Foreigner Privilege in the Dominican Republic
Do foreigners really receive privilege treatment in the Dominican Republic? Yes they do, but in some cases being a foreigner won’t work in your favor.
The good
First off, let’s not pretend that being from a “first world” country doesn’t give you initial preferential treatment within smaller developing nations. You have no control over how people view you, so don’t feel guilty, as your humble heart has no control over it. Just acknowledge that foreign privilege does exist.
No matter your race, religious beliefs, physical appearance, or age, it only matters that you’re being looked at in a good light just because you are from the United States, Canada, or a well-off country in Europe.
As you arrive in the Dominican Republic, especially in the tourist zones, you’re looked upon as someone who has their life together. You are tagged as a rich, educated, successful person who probably never had a hard day’s work.
Ah, the fact that you can travel the world and spend lavishly because money falls off trees where you’re from and everyone in your country is so well-off! Of course, none of this is true, but you can’t easily change some people’s ingrained thoughts. The foreigner realizes quickly that everyone is interested in them, and this is where the story arrives at a fork in the road.
A foreigner can dress down wearing casual shorts, a hat, and sandals, and walk into a fancy establishment where everyone is dressed up and it’s accepted; let a local try that. I find that locals will have more patience for foreigners, like when we are confused about what to order while holding up the line.
A friend of mine (wink wink) couldn’t find a public washroom, so he decided to urinate in some bushes. A policeman appeared out of nowhere once he was done and came at him hostilely, saying in Spanish that it’s not allowed. The policeman noticed the confusion in my friend and asked where he was from. After telling the policeman that he was not from the DR, the vibe completely changed. The policeman became so friendly that he pointed out where other public washrooms would be open, said goodbye, and left.
The dating world is a variety playground for a foreigner, which often leads to dating up. A foreign janitor would stand a better chance at dating a lawyer, doctor, or someone of a higher social status on this side of the world. Love will be found even if you don’t know a lick of Spanish and the person of interest doesn’t understand a word coming out of your mouth.
Being friends with a foreigner is like a badge of pride. It’s usually because they feel at ease with a foreigner. They generally don’t want anything from you; the friendships are genuine. There is a real interest in learning about a new person and their views of both your country and theirs.
The bad and the ugly
Had to save the worst for last. In an imperfect world, there are always going to be some rotten apples that try to spoil the bunch.
Now for the bad side of dating: finding a genuine connection can be difficult. The reality of hardened financial situations for so many contributes to why a foreigner is viewed as a walking ATM.
There is often an assumption that the foreign man is around to wildly splurge money on everyone, and the foreign woman is viewed much the same. Ladies, be prepared to foot the bill.
The worst part of being a foreigner is anything to do with prices. As I broke down in a previous article, there is the local price, and then there is the foreigner (Gringo) price. It doesn’t matter if you speak good Spanish or not. If your accent isn’t local and you’re not from here, you’ll likely end up paying more.
The worst is when there is no price tag on something and you have to inquire. It’s then that you realize you’ve blown your cover of blending in so that you could pay the regular price lol.
Don’t worry, these things don’t happen often, but there are two sides to foreigner privilege.
Conclusion
The foreigner’s privilege is favorable in the majority of interactions. Locals may even see it as unfair; I definitely do.
If a qualified Dominican goes for a job, and a foreigner who speaks English with the same qualifications goes for that same job, it is likely going to the foreigner.
Foreigners generally are not acting as if they are better than anyone. The people who contribute by placing those from different lands on pedestals are the problem.
Perhaps it comes from the heavy influence of tourism, a love for foreign celebrities, or the role the media has played. While there is a genuine love for everyone here in the Dominican Republic, foreigners noticeably receive that little extra sprinkle on top.
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