The Essence of Me!
5 things you should know about my Haitian Culture
Sak Pasé? Nou anfo’m? I’ve been trying to give equal attention to every part of my life during this Warantine season. As King Salomon said in Ecclesiastes 3:1- There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. I believe that this is the perfect time to reflect, to invest, to heal, and get connected with oneself. Needless to say, these are some of the things that I've been focusing on. In doing all this, I’ve realized that many of you may not know who I am as a blogger. I’ll even go as far to say that, some of you may just know a version of me. To establish this friendship from blogger to reader, I think it’s imperative that I tell you a little bit about me.
Hi, my name is Dashna Compere. I am the daughter of Kedy and Edmonde Compere. I was born and raised in Saint-Marc, Haiti. I moved to Miami when I was nine years young, then to New York at the age of twenty three. I am a Dental professional, entrepreneur, creative writer, traveler, and blogger. I speak Kreyol, French, English, and American Sign Language. I put God first in all things. Some of my favorite things to do are reading, writing, traveling, and shopping. This semi bio can go on and on… But let’s dig a little deeper.
To know me is to know my culture!
I’m one of those individuals who truly believe that you never really know someone. People change- for better or for worse. Sometimes people are positioned into certain situations that force them to make certain choices. Some of those choices are based on many things, but I can guarantee you one of those “things” is culture. Here are five facts about my culture to help you better understand me.
Identity- I am from Haiti. This fact makes me 100% Haitian. Haiti is an Island in the Caribbean located west of Dominican Republic. Haiti was the only successful slave rebellion in History- gained independence on January 1,1804 from 300 years of slavery. The color of the Haitian flag is blue and red. We celebrate Haitian heritage month in May and our national flag day is May 18.
Religion- The two religions that are practiced in Haiti are, Christianity and Catholicism. Vodun on the other hand, is a spiritual ritual some Haitians exercise. To understand this, one must understand the difference between religion and spirituality ( which is a whole different blog post). Vodun, which is most known as Voodoo, is NOT a religion. It is a way of life. It is a form of spirituality, some use it for good some use it for bad.
Education- Haitians value education just as much as they value health. They strongly believe in higher education. Each parent’s goal for their child/children is to become a Doctor, Lawyer, or Engineer. They will settle for a nurse, a business owner, or a chief of a business. But ultimately, they desire the best education. Education is so important that it creates different classes in the culture. Those who are more educated or attend the best schools are considered “better” and treated at a higher standard compared to the latter.
Health and Medicine- The ancestors who were from West Africa and the Congo, brought in their own culture into Haiti. They studied nature, herbs, and knew the relationship between humans and nature. That same practice is still relevant in the Haiti today. Haitians often turn to nature when looking for a cure. There is a certain tea for everything: headache, stomach ache, hypertension, diabetes, etc… The use of Lwil Maskreti (castor oil) is also important in natural healing. It can be used from a simple hair growth remedy to the extent of fixing broken bones in the body.
Etiquette- I am from “Oné, Respé”. From “Bonjou, Bonswa”, from leaving your shoes at the door to kissing (greeting) every single person on the cheek when entering a room. These are just some of the things I vow to pass from generation to generation no matter where I am on God’s earth. In my culture, you don’t ring bells, nor do you knock on someone’s door. You are to yell out “Oné”(Honor) while you stand outside of the house, and the other person who is inside of the house is supposed to respond “Respé” (Respect). That is the proper way to enter someone’s home. It’s also important to offer a guest coffee, you do not visit someone empty handed, nor do you exit someone’s house without a proper goodbye- that is considered to be rude. These are just some basic things that are crucial in my culture.
This May we continue to celebrate the heritage of Haiti, one of the most fascinating islands in the Caribbean. I am so honored to come from a land rich of custom, rituals, and values. I would love to hear from you. Where are you from? Tell me a little about you. Leave a comment and please don’t forget to subscribe for more updates.
