Especially after I had accepted the fact that I was locked in my house with no outside contacts or opportunity for adventures for 2 months.
My friend dry spell is finally over. I think I might be an extrovert, in case you weren't convinced - I came home after this today and danced around to Caribbean music in my pajamas for way too long.
Let me start from the top. I was on my own all weekend - roommates all went out of the country. While I loved spending all my time cooking, Netflixing, working out, and trying to not get bitten by the puppy, I was thrilled when Chloe (a friend from work) called to say she's coming to the hotel near me with some friends, for the pool, and invited me along.
So I got picked up, met (like 10) of Chloe's friends, and headed to the pool, which, let me tell you, is fancy AF. Long story short, turns out we had to pay 30$ to stay there, so we left and went on a hunt for another pool. Then I basically was taken on a tour of all the fancy hotels with pools in Port-au-Prince, because every single one charged that absurd entrance fee. So, unfortunately, after an hour of winding up and down the mountainous streets, we decided to change our plans - get 60 Haitian chicken wings, and go drinking at one of Chloe's friend's house instead. Sounded good to me.
And man oh man, was I happy to be experiencing (Chloe's version) of the real Haiti.
We went to a cheap wing place, parked outside, and waited in the locked car while Chloe's boyfriend went to get the wings. And waited. And waited.
During the (2 hour) wait for wings (I know, it was like they were killing chicken back there or something), we got to know each other a little bit. They are so warm, kind, passionate, and most of all, honest. I learned many things.
Food for Though #1:
I was hanging out with the 1% of Haiti. And they are REALLY wealthy. The rest of the 99%? Well there is no middle class here, unlike in the US. People either own maids, or are maids. The wealthy and educated (those who own cars, and can drive around for chicken wings) stick within their own group - to protect themselves. They are very well aware of the problems in the country, and care immensely, but can do nothing about it. Or rather, don't know what to do about it. Going into politics would be the only way to try. But no one wants to, because you'd just put you, and more importantly your family, in great danger.
"There needs to be a strong, hard-ass leader," I said, " to take control, order changes, and whip everyone into shape."
"If there is one," Chloe said, "they would get killed in no time."
Food for Thought #2:
My new friends passionately lamented the state of the country in the car - The lower class, under the influence of the last president, despise the bourgeoisie.
"So by 30$ for the pool, they meant US $, not Haitian $, right?" I asked stupidly.
"Oh it's all US dollars, girl." one girl replied, "If you go to a place that's not in US dollars, you get a totally different crowd. And you'll get...haha you know." she gave a its-not-going-to-be-pretty look.
"Not being racist or anything, it's just reality, for us too. "
Food for Thought #3:
"Democracy isn't for every country. Like right now, many people are impossible to control. We need our dictatorship back."
"For example, when Haitians get on a plane in Miami, they know to throw their trash into a trash can. But once the plane approaches Haiti, all the trash start going on the floor in the aisle - because they know nothing will happen to them now."
Food for Thought #4:
"Putting all emotions aside," Jean Luc said, "the earthquake was supposed to be good for us - it's the one time where people didn't die for nothing, it was our chance to rebuild the country - but we dropped the ball." He continued, "Putting all emotions aside, a dictatorship right now, even though they might do some horrible things, like kill and control, will be able to really shake Haiti into shape in the long run. Improve the economy, build some infrastructure, etc. We need a strong, good leader to put us into place."
Chicken break - I actually GOT OUT of the car, and STEPPED INTO a real street for the first time!!
The chicken place
2-hour wait for this chicken. Better be worth it >:)
We drove to one of their houses, and sat in their fancy yard to enjoy our chicken wings and rum. They were so good I could die.
This is when I introduced all of them to this magical thing called the "Asian Glow". I know. It was entertaining. "Drink more," they all said, "I want to see you turn purple!"
I didn't have to try too hard to accomplish that goal.
We chatted for hours. We talked food, career, love, global politics, Key and Peele, Haitian views on sexuality, education...
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*Side note: This is something America really could learn from - a country where small talk has taken over social interactions, where "How are you?" is ONLY met with "I'm good" regardless of how you actually are. I don't remember the last time I was able to have a real, meaningful conversation with someone after meeting them for the first time.
Okay maybe with the exception of plane conversations. Those are so real.
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Oh, and also, THEY SAID THEY'D TAKE ME TO THE BEACH NEXT WEEKEND.
AND Chloe said she'll make sure they take me to another city sometime before I leave, to experience another side of Haiti. WOOOOO.
