Fourth of July - Haitian Style

I love celebrating the Fourth of July.  My family gets together, enjoys one another's company, spends time outdoors, eats good food, and watches fireworks together.  It's a time when we all come together to celebrate not only our nation's independence, but also to commemorate the annual tradition that we share.  This year, I was lucky enough to spend the Fourth of July in Corail, with a new type of family, a new type of food, and a new type of fireworks.  

I did not expect to celebrate the Fourth.  However, the 4th coincided with Armonie's birthday (the beautiful girl in the green dress with sunglasses on her head.  Her friends were already planning to get together and celebrate her birthday, so Pierre, who always enjoys commemorating special days, decided he would like to bring America's Fourth of July to Corail.  In the afternoon, Pierre asked his sister if she would be able to prepare a meal that resembled one that we would eat in the United States.  We were in luck because Wednesday is Market Day, so she traveled to the near by market (I think in Nan Bouk) to get food for our party.  Later, Pierre very thoughtfully traveled to a nearby town to find a habachi grill so that the food could be grilled, as we do in the USA for the 4th!  

That night, Armonie's friends came over (many of whom are Hope on a String staff) to celebrate.  We sang, we danced, and they gave her some presents.  I was proud to share my Dous Lèt with them, which they loved!  We put on music (Sean Paul, Rihanna, Beyonce, DigiLive) and danced our pants off.  The girls were dancing the cha-cha, and I asked them to teach me.  By the end of the night, I am proud to say that I could dance the cha-cha pretty well, and I even was able to share some of my amazing dance moves with them :).  We danced so much on the porch, that we were all sweating!  We definitely worked up an appetite.  

We were in luck, because Viola and Florence brought over an impressive array of food - barbeque chicken, fried plantains, piklez, fresh bread, and lambi.  Lambi is the meat from a conch.  They cook it and serve it with spicy sauce.  Before the meal, Pierre explained to everyone (in Kreyol) about what July 4th is and how it is often celebrated in the United States.  He also asked me to sing the National Anthem in English in phrases, and then everyone would repeat the phrase after I sing it.  Well, I tried my best, and they tried their best, but in the end the song devolved into an abundance of laughter.  Once we bellowed, "the Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave," everyone enjoyed the meal and even a Prestige or two.

From left to right--top row: Watson, Armonie, Cassy, Velouse, Mumy, bottom row: Felix, Fafan, Clen, Amanda)

Fried plantains, piklez, lambi

After our meal, Pierre held court and had everyone in stitches.  I tried my best to follow along with everyone's Kreyol, and I could get bits and pieces of it, but mostly because Pierre was so animated while he was sharing his stories!

Hope on a String talks about strengthening community.  Let's look at the group of people that came together to celebrate.  Many of the young people who work at Hope on a String were not particularly close friends.  Through their participation in HoaS, their community bonds have grown stronger.  Hope on a String believes in the power of music.  The role that music played on the 4th was extremely powerful.  We didn't have to speak to one another and have the barrier of language.  We just danced to the music.  We taught each other moves, created memories, and grew closer all because of the music, and how open and inviting it always is.  Mèsi anpil tout moun!  (Thank you very much everyone!)