I have always been an advocate of explorative travel because I believe in its educational power. It allows us to learn about new cultures, traditions, and people, and even discover new aspects of ourselves—our likes, dislikes, and adaptability. Traveling to explore is profoundly impactful.
I have always been curious about other cultures. And even though my trip to the Dominican Republic (DR) was mostly for relaxation, my curiosity led me to explore cultural symbols. I discovered that this country is rich with cultural enigmas full of meaning.
Looking beyond the surface in DR allowed me to unveil many secrets, like the story of the local Mangu dish or the mystery behind power cables hanging shoes. These experiences deepened my appreciation for the vibrant and diverse culture of the Dominican Republic, and most importantly my appreciation for travel and intercultural learning.
The Mangu – A taste of history
On one of our days in DR, my brother and I wanted to try the local food. Our waiter advised we try the Mangu. We had never eaten or heard of that dish before, so we were super excited about it. We then learned that the Mangu is one of the main dishes of the Dominican Republic, served during breakfast lunch or dinner. It is made of boiled and mashed plantain resulting in a creamy texture. According to research, this dish came from the Congo when locals came to the island during the slave trade. I, personally, am not a big fan of plantain, but this version of it blew my taste buds away!
As our waiter was handing us the plates, we asked a bit more about the origine of the Mangu. Apparently, the name of the dish dates from the 20th century when Americans were occupying the island. During that time, American soldiers would eat the Mangu and say “Man, that’s good!”. Dominicans who did not know English very well, believed that this is what Americans called the dish and translated it to ‘Mangu’.
I found this story both fascinating and amusing. It is intriguing how people from different cultures translate things in unique ways. This story also represents the blending of cultures and history, highlighting the richness of Dominican heritage. So, next time you have the Mangu, I hope you enjoy it so much that you say, “Man, that’s good!
The mystery of hanging shoes
On another day in DR, my brother and I were driving down the narrow streets of Samana, going to Playa Rincon, a beautiful beach on the west side of the peninsula. As we were driving, we saw on one of the streets, several pairs of shoes hanging on power cables. I was very surprised as I had never seen such a thing, and quite frankly the view of these shoes hanging in the air was very unique and strange to me. I was very intrigued: why would anyone hang their shoes on power cables? And how would they even be able to do that?
I decided to research it on the spot. After reading a few articles, I learned that these shoes could symbolize several things:
- A mafia was surrounding the area, and these shoes are put up on the street to mark their existence in the neighborhood; I was definitely scared reading this…
- These shoes could mean that the area is prone to crimes or is a drug-selling point; I was even more scared now…
- Putting these shoes up is also a way to commemorate someone’s death, usually their murder; thank god, I was driving with my brother, because I was petrified at that point..
- But then I also read that some of these acts could simply be a form of bullying, or pranks done by teenagers who steal other people’s shoes and hang them up as a joke; I really hoped that that was the case…and quite frankly the neighborhood seemed calm and peaceful so it might have been that.
Although some of these findings were scary, I still found them to be very interesting. I had literally never seen such a thing in a city or village, and just the sight of these shoes was fascinating. And honestly, I was mostly thrilled to have made a new discovery.
These two stories are so simple, but they hold so much significance. They are a proof that it is very important to look beyond the surface during our own travel journeys, seek out and understand cultural symbols along the way. At the very least, you’ll have some cool tales to tell your family and friends when returning home, and of course, a bit more cultural awareness.
