i was in the DR, traveling by guagua and doing some photo documentary (back when i was doing street and reportage photography). i rather glibly - arrogantly, really - decided i would waltz across the border thinking hey, when will i ever get to do this again? didn't contact the american embassy. nothing.
the difference between the two states really is stark. now, the DR is not a rich nation. there's a huge disparity between the wealthy and the poor. i don't believe there is much of what you and i would call a middle class. but at least there are pockets of oases at all strata of society. you can get hot food. cold drinks. clean running water. you don't feel like you are under constant threat. no such thing in haiti- at least while not knowing anyone, as i did. i was there maybe 24 hours. i wanted to kiss dominican soil once i was back (and not without difficulty) on the other side of the border. i really feel for that nation and its people. one need not look any further to witness the complete failure of a country's government.
i was there in the summer of 2003, on a whim. it was sheer madness.
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http://farm1.static.flickr.com/149/432077620_683c5887f2.jpg
can't even imagine what it's like now.
Wow. Why were you there? For how long?
ReplyDeletei was in the DR, traveling by guagua and doing some photo documentary (back when i was doing street and reportage photography). i rather glibly - arrogantly, really - decided i would waltz across the border thinking hey, when will i ever get to do this again? didn't contact the american embassy. nothing.
ReplyDeletethe difference between the two states really is stark. now, the DR is not a rich nation. there's a huge disparity between the wealthy and the poor. i don't believe there is much of what you and i would call a middle class. but at least there are pockets of oases at all strata of society. you can get hot food. cold drinks. clean running water. you don't feel like you are under constant threat. no such thing in haiti- at least while not knowing anyone, as i did. i was there maybe 24 hours. i wanted to kiss dominican soil once i was back (and not without difficulty) on the other side of the border. i really feel for that nation and its people. one need not look any further to witness the complete failure of a country's government.
Bravo, bravo.
ReplyDeleteYou, my good man, need to google the SNL ad for Bad Idea Jeans. Check out David Spade's line.
haha! back when snl was worth watching. seems like ages ago.
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