it's a cultural thing

here's a shot of some dominican women hanging out at the gas station on a friday afternoon, drinking some presidentes. dominicans are very social and VERY LOUD! that has been one thing that we have really had to get used to here. it is very much a cultural thing - but they are always screaming out to each other and talking very loudly. they often congregrate in groups outside, so you cannot avoid the noise. this is probaby so because their houses are so small. it's more fun on the street or at the gas station for them where there is action!

other noise pollution here - and it really is noise pollution - includes the following:

• dominicans play their music really loudly and often. music is an essential part of their culture. dancing is too for that matter. it is nice to see them enjoying themselves, but sometimes the music, especially one of the instruments (don't know which one) in their music, is really annoying. i know stubbs knows what sound i am talking about. when i am irritated, i imitate this instrument - it's like a "tink, tink, plink, plink" sound and it drives me NUTS!
• there are small pick-up trucks loaded with fresh vegetables and fruit that drive around. they use these speakers or megaphones to announce their arrival and goods. the only word i can catch of this is "yucca", which is a root vegetable.
• when there is a special singer/musician playing in one of the nearby towns, they will also announce this by driving around in a usually beat-up little pick-up truck with massive speakers that take up the entire back of the truck. they blast music and the announcement of this event. same goes for political parties that want to send out some message. one seriously wonders if the drivers have any hearing left after this activity. i always have to roll my window up when passing these pick-ups because i think i will go deaf otherwise.
• many of the motorcyles here are loud. they are all mostly jerry rigged together, so forget mufflers or whatever else would reduce noise (and air pollution!). cabarete is basically a one road town, so there is this constant noise from the road - be it these motorcyles, cars, and/or the many trucks going by.
• in the apartment complex we live in, all throughout the day, the maintenance guy, the gardener, the cleaning ladies, and the guys renovating some of the apartments, all yell out to one another to either find one another or ask a question. it goes like this, "wilson! (no response) WILSON! (no response) WILSON!" i wish i could give all of them PushToTalk functionality, but i don't think Orange ever ended up deploying it - certainly not in the DR. too bad, it would be a lovely thing to give them. of course it would cost them too much and they would never use it anyway since they love to just shout anyway......