My trip last week was great and it was hard to come back. I felt at home and enjoyed getting to work down there. I definitely felt peace about it all, which was an answer to prayer. One of the craziest parts of my time there was spending time driving in Haiti. It's absolutely nuts. In places where there are sidewalks, they are crammed with makeshift stores and markets, so the pedestrians are pushed out into the "streets" (usually wide enough for one and a half cars to begin with). Vehicles are secondary users on the road, and sometimes it's a miracle you can go anywhere. The right of way belongs to whoever is gutsy enough to take it. It is a necessity to drive with horn honking and lights flashing, just to make your presence known and to show that you actually intend to get somewhere. The "official" tourism guide for Port-Au-Prince (as if there is any tourism) actually states the following rules for driving:
"1. Being stingy with one's use of the horn is as rude as it is unsafe.
2. Space in the city being limited, if two cars can slip in somewhere, there must be a way for a third one to fit in.
3. (my favorite) Priority is given to whoever is most in a hurry. In the event that two hurried cars meet, the larger of the two is given priority.
4. When parking in town, designate someone to keep an eye on your car."
(Otherwise it may not be there when you get back)
The final and most evident rule in Haitian transportation:
Fit as many people as possible on any given vehicle. Here is some evidence of that...
