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  • Essay / My journey to self-realization

    Summer vacations are unforgettable moments in my life thanks to a visit to Haiti when I was young. My parents had taken the family to Haiti for a return home. Everyone was looking forward to this trip, mainly because it was the family's first experience outside of the United States. Each had a personal take on the experience beyond the anxiety of visiting Haiti. As children, we were excited about this experience. The fact that it was Haiti and not Europe made the difference in several ways. We knew too little about the country and its people while everyone understood the cultures of different American and European countries. However, we cannot rule out a negative outlook towards developing countries. They were synonymous with poverty, low technological integration and poor infrastructure. The trip to Haiti occurred at an important time in my life, where the perceived adventure turned out to be a process of self-realization that has affected me to this day. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay “Are you ready to meet your grandparents?” my father asked as we left our house, ready to head to the airport. . We responded emphatically, with everyone expressing interest in meeting several members of their family. However, I couldn't find some curiosity from my brothers as they weren't sure what was expected of us. Traveling to a new place always brought different moments of adventure. People tend to avoid tension, including limiting conversations to close friends and family members. Our trip to Haiti was relatively short, partly due to the comfort of the flight and the desire to see the country. However, landing in new territories made a difference. Crossing the Atlantic Ocean, I subconsciously imagine an experience similar to that of the United States: I expected to see massive buildings, luxury cars and modern infrastructure. However, this is not the case, because Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world. I tend to tell myself that I was childish at the time to excuse my ignorance. The situation would have been different if I had paid more attention in school since we were learning about multiple aspects of politics and economics. My adventure began as soon as I landed in Haiti. Meetings with different family members no longer made any difference, because I was both embarrassed and struck by the extent of the inequalities. In the United States, I hardly saw a poorly dressed person, much less a desperate individual. However, Haiti experienced the opposite case, as the majority lived in abject poverty. One day we met two men, sweaty and skinny, who were desperate for money. They were both around thirty years old, judging by their appearance. ''Can we clean your car?'' one of the men asked, his voice low but struggling to muster a smile. We hesitated for a moment, unsure if we were supposed to have our car cleaned at that point, or if the survey was a demonstration of need. ''Very good,'' my father replied hesitantly. We later learned that hundreds of other Haitians were doing similar things, including openly begging for money. My dad paid a few dollars for the service which also took about 30 minutes. The experience in Haiti did not involve 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,..