Education and Children Changing the World

The Haitian Lifestyle

A day at the park

On Sunday May 20th, the four brothers were re-united! Me and my 3 other bros went to the park, a very interesting one filled with beautiful people, immense hallways and some interesting places to sit. Places that were accommodated for 4, even 6 persons to comfortably sit and enjoy the view. We were even able to move around with some of these beautiful sit places. Because they have wheels and engine, some call them cars. Yes, I was at the auto-expo, and No I am not going to talk about the cars.

With time and a great deal of effort, I’ve cultivated the ability to focus on the good and prodigious things that I encounter throughout the day, and this day at the park, absolutely worth a whole article. So right here and now, I’m presenting you the finest of the auto-expo experience.

The smoothness of the experience

From the sign at the entrance, the escorts around the parking lot, the dedicated drivers that’ll take you to the entry gate… to the subtle trustful atmosphere that ruled the park, everything was charming and agreeable. People were open with each other, kind of like an immense family reunion where you’ll find siblings you’ve never met before but are open to know.

Safe like a private resort park

My good friend from PAP-Security was in charge of the security, so I felt safe like I was hanging in a secretive resort in an unfriendly country. There was security agent everywhere and even with their assault weapons, there were no sense of threats whatsoever. It was like a routine job for them because they had not to deal with any situations where their presence would really felt like needed. Also the people, more like an immense family as mention above were vibrating trustfulness, almost like if you happen to leave your phone on the floor someone would just bring it to #BibiNetalkole, the host. I said ALMOST! I didn’t check.

The worthy gifts and advantages

Buying a new car is not for everyone, they cost millions of gourdes, that’s for Millionaires! And we’re entrepreneurs, we aim to get there. Hearing such discounts and gifts was pretty mind-blowing. I was particularly surprised when big bro said he would get a Galaxy S9 if he buys the Subaru Crosstreck, which is a car I’ve test-drive and loved. I had to confirm that with Nicolas M. who was like, yeah your bro is right, with his humble voice and interminable smile. That’s the kind of deals that when you do the math, are completely affordable for the dealer but, have not been put in place at all. This is the kind of genius spark that us entrepreneurs should learn from.

To sum it up

I had an amazingly good Sunday, meeting new people, catching up with old friends and learning. I am addicted to improvement, and seeing such great event with innovative selling strategies is more than enough to put a huge smile on my face.

It might be that I woke up on the right foot, or that I really got good at looking for the gold; either way this article is completely biased so I would love to read your own feedback on this event. Was it really as good as I mentioned? Have you also had a great day at the Park?

PS: the president Jovenel Moïse and his wife was there.

What is Haïti?

Haiti located on the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean. It occupies the western three-eighths of the island, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Haiti is 27,750 square kilometers (10,714 sq. mi) in size and has an estimated 10.6 million people,[3] making it the most populous country in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the second-most populous country in the Caribbean as a whole…

What is Haïti?

You’ve read all this and yet you still don’t know what Haiti truly is. Just like knowing someone’s name, birthdate, skin color etc. doesn’t makes you knowing them. Of course these data are useful but they are incomplete. To know something, one have to experience the actual thing. Technology have tried its best to deliver this experience with pictures, 360 views, videos, 3d etc. but we all know that facetime cannot show you what a real hug is. Just as this article cannot tell you what Haiti is, it’ll just give you a way to understand what it is, and your imagination will do the rest.

Past, Present and future (… bright future or?)

Frontispiece_from_the_book_Saint-Domingue,_ou_Histoire_de_Ses_Révolutions._ca._1815

Haiti’s amazing past of: first black nation to be free from slavery, Christianism (which was also brought by the proslavery) and lead by themselves… The unknown future of the new elected president Jovenel Moïse which is in the political party built by former president Michel J. Martelly, a certain continuity is to expect… Considering both as useful data to help you understand the conflict between where we were and where we ‘think’ we are now. The only way to answer our question, is by visiting us today. And when you will come (I know you will, because that’s probably why you are spending your precious time reading this article, which is something I really appreciate), you will see all kind of things. From gorgeous breath-taking beaches at Labadi, Ile-à-vache; immersive hiking at Kenskoff, Furcy, Pernier, Milot, Terre Blanche to trash mountain around Portail-Léogane, Pétion-Ville’s public market and car station, Canape-vert. The experience can go from breath-taking landscape to breath-holding stench. But why the stench is greater and more affluent?

What is Haïti?

