Overall...

After digging in deep to a culture I have been bound to in more ways than one I have learned things and appreciate things on a whole other level.  I understand a little more about my husband and why he acts the way he does sometimes.  I get why my mother in law say some of the things she says, and I understand why he wants to do certain things with our son.  Baseball is the only sport that matters in the Dominican Republic, so naturally Yadiel will be playing that.  He eats queso frito, salami and platanos for breakfast because well that is a traditional Dominican breakfast.  When Bachata or Merengue comes on, so does the party.  Why do Haitians and Dominicans have beef, well it can be chalked up to oppression, colonization and other historical events.  Learning about this culture makes me so proud that my son gets to share pride and claim such a vibrant culture! I want him to be proud of where his father and half of his family come from !  Learning about the culture and traditions of the D.R helped me for my present and future !

Food: Lots of fried food, platanos are a staple and they love goat.  My husband actually had a goat named memo who lived in the house with them.

Music: lots of influences (African, Taino, and European)

Language: Spanish but def a dialect like no other, they talk super fast and a lot of their words are infused with indigenous words from the original inhabitants the Tainos.

Religion:  Catholic

Family: Patriarchal

Lots of love and happiness, family is everything and you never go against the family!

Dancing ! Merengue and Bachata !

There are two types of Latin dances that originated in the Dominican republic.  They are called Merengue and Bachata! They are both super fun and the music that goes along with it is so passionate (bachata) and great for parties (merengue)

Merengue has been around since before the ninteenth century and has African and Indigenous roots.  It has two steps and can be modified to your liking adding spins, dips, and other footwork, so long as you keep the one two step or one two three four depending on the song.  Merengue can be used for any event and is usually used to live'n up the mood! There are two types, Merengue tipico and Merengual regular. Merengue tipico is a little more old school or grassroots and has a more natural or street sound (you can hear every instrument) and Merengue regular is stuff you would probably hear on the radio or at most parties.    

Bachata originated in the twentieth century and has European, Indigenous and African roots.  It was originally a dance for the lower class and prostitutes ( it can get rather sexual), it also came from the countryside.  Since Bachata was so risque none of it was recorded until after the dictatorship of Trujillo in the mid 20th century.  It became super popular by the 80's and was played everywhere in DR. By the 1990's it was popular in American particularly Nueva York (New York) where there were lots of Dominican immigrants (and still are, it is only a 3 hour flight).  

Here is a video of me and my husband dancing ! its only like 3 min long :) enjoy !