There is a spirit and spirituality in Haiti like nowhere else. Haitians are resolute and tenacious and,
in time, will move beyond the horrendous hardships they are currently facing. Haiti changes you.
Below the flow of everyday life is a rhythm that knows how to celebrate being alive. A rhythm that gives memories to all of the senses.
For me it is the sights. Haitians have a vibrancy for life that shows in the bold, tropical colors they surround themselves with.
No matter how humble their abode, it will be brightly painted and often the clothes they wear or the utensils they use in their daily lives are just as bright and cheerful.
“It is the destiny of the people of Haiti to suffer.”
Jean Claude Duvalier
“Civil and political rights are critical, but not often the real problem for the destitute sick.
My patients in Haiti can now vote but they can’t get medical care or clean water.”
Creole, the spoken language of most Haitians, is rich and colorful as well.
Creole based largely on 18th-century French and some West African languages, and is influenced by several other languages.
In school, all kids learn both Creole and French.
Here is a sampling of Haitian proverbs and prayers translated from Creole.
“A woman is like mahogany: the older she is, the better she is.”
“Lord,
How glad we are
that we don’t hold you,
but that you hold us.”
“Our problems are like a donkey.
Will we mount them or will they mount us?”
“Lord,Â
Everyone is either whole corn
or corn with weevil holes.
Make me whole corn.”
“Hang your knapsack where you can reach it.”
“Oh Lord,
Make you and me like coffee with milk
Mixed together we can never be separated.”
“To speak French doesn’t mean you are smart.”
“Help us not to talk too much because talking too much
is like driving too fast.”
“Sometimes the brakes are not good and we passed
the place we intended to stop.”
“Beyond mountains, there are more mountains.”
For more Haiti images click here.
Kings On the Road
25 Apr 2013Greta post Ron. Love the images and messages.
fotograffer
25 Apr 2013Thanks Randy. We are off to Havana in a few days. Are you back in Colorado now?
Vincent Bolly
25 Apr 2013Yes, really great.
<vb
fotograffer
25 Apr 2013Thank you Vincent and thanks for visiting.
tripodtrippin
25 Apr 2013Wonderful images, Ron. Thank you for sharing them. 🙂
fotograffer
25 Apr 2013Thank you for your kind comment.
Anna Marie
25 Apr 2013I think your photos capture the people’s perseverence and resilience. You captured such joy and mischief in the first photo with the laughing children and there was something about the girl’s red ribbons (in the photo of the girl with the red knapsack) that moved me. Thanks for sharing.
fotograffer
27 Apr 2013Thank you for you kind comment. As I mentioned in the post the people of Haiti have a spirit I have seen no where else.
silvana1989
25 Apr 2013Hi I´m Lisa´s friend Oh wow!!! the spirit of haiti I’m impressed, great pictures. I always have interested to visit place and see how are the people? is good to know I can see what I want thanks to your pictures!!!
fotograffer
27 Apr 2013Hi Silvana, it is nice to meet you! I enjoyed my brief visit to your blog and hope to spend more time there soon. We talk about returning to Ecuador sometime soon.
silvana1989
27 Apr 2013that would be great!!!! I liked a lot your post about Ecuadorian faces!!! Ecuador is always welcome for you! 🙂
Gigi Galore
25 Apr 2013Ron, this is an absolutely beautiful post. It says so much, in pictures, words and shared proverbs, and touches me. Thankyou! 🙂
fotograffer
27 Apr 2013Gigi, you bowl me over with your kind comments. Thank you. It was great reminiscing as I cobbled the post together.
The Wanderlust Gene
26 Apr 2013Did I tell you how much I loved these Ron? Those great blocks of vivid/lurid colour and the people going about their business … all so evocative of place and a way of living. Having said that, funnily the shot I seem to come back to most often is the last one – the attic – but rust is lurid, surely? 🙂
fotograffer
27 Apr 2013Lurid, that is Haiti for sure, in the kindest possible sense of the word. Thank you for taking the time to comment. Surely things are hectic for you about now.
Tina Schell
27 Apr 2013Wonderful post Ron – you really brought it to life. Loved the colors but the sepia is just as powerful, maybe more. Nicely done.
fotograffer
28 Apr 2013Thank you, as always Tina. Yes I think the beautiful skin tones of the Haitians just compliments the vivid colors they choose to surround themselves with.
Playamart - Zeebra Designs
8 May 2013what a beautiful post! thank you for the immersion in color, light, shadow, textures and the soul of the country. z
fotograffer
13 May 2013Hi Lisa. I thought of you while building this post – “Lisa is going to love all this color,” I thought. 🙂
Playamart - Zeebra Designs
13 May 2013and you were SO right! if i ever miss one, please give me a nudge! i love all of your posts..
thanks, also, for visiting silvana’s new blog. she’s so honored that you haave taken an interst in her posts!
fotograffer
15 May 2013My pleasure. I enjoy her enthusiasm.
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onechicklette
31 Dec 2013Beautiful thought-provoking images. Thank you for sharing.
fotograffer
31 Dec 2013Thank you for your kind words and thanks for visiting
toemailer
1 Jan 2014We would love to post the top picture and possibly a few others at toemail if you do not mind? http://toemail.wordpress.com
photoph30
1 Jan 2014Reblogged this on PhoToph30 and commented:
De superbes photos reportages, je vous laisse découvrir ses galeries 🙂
fotograffer
4 Jan 2014Thank you.
Arnaud
2 Jan 2014Very nice report !
fotograffer
4 Jan 2014Thank you Arnaud.
bethanhearne
8 Jan 2014Brilliant!! Absolutely love it!! please check out my new blog. bethanhearne.wordpress.com
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