5 Things You Didn’t Know About Haiti

I recently had the opportunity to spend a few days in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.  When I said I was headed to Haiti, many people’s reactions were much like “Haiti?! Why Haiti? What’s in Haiti? Do you have family there?” The answer is no, and while Haiti isn’t exactly at the top of everyone’s “must-see” travel list, it is definitely a country worth seeing at least once, even if it’s just to appreciate the adversity these people face and how resilient they appear to be despite their humble circumstances.

1) It’s a beautiful country.

While Port-au-Prince is pretty landlocked, the aerial views of the city are insanely pretty.  I also traveled about two hours outside of the city to the beach and it was truly a beautiful country.  I look forward to seeing more of the countryside on my next visit.

2) Haiti was the 1st country in the Caribbean and Latin America to gain its independence.

I totally did not know this!  Haiti gained its independence from France in 1804 (59 years before the U.S. ended slavery, by the way).  Many of its first leaders were former slaves.  How awesome is that?

3) Port-au-Prince is built on hills.

This was my least favorite part of the trip.  I sometimes get carsick so traveling up and down the bumpy dirt roads of Port-au-Prince made me nauseated.  Someone should have warned me!

4) There are 2 official languages: French and Haitian Creole.

Not as many people speak great English as I thought they would when I arrived.  Needless to say, I need to step my French game WAY up before my next trip.

5) Most crimes that occur are not violent crimes.

When people think of Haiti, they think it’s a totally dangerous, unstable place, but that’s not hardly true. Most of their crimes are not violent.  I’m not saying you shouldn’t use caution and common sense when visiting, but violent crimes shouldn’t be your first concern.

I’m heading back to Haiti in a few months, so I look forward to sharing more of this beautiful country with you!

Photo Credit: Roderick Watson

Why I Prefer Long Plane Rides Over Short Ones

I know what you’re thinking.  I’m insane.  Who enjoys sitting on a plane for 8 hours or more?  There’s hardly any space, you’re possibly subjected to sitting next to someone you don’t know who could be the rudest person you’ve ever met, you don’t have a ton of options for food, you have to use a bathroom with barely enough space to turn around, and you’re just simply…stuck.  Sounds delightful, right? Hear me out.

YOU HAVE MORE LEISURE TIME.

I hate being rushed any time in life.  Whether I’m getting dressed, finishing an important task at work, or crossing the street, I hate feeling like I don’t have enough time to do what I need to do.  The same applies when flying.  I enjoy knowing that I will have time to do all the things I need to do while in flight.  I’m almost always tired when I’m flying.  Blame my horrible ability to procrastinate. I know that I’ll be able to secure solid sleep when flying.  Don’t hate me because I’m able to sleep anywhere!  When I take long flights, I know I’ll have time to watch that movie I was too busy to catch in the theater or read that book I’ve been trying not so diligently to finish.  Short flights don’t give me the same freedom.

THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS ARE NICER.

If you’re a flight attendant reading this, don’t be offended.  It’s just that in my experience, flight attendants tend to be a bit more cheerful when they aren’t rushed for time either.

THE FOOD TASTES BETTER.

We’ve all taken a domestic flight where we’re barely served a soft drink, given a bag a peanuts and then told to go about our merry way.  When you take longer flights, you’re usually served gourmet (ish) food that makes for a much more delightful in flight experience.  On my way to Tanzania, KLM served chicken teriyaki, a warm roll, yogurt parfait, cheese and crackers, and an egg soufflé.  This sounds like it could be a bit dicey, but I was pleasantly surprised by how satisfied I was.  And the food is usually better on European and Asian airlines, but that’s a different post for a different day.

THE BOOZE IS USUALLY FREE.

Let’s not forget the name of this blog!  I enjoy a good cocktail any day of the week, especially when it’s free.  If you’re flying for more than 8 hours, you’re most likely crossing continents.  This probably means that the booze is free and you’re able to enjoy some of your favorite cocktails, at no extra cost.  WIN, WIN.

Am I alone?  Let me know if you think I’m completely off-base and comment below!