Regardless of the country you come from, living the Dominican Republic will undeniably be an enriching experience. In fact, you are likely to discover a society which is very different from what you are used to.
Your life in the Dominican Republic is very likely to be rich in emotions and experiences, the joy and friendliness of the people, the fabulous countryside and beaches, and the warm Caribbean weather.
Climate
Being in the tropics, the Dominican Republic enjoys an excellent climate. In the summer, the maximum temperature revolves around 32°C at noon while the lowest is around 23°C in the morning. June, July, August, and September are known to be the hottest months.
Cuisine
Dominican cuisine focuses on rice and is not very hot or spicy. The main herbs used are oregano and cilantro. In addition, the plantain is the main vegetable and is eaten often with salami and onions. The main protein is chicken, cooked in a stew or fried. However, you can also find fast food such burgers, pizzas, etc., across the country and several international restaurants. Vegetarians should not be disappointed either as there is a wide variety of different vegetables ‘ some of which you may not have heard of before!
Currency
The Dominican peso (RD$) is the country’s local currency. A peso is divided into 100 centavos. Hence, you can have 1, 5, 10, and 25 pesos coins. You are also likely to handle 2,000, 1,000, 500, 200, 100, and 50 pesos banknotes.
Language
Spanish is the Dominican Republic’s official language, and English is widely spoken.
Social conventions
Dominicans are very proud of the way they dress. Shorts and flip-flops are only meant for the beach, and they would never dream of wearing them outside the house in town.
When in any business meeting, there is always some small talk that occurs before getting down to business, and you should always be courteous and polite in all situations, no matter how frustrated you might be.
Routine
Dominicans lives seem to be perfectly balanced between work and relaxation. In fact, after a long and tiring day at work, they generally enjoy a pleasant and vibrant afternoon after office hours. Dance and music remain an essential part of the Dominican lifestyle. Lunchtime, for its part, is longer than what you are probably used to in your home country, and all Dominican eat at noon on the dot.
Sundays are for going to the beach or river, and for visiting family and friends. Bars and convenience stores are open until midnight during the week and until 2 am on Fridays and Saturdays.