A country, just like everything in this universe, is a hole and is part of a hole. As so it consists of different parts. Some more important than others but all are necessary for it to be. A country is made of people, without them it would just be an island. And its most important resource is its people. If 9 out of 10 million people are using the streets as their trash bin, no wonder why it stink. I wrote all this to show you that, a country is the person living in it. So Haiti is us, either Haitians or foreigners. If it is as corrupted as it is right now, it’s because of our day to day behavior. The behavior of one single person is the one of the entire country. If I choose to be lazy and spend several months without writing any article, how can I complain when the KEP (Konsey Elektoral Pwovizwa = Provisional electoral council) have made about 6 attempts before they can get to an acceptable election. It is me, as a Haitian to nail my behavior into how I want the country to be, because Haiti is… ME, Haiti is us, Haiti is every single person living in it at this very moment. Whether you are just visiting or native. If more person realize that Haiti is them, that Earth is us, we will think twice before throwing that plastic bag in the street, before selling our national telecommunication center (TELECO) to the foreigners, before we bride the customs for blocking electronics just so we can sell ours. We won’t do these things if we knew we were the hand pouring apart the country’s blood.


Be the change you want to see in the world.

So by doing the right action, in the right time with the right attitude, we can and will change Haiti into that right action. So if you choose the wrong action, Haiti will for sure continue to go wrong. I think that if more and more people become aware that their everyday actions are actually what Haiti is made of, they will do things differently, which will lead to a brighter future.

If you like my vintage point, and would like other people to know about it, feel free to share this article with them. Maybe if enough Haitians adhere to it, things will change for the better.

The Bright Side of the Blackout

The Bright Side of the Blackout
Imagine watching the world cup final game, second half just started, and suddenly, Blackout! No electricity. This has been my life for several years until inverters and generators became affordable to certain families like mine. Yet most families have not reached this level and cannot afford these tools. Interestingly I’ve noticed a strange thing about the blackout, which has surprisingly taken me to its bright side. Stick with me and in the following lines you’ll discover how bright the dark can be.

I’ve been to several places, and have seen the lack of electricity affecting people in so many different ways, that I came to realize that, too much of any blessing becomes its opposite. One should seek the right measure in all. There are, of course, many advantages of having proper access to electricity:

Light

Candle light is outdated and boring. I used to spend hours studying with them, and let me tell you, it is not a good experience at all. My mother always motivated us to finish our lessons before the sunset. So that we wouldn’t have to read and study by candles. The most common side effects are headache and discouragement. I’ve been to a place called Savanette, where the luckiest ones have solar panels and batteries but most live day in and day out on candles and oil lamps. There is no electrical coverage in Savanette. With proper access to electricity, School success rates will increase.

Safety and Security

Dark street of Haiti

Imagine walking in a complete dark street, so dark that you tend to use your cellphone to light up your path. That’s the life of some of my friends who have to wake up at 4am to go to work. Nowadays in the metropolitan area we have sun powered street lights that are incredibly useful, but they only cover the main areas. The tiny streets where most people live aren’t covered. In the country side it is even worst! Street safety and security will increase considerably with proper access to electricity.

Business

Now you know why most businesses in Haiti only work from 8 to 5! All the money that they should’ve paid the state for electricity goes to fuel companies. So they spend more. They are ready to pay for 24hrs of electricity but the country simply cannot respond to their demand. If you want to build a business you must add an alternative source of energy to your list of equipment, and they are not cheap at all. Even boutiques need alternatives, that’s why they go for portable sun powered and rechargeable lights. With proper access to electricity private business will run easier and will be affordable to more of people.

The Bright Side

There are many advantages I have not put here but those are the most important ones. Now, as promised let me introduce you to the bright side of the blackout. A side that most of you will understand and have even had glimpses of.

With electricity comes technologies like television, video games, radio, smartphones, laptop etc. all of these are attention catchers. We get so caught up in them that we forget life is happening away from them. Two days with a complete energy blackout would be the best cure for any of us. I’ve experienced it, and have realized that only in those moments of complete blackout, my family and I really gather together, spending some quality time that television and smartphone never allow us. I’m talking about real laugh, outside of the house, or even inside. No matter where we are, everyone seem finally present when their phone, tablet, or laptop is down. These moments are so bright that I think they would fix most family problems and conflicts.

As I said earlier too much of any blessing becomes its opposite. I would highly recommend those with a 24/7 electricity rate to spend one or two days in blackout. And those with blackout to have the blessings of experiencing the 24/7 electricity rate. For only those who can balance both will really take advantages of these technologies and make their life better in so many ways.

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