Now, before we talk about our trip, we feel it's important for people who are reading this blog to know some facts about Haiti. Before the devastating earthquake on January 12, 2010, most Americans did not know much about Haiti, or couldn't point it out on a map. We hope that this will give you a better understanding of where we were and what we experienced.
HAITI
Size: 27,750 square kilometers (10,714 square miles), slightly smaller than Maryland.
Population: 9,203,083 people (DENSELY POPULATED, especially in the capital, Port-au-Prince).
Language: two official languages; French and Creole. Creole, which is a combination of French with native African languages, is mainly spoken at home, while French is spoken in the school or work setting.
Ethnicity: 95% black, 5% mulatto
Religion: The country is 80% Roman Catholic and 16% Protestant, and its people are extremely religious, however, more than 50% practice Voudoun (Voodoo), the ancient religion of the native people of Haiti. Voodoo is not a form of witchcraft or some dark, cultish practice, for information on it, check out this short article.
History: Haiti's political history is quite dramatic. Haiti was originally a French colony which ultimately gained its independence in 1825. Check out this website for a brief, but informative, history on the nation.
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