The Dominican Republic is a Caribbean nation that shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti to the west. It's known for its beaches, resorts and golfing. Its terrain comprises rainforest, savannah and highlands, including Pico Duarte, the Caribbean’s tallest mountain. Capital city Santo Domingo has Spanish landmarks like the Gothic Catedral Primada de America dating back 5 centuries in its Zona Colonial district.

Dominican culture is a mixture of the cultures of Spaniard colonists, African slaves, and Taíno natives. European, African, and Taíno cultural elements are most prominent in Dominican food, family structure, religion, and music.

The typical school year runs from September to June. Education is compulsory from age 7 through 14 and there is a shortage of teachers, facilities and funds.

For decades, Dominican farming families have been moving into the cities. These Dominicans are poor and not trained for different types of work, which makes it difficult for them to provide their children with an education that will allow them to compete in the local work market.

Those who are educated and receive specific training get the most desirable jobs. Therefore, education has become more valued in the last 25 years.

To the Dominican family, payment for education represents a significant percentage of their budget, an amount that increases with high-level education. Providing their children with a profession is one of the most desired goals for parents, but the high costs of education often make this goal impossible.

Dominican employers have expressed two priorities regarding the profile of university graduates: They should speak foreign languages and be able to do interdisciplinary jobs. These requirements leave many out of the competition.

The economy of the Dominican Republic is the eighth largest in Latin America and is the largest in the Caribbean and Central American region. The Dominican Republic is an upper-middle-income developing country primarily dependent on mining, agriculture, trade, and services.

There is nothing but positive outcomes in the Dominican Republic. I am extremely excited about this as a native myself. Chances are you know someone who has vacationed in the Dominican and have heard tons of great stories. There is no better time than now to get started on purchasing your vacation home in...La República Dominicana!