Joynes Adventures

 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 ...

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...