Let the Journey Begin!

Haitian Cuisine

For my research topic, I chose to learn more about Haitian cuisine. I was interested to learn that Spain, France, Africa, and the United States influenced much of the Haitian culture and food. Haitian cuisine is commonly described as simple, yet bold and spicy. Meals tend to consist primarily of vegetables, meats, rice, and cornmeal. The preferred meats include chicken, goat meat, and beef. It is also common for meals to be flavored with herbs, spices, and peppers. Because there were so many types of Haitian dishes, I decided to research some of the most popular ones. One of the more common dishes is just a simple meal of rice and beans (preferably black or pinto). Various kinds of stews are also common in Haiti. One of the most popular types of stews is bouillon, which is a thick stew made with sliced meat, potatoes, sliced plantains, yam, cabbage, and celery. Haitian patties are also common and seem to be very popular in the Haitian culture. A Haitian patty is made with beef, salted cod, smoked herring, chicken, and ground turkey, surrounded by a crispy or flaky crust. While looking up the different types of food in Haiti, I came across some fun facts that I thought were interesting and wanted to share them! I learned that the most important commercial crops are bananas, corn, rice, sorghum, beans, cocoa beans, and especially coffee and sugarcane. I also learned that BBQ originated in Haiti! The fact that seemed the most interesting to me is that spaghetti is often served as a breakfast dish and is cooked with hot dogs, dried herring, and spices (and served with ketchup and watercress). After learning about Haitian cuisine, I am excited to try new dishes and share my experiences with my group members!

 - Leanna

Haitian Governement

Hello everyone,

The government of Haiti is set up similarly to the United States and also the United Kingdom. The President of Haiti is elected in a democratic style: majority vote, ever five years. The president then appoints a Prime Minister as well as cabinet members.

The current President is Michel Martelly, and the Prime Minister is Evans Paul.

However,

Could you imagine what it would be like if President Barack Obama only spoke German? What if Congress passed legislation that was only written in Chinese?

This is what the government is like to Haitian people. While conducting research about the politics of Haiti, I discovered that the government’s official language is French. However, French is not spoken by the majority of the country. Around 90% of Haitian people only speak Creole.

This disconnect between government and its people creates tension within the country.

I cannot imagine living in a country where my government could not communicate with me. I am looking more into this history as a special focus topic for a history of language course.

 

--Cristiana Sibley

Economic Issues in Haiti

Hello all--

Here's the result of my research. While I'm definitely not an expert, I pointed you to some sources at the end if you would like to read further on the topic.

Economic issues in Haiti

About ¼ of the Haitian people earn less than $1.24 a day.  That kind of widespread poverty is challenging to overcome. 

Haitian businesses face a number of challenges: the most expensive electricity in the Caribbean, governmental corruption, gaps in infrastructure, policies and taxes that make it difficult to export, and competition with aid after the earthquake, among others.  Nonetheless, some inroads have been made. Madam Saras are women who are traveling merchants and traders. Microloans have become increasingly available.  The technology start up SurTab makes an inexpensive tablet and has been a success story from Haiti.  Flowers from Greenhouses are starting to be exported. Infrastructure is improving.

About 70% of Haiti’s energy consumption is from charcoal. Some charcoal alternatives, like briquettes made of recycled paper, are emerging, but are not as widespread.

Agriculture has long been an important part of the Haitian economy.  Some small farmers survive on a subsistence level.  Rice is an important food in Haiti and is a key crop, but aid from abroad has undercut the price of rice.  Mangoes, coffee and sugarcane also are grown in Haiti.

Relatives who now live in other countries send money back to their family in Haiti (remittances) and these are important to the Haitian economy. 

Works Consulted:

Central Intelligence Agency. World Fact book: Haiti: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ha.html 

Clammer, Paul. Haiti. Bradt Travel Guides: Bucks, England. 2012.

Fallon, Paul. “Haiti’s Economic Aftershocks” New York Times. January 12, 2015.

“Unhappy anniversary; Haiti.” The Economist 414.8921  (Jan 17, 2015): 35-36.

--Ann Bomberger

Things We've Learned...

Hello again,

So over Christmas break our group members were very busy researching Haiti and Haitian culture. I chose the topic "Healthcare in Haiti" and found that a lot of the diseases Haiti is facing today stems from the Earthquake that destroyed much of the country in January 2010. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) received funding to strengthen Haiti’s public health system post-earthquake. The CDC partnered with other organization to come up with a list of medical goals.

1) Eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

2) Eliminate the threat of cholera, transmission of contaminated food or water.

3) Eliminate Elephantitis, a tropical disease.

4) Ensure a robust, sustainable, self-correcting public health system.

5) Reduce the under-five mortality rate from vaccine-preventable diseases by 35%.

6) Reduce the maternal mortality rate by 30%.

7) Reduce the prevalence of tuberculosis (TB), a bacterial infection affecting primarily the lungs by 25%. 

Also, I  researched the Rainbow House (LA MAISON L'ARC-EN-CIEL ) which is a safe haven, orphanage, for children affected by HIV/AIDS. These children have a safe and loving environment. Many of them have lost a parent to AIDS or have a parent that is HIV positive. The Rainbow House was founded in the 1980’s by Robert and Danielle Penette. And, in late 2010, 50 children moved into new house property in the mountains above Port-au-Prince. Children have daily medical oversight and education and/or vocational training. Older children are mainstreamed into neighborhood schools, with the comfort of acceptance and awareness of the disease.

The orphanage also has a walk-in clinic providing AIDS education, counseling and care, eliminating the stigma of AIDS, and teaching the wider community proper treatment for the disease.

 

“Since the earthquake, the Penettes have been involved in setting up centers within tent cities that help to assess and address the medical and psychological needs of the displaced and vulnerable children, teenagers and young adults.”

Thank you for continuing to follow our blog:)

Nicole