Subtle Changes

When I informed friends and family that I would be going on an alternative break trip to Haiti, they could not believe it. A lot of them swore that I would come back a different person. 

Today I can announce that those people were somewhat right. I did not become someone who was extremely eco-friendly or obsessed with reducing my carbon footprint. This trip did teach me more about the effects hat my lifestyle has on other countries. It also changed my perspective on what the word help means.

So it is not me who changed per say, but rather my outlook. This shift in my outlook will lead to other changed in my life such as using less electricity or being more environmentally friendly in general.  

Describing the indescribable

Statue of Neg Mawon - Credit: Sarah Palazzolo

It's hard to believe that a mere 48 hours has passed since I was in Haiti.

The transition between that country and my own has been surreal, to say the least. To abruptly go from such a powerful emotional and social experience back to the regular routines of daily life was a little harder than I anticipated. I was only partially present as I sat through my classes, caught up with friends and went through the other motions of a typical Tuesday. Part of me was still in Haiti.

I've been struggling with the best way to put the experience into words. At first I was hesitant to try, because I know that no matter how eloquently I describe it I still won't be doing it justice. But I come from a family of writers and I've been taught that the best way to process and understand something is to write it out. So here's my best shot.

I thought I understood what poverty looked like. I thought I understood global systems of oppression, social inequality, and the consequences of broken government structures. These things have been clearly articulated to me in my college and high school classes and as a student at a liberal university with a school that's literally named for international service, I know theories about international development better than my own alma mater. I have been challenged several times throughout my academic experience to uncover and accept the inherent privileges that my skin tone, socio-economic status and nationality have allowed me.

But nothing impacted my conception of these issues the way this experience did. To actually see the things I had only ever read about or discussed in class - to actively observe and question and reflect - profoundly challenged and changed my perspective.

I was struck by how lucky I am for the opportunities I've been afforded, how grateful I should be for the life I've led. Spending a few days with a hole in the ground as my only bathroom has made me inordinately excited about flushing toilets and indoor plumbing. Hearing one man's nightmare story about a painful ambulance ride down a mountain with no paved roads has made me feel foolish for ever having complained about a bi-annual doctor's check-up. Learning about the incredible obstacles that stand in the way of Haitian youth and a good education and the hard work and ingenuity of those individuals who have managed to get theirs has doubled my appreciation for the education I was given. It's inspired me to someday use it as a means by which to combat the institutions that have created such unfairness.

At the end of my time in Haiti, I was exhausted. I had been challenged physically, emotionally and intellectually. But I was also invigorated. I am in awe of the individuals I met there. I am excited by the successes of the grassroots organizations we partnered with, which I have now seen with my own eyes. I am outraged by the blatant disparity, by the UN workers who patrol peaceful towns in armored vehicles, and by every bag of rice or sugar - two of Haiti's staple crops that should be produced and sold by them - stamped with the logo "Made in the USA". And I am touched and moved by the strength, intelligence, kindness, rebelliousness and hospitality of the people.

Haiti can break your heart and make it swell with happiness within the same moment. It makes you want to turn your head and look away and it makes you stare in rapture. It cannot be condensed to fit neatly into a New York Times op-ed. Images and footage of it looks good on television, but it doesn't show you very much at all. The history and theory I've learned in my classes don't come close to explaining it, no matter how convincing the professor made it sound at the time. And if Pulitzer Prize winners, famous news anchors and academic scholars don't get it right, I'm not sure if I'll do much better. All I can say for certain is that Haiti is a country that gets its hooks into you, whether you want it to or not. And it filled me with hope - even though most of the narratives told about it suggested that hope was the last thing I would find.

I came to Haiti searching for a way that I could help. But now I don't think help is really what Haiti needs, at least in the way help has traditionally been understood. Instead, I think Haiti needs understanding. It needs a new narrative. As one of our hosts told us on the day before our departure, my peers and I were given the chance to see that the "myth of Haiti" is not true. She thanked us for coming to search for what was. And when I asked, perhaps naively, what we were supposed to do with that knowledge, she suggested that we take our experience as a reminder to question our concepts of different people and places, especially those that are depicted badly - and that the next time we face certain stereotypes, we remember Haiti.

I don't think that Haiti is done with me yet. But for now, I'm going to try to live by those parting words. And I hope that from here on out, no matter what misconceptions I'm tempted to fall under, I will always remember Haiti.

"Fatal Assistance" makes U.S. revaluate

One day before our departure and Haiti has been on my mind for the last two weeks. The new sights, people and culture will be rewarding, but the most important part will be learning about the every-day lives of the Haitian people. Haiti has not lost its international appeal since the 2010 earthquake, but we are learning more and more everyday about the truth of the relief effort; its success and setbacks.

