During my summer travels another traveler shared with me her own impressions on Haiti: it’s ugly, it’s difficult, there’s no culture, the least fun island in the Caribbean. What I actually heard was that our priorities are different, and that the way we see things, our experiences, our wants and needs stemming from traveling are quite opposing. But I also got a bit more prepared, which helped a lot with the impact this trip would have on me.
What I saw in Haiti was reflected on my privilege as a white person, an immigrant from Europe, someone who has education and can move freely in the world. I saw beauty in the people around me, and pride, lots of it. But most importantly, especially since it was my birthday, I felt like I was carrying a mirror, seeing myself on this island’s reflection.
(Boardwalk in Jacmel.)
Yes, there are parts of Haiti, especially in Port-au-Prince, that are tough, unsafe and dirty to the point that even some locals carry a second pair of shoes so they can change. Yes, the beach in Jacmel is full of trash, a sad thing to witness especially since the whole town is surrounded by the Caribbean sea. Yes, the people are desperate and will try their hardest to get anything out of the few tourists they meet. Yes, it took me 5hrs to cover 51 miles because the roads are still that bad after the terrible disasters the island has suffered. Do these things mean Haiti is ugly, uncultured, and its people/sea/mountains aren’t gorgeous? If one travels in any place and that’s all they retain from their experiences, they’re simply blind.
(Hotel Florita since 1888)
I cannot judge any country I visit just for a few days. But I can share my experiences: Haiti is not for the inexperienced traveler, especially when ones desires independence, meaning planning their own transportation and overnight stays. There are so many things that I would still love to learn about and experience in Haiti, but I also know there are some invisible boundaries that “outsiders” cannot cross. Hell, I’ve been in the US for 9 years now and I’m still not sure about some things!
Like this picture below is missing an I, I know there’s so much more to see, taste and feel in that island. But then again, no traveling experience is perfect, and that’s its beauty: they always keep you wanting more..
(A truck in Port au Prince, parked in the middle of the street. Stuck in traffic I snapped on of the few photos while being in Haiti, and of course that’s when cars started moving, resulting in a picture missing a part.)