Joynes Adventures

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 ...

Welcome to my blog! It's going to primarily focus on my adventures as an expat living in Haiti, but I may occasionally throw in some other content. First things first—you may wonder how I ended up in Haiti. It is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, which means it lacks many of the conveniences that a spoiled white girl like me is used to. There isn't always reliable electricity, the gas stations frequently run out of fuel, the political situation gives rise to violent protests, and the weather is stinkin' hot. At a glance, Haiti seems like an entirely unappealing place to live. But you know what? I love it here. How I Ended Up in Haiti Let's go back in time to September 2019. I was ready to find love, but love was playing hard to get. That was, until I met an impulsive but charming man who offered to introduce me to his friend. Without knowing the first thing about this friend, I agreed. That was how I met the love of my life, a handsome Haitian man who happe...