Sosua is a tourist town on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. The last three weeks spent here have been a refreshing change from the laid back life in Luperon and a glimpse into the impacts of tourism. In many rural Dominican villages, happy people seem to simply spend their time slapping mosquitos, procreating, and waiting for food to fall out of a tree. In tourist towns, the lure of money brings out an evil twin of the Yin or the Yang, with locals becoming less-than-happy second class citizens bombarded with the freak show of "civilized" tourists who are unhappy because they brought themselves on vacation. But, some of the dysfunctionalities provide comic relief. As I write this in an Internet Cafe, one over-the-hill, shirtless man with a tan belly and surfer shorts is dialing an international telephone call. His jet-black, dyed hair with long sideburns is perfectly styled to imitate Elvis Presley. As he struggles with the phone and complains over spending a few pesos, one of the flirtatious young Dominican girls plays footsy with his toes sticking out of white flipflops. And, (of course) he replies with "Don't step on my blue suede shoes." Honestly, I cannot make this stuff up.
Sosua is a tourist town on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. The last three weeks spent here have been a refreshing change from the laid back life in Luperon and a glimpse into the impacts of tourism. In many rural Dominican villages, happy people seem to simply spend their time slapping mosquitos, procreating, and waiting for food to fall out of a tree. In tourist towns, the lure of money brings out an evil twin of the Yin or the Yang, with locals becoming less-than-happy second class citizens bombarded with the freak show of "civilized" tourists who are unhappy because they brought themselves on vacation. But, some of the dysfunctionalities provide comic relief. As I write this in an Internet Cafe, one over-the-hill, shirtless man with a tan belly and surfer shorts is dialing an international telephone call. His jet-black, dyed hair with long sideburns is perfectly styled to imitate Elvis Presley. As he struggles with the phone and complains over spending a few pesos, one of the flirtatious young Dominican girls plays footsy with his toes sticking out of white flipflops. And, (of course) he replies with "Don't step on my blue suede shoes." Honestly, I cannot make this stuff up.
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