This used to be such a nice & friendly forum; what happen? Will be in Sosua on the 10th for 6 nights. Any nice, and only nice forum members, chime up, I'm buying!
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This used to be such a nice & friendly forum; what happen? Will be in Sosua on the 10th for 6 nights. Any nice, and only nice forum members, chime up, I'm buying!
[QUOTE=Rebel Monger;1183830]John Harold Johnson was born in 1918, was black and proved beyond any doubt that a black person could make it in USA when it was pretty damn hard to do. Let's hope that he re-incarnates soon, as a black man again, or a Mexican, or Puerto Rican![/QUOTE]
Johnson was the founder of Ebony Magazine. His family moved to Chicago from Arkansas to escape poverty and received welfare payments for to years when his mother could not find any work. The family economics improved after both his step father and Johnson himself found employment under New Deal employment programs promoted by the Roosvelt administration.
Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans in 1901 and made it in the USA, after also migrating north to Chicago but not without considerable difficulties including a period in Europe hiding out from organized crime in the US, being exploited by his own manager, and on tour frequently not be allowed to use the men's toilets in the clubs he played in, and having to stay in private homes as he would not be welcome at hotels or motels.
However, the fact of his success lay entirely in the fact that he was a uniquely talented performer who virtually single handed transformed both jazz music from an ensemble form to a soloing form and then, after he injured his lip, brought some of the same techniques to vocal pop singinging and influenced every popular singer who came after. His career was also promoted by some influential whites, such as Bing Crosby, who recognized his talent and sought to bring it before a white audience.
However such cases are the exceptions that prove the rule and while exceptional individuals may sometimes overcome a hostile environment, this cannot really be considered to be a broad based solution to the predicament of Haitians in the Dominican Republic most of whom face considerable difficulty based on refugee status and on ethnic discrimination. There is no welfare system such as supported Johnson´s family, nor government supported job programs for them such as helped Johnson and his family escape early poverty, and even Louis Armstrong had the benefit of several years in an orphanage with a band, without which he would never have learned to play the trumpet.
I will be in Sosua area August 9th, my plan is to stay for at least a month. If any of you want.
To meet private message me contact info. I have a cell phone I will be bringing to get a local number,
I used it before in Santo Domingo with no problems.
I have RTTF so I think I am prepared as I can be, thanks for all the great information and motivation.
To make this trip. I am cashing in the last of my frequent flyer miles so the cost of my flight is only $100.
The downside is I have to fly in to SDQ (Mon Aug 8th) arrive about 13:30 so I have decided to catch a.
Cab to boca chica and spend the night there.
I should be in Sosua on Tues August 9th to meet up with a realtor to look at some properties to rent.
I have a couple questions, I plan on bringing my home computer, which is 3 24 inch flat panel monitors.
And a small platform mini tower, will easily fit in a carry on bag, which is what I plan to do, carry it on.
I am flying out of Atlanta customs, if that makes a difference? I don't want to check it as luggage
Afraid of loss or damage. Do you think they will let me on with it or make me set it all up and turn it on?
Second question which has been covered here but, wondering what the current internet situation is like
In Sosua or Puerta plata area? Are air cards available? If so are they fast and reliable? Or should I plan.
On getting wired service in the rental apartment etc?
Thanks again looking forward to hopefully meeting some of you while there.
[quote=frannie;1183981]however such cases are the exceptions that prove the rule and while exceptional individuals may sometimes overcome a hostile environment, this cannot really be considered to be a broad based solution to the predicament of haitians in the dominican republic most of whom face considerable difficulty based on refugee status and on ethnic discrimination.[/quote]i hate to take this to the political realm but that is the prevailing republican economic logic. each one for himself and taxes are bad. of course, one forgets that without taxes, there will be no public roads or garbage collection or essential infrastructure of electricity, water, sewage and so forth that distinguishes the western civilization from the third world, where there are many "seriously" rich people many by dint of stealing but just look outside their mansions, it will most likely be a garbage dump. and of course, we forget the likes of hobbes, locke, rousseau or voltaire without whom the western civilization would just be another third world.
that africa was raped for several hundred years, by the likes of "sir" cecil rhodes and all colonizing powers by stripping the continent of its most important economic resources, its people. has never quite seeped through our consciousness. that large and manual labor intensive plantations in north and south america, and indeed in asia (cotton, tea and rubber) manned by cheap / free labor was sheer economic bliss for the plantation owners eludes us. that families were continuously broken up by selling people as commodities was never an issue and today we wonder why the black families are mostly only the mama and the children. some of these things were also done by the spanish to the indians living in the americas as well but i digress.
p. s. : i am a native of the third world, for the record and while i have all the contraptions of well-to-do living, i do think it is business sense (a la milton friedman) to take care of my brother, so that god forbid, one day, i may hope for kindness should i need it.
