A Boat. A Voyage: A Haitian Refugee Story (5 part podcast)

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Episode #1: Paulette Francois describes her refugee experience as a 15-year-old in the middle of the Atlantic ocean, her near-death experience, hospitality from Cuba, and the interfaith conflict/support between the Christian pastor and the Vodou priest on her boat.

Haitian Saying: Sou pa können pi gran pass'w (What you don't know is greater than you)

 

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Paulette discussed her asthma attacks at the refugee camp in Puerto Rico, described what the "wet foot, dry foot policy" meant to her as a 16-year-old, and explained how she avoided the perils of depression.

Haitian Saying: "map degaje mwen ton kon met jean jacques" ("I will handle my self like Jean-Jacques Dessalines")

 

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Paulette explained how she positively dealt with inter-ethnic conflict, brought her four kids to Haiti, and gave thoughts on class differences and home ownership.

Haitian Saying: Sonje lapli ki leve mayi ou. (Remember the rain that made your corn grow)

 

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Paulette was determined to spend Christmas with Wilkine in Busan, South Korea. And during her stay, she explored buddhist temples, tried different foods, and made new friends with a Russian and Hondorun immigrant. This podcast was actually inspired by this trip.

Haitian Saying: Pitit tig se tig: A tiger's cub is still a tiger

 

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Fragmented Black and African history, the influence and shaping of social, political and cultural identity in North and Latin America, African DNA, Haiti's landmarks, Arawak/Taino indigenous people...all connect together in this last episode.

Haitian Saying: Bye kou bliye, pote mak sonje (He who strikes the blow forgets; he who bears the scars remembers)