a place please let me know. I need to have it all in place for sure by the first week in October.
So there will be many new adventures added to this blog regularly. I know I will be having many more stories to tell.
This video represents the way I feel. Not happy, wandering aimlessly, feeling lost and lonely. Until my little hands find the Presidente cerveza (which can also represent Dominican Republic not just a bien fria). Soon my little hands will be happy again. Returning to my island.