For those of you that have read any of my post's, it's quite clear I truly love the DR and it's people. What started out as a vacation a couple of years ago, has become an obsession for the next return. With one's eyes open, the poverty and political climate is obvious. What isn't clear to me, is how their hardships, (by north american standards), translate into a kind and gentle people. I'm not neive here, as with any society we have negative attitude built into individuals that translate into crime. However, sitting back and observing the people within their enviroment, they seem oblivious or absent of resentment. Regardless of what area we were, without interaction on our part, smiles and song seem to be part of the way people were. We have always been treated with respect and greeted with a smile where ever we go. I need to learn how to smile more and place a song in my heart. ;)