Haiti   Haiti
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In September 2003 I visited Paul Farmer at Partners in Health in Haiti, and went back for my second trip in February 2004.

Haiti is the first country in the world which was formed by a slave revolt. When the Haitian leaders defeated Napoleon, many historians believe that event lead directly to the Louisiani Purchase which doubled the size of the United States. Haiti is now celebrating her 200th anniversary.

I have traveled a lot, and Haiti has the warmest, friendliest people I have ever met, by far. If you are traveling on the road (on foot or in a jeep) and you wave to a Haitian you see, 100% of Haitians will give you a gigantic, warm smile and wave back. I fell in love twenty times a day. :)

Haitians are very affectionate. Their Creole speech is wonderful; instead of just saying (the Creole equivalent) of "hello, how are you today" they say "he--LLOOOOOO, how ARRRE YOOOOUUUUU my friend".

Friends touch each other when they talk; men shake hands by firmly grasping each other's wrists. Family members (siblings, or child and parent) usually hold hands when they walk together, as often do friends as well.

Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere, and has had political turmoil for its entire 200 years. The first ever free elections and peaceful transfer of power to a new democratically elected president only happened within the past few years.

Haiti's poor are ravaged by the "Global ATM". These three diseases-- AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria-- kill six million people in the world every year. That's right, we have a holocaust ever year, caused by poverty.

Paul Farmer and Partners in Health

Tracy Kidder Book Paul Farmer grew up poor in Florida. His family lived at one time on a school bus, another time on a houseboat. Paul went on to become president of his high school class, then to Duke University and then to Harvard Medical School where he got his MD and a PhD in Anthropology.

Paul has been living and working in Haiti for 20 years. He also teaches infectious disease treatment at Harvard Medical School and works at the Beth Israel Hospital in Boston for about one month a year. Paul has also published several books and research articles.

Paul's work in Haiti is covered by an incredible new book by Tracy Kidder, named Mountains Beyond Mountains. Please read it; it is a thrilling and important story. This book is now #14 on the New York Times bestseller list. One recent review said "this book has Pulitzer written all over it".

Partners in Health was founded in 1987 by Paul Farmer, Tom White and Todd McCormack, subsequently joined by Ophelia Dahl (who started work in Haiti in 1983 with Paul) and Jim Young Kim.


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