Campesinos Wear Boots

I sometimes tell Americans that we live in Dominican red-neck country. Another way to put it is we work with hill-billies. I mean not to insult to my Dominican friends by this. It is just a short-hand way of communicating the culture here in relation to some other parts of the country.

We live in the Jarabacoa Valley in the Central Mountains. It is a favorite vacation spot for wealthy Dominicans because it is cooler in the summer and there are two major rivers through the area with waterfalls to enjoy. But really, this area is agrarian. Vegetables and flowers are the main crops. Many of the folks we know have a bit of land that they grow vegetables and some fruit on and some goats, pigs, chickens or cattle. The dirt is red with areas of clayish or sandy soil. When there is rain, there is plenty of mud and dirt roads are become nearly impassable.

So rubber boots are common.  Recently our niece, Abi, visited us from upstate New York.  She bought a pair of boots while she was here since hers were getting worn out and she told us they were "in" where she lived.  Since they didn't fit in her luggage going home, she thought it would be fun to wear them home.

As she was walking away to go through security, a Dominican man pointed to her and said,  "Look at that girl in boots!  Why is she wearying those boots?"

So I said, "That's my niece, she bought them here.  She lives in the country in New York and her old pair are worn out."

He said, "She lives in New York?"

"Yes, in the Adirondaks, the mountains in northern New York."

"There are mountains in New York?"

"Yeah, not in the City, but north,"  I explained.  Many Dominicans think of New York as just the City of New York.

"Really??  Does she know the kind of people who wear those boots here?"

"Yes, campesinos (hillbillies)"

He laughed and said, "Yeah, hillbillies, the farmers."

"I live in Jarabacoa.  I know a lot of campesinos."

"I can't believe she bought those boots, hehe.  Do you like it up there, it's cold in Jarabacoa isn't it?"

"No, it's perfect.  I love it."  I said.

This interchange reminded me that the people I know and love in this country are often looked down on.  Campesinos are poor, ignorant, uneducated.  They aren't up with the times, they ride burros, they wear old clothes and rubber boots.  They are a lot like Jesus' disciples and the early Christians, not the people the world would pick to start a movement.  They are humble, genuine, poor people.  Jesus loves them and chose them for His own.