Joynes Adventures

Photo by Bruno Scramgnon: https://www.pexels.com/photo/silhouette-photo-of-a-mountain-585759/ I don't like hot weather. If you are one of those strange individuals who thrives when the sun is trying to burn the world to a crisp, let me know what your secret is — because I am dying. Haiti is hot year-round. I thought I was prepared for it because, well, how bad could summer really be? It's not drastically hotter than the rest of the year, but somehow it feels ten times as miserable. Nevertheless, I am determined to survive. How am I doing that? Let's talk about it. Effects of the Heat I've been in hot weather before. Where I grew up in Washington, we used to have spurts of hot weather in the summer. Our house never had AC, so I thought I knew what it was like to endure heat. However, those spurts never lasted more than a few days in a row. Then I moved to the St. Louis area and discovered a whole new kind of humid, sticky, disgusting inferno that starts in May and doesn&

 When I first moved to Haiti, my body was shocked by my new diet — but that's not a bad thing. I went from enjoying a steady stream of comfort foods to consuming a diet that consists mostly of organic, locally grown foods. What exactly are the common foods in Haiti, you might ask?  The Local Produce One of the best things about Haiti is the delightful variety of fruits that are available. There are lots of familiar staples, such as bananas, cherries, mangoes, pineapples, and more. There are also some fruits that aren't so common in the U.S.  For example, there is kachiman , a sweet fruit with a green exterior and white interior that tastes kind of like candy. Corossol , also known as soursop, is also all over the place here — it makes some pretty delicious juice. Then there is bilimbi, starfruit, sour oranges , and more. Mango trees are all over the place, and our friends often bring is tamarind , a kind of sour fruit that has tons of health benefits. Plantains are also really

With a friend at our place of worship. (Her face is blurred to respect her privacy) I'm an introvert by nature. In fact, I would be perfectly content to go for days on end with my only human interaction being between me and my husband. Alas, I often have to set aside my introversion for various reasons. Haiti has made things worse. Well, or better—it depends on how you look at it. Let's just say that Haiti makes it more difficult for me to stay in my comfortable little shell of shyness. Haitian Culture Is All About People In the U.S., I could go practically anywhere, whether it was the grocery store, a tourist attraction, or just around the neighborhood, and no one would think I was rude if I didn't make eye contact or offer a greeting. Haiti is quite different. Rather than having the "cold shoulder" culture that I am used to, I find myself in a land where an abundance of human interaction is necessary. For example, when my husband and I go for walks around our ne

Photo by Erik Karits Insects and other creepy-crawly creations play an important role in the world's ecosystem. Some of them are also pretty cool-looking. However, I prefer to appreciate them from a distance. My time in Haiti has brought me up close and personal with more beasts (as my husband calls them) than I care to mention. But I will mention them. Because I don't have other ideas for a blog post at the moment. The Mosquitoes I haven't seen too many mosquitoes, but I know they're around because I keep getting bitten. My husband took me to the local grocery store so I could pick up some repellent. The only types they had contain DEET. In theory, DEET is safe for humans to use, but guess what? It turns my skin red. Therefore, I either have to put up with a rash or let the mosquitoes feast. (I know there are natural alternatives to repellent, but I don't think we'll be able to find them here.) They bite my husband less than they bite me. Maybe it's genetic

 I arrived in Haiti on February 15, 2022, which means it has been my home for slightly over a month now. How are things going, you may ask? All in all, I'm happy to report that I am enjoying my time here. Let's talk about some of the adjustments I've had to make and some of the awesomeness that Haiti has to offer. The Weather The weather has been the most difficult adjustment for me. I have endured hot weather before — St. Louis summers are brutal — but I have never had to put up with it without having someplace to retreat to. Here, A.C. is extremely rare, and we do not have it in our home. The high temperature is in the mid-80s pretty much every day, and at night, it might dip into the low-70s. It's quite humid, so I'm sweating all the time (I had no idea my upper lip could sweat so much).  I don't quite know when to shower. It's normal for people in Haiti to shower multiple times a day, but I'm afraid of overdoing it and hurting my skin. I'm also a

 I don't like weddings. Generally speaking, they are overwrought with silly traditions, they cost way too much money, and they make single people feel terrible. However, weddings are the gateway to marriage—and I needed to marry my love. Therefore, we had to have a wedding. What I Wanted My idea of a dream wedding is a trip to the local courthouse followed by a nice dinner. Of course, a beautiful dress should also be involved—but not a white dress. I bought a gorgeous blush gown for my wedding, complete with a flowy skirt and a sparkly belt that screamed "princess." That's all I wanted. Dress. Ceremony. Food. Some nice photos. That's all. What I Got I couldn't bring my gown to Haiti. It would have taken too much room in my luggage, and it wasn't worth the sacrifice. Plus, it would have been super-duper hot. Therefore, I am sad to say that I bought a knee-length ivory dress. Don't get me wrong. It's a very pretty dress, and my husband likes it more