[QUOTE=Ave White Boy; 1184016]I will be in Sosua area August 9th, my plan is to stay for at least a month. If any of you want.
To meet private message me contact info. I have a cell phone I will be bringing to get a local number,
I used it before in Santo Domingo with no problems.
I have RTTF so I think I am prepared as I can be, thanks for all the great information and motivation.
To make this trip. I am cashing in the last of my frequent flyer miles so the cost of my flight is only $100.
The downside is I have to fly in to SDQ (Mon Aug 8th) arrive about 13:30 so I have decided to catch a.
Cab to boca chica and spend the night there.
I should be in Sosua on Tues August 9th to meet up with a realtor to look at some properties to rent.
I have a couple questions, I plan on bringing my home computer, which is 3 24 inch flat panel monitors.
And a small platform mini tower, will easily fit in a carry on bag, which is what I plan to do, carry it on.
I am flying out of Atlanta customs, if that makes a difference? I don't want to check it as luggage
Afraid of loss or damage. Do you think they will let me on with it or make me set it all up and turn it on?
Second question which has been covered here but, wondering what the current internet situation is like
In Sosua or Puerta plata area? Are air cards available? If so are they fast and reliable? Or should I plan.
On getting wired service in the rental apartment etc?
Thanks again looking forward to hopefully meeting some of you while there.[/QUOTE]I would be wary about meeting with a realtor as they will, without any doubt whatsoever, be wanting to show you the pricier properties available and will feign no knowledge of cheaper places of which there are MANY available locally and advertised on the bulletin board at the supermarket or just found by walking around or by asking people. If you want a really nice apartment at the beach for $2000 per month with massive security, then that is no problem, but just depends on your budget.
Most rental apartment complexes have wifi available and included in the price. Even my humble apartment at $400 per month has free electricity, pool, wi-fi, and satellite TV.
There are also numerous Internet cafes. I think you can get wireless modems, but you probably need to make that decision once you get here and know where you will be staying, as it may not be needed.
You should be OK with bringing the computer as carry on baggage, but are you sure the 3 24 inch monitors will fit in a carry on?
[QUOTE=Tempoecorto;1184021]Some of these things were also done by the Spanish to the Indians living in the Americas as well but I digress.[/QUOTE]I would also like to bring into evidence the case of Charles Dickens, whose father together with his whole family was sent to debtor's prison. Dickens was a talented child and from a young age his father would take him to taverns where he would stand upon the bar and sing, dance, and recite for pennies.
To help the family pay its way the 12-year-old Dickens was released from the prison so that he could go and work in a shoe Polish factory to earn money for the family.
By later writing about some of his experiences and including them in semiautobiographic novels like Oliver Twist and David Copperfield, Dickens became the most successful writer of his age and very wealthy, thus proving that in nineteenth century England any person with genius level talent could make it out of poverty if he just stopped feeling sorry for himself.
Note to Jackson-- this automated correction program must have been devised by a child. Please disable it.
[QUOTE=Frannie; 1183981]Johnson was the founder of Ebony Magazine. His family moved to Chicago from Arkansas to escape poverty and received welfare payments for to years when his mother could not find any work. The family economics improved after both his step father and Johnson himself found employment under New Deal employment programs promoted by the Roosvelt administration.
Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans in 1901 and made it in the USA, after also migrating north to Chicago but not without considerable difficulties including a period in Europe hiding out from organized crime in the US, being exploited by his own manager, and on tour frequently not be allowed to use the men's toilets in the clubs he played in, and having to stay in private homes as he would not be welcome at hotels or motels.
However, the fact of his success lay entirely in the fact that he was a uniquely talented performer who virtually single handed transformed both jazz music from an ensemble form to a soloing form and then, after he injured his lip, brought some of the same techniques to vocal pop singinging and influenced every popular singer who came after. His career was also promoted by some influential whites, such as Bing Crosby, who recognized his talent and sought to bring it before a white audience.
However such cases are the exceptions that prove the rule and while exceptional individuals may sometimes overcome a hostile environment, this cannot really be considered to be a broad based solution to the predicament of Haitians in the Dominican Republic most of whom face considerable difficulty based on refugee status and on ethnic discrimination. There is no welfare system such as supported Johnson's family, nor government supported job programs for them such as helped Johnson and his family escape early poverty, and even Louis Armstrong had the benefit of several years in an orphanage with a band, without which he would never have learned to play the trumpet.[/QUOTE]One needs resources and opportunities. The more of these the greater chance of success. The nations that have the greatest success, individually and nationally, are those with the greatest resources. This is a positive correlation. More resources-more success. Less resources-less success.
