Remembering Haiti

Last week, most Americans probably couldn’t pick out Haiti on a map. Even fewer can actually say they have been there. I have.

Back in the summer of 2000, I worked for an engineering company that had a contract with Royal Caribbean. We were working on what they refer to as the “private island” they named “Labadee.” It is actually a strip of land on the northern coast of Haiti.

My company hired private planes to fly down almost every other week. Somehow, we were asked to assist them with a huge insurance evaluation. Someone from our firm needed to go down to take pictures and note everything on the “island.” Most people in the office did what they could to avoid going there. Since I love to travel ANYWHERE, always want another stamp in my passport, and would be crazy enough to do it… they asked me.  Of course, I was thrilled (and I would go again).

I flew down on a 10 passenger jet plane with a few of the guys overseeing construction from our firm and a couple of employees from Royal Caribbean. We landed in Cap-Haïtien, which is about 80 miles from Port-au-Prince (where the earthquake hit). It was a small airport that didn’t even have a paved runway.

 We stepped out of the plane and were ushered into a bullet proof passenger van by two armed guard that were hired to escort us around. To get out of the airport, we had to go through a security gate because the entire airport was surrounded by huge prison like barbed-wire fences. When we finally emerged, the van was swarmed by beggars. It was covered like flies. I was honestly scared that one would get run over. Of course, our driver was used to it and didn’t really care.

 I knew that Haiti is known for its extreme poverty and military upheavals, but you can never be prepared to witness it in person. I don’t have the words to clearly describe it, so I found some pictures on the internet (http://www.traveladventures.org). I didn’t take any of my own because we were in a van and because I felt like I would be another American gawking at them.

This week, all the news coverage has brought back memories of that trip and the sadness I felt just witnessing their daily lives. I can’t begin to imagine the added horror that the earthquake has brought upon them. I can only feel a sense of relief that two of my friends/former co-workers who moved back to Haiti (one in Port-au-Prince) are reported to be “fine.” As for the one in Port-au-Prince, I am guessing that means he and hopefully his wife and kids are alive.  I am hoping it means they still have a house and at least most of their friends and family are alive.