Anyone here has ever been to Haiti ?

[_Tristan_]

I have plans to go there for my job in six months time.

I'm looking for anyone who could give me tips about what to expect, what to do/not to do, what is the cost of living there, what kind of internet access can I expect, all sorts of things like that, etc.

I know that conditions may have changed due to the 01/2010 'quake but still any advice is welcome.

[Strike For The South]

Go to the DR instead

not joking

[Hosakawa Tito]

I've been to the Dominican before, but not Haiti. What is your job?

[The Spartan (Returns)]

My French teacher is part Haitian. She talks about Haiti all the time.

She is very patriotic and loves Haiti but she still doesn't mind to talk about the harsh realities of Haiti.

The government has issues with their president, the people are struggling to survive, etc.
She once told the class about how her friend from France died during the earthquake.
Her friend's partner wanted to meet up so the day she arrived in Haiti, she was killed in the earthquake while her friend was in the safe zone.

I'm sure the tourist spots are great but I'm also pretty sure the rest of the country isn't a great place to be at the moment.

[Major Robert Dump]

Very high HIV rate so make sure and wrap little Tristan. Also a very high rape rate, and tourists are targets away from tourists zones.

I remember during the quakes reading a story about a man who spent an hour digging a trapped, partially crushed teenage girl out of rubble. Then he raped her. Lovely.

The beaches are beautiful and the Haitians working in the tourist industry are very generous, as are the "average folk." But make no mistake there, the criminal element there is no joke

[Samurai Waki]

Haiti is a rough place no doubt about it. I've been just across the border in DR, the divide is shockingly literal. I can't really comment on the Haitians themselves, people in the DR didn't seem to fond of them, but that could be because they've been in a few wars, and Haitians regularly try to cross-over to raid people's houses/stores and so on. I'm not saying don't go, just be sure to have your wit's about ya.

[Populus Romanus]

DR is much prettier to. On google earth you can literally see how at the border between the two, the jungle just ceases to exist as soon as you cross into Haiti.

[_Tristan_]

I've been to the Dominican before, but not Haiti. What is your job?

Thanks for your answers, mates...

I've been to the DR as well and witnessed how Haitians there are second-rate citizens.

As to the job, I'd be part of the MINUSTAH, the UNO law enforcement mission.

[a completely inoffensive name]

I have not been there.