When people see photos or short clips of our life in the Dominican Republic, it can look like everything fell into place easily. Sun, beaches, slower mornings, and a new chapter. What most people do not see are the mistakes, the learning curve, and the moments where we questioned whether we had made the right decision.

Moving abroad is not a highlight reel. It is real life, just in a different country. Today, I want to share five mistakes expats make when they moved to the Dominican Republic, not to discourage you, but to prepare you. Because every lesson we learned made our life here better in the long run.