My Journey to Self Actualization

Summer holidays are relatable moments of my life thanks to a visit to Haiti whiel I was young. My parents had taken the family to Haiti for a homecoming. Everyone anticipated the journey primarily as it was the first family experience outside the United States. Everyone had a personal view of the experience beyond the anxiety of visiting Haiti. As children, we were enthusiastic about the experience. The fact that it was Haiti and not Europe made the difference in various ways. We knew too little bout the country and its people while everyone understood the cultures of different American and European countries. However, we could not rule out the adverse perspectives towards the developing countries. They were synonymous with poverty, low technological integration, and poor infrastructure. The journey to Haiti occurred at an important time in my life, where the perceived adventure turned out to be a process of self-actualization that has affected me to date.

‘’Are you guys ready to meet your grandparents?’’, my father asked as we left our house ready to proceed to the airport. We responded in an emphatic fashion, with everyone showing interest in meeting multiple relatives. However, I could not find some inquisitiveness from my brothers as they were not sure about what was expected of us. Travelling to a new place always attracted different adventurous moments. People tend to avoid tension, especially by restricting conversations to close friends and family members. Our journey to Haiti was relatively short, partly due to the comfortable flight and due to the eagerness to visit the country. However, landing into the new territories made a difference.

While crossing the Atlantic Ocean, I subconsciously picture a similar experience to the U.S. I expected to see massive buildings, luxurious cars, and modern infrastructure. However, it was not the case as Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world. I tend to tell myself that I was childish at the time as an excuse for my ignorance. The situation would have been different if I was paying better attention at school since we learned multiple aspects regarding politics and the economy. My adventure commenced upon landing in Haiti. Meeting with various family members no longer made a difference, as I was embarrassed, while at the same time struck by the extents of inequality. Back in the U.S, I would hardly see a poorly dressed person, let alone a desperate individual. However, Haiti had the opposite case, as the majority lived in abject poverty. On one occasion, we met two men, sweaty and skinny, desperately looking for money. There were both in their mid or early 30s judging by their appearances. ‘’Can we clean your car?’’, one of the men asked in a low voice but struggling to show a smile. We hesitated for a moment, not knowing whether we were supposed to have our car cleaned at that instance, or the inquiry was a show of need. ‘’Alright’’, my father responded hesitantly. We later learned hundreds of other Haitians were doing similar things, including openly begging for money. My father paid a few dollars for the service that too about 30 minutes.

The experience in Haiti did not involve the familiarization with the worrying state of the country. The people were generous and respectful, more than I had ever seen in America. Despite the inevitable need for money, the Haitians would not force the tourists to offer money or accept a service. On the contrary, there was a great sense of hospitality, especially at the beach where young men in uniform would bring us sodas and make huts for everyone. One would be compelled to reward them for the generosity.

My lesson regarding self-actualization commenced at the point of entry into the country. I understand that life did not rest with the immediate geographical setups or an existing economic condition. For the first time in my life, I thought about life without the privilege of my parents, who provided me with everything. Back in Haiti, some children younger than myself at the time would help their parents to make a living. They understand survival at a tender age. However, life was different for my brother and me. We never did nay laundry unless we wanted to play with the washing machine. We also never understand the value of money until we were teenagers. The experience awakened my understanding of privilege and success. I learned that some children were better off than myself despite the harsh economic life. They understood some life skills, such as hard work and saving at a tender age. They also learned a significant proportion of their life skills practically, unlike us who relied on the books. I vowed to respect people and their hustles and to appreciate the efforts of my parents. While I have acknowledged my privileges, I am committed to earning success to make my parents proud and to be part of the transformation of the world as a better place for living.