Repubblica Dominicana

Delicious food and beautiful landscapes

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The country of merengue, bachata and a unique mix of European, African and indigenous populations, Dominicans are proud of their diverse heritage. Known for their great sense of humor, Dominicans will be happy to share with you all the things they consider to be muy dominicano. You’ll feel very welcomed in this island country with the highest mountain in the Caribbean, the deepest valley, rainforests, deserts, swamps and white sand beaches.

Teenagers in the Dominican Republic love to spend time together, and you will be invited to join many activities to make friends. Sports (mainly baseball and basketball) are very popular, as well as taking guitar, dance or art classes. In the evenings, young people enjoy the movies or organize dance parties in their homes.

AFS Youth exchange in the Dominican Republic

Culture & Community

You can be placed anywhere in the Dominican Republic, from small communities to urban centers. Dominicans are often easy going and enjoy helping each other. However, families tend to be very conservative, so consult with your host parents before making decisions or going out with friends. 

School

You will be attending a public or private school, which might provide a scholarship to help pay for your tuition. School runs from August through June, Monday through Friday (8 am to 4 pm). Dominican students wear uniforms to school and each school has a unique uniform. Schools offer extracurricular activities, such as are sports, music, dance and theatre.

Beach day in #DominicanRepublic @nishi_marie

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Language

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Why the Dominican Republic❔ 🇩🇴🗺📍 We asked our current Dominican host student @jaimejbr to answer this question for us: "The Dominican Republic is more than just a tropical paradise in the Caribbean. It's a country that finds itself on the very same path as the sun, home to a world of loving and welcoming people with a culture that captures the very best of the Caribbean and makes it its own. It's a place where the city never sleeps, because there's always something to do whether by night or during the day. And above all, for us the Dominicans, it' s a country that has it all; talking about the climate, be it the breeze of the sea or the snow in the mountains, or about the food, be it sweet or salty." 📸 ¡Muchísimas gracias también a @g.gaiax por estas fotos más lindas! 🇮🇹➡🇩🇴 18/19 . . . #afsswitzerland #afseffect #openyourmind #latinoamerica #dominicanrepublic #rd #exchange #caribbean

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The main language spoken in the Dominican Republic is Spanish. Having a basic knowledge of English or Spanish will be an asset, and you can take language lessons if needed.

Food

You should taste the traditional Dominican breakfast or dinner dish called Mangú, a savory puree made of mashed plantains, yucca or auyama, and traditionally served with fried red onions, fried white cheese, eggs or salami. For lunch, the Dominicans often eatla Bandera Dominicana (the Dominican Flag) which consists of white rice, bean stew (black, red or white) and meat.

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