La Ciudad de Santiago de Los Caballeros, La República Dominicana. The city of Santiago is what I call home because of how in alignment I feel while I am visiting the hometown of my mother and father, prior to their immigration. I feel most connected to my roots when I am able to breath the fresh air. My experiences with immersing myself in the Dominican culture and lifestyle have been through the eyes of my family as they connect different locations and traditions to memories and stories of those before me. For example, the Monument is not just a historic landscape but the place where my parents went on their first date, or the place where Tía Sonia sold her first bouquet of flowers.
Exploring the buzzling city of Santiago makes me feel fortunate because while I feel at home in the Dominican Republic, I witness the reality of my relatives without actually having to experience their struggle. The reality of everyone trying to make a means, by any means. It's a humbling experience to temporarily adopt the routine of my cousins and aunts while I am in DR. Poverty permeates the neighborhoods. Many family members live together in small spaces, often with the assistance of all family members, beginning at a young age. Access to water is very limited and showers of freezing water restricted to predetermined times. Taking a warm shower requires the boiling of water. however, with the crowded living conditions, people must be minimalistic with water use.
The collectivist culture is one that I appreciate since it is not dominantly promoted in the US. US culture often promotes competition, as success and worth is equated with monetary and material gain. On the other hand, in Santiago, my family works on always providing for each other by distributing resources down to those who need it the most. Even if there are family members who are better off than others, they make it a priority to help their family financially and providing childcare. In fact, neighbors are very close to each other, often sharing meals or taking care of each other’s children as favors. Small homes within proximity of each other allow for neighbors to communicate easily among thin walls or just shouting from the front lawn, where conversations between neighbors can always be overheard.
It is very difficult to obtain a car, even after years of having a “high paying” job that keeps the majority of residents in severe poverty. Because of this, we travel by walking in the hot Caribbean sun, “motoconchos”, and taxis. The Dominican Republic is far behind the US in terms of social justice. As a person who values the inclusion of all people, I long to someday see gender neutral bathrooms or positive messages surrounding race/hair textures in public advertisements throughout the city. Unfortunately, due to outdated beliefs and stigma that still dominate the city, there is still much work to be done beyond the physical city.
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