Trip #3

This time I got to take my two daughters, ages 5 and 17, with me, spending two weeks in Haiti and one week in the Dominican Republic. It just so happened that while we were in Haiti, our hosts had a group of youth visiting. The following is a description of that part of our trip. My 17 year old got to participate along with the youth group, while I tried to keep up with my little one as she played all day long from sun up (before 6am) to sun down with several little kids living in and near the compound where we stayed up in the mountains above Port au Prince. It was a wonderful trip for all three of us. And TNH Television Nationale D'Haiti filmed the group of American and Haitian youth as they spent their week together, broadcasting pieces of their experience on national television each evening that week. TNH is creating a documentary movie of their week!

The youth group arrived Sunday at Noon. They were met by Carla, Ari & Djaloki of Haiti Travels in a bus that transported them to Gwo Jan, after getting a tour of downtown Port au Prince. Upon arrival in Gwo Jan there was an immediate welcome reception and introduction of "twins", as Haitian youth were paired with American youth for the week. Then they all got a tour of the compound and met key people who live there. They ate a large lunch of rice, beans & chicken around 3pm and then washed their own dishes. They had time to get settled into the Guest House. At 7pm in the evening the group met again and made more in-depth introductions of one another, and the week’s schedule and “rules of the yard” were discussed. They had dinner together afterwards and then played games, listened to folks in the house play guitar and drum music, visited, and finally went to bed around 10pm.

On Monday morning an optional activity was planned, as was each morning, at 6am. The group participants were invited to watch their lunch, a goat, be butchered. Some watched, some didn’t want to, which was fine, of course. At 7am each morning a group Kreyol lesson is offered, which everyone chose to attend each time. Breakfast was always around 8am. One day the group went into the village to eat with some local residents. Later on Monday morning there was a group sharing of what each believed about the other (American vs. Haitian). And then a discussion began in regards to an historical orientation of Haiti and the world. There were a couple of hours of free time before lunch, which was served around 4pm. After dinner the group broke up into three small groups and got to tour Gwo Jan and visit some of the residents’ homes. Dinner was offered around 8pm with a debriefing meeting afterwards. Again they went to bed around 10pm.

On Tuesday, the optional 6am activity was learning to “sweep the yard” and then wet it down with water. They also learned how to carry produce on their heads. And a drumming lesson was offered. Kreyol at 7am again. Then breakfast. Later in the day, each participant got to choose to roast coffee, make peanut butter, cook lunch, and finally bathe in a waterfall on the property. After lunch, the group played traditional games such as dominos, parchesi, goats knuckles, and circle games. Dance and drum lessons were offered in the afternoon before dinner and debriefing.

On Wednesday the optional 6am activity was to milk a cow. Then Kreyol at 7am. Breakfast at 8am. At 9am the group visited downtown areas such as St. Marten, St. Vincent, an artisan workshop, and a souvenir shop. A snack was offered on the bus. Lunch was scheduled at 3pm. Then free time, debriefing, and a small evening meal.

Thursday morning was spent in a similar way as other mornings, with Kreyol lesson and then breakfast. Then we all went to a beach resort for the day called Moulin Sur Mer, which means Mill on the Sea, referring to the slavery era sugar cane mill exposed on the property which itself is a former slave operated sugar cane plantation. There is a colonial history museum located there that we did not have time to visit. It was a 2 hour drive north to get to Montrouis, which is on the Coast of the Arcadins, near St Marc. The beach was not real clean that day and the kids ended up being bitten by sea urchins, so we all spent most of the afternoon in the pool, which was very nice. The meal was great! When we got back to Gwo Jan there was a debriefing session for about an hour and a half and then a light dinner.

Friday was spent with twins in their homes doing chores, eating the main noon meal with the twins’ families, and then a dance performance by a group of youth called Basalik Kreyol in Port au Prince that evening at the Rex Theatre.

Saturday morning was spent in Croix des Bouquets at the cut metal artists’ shops. In the evening we all went into Port au Prince for a concert by 2 Rasin and the play 3 Innocents & A Spirit at St. Joseph's Boys Home.

Sunday was spent eating lunch at the Montana Hotel, the nicest resort in Port. Then the Americans spent their last night there, flying out the next morning.