Day 1: Sak Pase Ayiti!

The sounds of Haiti start at an early hour, as well as the people. Luckily, our first morning was a Sunday and we were allowed an extra hour before emerging from our mosquito nets. Breakfast was a beautiful spread of papaya, banana, plantains, and french fries - we are still debating if the french fries are a Haitian classic or an attempt to familiarize the food. One of the biggest questions leading up to this moment, for us college students who just emerged from a week of finals, was “will there be coffee?” The answer was yes. We all rushed towards the table In delight at the sight of a coffee machine.

Seventeen of us piled into the van and took off on the bumpy roads of Petionville. An hour later of winding up the mountainside and getting a glimpse of the variety and beauty of the day-to-day bustle of the city, we arrived at a stunning view spot. Port-au-Prince evokes awe from the size of the sprawling city, as well as the contrast between the dense residential neighborhoods, new construction, and vast ocean. As we gazed out, the biggest contrast of all was the arrival of several tourist groups sitting down to at a luxury restaurant attached to the view spot. This restaurant sparked a conversation within our group about the role of tourism in Haiti and where we play a part. Additionally, this lead us to value our relationship with Rea, our host, as well as our driver Soso, Rea’s children Daniel and Donna, and the many other people providing us with food and comfort during our stay. And most especially, we want to shoutout our two new friends, Padre and Ricardo (11 & 9 years old), who have taught us a variety of skills, from cats cradle to break dancing.

We drove back down the mountainside with a new perspective of the city and arrived in downtown Port-au-Prince at our next stop, the national museum of Haiti. A tour guide lead us through pillars representing the different time periods, from the arrival of Christopher Columbus to the latest election. Discussions were sparked as the history of dictatorships and revolutionaries were explained. There was also an exhibition of art depicting the different perceptions of Haitian artists. The history and art combined allowed us to understand both the factual and emotional side of a disposesed and controversial history.

On arriving back at the house after a short walk in the heat, half of us settled in for a nap while the other half resumed a game of basketball. Our dining was an incredible spread of rice, beans, vegetables, potatoes, and turkey - as well as a delicious chocolate cake to top off the meal. The rest of the evening was spent playing more basketball, sitting on the roof, and reflecting on our day. As we wash off the sweat and bug spray from the day, we are filled with excitement for the coming days, as well as the knowledge that the friendships we are making now will last beyond this trip.