For years I’d visited blogs and really enjoyed getting to see into someone else’s life. You get to see what inspires them and the things that bring them joy. You might even get to see the struggles they’ve gone through. Through all that I found inspiration myself. As someone who’s not the most extraverted person I was a little nervous about putting my thoughts and experiences out for other people to see. Being vulnerable is hard. But when I think…
There are so many destinations in the world. And even if we’d like to see them all, we need to narrow it down from time to time. There are a few places that are on my mind that I’d love to visit. I’ll share where they are and why. Udaipur, India India is a place I’ve wanted to visit for a long time. Through Bollywood movies and short trips to areas in the States with large Indian populations I’ve developed…
Cerca Carvajal is situated about 30 minutes from the city of Hinche and about 2 hours from Port-au-Prince. Houses similar to the cinder block ones found in Pétion-Ville are also found here. See my other post about the architecture there. There is a feature on some of the houses I’ve never seen before. There are windows that have no glass. They contain lattice made of cement. Screens behind them keep out insects. Other houses were made with found materials. Think of…
I haven’t gone the million places I’d love to go yet, but I am very thankful for the places I’ve had the opportunity to visit so far. Of these, some have stood out to me more than others. I want to share where these places are and what really made them special for me. St. Kitts & Nevis This two-island nation has special meaning to me. This is the place where my Great Grandmother was born. Even though I didn’t…
Quick Photoshop hacks can be used to instantly improve an image when you are short on time. The images above were slightly washed out. A little adjustments using Curves can save the day. Curves (Control M or Ctrl M) Use this tool to adjust the contrast in an image, color channel by color channel. For example, an image may have a large percentage of red. This can alter how the image’s subject looks compared to how the subject would look…
I’ll start off with the differences I’ve experienced so far with food. My first breakfast consisted of bread and peanut butter. The peanut butter had a kick and I was told spices were added and that it was traditional Haitian peanut butter. The largest meal of the day was served around noon. This is different from the U.S. where our largest meal is served in the evening. It usually consisted of a meat (goat, chicken, fish, pork), and a starch…
The first thing I noticed as I entered the area of Haiti called Pétion-Ville was all the different types of architecture. Like many buildings in the Caribbean, cement and cinder block are the construction materials of choice. Visiting Puerto Rico some years ago, I was told it’s because of the large amount of termites. Homes start as grey cinder block frames with grates for windows. They transform into beautiful “stone castles” on the mountaintop. I learned that while people are…
Bring an empty water bottle and fill it after you have passed through security. Choose a water bottle with either a hook or some other way to latch it onto your bag. This will save room for other items in your bag. I don’t recommend hanging it off your suitcase. Hang it from your daybag/backpack. Use a hanging toiletry bag. These are a lifesaver when you’re traveling with other people and have to share a bathroom. Saltstick Fastchews…
Being goal oriented helps us to grow. When I was younger I had so many goals. As I near 30, I am glad to have reached so many goals and milestones. However, I also can tell when I start to feel stagnant. This means I need new goals to achieve. As a visual and creative person, inspiration boards are a great way for me to be goal oriented in a creative way. We have so many things like Pinterest and…
Growing up in the school system in the US, I remember hearing two things about Haiti: poverty and voodoo. I also had a lot of friends with parents what had left Haiti to come to the US. They told me horror stories of that really made me shy away from visiting the country. 6 years ago I started learning the Haitian Creole language. With all the stories I had heard, I waited a long time before making serious plans to…