Factor in discrimination (limiting resources to certain groups) , basic needs (as Gandhi said [paraphrasing] 'how can people think of God when they are more concerned about putting food into their stomachs!) , extraordinary circumstances (earthquakes-which destroy life and resources) , and a couple of other variables, and you'll gain a better grasp of the limitations that some people encounter.
Then there is the utilization or resources, which is another chapter for another time.
[QUOTE=Frannie; 1184023]I would be wary about meeting with a realtor as they will, without any doubt whatsoever, be wanting to show you the pricier properties available and will feign no knowledge of cheaper places of which there are MANY available locally and advertised on the bulletin board at the supermarket or just found by walking around or by asking people. If you want a really nice apartment at the beach for $2000 per month with massive security, then that is no problem, but just depends on your budget.
Most rental apartment complexes have wifi available and included in the price. Even my humble apartment at $400 per month has free electricity, pool, wi-fi, and satellite TV.
There are also numerous Internet cafes. I think you can get wireless modems, but you probably need to make that decision once you get here and know where you will be staying, as it may not be needed.
You should be OK with bringing the computer as carry on baggage, but are you sure the 3 24 inch monitors will fit in a carry on?[/QUOTE]The "realtor" I am meeting has several properties advertised for under $500 month, which is what I told him my budget was and I have spoke.
With him on the phone so I have high hopes he will not waste too much of our time. If not maybe we can be neighbors? Sounds like you found.
A good deal with the place you have.
Looking forward to my trip, how's the weather holding out?
[QUOTE=Ave White Boy; 1184072]The "realtor" I am meeting has several properties advertised for under $500 month, which is what I told him my budget was and I have spoke.
With him on the phone so I have high hopes he will not waste too much of our time. If not maybe we can be neighbors? Sounds like you found.
A good deal with the place you have.
Looking forward to my trip, how's the weather holding out?[/QUOTE]OK that is fine, though I wonder how a realtor can make any commission out of the cheaper properties. Of course it depends what is included in the $500. You are doing the right thing by looking first before making a decision.
Weather has been a little overcast with very light rain today, but pleasantly cool. We are not expecting a direct hit from the storm here.
I land in Santo Domingo heading to Sosua. Which bus should I take Metro or Caribe? What's the difference? Is it Caribe that has the currency exchange onsite? I land at 2PM if that makes a difference with bus schedules. Plus the time to take taxi to station from airport.
[QUOTE=Lopkx;1184147]I land in Santo Domingo heading to Sosua. Which bus should I take Metro or Caribe? What's the difference? Is it Caribe that has the currency exchange onsite? I land at 2PM if that makes a difference with bus schedules. Plus the time to take taxi to station from airport.[/QUOTE]I think you want Caribe Tours. This it the bus that travels all over the island. Not sure about currency exchange. According to their official webpage they have buses running from SDQ to Sosua every hour until 7pm. The cost is 330.00RD:
[url]http://caribetours.com.do/viajes[/url]
Bus Schedule (not sure how up-to-date it is) in the attached photo.
yeah carribe tours has more scheduled buses and is easier to hit the same day from sdq. just get thru customs as quickly as possible and tell the taxi to get you to carribe tours station, you'll still get raped by the airport taxi but it's difficult to avoid unless somebody has a solid alternative to just taking the lead taxi of the cartel.
[QUOTE=Lopkx;1184147]I land in Santo Domingo heading to Sosua. Which bus should I take Metro or Caribe? What's the difference? Is it Caribe that has the currency exchange onsite? I land at 2PM if that makes a difference with bus schedules. Plus the time to take taxi to station from airport.[/QUOTE]I like Caribe the best and yes they have a cambio in the terminal with good rates, passport is required to exchange money though.
Metro Bus is 30 minutes faster to Sosua if you can make the 4pm bus, it doesn't stop in La Vega thus faster but only 7am. 11am. 4pm departure times.
[QUOTE=Hillbilly69;1184170]Metro Bus is 30 minutes faster to Sosua if you can make the 4pm bus, it doesn't stop in La Vega thus faster but only 7am. 11am. 4pm departure times.[/QUOTE]Metro also leaves you only a block from the strip, which might be better if you have bags and don't want to take additional transportation from the Caribe Tours stop in Charamicos. If you're staying somewhere like New Garden, its an easy walk from where Metro leaves you.