Writing Prompt: I remember

I remember leaving my home filled with a sense
 of adventure, excitement, and anticipation. I had been in Haiti about 6 months at this time and have planned a Saturday morning adventure to hike to the ocean along the foot path into the village of Simonette for the very first time. A backpack full of water and snacks and a heart filled with hopes and dreams I set out down the hill to meet my friend. It was as though the world was brighter this day, the long grass swaying in the gentle wind. We stumbled across a few items that looked so out of place under the shade of a lonely tree. My Haitian friend explained someone had come here to perform a voodoo ceremony and these items were the remnants of what had taken place. He kicked the items out of the path and as we continued our hike he told me stories of how his father had taken him to see voodoo priests many times as a child, and how when he was 13 he had to take a drink out of a glass bottle filled with what he assumed were human teeth and some unknown liquid as part of his coming of age ceremony. The realization that there was so much I didn’t know or understand as a young Canadian just stepping out into the real world swept over me. Questions poured out of me and my friend answered each and every one as we walked. 

Soon, we stumbled upon a watermelon field which belonged to my friend’s family. We stepped over the short fence and picked a beautiful watermelon. I imagined we would carry it with us, but instead we sat on rocks and my friend hit the watermelon with his fist in one swift movement breaking open the delicious fruit. We torn off pieces and together laughed and ate the most delicious watermelon I ever tasted warm from the morning sun. We poured water from our bottles over our hands to clean away the sticky juice and continued our journey into the village. We walked up a short hill and when we reached the top and were able to see over to the other side I saw the most beautiful picture of Haiti, one I will never forget for as long as I live. Along a crystal clear stream, a number of women sat laughing and singing with their wash basins, piles of colourful laundry next to them, while children played all around them. The banana groves peeking out in front of the brilliant blue ocean. The sounds of life, of joy, of laughter filled the air and in that moment I understood why Haiti has been given the name the pearl of the Antilles.