[Ervntewc]

Can anyone post Ginny's. Lambada;s steps to cultural acclimation?

By all means - Offshorewave » Culture Shock Revisited – Groping Towards A More Useful Conceptual Framework – by Ginnie Bedggood

[RealCHEAPsoftDOWNLOAD]

If you are talking about the medical exam for the cedula, that is done by government doctors at the place where you file your papers. You pee for them so that they can test for drugs. They listen to your chest for TB and voila...

the hardest part is getting all the papers in order... usually.. or at least I have found twice, that once you start the process there will be another paper to get .. and the other ones will expire.. etc. etc. The reason you are pleased with no red tape is that you have not yet dealt with the government here. They ADORE red tape.

Welcome and hold on to your optimism..

Can anyone post Ginny's. Lambada;s steps to cultural acclimation?

Don't forget the Chest X Ray using a machine from the days of Wilhelm Röntgen

[JacksHH]

By all means - Offshorewave » Culture Shock Revisited – Groping Towards A More Useful Conceptual Framework – by Ginnie Bedggood

A great read, but ironically I experienced more culture shock when I returned to NYC for one month in the Summer. I even had crying spells. I've been spending lots of time here for over a year, sometimes months at a time. For some reason I feel comfortable here. I take the bad with the good. Personally NYC has become numbing for me. A place full of Starbucks, banks and people to busy to look at one another.

[JacksHH]

I've been spending lots of time in DR the past year. This message board has inspired me and at times scared me. I appreciate all the info.

A month ago I took the plunge and rented an apartment for 6 months. Immediately I went on a job search with the intention of teaching English to adults. To my surprise I went for an interview at a colegio and was hired on the spot. I started working that day. The best part is that it was for a job I thought I didn't want, teaching 7th graders. The salary, benefits and vacation time were hard to resist. Plus it seemed like I was in the right place at the right time. I've been working a few weeks now and as frustrating as it can be, enjoy teaching 7th graders, especially since the subject is English Literature which I majored in. I find it ironic that I found a job here easier than in the USA.

One thing that I like about DR is that there seems to be less red tape. I know that can be bad in some cases, but I do like the ease in which you can find an apt, without all the bs you have to go through in NY. I feel very blessed. My obsession with DR has paid off. Of course I'm under know delusions that life will be perfect. I'm not looking for perfect. I like a little grit. I even like taking the caro publico for 25 pesos to work.

Now I must see a doctor to get a medical exam. I also need a police report. Since I have signed a year contract I suppose I should apply for residency or is there a work visa? It seems I might need to take a trip back to the states. The school didn't seem to know much about the process. All I know is that I need the medical exam and police report. And good doctors in SD that one could recommend? Can I get a police report here from NY?

Thanks for any feedback!

[SnareeWer]

Congratulations on your success. I can't help you with the latter part of your post as I don't know Santo Domingo that well and I'm not from NY. But if you would like any suggestions for teaching 7th graders, (esp. English Lit.) send me a pm.

[vodaPlaps]

unless the school has some extradordinary measures your going to have to go back to the US to apply for a residency visa - which means a certificate of good conduct from a US police dept, a medical certificate, a letter of financial guarantee from a Dominican National, a letter from yourself stating why you want to live in the DR, a letter of employment would be beneficial, a birth certificate, and financial info on yourself - all translated into Spanish, both original and translated versions notarized and then apostiled (that is done at the state capital of the state where the notaries signed everything)....and $125 for the application fee. I just went through this myself in Washington, DC at the embassy.

[JacksHH]

Thanks Auryn! It is very hard for them to settle down. Lol
Ill be sure to PM you in the future.

[JacksHH]

unless the school has some extradordinary measures your going to have to go back to the US to apply for a residency visa - which means a certificate of good conduct from a US police dept, a medical certificate, a letter of financial guarantee from a Dominican National, a letter from yourself stating why you want to live in the DR, a letter of employment would be beneficial, a birth certificate, and financial info on yourself - all translated into Spanish, both original and translated versions notarized and then apostiled (that is done at the state capital of the state where the notaries signed everything)....and $125 for the application fee. I just went through this myself in Washington, DC at the embassy.

Well they are either going to have to give me time off, which I don't really want or I'll have to try to do it during the Winter break. Though it being the holidays that could be difficult. I was a little surprised they let me start working without. At least I have proof of employment and a reason to be here. Ugh but the notarized translated in Spanish stuff sounds like a pain. Oh well it must be done. How long did the process take you?

[Wr8dIAUk]

sounds like a quick start at a suitable workplace.
congratulations and welcome to Paradise Island.

Mike

[Npbfamgt]

Congratulations! Have fun and be safe.

[cargo_brad]

Nice happy things are working for you. Enjoy

[crestosssa]

Well they are either going to have to give me time off, which I don't really want or I'll have to try to do it during the Winter break. Though it being the holidays that could be difficult. I was a little surprised they let me start working without. At least I have proof of employment and a reason to be here. Ugh but the notarized translated in Spanish stuff sounds like a pain. Oh well it must be done. How long did the process take you?

I know the residency laws have recently changed but I also know someone who just applied without issue here in the DR without the trip home. It may be worth your while to consult a lawyer and see if its possible without the trip home. It will cost you anywhere from 1000-1500usd on average depending on lawyer but well worth it in the long run as this is an especially frustrating process when handled without counsel.

[we0MA4MI]

Welcome the DR! You've accomplished what many others can only dream of. Kudos to you.

Best of luck

Ccarabella

[u2ZQGC6b]

I would like to see what you post 6 months or a year from now.

Adam

[jagxj12]

Are you sure that the school can't help you with some of these requirements? When we taught there the school basically arranged everything and paid for the fee. Talk to your human resource officer to see what help you can get from them and also try to make sure that you have been hired as a "foreign hire" instead of a "local hire" in many schools there the differences in pay and benefits can be quite extreme.

Good luck - we enjoyed teaching there for nine years before the wanderlust overcame us to go to new places; this could be the start of your international teaching career. If you don't have a teaching cert I would suggest you get one - time spent teaching now can help with the application process - and then the world is your oyster.

[compiit]

AND I am sure you are likely to find a way to do it here , if you are guided by the right lawyer, But make sure !! That you get a few good people that have lived here a Long time to verify lawyers character !!!!!

[nanyaHgoc]

Wow! you like 7th graders and Carro público? lol You seem to have the right attitude about being here.

Welcome to the DR!

[RealCHEAPsoftDOWNLOAD]

It is quite rare to hear of an employment success story, good for you. Regarding residency, there were some windows of opportunity for people with special qualifications such as a major investment in the DR or being in the DR for 10 years to be allowed to work on residency from within the DR, but in your case it is likely you will need the paperwork to be done at the DR embassy in your home country which normally requires a trip back home to get and translate the appropriate documents and get the proper visa in your passport. Do check with your school to see if they can work around that.

[Wr8dIAUk]

Congratulations! Have fun and be safe.

be assured that as a Teacher he will be here a hundred ntimes safer than at a average NYC school, lol

Mike

[Sensbachtal]

There probably is a way around the residency laws...

At least for a short time...

Contact HB or me by PM....

Good luck and enjoy.... (teaching 7th graders... you must be a masochist... lol)

BelgianK