FHM Blog
Rara: A Unique Haitian Tradition
I remember the first time I ever heard a Rara parade. It was around this time of year in 2012. I was sleeping at a friend's house in Croix Des Bouquets. To save money, they weren't running the generator at night. City power, which is given at sporadic, unpredictable...
Haiti Reflections, Part 2: The Stories We Tell
What words come to mind when you think of Haiti? What stories have you heard about this country and the Haitian people? It seems to me that the majority of people respond to the first question with words like poor, dirty, sad, polluted, hungry, and desperate. To...
Meet Yvette
We are so blessed to have this incredible lady working for us! Yvette is our cook here at the FHM guesthouse. My expanding waistline is proof of her delicious feasts! Yvette began working for FHM when the guesthouse first opened in the fall of 2012. She was the...
Kanaval time in Haiti
“Invaded by a euphoriant fever in the streets, maskers lost themselves into lascivious dances to the beats of drums, guitars and the songs of both mini and walking bands.” (Hudler Joseph, Le Matin) Carnival (or Kanaval in Creole) is a big celebration in Haiti....
Haiti Reflections, Part 1: The Pictures We Take
In brainstorming topics for this blog, I came up with an idea for a series of posts I'll title "Haiti Reflections". I've got a potential list of four or five entries already—I'll number them—but they won't necessarily be right after another. I'll likely have other...
God willin’ and the creek don’t rise
Growing up in East Tennessee, this is a phrase I've heard often. "Tomorrow we will do such and such, God willin' and the creek don't rise." Meaning, we will do it—so long as no unforeseeable circumstances arise and change our plans. Many Haitians use a similar phrase,...
“Where are all the cats in Port-au-Prince?”
From Hannah: As a guesthouse manager I field a lot of questions about Haiti. From time to time, I'll include some of these questions and answers on this blog. This post by Heather gets that ball rolling for us!In October 2013, I went on my first medical mission trip...
Name that fruit….
Fill in the blank. The fruit pictured below is called __________________. If you said "corossol", you're right! This fruit can grow quite large, typically weighing a few pounds, and is characterized by its green color and prickly skin. Inside you'll find a delectable...
The Grand Tour
What kind of host would I be if I didn't give you a tour of where I live and work? Managing the guesthouse is one of my primary roles with FHM. The Nancy Ferree-Clark Guesthouse is located in Leogane, Haiti along Route Nationale #2 and is named in honor of the...