Imagine getting out of a plane and seeing many trees, beautiful oceans and people greeting you with bright smiles on their face to an extravagant island, the Dominican Republic. Once on the bus to your next destination however, you feel the bumps on the unfinished roads and bullets of sweat coming down your face from the lack of air conditioning. Unlike the United States which has complete roads and air conditioning on all of their public transportations, these are one of many differences that the United States and Dominican Republic have. As a result, many have people have found that the main distinct differences that the United States and Dominican Republic have are their educational systems, the government and their infrastructure. In the United States educational system, schools start in the end of August and end in the beginning of June with the exception of week-long breaks. For example, the United States have winter break for two weeks, spring break, teacher planning day and other national holidays. Students in the United States would usually start classes at the same time, from 7:00am to 4:00pm. The grade levels are extremely different. In order to get into school the age limit would have to be five years old. Sometimes when coming from another country a screening test is done before placing the student in the proper grade level. For example, when my cousins first came to the United States four years ago they were between the ages of twelve and sixteen. Upon entering school they had to immediately take a screening test to see what grade they were placed in, the youngest got placed in a higher grade than the oldest one. Many who come to the United States know that the classes are paid through FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) which are paid by our tax money. Students have the choice to start off in college or go straight to a university right after high school. However, in the Dominican Republican schools begin in the beginning of September and end in the middle of June with not as much breaks as the United States. The only break Dominicans have is