Dominican Flamenco-Fusion Classes: How Dance-Step Commands Can Help You Learn Spanish Across Borders
El Primer Zapateo: My First Tap on Dominican Soil The first time I tried a flamenco-fusion class in Santo Domingo, the teacher—an ex-bailarina from Cádiz who now mixes palmas with bachata footwork—clapped her hands and shouted, “¡Marca el tacón y desliza, corazón!” I froze, left foot in mid-air, mentally translating while everyone else executed the […]
Dominican Wedding Dress Rentals: Fitting and Alteration Spanish
La boda donde aprendí que “gastar” no siempre significa “to spend” I still remember the smell of fresh coffee mixed with aerosol hairspray the first time I tagged along with my Dominican friend Lissette to pick up her rented wedding dress in Santiago. Ten years in the country have trained me to keep my ears […]
From Santo Domingo to Bogotá: Crafting the Perfect Spanish Elevator Pitch for Latin-American Career Fairs
The Morning I Forgot My Name in Medellín Ten years of life in the Dominican Republic had convinced me I could handle any Spanish-speaking situation. That illusion dissolved one bright August morning in Medellín when I strode into a tech career fair, extended my hand to a recruiter, and—nothing. My brain short-circuited. I introduced myself […]
Dominican Condo Renovation Permits: Municipality Counter Dialogue for the Savvy Expat
A Morning at the Ayuntamiento The sun had barely cleared Santo Domingo’s pastel skyline when I strolled into the Ayuntamiento with a rolled-up blueprint, still smelling of printer ink, tucked beneath my arm. I was convinced everything was in order for my condo renovation—until the security guard cocked an eyebrow and asked whether I had […]
Colombian Microbrewery Tours: Describing Hops, Malts, and IBUs
Una primera cerveza en Medellín No long-haul flight feels shorter than the one that ends with a cold pint. Last February I landed in Medellín, traded my carry-on for a pint glass at Cervecería 20Mission, and heard a paisa bartender ask, “¿De una, parcero, una IPA bien lupulada o más suavecita?” In that moment, all […]
Dominican Eco-Tour Guide Jobs: Interview Questions & Answer Samples
My first brush with Dominican eco-tour guiding happened on a sweaty Tuesday when I was coaxed into interpreting bird calls for a group of German backpackers in Los Haitises National Park. I had been chasing coconut-water shade for hours, secretly rehearsing the word guaraguao—a red-tailed hawk—in case anyone asked. A ranger overheard my mumbling, handed […]
From Fritos to Fuses: Navigating Dominican Appliance-Repair Estimates While You Learn Spanish
My refrigerator decided to go on strike last August, precisely when I had a half-case of Presidente beer chilling for a beach run to Boca Chica. Ten years in Santo Domingo have taught me that when an appliance quits, the repair process is as much a language adventure as it is a mechanical one. I […]
Colombian Seasonal Fruits: Asking Ripeness & Recipe Advice in Spanish
From Santo Domingo to Santa Fe de Antioquia: My First Mangostino Misstep I still remember the sweat rolling down my back the afternoon I landed in Medellín after a quick hop from Santo Domingo. Ten years in the Dominican Republic had taught me how to flirt with a guanábana vendor and when to squeeze an […]
Splitting the Cuenta Like a Local: Mastering Nequi & Daviplata Spanish
My first summer weekend in Medellín, I was feeling pretty slick. Ten years of Caribbean living had trained me to navigate Dominican banks, motoconcho haggling, and the labyrinth that is Santo Domingo rush-hour banter. Yet one little blue icon on my Colombian friend María’s phone humbled me faster than the hottest ají. “¿Me haces un […]
Colombian Language-Exchange Hosting: How I Learned to Say “House Rules” Without Sounding Like a Dictator
One humid Thursday night in Santo Domingo, while the neighbor’s rooster crowed at the completely unhelpful hour of 11 p.m., I opened my apartment door to three Colombian backpackers clutching guitars, coffee beans, and the shining optimism that only a cross-country language exchange can produce. Ten years living in the Dominican Republic have taught me […]