Haiti-Beauty among Thorns

Enjoy your Independence day!!!!
Not all nations have the freedoms that we take for granted..................

Haiti-Port au Prince



















In 2000, I traveled for nearly 1 month along with 14 others between the countries of Uganda, Ghana and Ethiopia of Africa. It was a bittersweet time. Haiti was a similar experience for me. I could easily see the influence of western Africa in Haiti*. The airport set-up at arrival, the architecture of the buildings and streets, the armed guards at the hotel gate, the heat, humidity, the friendliness and love of the people, the smiles among suffering. It all felt familiar. I felt comfortable the whole trip. The only part that I was a little shell-shocked at was the orphanage. Not because there was anything wrong, it was just that I have never been to one before. It was hard to see so many children with such big hearts without homes. I guess I kept imagining Tuki there and it was hard for me to process.

Because of this and how quickly time went, I wasn't able to accomplish all I wanted and had promised to other adoptive parents. In addition, time in Haiti is slow. What we may plan to do in an hour, it will take several hours there. It is just their way of life and it is important to "morph" into other countries lifestyle while visiting. We are the visitors and as Americans I feel it is important to respect other counties customs by following them while there, and not try and change them.

*The current Haitian population are descendants of western Africans shipped to the island of Haiti during the time of slavery. Haiti was the first country that became a free nation from the bondage of slavery.