Haitian filmmaker Raoul Peck’s new film “Fatal Assistance” provides a look into the international aid efforts, highlighting areas of needed improvement. This film has been reviewed positively by the Huffington Post and New York Times, praising the director’s perspective and new insights on the international aid efforts. Peck received an international welcoming and recognition for his film which debuted last year in February at the Berlin film festival. This contrasting perspective builds upon the the experiences and critiques of Jonathan Katz in his book The Big Truck That Went By.

I think that Katz would agree with Peck, they both point out that international aid in Haiti had good intentions, but billions of promised dollars later Haiti is not reaping in the results such investment is expected to provide. Little of the pledges even made it to Haiti, and the method used to put aid plans into action involved little say from the people of Haiti. Organizations, governments and international corporations across the world pledged help, making it a hotspot for humanitarian celebrities including Sean Penn, Bill Clinton, and Angelina Jolie among others. Not to mention the volunteers, journalists and religious groups. We have come to learn that though they made personal sacrifices, not much of their hopes for Haiti came into fruition.

Katz called Haiti a Republic of NGOs because of the number of  nongovernmental organizations working in Haiti pre and post 2010 earthquake. However, little efforts have been made to see that the people have a say in their own futures. How can a country rebuild if the people of that country are not a part of the rebuilding effort? What is needed is the involvement of the Haitian government, community leaders and people in steering the destiny of their own country. The way to turn a bleak political situation into a movement of empowerment for citizens is through participation. This is one of the reasons why I am excited to be working with the Association of the Peasants of Fondwa, where Haitians make the decisions and difference.   

Haiti has remained a victim of our prejudice, and continues to be. The international community has miscalculated and misused their funds and power to push an assumed agenda. Four years after the disaster, and slowly Haiti is crawling back up to its feet. Newspapers continue to run editorials, the United Nations continue to file new action plans, again new promises are made, but we have already seen the results of promises. So why go to Haiti now?

A group of ten volunteers - students and staff from American University - on a mission to learn from those that know best, the people of Haiti. Though our efforts during our eight day trip will not be as extensive as we all wish, it will provide us a starting point that can only grow in the direction of increased awareness and activism. During our trip we will ask ourselves; how can we redirect our focus and that of our peers back to Haiti in a manner that will empower the local population and lead towards stable and sustainable growth?  Hopefully we will have an answer upon our return.

Link to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGPbqO5ocrE

Haiti 2014

Less than a week left till the group and I leave for Haiti. We are all super excited and ready! For the past few months, we have spent our Saturdays learning about the issues surrounding the theme of our trip, Microfinance, Healthcare, & Women as Agents of Development. We have talked about things ranging from the role of international aid agencies in countries, such as Haiti, to understanding our own personal privileges.  I believe that we have come to a consensus that this trip will not make us suddenly humanitarians, but rather it is a step in the direction of allowing us to become active global citizens. From this trip, personally I hope to build connections with some of the individuals we will meet and from there provide assistance in any way I can once we are back in the states.

During the trip, we hope to avoid becoming voluntourist during our trip and focus on learning more about the different topics we talked about during our pre-trip trainings. By physically being in Haiti, we will be able to put the different things we have learned from the readings we have done, specifically Jonathon Katz’s book entitled, The Big Truck That Went By: How the World Came to Save Haiti and Left behind a Disaster, the presentations of our peers, and the conversation fostered around the issues of our theme into a tangible form by interacting with the very people we have been learning about. Upon our return, I hope to continue the relationships we build and become proxies for change in Haiti.

Pop Culture and Post-Earthquake Haiti

For my entire life, music has been a central theme—from having grandparents that like to sing to being a dancer myself, I have understood the importance of music and pop culture in my life. Today, after reading more of Jonathan Katz’s book, The Big Truck That Went By: How the World Came to Save Haiti and Left behind a Disaster, I was able to understand the importance of music in the post-earthquake Haitian context.

The section that we read for this pre-trip training looked at various elements of the disaster relief, including land tenure and gender-based violence, but what struck out to me the most was the impact that music had. Young people in Haiti would sing and rap about looking forward as a nation, urging the citizens to “stop marching under the orders of the blan [foreigners]”. This showed me that music was used as a form of political expression, especially for youth, which is one of the most important demographics to consider when rebuilding political stability.

Michael Martelly

Another important musical movement in Haiti at the time was kompa music, led by a man named Michael Martelly, but commonly known as Sweet Micky. Katz described this music as “the love child of merengue, funk and R&B” that was popular for older crowds. His message in his singing was political too—claiming “if you don’t like it, get out of here!” This is a sharp contrast to what the youth were expressing through their rap—the youth had a more positive call to action, while Martelly’s lyrics explained the futility of even trying to escape. This sentiment was furthered when Martelly decided to run for president—knowing he cannot run away, and that the only hope for change was assuming a position of authority.

Wyclef Jean

The last artist introduced in this section of the pre-trip training was Wyclef Jean—a Haitian artist who moved to America and built up his music career there. He came back to Haiti after the earthquake to run for president. As a prominent Haitian in America, he was named Haiti’s ambassador to the US in 2004, and then continued building his diplomatic/political power. His music, much of which talked about Haiti, along with his high visibility status was an example of how the Haitians at the time were looking for a change from the current political parties at play.

