Geographically Haiti is really not that far from New York. It took us less than four hours on a plane to make the transition between the two countries across the Atlantic. Whilst the distance is relatively close on the map, the countries are worlds apart in terms of opportunity, wealth and living conditions.
As Laura reflected on in our last blog post, whilst great disparity exists in New York between the rich Wall Street bankers and the homeless population struggling to live and provide for their basic needs, the disparity between the USA (or any Western country for that matter) and Haiti is clear to see everywhere you look.
One of the first things that confronts you when you begin to tour around Haiti is the state of their roads. Whilst Haiti’s roads could be accurately described as glorified four wheel drive tracks (I say glorified because they do have the odd road that is bitumen or paved), it is the vehicles and the way in which people drive those vehicles that is particularly foreign. Take for instance the following photos – one shows what is known as a ‘tap-tap’ overloaded with passengers who simply tap on any part of the tray when they want to get off. The other two show examples of road safety in Haiti with passengers clinging to the back of a truck which is overtaking cars in a mad fashion on a road that would rival the Black Spur in the Yarra Valley for gradient, danger and beauty, along with a photo of a person sitting on - yes you guessed it - the top of a petrol tanker. Safe indeed.
These are common sights that you see when touring around Haiti. It is not uncommon for someone to drive the wrong way towards oncoming traffic should the correct way be jammed up. Amazingly, in such a situation the daredevil is normally promptly accepted by the oncoming traffic, who swiftly move to the side of the road to ensure that the daredevil driver can get by! That kind of driving would not go down so well in Australia or the USA... you would likely spend a night in a cell at the police station! In Haiti, the Police turn a blind eye to such behaviour and seem to prefer to book people for not wearing a shirt while driving (yes a friend living in Haiti did get booked for this!) or to block a road for no apparent reason (other than to accept bribes from the drivers in order to get through the roadblock).
Along with the state of Haiti’s roads and the driving on those roads, the second thing that affronts you as you drive around the nation is the third world living conditions that the majority of Haitians live in. According to a recent report, Haiti is now listed as the world’s most disadvantaged nation with some 77% of the population living in poverty (see
here). This extreme poverty is seen everywhere and perhaps is no more visually obvious than in the sub-standard level of housing and infrastructure throughout Port Au Prince. I remember commenting to Laura that many of the ‘homes’ that people now live in after being displaced as a result of both the earthquake and recent hurricane seem to be not dissimilar from the kind of cubby house that I used to make with my brother up the back of our block. Tarpaulins covering ‘stick frames’ held together with ropes and tent pegs (if the person can afford such luxuries) are littered throughout the city of Port Au Prince. Homes approximately five metres by five metres can house anywhere up to ten people at a time. Whilst there are some large Western homes, the vast majority of Haitians live in sub-standard dwellings no bigger than the average garden shed in Australia.
Seeing such homes was particularly humbling for me as I reflected on the relative mansion (our three bedroom unit) that Laura and I live in back home. Not only do we have an enormous house by comparison, we have access to clean water, can source basically unlimited food and can rely on electricity being available whenever we require it. The majority of houses in Haiti do not have such luxuries. Many homes have dirt floors, no water taps or tanks and are not connected to any electricity. Many women have to walk for hours just to get enough water to cook and bathe with. To cook, people are forced to purchase charcoal which is known to have negative affects on people's health.
Whilst both the state of Haiti’s road and transport systems and the general living conditions of the average Haitian family are third world, surprisingly the third thing that struck me was actually a positive thing about Haiti that dare I say it, was actually
better than a first world country. The third thing that stood out to me was the state and character of the average person in Haiti. Most Haitians have little to their name. They have little or no money, few possessions, and struggle to feed themselves let alone provide for their families’ needs. However, I found that generally these people are happy. I mean really happy. Joyous even. Thankful enough for their lot in life that they praise God for
what He has blessed them with. What He has blessed them with?!? Sure messes with my Western way of thinking...
This was mind blowing for me. I’ve always heard people who have visited third world countries comment that despite the people’s limited material possessions, lack of finances and access to basic ‘entitlements’ such as food and water, that they find the people to be happy. I’ve heard people go so far as to say that such people have joy in life beyond that which they have ever seen anywhere else in the world. This sentiment was confirmed for me throughout my time in Haiti as I met person after person and observed their joy.
So what will I take away from my time in Haiti? Over the course of our time in Haiti I was reading Bear Grylls Autobiography ‘Mud, Sweat & Tears'. It is a decent read full of adrenaline and adventure. What grabbed me in Bear's book though were his written reflections about when he assisted a friend to build an orphanage in a third world country. Bear writes:
“I learnt during this trip that I had no right ever to grumble at my own circumstances and that I should always try to be grateful and hospitable wherever I can. Above all, I will always remember the
kindness and warmth I was shown from those who had so little.”
This quote really resonated with me for two reasons. Firstly, it reflected my thoughts about the generous nature and joy that the Haitian people seem to possess despite their extreme poverty. Like Bear, I was continually blown away over the course of my trip by the kindness, warmth and generosity that I was shown from those that have so little when compared to the Western standard that I am used to. For me, these people seemed to operate with a genuine spirit in relating with others that is often absent in conversation with others in the developed world. Kindness, warmth, amazing hospitality and joy despite their poverty.
Secondly, Bear’s statement “I learnt during this trip that I had no right ever to grumble at my own circumstances and that I should always try to be grateful and hospitable wherever I can” particularly grabbed me. Now there are things that can happen to people living in the first world that are 'grumble worthy' I admit. However, the vast majority of things that we generally grumble about pale into insignificance when compared to the hardships and struggles that people face on a daily basis in Haiti. There is no doubt about it - we are amazingly blessed to live in Australia and should ensure that we are not complaining about trivial matters. After all, we have access to basically whatever luxuries we want - not to mention access to the basics such as food, shelter, electricity, money etc. We should be so thankful for what we have.
Rev. Tim Costello, CEO of World Vision Australia often talks about the 'lottery called life' when discussing the issues of poverty and justice in the world. Tim suggests that all humans have a ticket in the lottery called life and some people seem to win (those who get born in a first world country) and some seem to lose (those born into a third world country). Some people never have any troubles whilst others face terrible, ongoing troubles. Some people are privileged, whilst others are not.
Now it is clear that we who live in first world countries are privileged. Really privileged. We - for whatever reason - have been dealt a great hand of cards; we were privileged to be born into the safety and prosperity of a first world country. We are all aware of this fact regardless of what hardships we face in life. The thought that continually came into my mind as I considered how privileged I am was one that I have heard Rev. Tim Costello pose: "What are you going to do with your privilege?"
That is what I am going to take from my time in Haiti. I have been given perspective as I knew I would. I know that I am amazingly blessed and fortunate to live in Australia, to have a job, to be safe in my home, to have access to food and water. I have nothing to complain about. I realise now more than ever just how privileged I am.
Whilst both the state of Haiti’s road and transport systems and the general living conditions of the average Haitian family are third world, surprisingly the third thing that struck me was actually a positive thing about Haiti that dare I say it, was actually better than a first world country. The third thing that stood out to me was the state and character of the average person in Haiti. Most Haitians have little to their name. They have little or no money, few possessions, and struggle to feed themselves let alone provide for their families’ needs. However, I found that generally these people are happy. I mean really happy. Joyous even. Thankful enough for their lot in life that they praise God for what He has blessed them with. What He has blessed them with?!? Sure messes with my Western way of thinking...
