"It's a small world!": Dealing with being the stranger in town....
Being in a foreign country is quite interesting on many levels. There are new sights, sounds, smells, etc. I think one of the most fascinating things for me is the fact that we are now the "exotic foreigners" in town. I am just so used to living in the U.S., where there is such a variety of people from all over the world. In the Philadelphia/NYC area, there are so many ethnic groups represented that no on stands out. ***However, here, we really do stand out as white gringos, no matter how dark our tan is becoming. 
It is funny to see that people are staring at us and wondering what we are doing in their little Caribbean mountain town. This is giving me a whole new perspective on life.
The last time we were here, we didn't venture out as much on our own. However, this time is different. Every morning my husband and I go for a long walk around town. There are a lot of hills, so it is great exercise. Many look at us with suspicion, some with curiosity, some with excitement that there is someone visiting their small corner of the world. At times, I feel like I am on display and they don't realize they are staring at us. It is a very strange experience to say the least. We always greet people with ¡Hola! or ¡Buenos Días!, but we are usually the ones to initiate the greetings. Most actually look surprised before responding back to us.
It is making me wonder if I ever make anyone new to my part of the world feel uncomfortable? Do I ever look at people, even for a moment and make them feel uncomfortable? When you get right down to it, we are all more alike than different. Most of us share similar hopes, dreams and ambitions. We might just look a little different or sound a little different to each other.
Have you ever experienced being the "stranger" in town? Has this made you feel uncomfortable? How do you deal or react to these situations? Also, are you conscious of how you make foreigners feel when they come to your part of the world? To quote the song "It is a small world after all. " 
6 Answers
Nicole-Baile,
I hope you always remember that feeling of how interesting it is to be the "exotic foreigner." I lived in Mongolia for a few years and know the feeling well. At first, it wasn't that big of a deal that EVERYONE stared at me whenever I went outside. After being there for a while and learning the language and culture as much as possible, it got to be annoying when people stared at me like I was part of a circus on the loose. I would talk to or ignore the small children, because they are small children and that's what they do. But with adults, I often had to ask them if they were okay after staring at me for so long. I've seen people walk into things because they were looking at me and not watching where they were going. But, I have to say, I would greatly prefer blank stares to insults and aggressiveness. Unfortunately, there are people in every country who think that any "outsiders" should not be there. I was often told that I should go to my own country and quit polluting the Mongolian society. The worst was when I would correct an adult for doing something like littering, hitting women, or being extremely loud at night. Those were the times that I had to worry about getting in a fight, because it is "their country and they can do whatever they like, and it doesn't matter to me." It got to be that I was so frustrated that I would keep my head down while constantly keeping my guard up.
But to end on a happy note, the friends that I made there were as good as you can find anywhere. And if they happened to be with me when a stranger bothered me, they stuck up for me in an instant.
Very nice post, Nicole!
Most of us share similar hopes, dreams and ambitions.
This is my favorite line!
I've seen how "outsiders" have been treated from watching the news, reading the comments on online news story, or even happening right in front of me. I don't understand why some people think they own the whole country! 
I only wish some people could be more welcoming to those who are different. Sure we are different. We all have different languages, cultures, and backgrounds. Those are things that should make us unique...they should not be the things that cause separation, rejection, and hatred.
Hi Nicole,
How wonderful to hear that you are out and about traveling! To your observation, I think it depends on two things 1) your attitude and 2) the cultural attitude toward strangers that is held by the folks in any particular location.
Perhaps I have just been very fortunate, but I have found that a big smile and an attempt at the local language can get you great mileage. If you are in a part of the world where they are used to tourists you have a good, fighting chance. If not, (people being people) they will defalut to their preconceptions about "outsiders" and you stand little chance no matter how benign your motives.
No matter what the case, continue to be yourself...unfailingly polite and continue your practice of greeting them before they greet you. Who knows, you may not reap the benefits, but the next "stranger" may....
wishing you all the best, all the time,
cathy.
There are so many stray dogs and roosters roaming the streets. But one thing we have noticed is that every day when we take our walk, there is always one stray dog that follows us nearly the entire time. It is never the same dog.
We have never felt overly threatened or in any danger, although I suppose there is always the potential. But it seems as if there is a guard dog patrol that has been given the task of protecting us each day. They work in shifts and take turns, but they are always there to keep us company.
Have you ever experienced being the "stranger" in town?
Yes, l have many times before, about 5 times or even more!
Has this made you feel uncomfortable?
Sure! not because people treat you differently or something, but even if people were very nice to you, it does make you feel uncomfortable, you can't be treated like one of the people there as you're simply not the same, some people tend to look at the strangers out of curiosity, and others look at them as people who don't deserve to be at their land! and other look at them just to greet or to make them feel welcomed, but in any case as long as you're still new there, you'll always feel like a stranger.
However, visiting a new culture is always a very interesting challenge, getting to know a new culture, a whole different life style, traditions, food, cloth and millions of other stuff, it takes a lot of time to live like those people, get to know them and learn about their culture, but at the end, in most of the times, whenever you go (if you have picked the right place) you will be welcomed as a visitor and it's nice in most of the times
Lovely said:
However, visiting a new culture is always a very interesting challenge, getting to know a new culture, a whole different life style, traditions, food, cloth and millions of other stuff,
I agree Lovely. What is interesting is that I have been to this part of the world before. Last week we spent more time in the capital of Santo Domingo and also spent a lot of time near the beach in Juan Dolio and Boca Chica. However, since those are tourist areas where many Europeans travel, we were not that interesting.
But, when we returned to the mountains, where people tend to be more secluded, I guess we were considered to be unusual looking. At the very least, it was a shock to see us walking around town, shopping in the mercaditos and comados, etc. Most of the people in this area rarely leave the mountain, even though the financial capital of Santiago is only a 40 minute drive away.
Speaking of that, that also makes me very sad that we as foreigners have had the opportunity to see most of their beautiful country. To think that we as visitors have seen the capital of Santo Domingo which Christopher Columbus made famous and we have also seen the beautiful Caribbean, while Dominican nationals have not, is actually a sad thought. Compared to the U.S., the country is quite small.
But then again, I still haven't seen the Grand Canyon....so I guess I won't feel as guilty.
