....Haiti
1. Haitians love to tease. LOVE to tease. Nothing seems to be too private or embarrassing for them to not use as ammunition. The same joke can be told over and over again, in exactly the same way, and it can still be hilarious. Some examples of endlessly repeated jokes: "Ou manje anpil (You eat a lot)", "Ou gen kolera (You have kolera)," and "Ou malad? Eske ou gen diare? (You're sick? Do you have diarrhea?)." Years ago I fell down the stairs at the boys' home (I am a self-professed complete klutz) and they still laughat me with me about it. They have taught me how to laugh at myself and to not take myself so seriously.
1. Haitians love to tease. LOVE to tease. Nothing seems to be too private or embarrassing for them to not use as ammunition. The same joke can be told over and over again, in exactly the same way, and it can still be hilarious. Some examples of endlessly repeated jokes: "Ou manje anpil (You eat a lot)", "Ou gen kolera (You have kolera)," and "Ou malad? Eske ou gen diare? (You're sick? Do you have diarrhea?)." Years ago I fell down the stairs at the boys' home (I am a self-professed complete klutz) and they still laugh
2. Haitians kiss each other on the cheeks in greeting, making me feel super welcome and cared for, even if I've just met them.
3. Haitians take care of their family members. It may be burdensome for those who are in poverty, but they want to help their parents and siblings and other members of their family with their needs. Large numbers of people may live together and look out for each other.
4. They sing without reservation. I love to sing. Enough said.
5. Haiti has no shortage of drama or adventures to keep you on your toes. Just when I think I can predict what my day might look look like, BAM! something happens to make my head spin around.
6. Along the lines of Number 5, Haiti has made me learn that I KNOW NOTHING. I moved to Haiti thinking I knew a lot about humanity, how to love people, and how to solve problems. Every day I learn that this is not the case. As frustrating as it can be, it makes me rely more on the Holy Spirit to live my life and to be in ministry.
8. Running. Its hot, its sweaty, its dirty. I never know when I might trip and land on my face, causing all the people cooking, walking, or driving on the streets to stare and laugh at me.
4. They sing without reservation. I love to sing. Enough said.
5. Haiti has no shortage of drama or adventures to keep you on your toes. Just when I think I can predict what my day might look look like, BAM! something happens to make my head spin around.
6. Along the lines of Number 5, Haiti has made me learn that I KNOW NOTHING. I moved to Haiti thinking I knew a lot about humanity, how to love people, and how to solve problems. Every day I learn that this is not the case. As frustrating as it can be, it makes me rely more on the Holy Spirit to live my life and to be in ministry.
7. Even though Port au Prince is heavily populated, I've often run into people I know at the market, on the street, or in restaurants. That rarely happens to me in the states. Haiti feels very small in comparison.
8. Running. Its hot, its sweaty, its dirty. I never know when I might trip and land on my face, causing all the people cooking, walking, or driving on the streets to stare and laugh at me.
6 comments:
Such a lovely post. I have never been to Haiti.
Will surely love to go back to being a student of life and culture all over again in a new place.
Stay safe and live well.
Cheers!
Thanks for sharing. It speaks to my heart. Can feel and remember what its like to be there, every thing you mention is right on ! Looking forward to your next post
This definitely sounds like Haiti to me. lol Even just from the short week I spent there. I can't wait to go back this summer. :)
Sounds PERFECT!
xoxo
Sarah
Theweatheredword.blogspot.com
This is so sweet, appreciating those small things that they done... nice
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This is an amazing post, so inspiring! It makes me want to visit Haiti now. I know what you mean...we feel like our experiences are so important and we've learned so much from what we've gone through in life, but travelling can definitely give you some major perspective. You go and discover this whole new country, whether it be Haiti or China or England, and realize this is so much more than you ever knew.
~TRA
http://xtheredangelx.blogspot.com
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