Haitian Culture: A Survival Guide
And now I present to you: Dan Kaschel, straight from the school of hard knocks!
Sure, you go to a new country, and you expect a new culture. What I didn't quite get is that Haitians aren't any more aware of their cultural idiosyncrasies than Americans are. So when I asked them if there were things I should look out for, their suggestions came pathetically short of truly informing me. So here are a few tips on how to avoid offending Haitians.
- Respect is everything. Among themselves, firstly--which means always referring to people by their titles (first names are very informal here, and most Haitians will introduce themselves by their last names) and always greeting people as they pass by--but especially among elders. It is considered rude to whistle around your elders, or to cross your legs. It is a sign of impertinence, and it is taken very offensively.
- Gender equality does not exist. Because of strictly enforced gender roles, it is pretty much unheard of for men and women to be close friend outside of a romantic relationship. When I visited a friend who was on a mission trip here at a hotel, it was a bit scandalous. Oops.
- Possessions are jealously guarded. Everything is under lock and key to keep it safe, and a sure way to make a Haitian enemy is to give him or her the idea that you have access to his or her possessions. So if you can pick locks, just don't tell anybody. It's better that way. Possessions--and privacy, similarly--border on sacred.
If I had known these things--or if somebody has been aware enough to tell me--I would have been much better off. But I didn't, and nobody was, so now I'm telling you. If you go to Haiti, be cautious.
But don't let that scare you off. Haitians are very complex, and understanding them wholly is the work of many rewarding lifetimes. If you ever happen to stop by, look me up and we can say hello.
If you're a man. Of course.
Dan
For more about me and my adventures here in Haiti, see my newsletter archive.
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