The Haitian diaspora numbers 1 in ever 5 or 6 Haitians living abroad. Between cities like Miami, New York and even DC and Boston, one expects to bump into a Creole-speaker every now and again. What about Americans who speak Creole or who can rattle off favorite haunts in several of the island country's major cities?
Since my return to this freezing land I call home, I have discovered friends and friends of friends are intimately acquainted with Haiti in some capacity. Perhaps it is that I hail from Washington, DC but almost everyone I speak with seems to have a spouse, friend or relative who works or worked in Haiti.
The other day I sent an email to one of these "friends of a friend." The reply came swiftly: "Proving Haiti really is a small place, I had heard about Portia’s accident from my friend at the ---- Mission House. I have also visited Proje Lespwa in Cayes and in Torbeck and have met Fr Marc..." So not only does this guy work in Haiti, he's heard of me and knows my friends. Fantastic!
After lunch yesterday, I learned that some fellow Cornellians, some friends of friends, operate major, million-dollar non-profits that work actively in Haiti. Then, in the afternoon, I stopped by my old high school. Low and behold, my former choir director has taken groups to Haiti, an administrator's husband worked in the U.S. Embassy during the transition government, and a former teacher can introduce me to a buddy who knows the guy who runs another big organization's Haitian office.
Once again, I marvel that the world is such a small place.
For those of you who have been holding back and can think of someone or some group that would be interested in what we do at Pwoje Espwa, please let me know. Since I am in the DC area for a couple more weeks, I am in a good position to call people, meet people, have lunch, hang out... whatever.
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