Each instance of introducing music and its deeper meaning helped me uncover another aspect of Haitian culture and beliefs. This section of reading reinforced the emphasis I put on music in my life, and helped me appreciate from a different perspective. And now, I can’t wait to go to Haiti soon and listen to live kompa music, because it sounds like a lot of fun!

Open Eyes, Open Minds

On Tuesday, our AltBreak group had the opportunity to meet Dr. Paul Farmer; after shaking his hand at a pre-reception we listened to him speak about Global Health Equity, Haiti post-earthquake, and AIDs treatments around the world. All of us were nervous and excited to meet this public health superstar, the poster child for dedication, commitment, and the war on infectious disease. But I have a confession:

3 months ago, I had no idea who Paul Farmer was.

Over winter break I started reading a couple books to enlighten myself on Haiti and this was the first time I had heard about Paul Farmer. Like I mentioned in my previous blog post, one of the books I read was by Paul Farmer and the other was about Paul Farmer. From reading about him (and Haiti) I have learned an immense amount about the history of disease, politics, and disaster within Haiti. I've learned about Paul Farmers life and his work in Haiti and around the world. I've learned about the WHO and U.N. and their influences in global health issues as well as their role Haiti's earthquake relief effort. After reading about all of this, I was SO excited to hear Paul Farmer himself speak. I think he is an amazing example of a human being and an incredibly intelligent and driven man. Paul Farmer is the kind of person that makes me feel like there is true good in the world-- he stresses the necessity of a local voice in public policy (ie. Haitian people explaining what they need and want in their country politically, economically, etc.) He works to correct the "chronic" AND "acute" issues that we see so deeply rooted in our society and impoverished societies like Haiti.

If you can't tell, now I love Paul Farmer and keep him as inspiration in the back of my head. But I felt a little awkward that other members of the group had known and respected Paul Farmer for so much longer than I had. I felt uninformed and ignorant for not knowing that such issues existed and that such a great man and his entourage were doing great work to combat these problems. I recognize that there are many large issues ravaging all types of societies in every corner of the world. I also realize that I am young and can't know about everything that's going on in the world. But I feel so much more aware now that I have learned so much about Haiti, the WHO & U.N., large global health issues, foreign aid policies, and all the interconnected issues that these things affect.

This meta-reflection leads me to a conclusion that reconfirms one of my fundamental beliefs: knowledge is the answer. In order to help people, to make the world a better place, or at least to avoid causing accidental pain or suffering, it is important to learn, to educate ourselves. We will never be done learning but the more we learn, the better work we can do. As we saw in our last chapter of "The Big Truck That Went By" the foreign aid that came in after the earthquake in Haiti actually caused a great deal of damage and has still not created a significant amount of good. I feel like my eyes have been opened to these whole new part of the world, and this whole new set of interconnected issues. I feel like this knowledge helps me to exercise and open my mind. Ultimately, open minds are able to see a wide variety of solutions, consider multiple outcomes, and apply previous knowledge to avoid re-creating devastating issues in order to achieve will progress and development within the world.

Flawed System of Aid

What strikes me the most about the issue of foreign aid and disaster relief is the amount of discretion taken before a nation or body decides to react. In the presentations last week, a diagram which gave a visual representation of the amount of money given to relief after Hurricane Katrina, the Haiti earthquake, September 11th, the Asian tsunami and the Japan earthquake/tsunami.

Of all of the disasters, Hurricane Katrina received the most aid in the first seven days. This is unsettling because the United States is one of the richest countries in the world, however, monetary support came in waves (no pun intended). Juxtaposition that with the aid that was sent to Haiti in the first 7 days. Sure Haiti ranks number two on the list of receiving aid, but if one actually takes a look at the monetary values, what he or she will notice is that Hurricane Katrina received almost twice as much aid as Haiti. Haiti is much poorer than the United States. Haiti does not have the resources with its country necessary to combat such an event as the United States does.

In my personal belief, the apprehension to donate is political. The United States has certain allies. Because of this, it is in their interest to provide the US with money in order to secure their relationship. As far as Haiti, because the country is very poor and even corrupt, its number of allies is very small and so they did not receive as much relief as they could have in those first few days.

Although I have tried to compare the United States and Haiti, the article's focus is on the dismal amount of foreign aid that Japan received. I feel that it is important to hone in on this issue as well. The earthquake was a 9 on the Richter scale, whereas Haiti was a 7. The earthquake in Japan was more powerful than that in Haiti, yet the amount of aid doled out was not proportional to the disaster. The only justification that I can produce for this amount of disparity is the fact that because Haiti is far poorer than Japan, the country was devastated more. The country was also less prepared for such an event. For this reason, countries that provided aid knew that Haiti needed it more. Unfortunately, this points to systematic issues in our society which stem from imperialism.