You need to establish residency in a jurisdiction before filing for divorce in that jurisdiction. For California that requires living there for 6 months. If he files for divorce in the D.R. before you establish residency, D.R. will have jurisdiction. If he files for divorce in D.R. after you establish residency and file in California, you proceed to a international jurisdiction dispute - expensive lawyers, experts, complicated international law and treaties. After losing that, you proceed through divorce.

Probably not the emotional boost you were hoping for. Given the circumstances you are best off concentrating your energy either on making the marriage work or supporting yourself post-divorce. The silver lining here is that either of these missions is likely to be much more rewarding for you than scheming how to gouge him in divorce.