Port Au Prince, Haiti Report of what it's like to live there - 12/06/08

Personal Experiences from Port Au Prince, Haiti

Port Au Prince, Haiti 12/06/08

Background:

1. Was this post your first expatriate experience? If not, what other cities have you lived in as an expat?

No.

View All Answers


2. How long have you lived here?

2 years.

View All Answers


3. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?

Government.

View All Answers


4. Travel time and best routes to this city from Europe or the US:

1.5 hours or less from Miami, 3 hours from NY.

View All Answers


Housing, Groceries & Food:

1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?

Houses and apartments, commute time is pretty bad due to traffic.

View All Answers


2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?

Imported goods are very expensive, but local produce is pretty cheap and delicious.

View All Answers


3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?

Nothing really.

View All Answers


4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?

There is a Domino's. LOTS of excellent French restaurants that are actually pretty expensive (NY prices). Very good Lebanese food here too!

View All Answers


Daily Life:

1. How do you send and receive your letters and package mail? Are local postal facilities adequate?

Friends going back and forth from the US, DHL.

View All Answers


2. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?

Very affordable and excellent!

View All Answers


3. Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?

Never had a problem with a credit card. Never used an ATM.

View All Answers


4. What English-language religious services are available locally?

I'm sure they are. Pretty much all churches with a couple of mosques. No synagogues that I saw.

View All Answers


5. English-language newspapers and TV available? Cost?

Yes - there is cable and sat TV from the U.S. and Canada.

View All Answers


6. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?

It is hard to get around outside of the elite circles without at least French, preferably Creole.

View All Answers


7. Would someone with physical disabilities have difficulties living in this city?

A lot, the infrastructure is pretty bad.

View All Answers


Transportation:

1. Do you drive on the right hand side of the road or the left?

American side.

View All Answers


2. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?

No, but affordable.

View All Answers


3. What kind of car do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car do you advise not to bring?

High-clearance 4WD SUV is mandatory.

View All Answers


Phone & Internet:

1. Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?

Yes - it's satellite or microwave, both of which go out in the rain.

View All Answers


2. Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?

You can get a local SIM card here - there is surprisingly good cellphone coverage now, thanks to Digicel.

View All Answers


3. What is the best way to make phone calls back home?

Phone cards or cellphone.

View All Answers


Pets:

1. Quality pet care available (vets & kennels)?

Yes - not kennels, but good vet care. Servants can be paid extra to babysit animals.

View All Answers


Employment & Volunteer Opportunities:

1. What types of jobs do most expatriate spouses/partners have? Locally based or telecommuting? Full-time or part-time? Can you comment on local salary scales?

View All Answers


2. What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?

Pretty formal. This is a French culture and everyone takes great pride in his/her appearance. Don't wear sweatpants to the grocery store, and even going to poverty-stricken areas, dress nicely to show courtesy and respect. After all, they're putting on their best to meet you.

View All Answers


Health & Safety:

1. Pollution index (Good, Moderate, Unhealthy, or Very Unhealthy)?

Good.

View All Answers


2. Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.

Yes, but not as bad as what people think.

View All Answers


3. Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?

Food poisoning, even from the best restaurants - related more to sanitary issues (E. coli, ciguatella) and food storage/refrigeration. Malaria. Dengue. Many doctors train in the States, Canada, Belgium or France. Good vet care.

View All Answers


4. What is the overall climate: is it extremely hot or cold, wet or dry, at any time of year, for example?

Mostly hot, sunny and tropical. Rainy season starting in August and going through November, which makes getting around difficult (it can't just rain, it comes in buckets). December and January are beautifully cool in the evenings.

View All Answers


Schools & Children:

1. What is the availability of international schools? What has been your general experience with them, if any?

View All Answers


2. What accommodations do schools make for special-needs kids?

View All Answers


3. Are preschools available? Day care? Are these expensive? What has been your experience with them, if any? Do the schools provide before- and/or after-school care?

View All Answers


Expat Life:

1. What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?

Pretty large - lots of Embassy, UN, NGOs and lots of expat Haitians.

View All Answers


2. Morale among expats:

Depends. You go through highs and lows here.

View All Answers


3. What are some typical ways to socialize, either with local people or with other expatriates? Are there groups or clubs that you can recommend?

Some great restaurants, lots of great music clubs, but hard to meet people outside of the expat community/elites. Lots of entertaining at home among Haitians (dinner parties, etc).

View All Answers


4. Is this a good city for single people? For couples? For families? Why or why not?

For everyone! Very family-oriented culture but lots of singles there too.

View All Answers


5. Is this a good city for LGBT expatriates? Why or why not?

View All Answers


6. Are there problems with ethnic, race/racial minorities or religious prejudices? Gender equality?

View All Answers


7. What are some interesting/fun things to do in the area? Can you recommend any “hidden gems"?

Art galleries, hiking, travel, sports (esp. tennis), dance.

View All Answers


8. Is this a "shopping post"? Are there interesting handicrafts, artwork, antiques, or other items that people typically buy there?

Art, handicrafts (metal work, embroidery/linens, papier-mache), coffee, rum.

View All Answers


9. Can you save money?

Yes, but day to day living can be expensive.

View All Answers


Words of Wisdom:

1. Knowing what you know now, would you still move to this city?

Absolutely!

View All Answers


2. If you move here, you can leave behind your:

Preconceptions about poverty. There are a lot of rich people here too and the poor here are very proud and self-sufficient.

View All Answers


3. But don't forget your:

Heart. It is really easy to fall in love with the unique beauty of the country and the kindness of the people, even though life here does get frustrating at times.

View All Answers


4. Do you recommend any books or movies about this city/country for those who are interested in learning more?

Edwidge Dandicat, Graham Greene, Truman Capote (House of Flowers is based on Haiti - he spent quite a lot of time here)

View All Answers


5. Do you recommend any books or movies about this city/country for those who are interested in learning more?

Edwidge Dandicat, Graham Greene, Truman Capote (House of Flowers is based on Haiti - he spent quite a lot of time here)

View All Answers


6. Recommended movies/DVDs related to this city:

Ghosts of Cite Soleil, The Agronomist.

View All Answers


7. Do you have any other comments?

I loved my time in Haiti. It is a beautiful, special place and I hope anyone who goes there does see all of the good as well as has a healthy grasp of the problems.

View All Answers


Subscribe to our newsletter


New book from Talesmag! Honest and courageous stories of life abroad with special needs.

Read More