haiti...

so it's taken me quite a while to blog about my recent trip to pétionville a commune and a suburb of port-au-prince. quite honestly i didn't know what to say. i came back and was asked by everyone "how was your trip?" how do you answer that kind of question. my response was either "amazing period OR do you have two hours?" so just said amazing.

i went there for two reasons. I was searching for why my dear friend chose to return (5 years ago) to the country where she grew up. and to help her with a wonderful business she and a friend are starting. more about that later.

when i found out that my friend was moving back to haiti, i along with many of her friends said "why?" "who would ever want to live in haiti?" during my recent trip it all became very clear to me.

haiti is a beautiful county with beautiful people. passionate people who love their county. this describes melis. she is a passionate person in love with her country. she originally returned to take over the family business. and soon found herself committed to the business and her country.

then of course after the earthquake...how could she leave? abandon the business and all of the loyal employees that have given so much over the years. they depended on her and their job.

everyday, minute, and second that she stays, she is directly affecting the lives of so many people. i'm certain they are grateful. the people of haiti are very grateful people.

ok now a little about my trip. I received the royal treatment as soon as i boarded the plane in miami. she took such good care of me down to the last minute and tears we shed as i left coming home. i was sad to leave my friend. though she lives a very fortunate life there things are not easy for her. she puts herself last right behind everyone else. i want more for her. i want her to take care of herself for awhile.

~ to give without any reward, or any notice, has a special quality of its own.
~ anne morrow lindbergh


muah melis!


i loved this lady. i said to melis say something to make her laugh because the first few shots i took of her were so serious. not sure what melis said but she made her face light up...(classic meslis).



beautiful mountain side...



it's nearly impossible to find a building that did not have damage...




this was once someone's home...



the destruction is frankly overwhelming. you literally can't believe what your eyes are telling you.









tent cities: it is estimated that 2-5 million homeless people are living in tents.



this is sashita in the middle (melissa's daughter) and her friends...




in contrast of the above photos this is a classic gingerbread house .these faded gems of haitian architecture were nicknamed “gingerbread” houses by American tourists in the 1950s.





and lastly...melis...l'ange



~our obligations to our country never cease but with our lives.
~john adams



more about the company when they launch the website! there so much more to tell. i want to help them tell the entire story of haiti. not just what the media wants you to see. will do so when they launch!