A CLOSER LOOK

groby57 Contributor

158POSTS

7 years ago

A Closer Look 0001

Where is home?

Ascending through the clouds, coming into view was the lush vegetation and visual beauties of an island not yet known to many, yet known to a few as home. The island has its very own rhythm and dance. No matter how hard you try to emulate the native heartbeat it is only known by the few who have experienced its concerto of life. My mind, my soul, my heart and my energy they all confirm with each other that there is a special transformation that takes place as I step out of the door of the airport and inhale the life that is ready, willing and waiting to teach me just a little bit more. Forgetting that my luggage was at times an inconvenience in my journey to arrive at this island, I took my first breath of the tropic ambiance once again and let it flush the frustrations of life and all the negative dynamics that had attached themselves to myself over the last few years and invited the rhythm and dance to consume me, to bath me and to once again bring me back into the adventure and excitement of the unknown鈥�.then again鈥ow..the known.

As I scanned the crowed gathered outside of the metal fencing crudely placed in order to control the masses that gather, in order to meet and welcome to their island those from another land, a county, an existence many will never ever get to know鈥�..I heard a quiet yet familiar voice call out my name鈥�.Goyooo鈥ooking up I saw the face of my wife鈥檚 daughter. It was illuminated. Her son cried out the name of my wife and quickly they were united, with tears and a visual sight of gratitude.

After the welcome hugs and exited conversation, we were loaded into an SUV that we had rented before we arrived, the owner of a small other pickup loaded up our luggage, and into the city we drove. Leaving the window down and letting the smells and sounds once again make themselves familiar to me, I began to hear the song that was being sung at this place on earth. It was calling me, beckoning to me to celebrate with it, its nature and its dance.

Maybe I did notice a change, the streets seemed to have been updated, new paving on some of the much needed areas that I remembered as problematic. My mind was drifting and my observations were consuming my curiosity to the point that I just needed to unplug for a while. Shutting my eyes I listened to the family, to the traffic, to the car and to the sound of the city. The honking of the transports, the scooters, the people and the music, it all was beginning its intravenous rejuvenation of one lost prodigal son, who now was coming home. A small smile began to form at the corners of my mouth as I saw coming into view a place where I would later that night pillow my head and close my eyes to the rhythmic cadence of the fan, the music, the street, the rain and the roosters of the barrio. Yes this is and always will be called鈥︹€ome.

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planner Dominican Republic Expert

17772POSTS

7 years ago

Thank you for once again sharing your experiences with us!

groby57 Contributor

158POSTS

7 years ago

Other than some editing problems I will try to bumble my way back into existence. Good to make contact again My good friend (d)..planner....after all....I need another drive North to PP next trip. Might need a few days to recover from a little incident that happened at WalMart yesterday. Wifey was hitching a ride on a grocery cart and I had a good head of steam when she tried to jump off....sore wrist and knee....kids will play.

planner Dominican Republic Expert

17772POSTS

7 years ago

Ouchhhhhhhhh.

And you wont head north this time, head south. I am in the capital again honey.

drilsgt Active member

31POSTS

7 years ago

Welcome home Groby57 anxiously waiting for good readings!!!!!!!!!!

1 member reacted to this post

groby57 Contributor

158POSTS

3 years ago

Im not sure a small blip on the radar is even worth a glance, however it is something. Today I returned here to 大咖福利影院 to read and try to find the once obtained excitement of the lure of the island....yeah.....it's still present. Although life is an awesome teacher, our experiences, if we allow them, they will be a testiment of our effort to forge new pathways and adventures in our lives.

Yes, I discovered the island. Yes, I met some truly incredible people here and in person.

