OK, not all my entries are going to be as gloomy as this one, I just had the Domican Republic on my mind, and had to post, what to me, was a very powerful experience.
Our distributor in Dominican Republic also had several accounts in Haiti. On this particular day, he requested that we visit a mom and pop shop on the Haitian side. Crossing the border from DR to Haiti was something surreal. There were several young (maybe even teenage) soldiers on the DR side keeping an eye (blind?) on the border. The dirt road leading from DR into Haiti was no too bumpy, that is the only positive thing I can say about it.
Entering Haiti from DR, was going from one of the poorest countries in the Caribbean, to the absolute poorest. People actually leave Haiti into DR to look for a better way of life. Ironic as I think of all the people crossing the border between Mexico to the US for the same reasons, however crossing from Haiti to DR is like having two rabid dogs gnawing at each one of your legs, to just having one. You're still in hell. Now, the people who have money or have normal jobs will tell you living in DR is living in paradise, not these people, not the people looking to cross over...
We cross the border and drive for another 45 minutes. I feel like I am in Africa. We arrive at the customer site. As we are exiting the vehicle, several children immediately approach us desperately asking for money. As I am reaching into my pockets, Pablo (the white man) firmly grabs my arm and says "DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY MONEY, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THEM OFF OF US". I walk with Pablo, he still has my arm and is walking rapidly towards the entrance. I can see the desperation in the children's eyes. There are women/men/children laying on the sidewalk, they are dying, I know they are dying. My body hesitates and tells me to go towards them, "you need to do something". Pablo says "DO NOT LOOK AT THEM, THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO. KEEP WALKING".
People are dying, and there is nothing we can do about it, as much as we try.
This is a true story... this will always stay with me.
The Truth Really Hurts.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
I'm glad you are sharing the experiences you've had while traveling.
Your stories are shocking but I think it helps in opening our eyes to the world around us.
WOW...enough said.
There was this South Park episode that had the same setting.
Cartman was yelling out.
" Hey stop slacking off and go get a job"
One of the kids tells him to stop and he says.
" they sould go to collage "
South Park is the funniest show ever made.
Post a Comment