Lost in Translation? 25 False Friends Every Expat Should Tame
The “Embarazada” Budget Blunder One breezy evening in Santo Domingo my girlfriend and I sat on the balcony untangling our savings plan. I proudly
Local Dominican Slang vs. Standard Spanish—What Every Expat Should Know
Why Dominican Spanish Feels Like a Different Language Spend one afternoon in a Santiago colmado and you’ll hear Spanish words clipped, stretched, or
Lines in the Sand: Setting Personal Boundaries Politely in Spanish
The Coconut Invitation I Learned to Decline Last Easter Sunday in Santo Domingo, my neighbor Don Leo waved me over to a beachfront cookout. I had a de
Life Jackets, Deposits, and the Art of Fitting In: Renting Recreational Gear in Guatapé
I still remember the first time I tried to rent a kayak on the shimmering embalse of Guatapé. A decade of island living in the Dominican Republic had
Learning Spanish Market Day Conversations: Bargaining Like a Pro
Why Bargaining Feels Intimidating—Even if You’re Fluent You can hold a business meeting in Spanish, yet still freeze when a vendor quotes “mil q