January 11, 2015

Pothole on the sidewalk in Santo Domingo
Photo Credit: Kirstie Geier 

Kirstie: Today was another free day in the Dominican Republic! It was a cloudy and rainy day; therefore, I did not venture to the beach. I enjoyed catching up on my sleep, as all the activities had left me completely exhausted! A few of us decided to try to Chinese restaurant in town for a late lunch. As we were walking there I noticed many things about culture and health. One element that I noticed is the way in which people drive in the D.R. The way the Dominicans drive is something us Americans would describe as pure chaos. They do not stay within the lines, people pull out in front of one another right and left and horns are constantly honking. Also, there are many cars on the roads of the D.R. As a driver here, you have to be constantly alert. In regards to health and safety, the driving here is not safe for pedestrians. Pedestrians do not have the right of way when crossing the street and have the potential to be struck by the many moving cars. Also, amongst the chaotic roads I have observed many of their drivers texting and on their phones while driving. This could lead to the death of pedestrians attempting to cross the streets or many drivers on the roads. In addition, having many cars on the road does not have a positive effect on the surrounding air. Cars pass on many fumes that can be harmful, especially to the people walking around the D.R. I have also observed that many of the cars that are utilized here are older models, which pass on even more harmful fumes, which could result in more negative health outcomes for the population. I also was informed that many children here suffer from asthma, which is due to the poor air quality and pollution, which the cars directly contribute to this issue. Lastly, on my way to lunch I noticed the many potholes and dangers that made up the sidewalk. There were many huge potholes on the sidewalk that easily could’ve been missed and resulted in my injury or Dominican people if they were not paying attention to the ground below them.

Dancing at the colonial zone
Photo Credit: Crystal Croom

Crystal: This evening the group went to the Colonial Zone to see how the community gets together to have a good time dancing. Tian told us that Sunday is a big day for families and friends to party and come together during the week. As we arrived the band was setting up and the people were flowing in. Also, as the band started playing, couples of people did not hesitate to get up to dance. Letting the music sweep them off their feet, moving with the beat, everyone was having a great time. A few of us got up to dance and immersed ourselves in the culture, moving with the crowd trying not to bump into anyone, as we were not as smooth as the Dominicans! I was asked to dance with an elderly gentleman, and it was fun just to be on the dance floor, plus I did not want to be rude and reject him. A dance group came out to show off their talents, and danced a fast-paced merengue, which is a traditional Dominican dance. They were dressed in vibrant green and red outfits. They were flowing around the dance floors, their dresses moving all around. Right before we left the community took the time to honor the flag and their country. I had a great time and learned how to merengue and bachata.

Trash on the side of the road
Photo Credit: Rose Kalala

Rose: One thing that I have continued to notice since we have been here is the excessive amounts of littered trash around the city. On our walk to lunch today, I noticed an emptied styrofoam carry-out dish less than a foot away from a trash can. This not only made me reflect on how this country’s amount of littering impacts the earth’s pollution, but it also made me wonder why there is a lack of enforcement of anti-littering laws. This was just another example of how there may be laws, but due to corruption or whatever the case may be, many of these laws are not respected. On our way to Caño Hondo earlier in the week, we passed by a huge landfill full of trash that was exposed to the air. This practice is detrimental to the health of the Domincan people for a multitude of reasons. Dr. Brace later brought up a good point that in the U.S. this would be illegal because by law, all landfills must be covered. The U.S. is not the best example of an eco-friendly country but we do have several initiatives that push for the protection of our planet, which is something the people of the D.R. could benefit from as well.