PROFILE
LANGUAGES: Spanish
POPULATION: Over 10 million in Dominican Republic; 100,000 in Aruba; 140,000 in Curaçao; and 16,500 in Bonaire.
DOMINANT RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic (95% of Dominican Republic); Protestant and Evangelical Christian
CLIMATE: Tropical, typically warm and sunny year round with the yearly average temperature at 77 degrees F. Evenings are cooler during the "winter" season, November to April, and humidity is lower. Higher, inland areas tend to be cooler than coastal areas.
MAJOR CITIES: Santiago, Santo Domingo
The official language of the Dominican Republic is Spanish, though Dominican Spanish is its own distinct dialect with different slangs and pronunciations than other countries. Most of the Dominican Republic’s primarily multiracial population lives in urban areas. There is much economic disparity, with upper-class individuals having lifestyles comparable to the United States, while the poorer people may not even have access to basic amenities. The Roman Catholic church is the dominant religion in the country; nearly 70% of the population belongs to the church, while about 18% are Evangelical, and another 10% have no religious affiliation. The Dominican Republic’s culture blends Spanish, African, and indigenous Taino practices. The fast-paced dance musical styles of merengue and bachata were created in the Dominican Republic. Rock and rap have also become increasingly popular, especially among the youth. Baseball dominates the country’s sports scene, though basketball and boxing are also popular. Dominican meals generally contain rice, beans, some type of meat, and a small salad. Lunch is the main meal of the day in the Dominican Republic. Another popular dish is sanocho, a stew that uses several kinds of meat. Flan, dulce de leche, rice pudding, and sugarcane are all popular desserts in the country.
THE CHURCH
Members and missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has only been in the Dominican Republic since 1978, so most members are converts or within the first two generations of Church membership. Dominicans are VERY religious; the majority are Catholic and have been since birth, and while the Church is still relatively young, the people tend to be very religious and willing to learn. There is a temple in Santo Domingo as well as an MTC. As of the end of 2013, there are over 200 congregations split into three different mission boundaries within the country.
FOOD
The typical Dominican meal consists of rice, beans, meat (especially chicken), and vegetables. In the words of a former missionary, “Dominicans eat rice every day, and sometimes every meal. Most Dominicans say that haven’t eaten that day unless they have eaten rice. They also have tons of delicious tropical fruit that they make AMAZING juices with.” Mangoes grow tropically around the island.
SAFETY
The Dominican Republic Santiago East Mission has a large share of the urban population in Santiago; this being so, missionaries—especially foreign missionaries—should be extra cautious. According to the U.S. State Department, “Foreign tourists are often considered attractive targets for criminal activity and you should maintain a low profile to avoid becoming a victim of violence or crime. In dealing with local police, you should be aware that the standard of professionalism might vary. Police attempts to solicit bribes have been reported, as have incidents of police using excessive force. Protests, demonstrations, and general strikes occur periodically. Previous political demonstrations have sometimes turned violent… it is advisable to exercise caution when traveling throughout the country. Street crowds should be avoided. In urban areas, travel should be conducted on main routes whenever possible. Power outages occur frequently throughout the Dominican Republic, and travelers should remain alert during blackout periods, as crime rates often increase during these outages.” Petty theft, vehicle theft, and mugging occur at rates above that in the United States. Missionaries who use general precautions, employ common sense, and follow mission rules should not worry overly about safety issues, which are rare.
CUSTOMS
In general, Dominicans are very friendly and will typically open their doors to let missionaries talk about Christ. People are more friendly and open to talking with others. Direct eye contact is seen as a sign of respect and interest. Family is very important to Dominicans, who often live with or near extended family members.
Information on this page can be found at MissionHome.com
