Hello Everyone!

I will soon be writing about my experience in the DR and will put the links here for the articles once they are published in the next month or two.

Thank you to all my friends, colleagues and acquaintances for your continued support. I am grateful to be making such wonderful new friendships and relationships with some of the best and most hard working people in business and in the world.

From this trip to the Dominican Republic I learned that even though we all have differences among our cultures, upbringing, traditions and ways, we’re mostly all the same: We are all trying to better our lives and the lives of our families by working hard to bridge the gaps in our own lives and in the lives of those around us. Having owned an interpreting office in Connecticut between 2000 and 2004, I learned of the gaps between cultures. I am from Poland and was always very close to my Polish community and I saw how the Polish people did business with mostly other Polish people as well as associated with those close to their own culture. Each country and culture has its strong heritage and its people tend to cling together. Unfortunately though, the awareness levels of most people forbid them from fully understanding that ‘the different’ is still very beautiful, hence driving some of these gaps wider. Many of us still seem to think that the unknown is scary, needed to be avoided and that overall others who are different from us are not as good as us – that’s ego of many people on a subconscious level. In my work in human potential development over the last 3 years, it’s become really apparent to me that egocentrism is a large part of most people’s lives – so when I say that many of us are very egocentric, I am referring to my actual experiences and not just speaking of philosophy or my own views. Egocentrism can keep us from experiencing and being a part of so much wonder all around us. Every culture and way has something great to offer us if we only let it. I urge you to think about how stereotypes, egocentrism and social conditioning have had an effect on your life and decisions. Is there anything that you have not done as a result of being uncomfortable of venturing into the unknown?

I was so impressed with the Dominican Republic culture, which I knew just about nothing of upon going on this trip. And in my short time in working with the SWFL Hispanic Chamber of Commerce I was astonished at the amount of culture I had been missing out on by only sticking to the comfortable – the European community I grew up in and seem to have clung to because my own once present egocentric reasons and false stereotypes.

In business, we should come together rather than keep apart. We can do that through bridging the gaps between countries, communities and people everywhere. The first step is to simply extend our welcome to a stranger in any situation – whether it’s a formal meeting with Congress or a simple meeting of a stranger on an airplane. I think it’s time for many, many changes to take place in the way that business is done and in the way we humans interact with one another. I am very happy to be involved in the relations of the Spanish culture and in the relationship building with the Dominican Republic and SW FL. We all have a lot to offer on many levels to all the people around us. Let’s welcome the unknown in the New Year 2007 and bridge our gaps in order for all of us to have more fulfilling, healthier and happier lives. Best wishes for a fantastic 2007 to you!

• We left at 11:00 a.m. from Page Field Airport and landed in Santo Domingo at 2:30 p.m. local time (1:30 p.m. our time)
• Immediately vehicles from the Congress met us at the airport - went to have lunch at a restaurant by the Caribbean Sea
• Went to meet with the Speaker of the House, the Honorable Julio Cesar Valentin, who accepted an invitation to speak at the Chamber International Business Gala Dinner (January 26, 2007 at the Hyatt)
• We meet another delegation there from the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce who also went to meet with the Speaker of the House and dine with the President - They praised our Chamber for the job we are doing in promoting international commerce.
• We met DR Presidential Board Members from Germany, Italy, France, Spain, and other States in the USA. They all showed an interest in doing business in Southwest Florida. We were one of two delegations traveling on private jet. the other one was from Miami
• The President, Dr. Fernandez, showed an interest in helping Floridian Gulf Coast Homes, Inc.'s efforts to build in the Dominican Republic as well as support our Chamber at the DR-CAFTA Conference we have in the DR on March 29-31, 2007 and other events/activities that may have to do with the Dominican Republic.

Thank you again, everyone for your warm invitation, support and friendship. I am very lucky to have so many wonderful people in my life who believe in me. Thank you.

-Anna Kubit