Sunday, September 21, 2014

Dominican Dentist

My camera has died. I didn't realise though, how it would affect me blogging. I tend to take pictures of events and situations and then write around them, so with no camera there are no pictures and it is much harder to write. Anyway, a new camera will be en route at the end of the month, when more visitors arrive, so I am very excited about that and normal service will resume.

This last week was a trip to the dentist to fix my broken front tooth. I have never been in a dentist's surgery where there was more than one chair and as I lay there making a big fuss as the man cleaned my teeth by hacking away at the plaque, I suddenly realised there was someone lying next to me, another patient. We each had a dentist and a dental nurse, a CD was playing loudly, and they were all singing. Luckily in tune. My dentist advised me that he couldn't fix my tooth until they were all cleaned so I have to go back in a week to continue the process.

On the way home, in the middle of town, the car made a funny noise and Danilo announced that the "banda" was going. I had no idea what that was but it turned out he was right and 20 seconds later the "banda" went and so did the brakes. How he didn't run into the car in front I have no idea. We got out of the car, stuck in the middle of the lane on a busy road, and a motoconcho ran across to us with a piece of metal he had picked up in the road. The banda was the brake pad, and the bit of metal was a bit of the brakes. He drove off to get a brake mechanic and Danilo went with another motoconcho to buy brake pads.

I stood on the pavement, next to the cemetery, patiently waiting. The mechanic arrived in five minutes, Danilo five minutes later. The motoconchos both directed the traffic whilst both front wheel had new brake pads fitted. Cost was US$3 to each motoconcho, US$25 for the brake pads and US$20 for the mechanic. Total time around 40 minutes.

At times like that I marvel at this country and the efficiency and at other times the bureaucracy is just overwhelming.  I am getting everything together for my citizenship application, but I obtained an apostilled version of my birth certificate last November, and now they decide it has to be issued within the last six months. Why on earth do they say that? The details won't change at all - but the rules are the rules.

I am busy at the moment fact checking the DK Top Ten Guide to the Dominican Republic which is something I did 2 years ago. Checking through it it makes me realise I have so many places still to visit, so next on my list will be La Isabela where Columbus first landed as it sounds very interesting. I will wait till I have my new camera though.


19 comments:

  1. What a pain having no camera! Amazing efficiency repairing the car and done right there on the road, no need to be towed to a mechanic...
    Enjoy the new camera when it arrives and good luck at the dentist Lindsay.

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  2. Hello Lindsay, I always check your blog for a new post because I love the way you understand the country and the Dominicans and how you write about daily life events without complains or criticisms.I've enjoyed reading your book and wish you would write one about dominican daily life like you do write your posts. You live in a foreign country with its bads and goods and as an expat you accept the way it is without wishing it to resemble the country you come from. Like you say "the rules are the rules" I felt in love with Dominican Republic about 25 years ago kept returning years after years and visited almost all the country but still places I havent seen, and even if nothing is perfect, it is the only place I have visited in the world, where as soon as i come out of the aircraft I have a big smile on my face, feel happy inside and have this strong feeling "i am HOME" even if i am so far away from the way they live. I know a nice place not far from la Isabela which is fabulous (an hideaway little paradise) if you are interested.Keep writing and be happy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Loved La Isabela Pascale and thanks so much for your comments and for reading the book!

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  3. Thank you Pascale and Thank you Lindsay for loving my country so much !! As Pascale, I always check your blog because I love to read about how appreciative foreigners say about my country. We have lots to fix ! but whichever and however.. YES ! it is a paradise of poor but hospitable people ! - leaving social etiquette and loud playing aside !! hehehe

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Olga. Yes I can't imagine ever living anywhere else.

      Delete
  4. just wrote a message & it vanished

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  5. Bring Shirley with you when you go to La Isabella call round for me in Luperon if you come midweek you will have the beach to yourselves .tell Shirley to bring your books for me to sell, do not know how to make a profile l.o.l my name is Lynda .Chelsies mum in Luperon

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    Replies
    1. Hi Lynda - we went to la Isabela the other way so not via Luperon. Promise will come and see you one day and bring some books!

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  6. Actually that six month rule is handy. If you feel the need to change your birthday or age now is the time to do it, before you get your new D.R. passport.

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  7. It seems that you had a nice experience during your consultation with the dentist. It's just too bad that you had to experience a car mishap on your way home. Anyway, I'm wondering what happened a week after that? Have you eventually gotten your broken tooth fixed? I'm assuming you had. Anyway, thank you for sharing that, Lindsay! All the best to you!

    Freddie Gray @ Ballantyne Dentistry

    ReplyDelete
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