Now there is a new Price Mart across from the US Embassy in Santo Domingo.....now there is a new express route that begins at Pedro Brand and can take you to the SDQ airport Las Am茅ricas in 30 minutes.....however I urge a bit of caution to not take it at night....it's not well lighted and the local livestock chaps, use the autopista to move their animals......in my last trip I was introduced to the new transport system being constructed in Santo Domingo. If you haven't seen it, there is always the boneyard of the confiscated scooters from the last 50 years.....maybe the recycle value could help pay for some of the new transport construction....hmmm. My life now has me situated between Santiago and Santo Domingo.....it's a peaceful place...although I'm an hour from any beach, I do find other entertaining ways to pass time with less stress than I would have stateside. I have managed to find a nice place to live that costs me about 190.00 US per month....even though I'm still working stateside, it's cheaper than coming over and staying a month in a rented house or hotel. Where I once had a forum post called "It's A Wonderful Life" I changed it to A closer Look....slot of my early experiences are posted in the Wonderful Life forum...however going forward I will remain with the A Closer Look forum....I look forward to catching up with my friends and aquaintences from the past and meeting new ones...

My pen is ready and of course there are many "true adventures I could share".

3 members reacted to this post

drilsgt Active member

31POSTS

3 years ago

@groby57 Once again, welcome back. I always enjoy your writing and look forward to "A closer look"!

rfmaurone Serial expat

224POSTS

3 years ago

@groby57 looking forward to pearls of wisdom in the very near future

groby57 Contributor

158POSTS

last month

Good evening to followers of the expat.com Dominican Republic forum. A few years ago almost 10 to be exact I shared some of my life experiences via a thread called, "Its a Wonderful life" here in the DR. These events are still available here in the DR forum, however I have moved it to a labeled forum called A Closer Look. It聽 may be time to start up聽 these observations and share them once again. Living here for almost a year without returning to my homeland, has indeed allowed me to yet again, see the unseen and hear the unheard. The only reason that I have even considered doing this is that I now find myself with time and untold events that could be shared...I want to thank Planner for keeping in touch with me and yes, still need those dancing lessons.......lol so if my time allows, yes it does, I think I need to share and at the same time avoid subjects that are a part of the Expat dynamic....like insurance, cost of living, residency and well...you understand. These will be mini stories of cultural misunderstanding mostly on my part and how they left an impression and ever lingering image of life here in the Dominican Republic...

1 member reacted to this post

planner Dominican Republic Expert

17772POSTS

4 weeks ago

#10

We look forward to your stories!!!!聽

groby57 Contributor

158POSTS

3 weeks ago

#11

A Closer Look

01 Beginings

Where I live. How I live. What I live for. Who do I live with. How do I get from A to B. How do I pay my bills. How do I buy a car. How do I cook. Do I live for today. Do I live for tomorrow. These are聽 questions many who know me, inquire about.

There is a sense of panic as the weather changing chemtrails are attacking the Sosua area, and the vigilant are ever pushing their theories as to why and how this happens. This really doesn't send me into a state of panic or frustration, as I look out my patio at the base of the mountains just 12 miles from my front door. Learning the names of my vecinos, as they call out to each other and the calls to dinner and bedtime echo through out the community where I live. The sound of waves slapping the shoreline are not part of my living environment. The constant call of the rooster or barking of a perro, seem to be the sounds I may have thought to escape by leaving the barrio life. Of course we know that here in the DR, the majority of living is done with luxury along side of poverty. There are exclusions to this dynamic of course. Having needing to inquire of the babies crying early in the morning I soon find out that it is the feral community of feline that are seeking territorial dominance in their respective barrio.

Awaking and starting the process to prepare the coffee from the greca, prepared the night before, and placed on the stove, gives me a slight smile as I know how simple an electric auto coffee maker would give this 15 minutes back to me. This is my choice. Just like the daily mopping and cleaning that is performed as part of a daily routine. With a cup of java in my hand, I descend down the 3 levels with trash bag in hand, then on to its respective station where it is left as I begin a leisurely 20 minute walk. Remembering to apply a small dose of mosquito repellent makes for a less agitated walk I am thinking. There is a sense of calm that seems to justify this morning walk as quickley, the heat and humidity of the island begin to force me to make a decision, retreat to my room with AC or just open the windows and appreciate that I did install screens as to isolate myself from the majority of pesky creatures that would invade my ambience of tranquility.

groby57 Contributor

158POSTS

3 weeks ago

#12

Yeah, so to my close friends and family..at your request to the majority who immediately responded via my social network posting location, this would be much better shared in that I can post photos and video...so for now this is not going to continue here..