A Journey of the Heart - Market in Haiti

Along the side of any road and most especially in any main area, you will see hundreds of people sitting in the direct sun, or under a small umbrella or tarp, selling their goods every day in a market area for their livelihood. 

When walking through these market areas – you will find anything for sale from farm fresh produce, coffee beans, handmade soaps, house wares, cooked food, meat, poultry, livestock, etc.  Many people travel from far in the mountains – taking days to get to the main market areas to sell their goods.

One particular day, very early in the morning, beginning approximately 4 am, we could hear crowds of people traveling down the mountain on the road just outside the home we stayed in – with their bundles, animals and families – on their way to the market.  Some singing loudly, some having conversations, some arguments – they were on their journey to the market.

Another day as we stopped high in the mountains to take a moment for an amazing view from the mountain top, we saw some people walking down the mountain either with livestock or bundles carried on their heads, filled with their goods to sell.  This was a typical sight anytime we traveled.  We approached the women walking down the mountainside, asked when they had left their village and how long it would take before they hoped to arrive at the market.  They told us they had left late the night before – around midnight (at that time it was approximately 2-3 in the afternoon) - and hoped to arrive in a main market area by early the next morning.  It was very common for anyone living in the mountains to take anywhere from 1 1/2 – 2 days for this journey.

The bundles they carried on their heads were so large that many times it takes 2 men to lift the bundles and place them on the woman’s head.  Filled with many items they hoped to sell, bringing back both money and also taking this time to purchase items from the market for their families, the “market process” took days each way and many, many miles of walking and hiking.

While strolling through one of the insanely crowded outdoor markets I was amazed at the amount of items that were available for purchase.  Most people were friendly and greeted us warmly, hoping we would purchase some of their wares.  Others watched cautiously as to whether we were planning on purchasing something or as foreigners gawk at them in a pitiful way.  The Haitian people are a proud people, and it is important that visitors look at them directly eye to eye, don’t take pity on them, and treat each with dignity.  I was sure to ask if it was alright to take a picture anytime I wanted to do so.  Most were fine, but I did get a few people saying no and even had one woman get extremely upset with just the idea of me taking a picture anywhere near her.

The experience of going to the market only confirmed my impression of how resilient and hard working the people of Haiti are.  A simple task of selling goods takes so much time, energy and determination.  These people are incredible.