3 Things That Make me Proud to be Dominicana

3 Things That Make me Proud to be Dominicana ~ A look into my culture and how I find things and places that remind me of my heritage. 

This is a compensated campaign in collaboration with DOLE and #WeAllGrow Latina Network.

This past weekend, I took a quick trip to Washington Heights to visit friends, who I had not seen in over a year. The Heights, as it is referred to by the locals, is a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan which holds the greatest concentration of Dominicans outside of the Dominican Republic. If you know me, you know that nothing brightens up my day more than finding people, places and things that bring me back to roots and The Heights is as close to D.R. as you’ll get living outside of the country itself. Once in the neighborhood, you get an immediate dose of the things that makes us most proud of our culture and it is a delight to enjoy.

Our Food

This is really my most favorite thing about our culture. Dominican food consists of lots of meat and starches like corn, potatoes, and plantains and has strong Spanish and African influences in its cuisine. Most meals include a combination of rice, beans, meat, and salad, or all of the above. Some of our typical dishes include mangu, sancocho, chicken stew, and habichulas guisadas, among others. Street foods like empanadas, yaniqueques, kipes and chimichurri or a good fritura with carne frita, chicharron de pollo, queso frito and tostones are also very popular.

That is without mentioning the fresh tropical fruit found in the island. Nothing feeds my Caribbean soul like a mango and coconut water does. Two things that are not as easy to find in the US during the winter months. Thankfully, I have found the perfect snack to keep at home and enjoy whenever I want a taste of the tropics. And it is SO GOOD you guys!

The NEW Dole Fruit Bowls in Coconut Water is just what I needed. These are such a great idea! Why didn’t anyone think of this before?

I am so happy that I tried this product! I love that I have a refreshing snack option with coconut water that reminds me of my roots and where I come from with every sip or bite. You should definitely try them. The NEW Dole Fruit Bowls in Coconut Water is absolutely delicious!

Our Music

Music is an integral part of the Dominican way of life. There is a popular saying in the island that Dominican children can dance before they can walk. The Dominican Republic is the land of the Merengue and the Bachata. Both genres have impacted the world through the music of artists such as Juan Luis Guerra and Romeo Santos.

Our People

We are a social culture filled with happy, colorful, passionate loud people. We enjoy talking to our neighbors, playing Dominos with friends and starting up a celebration for no reason on any given day because life is a party.

I love my culture and feel immensely proud to be Dominicana. This is why I’ll always be looking for the things that bring me a little bit closer to my heritage like listening to a sabroso merengue and enjoying the delicious New Dole Fruit Bowl with Coconut Water while imagining I’m sitting under a tree feeling the sea breeze and beachy smell of the island.