Here are my tips for visiting Haiti for the first time.
- Be open minded. There are lots of people with strong
opinions about Haiti; don't form impressions too early.
- Learn some Haitian Creole before and during your trip,
even if only minimal. You will get a huge payback from this.
See Learning Creole Guide.
- Don't be shy. Say hello to people and/or wave to them on the
road. If you start, you will find Haitians to be incredibly warm and
friendly.
- Read some books about Haiti before and during your trip.
See Haiti Books List.
- Photos: you might want to take some photos (see
mine from
September 2003
and
February 2004)
to help you remember
your trip, and to be able to share it with others when you get
back home. Most Haitians do not mind having their photo taken;
many will actually be flattered. Be sure to
ask permission. And be sensitive to
the fact that most Haitians are very poor and can not afford
cameras. So, use your discretion for when is an appropriate
time to take out your camera. If you are traveling with a group,
you might not want to have more than one of you taking photos
at the same time, if you don't want to make a big deal about
you being Westerners who have more (e.g., cameras) than they do.
- Charity: it is my strong opinion that under no circumstances
should you give money or gifts (food, school supplies, clothing,
toys) directly to strangers. Instead, I highly recommend that
you give any donations to the staff of the charity that is hosting
your visit. They will know exactly how to get your kind donation to
the people most in need. If you instead give directly, it will create
lots of problems including:
- It will highlight the fact that you have money and they do not,
thus separating you from the Haitians.
- The recipient of your gift might in fact not be the person most
in need.
- Your gifts might be sold or stolen.
- If you train the Haitians that visitors give things away, you will
create a beggar society, which will make your and other visits very
uncomfortable, as well as creating inequities, having beggers get more
gifts than others.
- Health. A few weeks before your trip, you should visit your
local hospital travel clinic to see if you should get any shots or
medicines for your trip. When in Haiti (or any third world country),
do not drink non-bottled water or eat unpeeled fruit or uncooked
fruits or vegetables. Ask your host for advice.
