Topic > My Journey to Self-Actualization

Summer vacations are times in my life that I can relate to thanks to a visit to Haiti when I was young. My parents had taken the family to Haiti for a homecoming. Everyone was looking forward to the trip especially since it was the family's first experience outside the United States. Each had a personal take on the experience beyond the anxiety of visiting Haiti. As children we were thrilled with the experience. The fact that it is Haiti and not Europe made a difference in several ways. We knew too little about the country and its people while everyone understood the cultures of different American and European countries. However, we cannot rule out unfavorable prospects for developing countries. They were synonymous with poverty, low technological integration and poor infrastructure. The trip to Haiti occurred at an important time in my life, where the perceived adventure proved to be a process of self-realization that has influenced me to this day. Say no to plagiarism. Do you get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay “Are you guys ready to meet your grandparents?” my father asked as we left the house ready to go to the airport. We responded emphatically, with everyone showing interest in meeting more relatives. However, I did not encounter any curiosity from my brothers as they were not sure what was expected of us. Traveling to a new place always attracted several adventurous moments. People tend to avoid tension, especially by limiting conversations to close friends and family. Our trip to Haiti was relatively short, partly due to the comfortable flight and partly due to the anxiety of visiting the country. However, landing in the new territories made all the difference. As I crossed the Atlantic Ocean, I subconsciously imagine an experience similar to that of the United States, I expected to see huge buildings, luxury cars and modern infrastructure. However, this was not the case, as Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world. I tend to tell myself that I was childish at the time as an excuse for my ignorance. The situation would have been different if I had paid more attention in school as we learned multiple aspects regarding politics and economics. My adventure began with landing in Haiti. Meeting various family members no longer made a difference, as I was embarrassed, but at the same time struck by the extent of the inequality. In the United States I would hardly see a poorly dressed person, let alone a desperate individual. However, the opposite situation occurred in Haiti, as the majority lived in extreme poverty. Once we met two men, sweaty and thin, desperate for money. They were both in their thirties or thirties, judging by their appearance. ''Can we clean your car?'' one of the men asked in a low voice but struggling to smile. We hesitated for a moment, not knowing if we should have our car cleaned at that moment or if the investigation was a demonstration of necessity. “Okay,” my father replied hesitantly. We later learned that hundreds of other Haitians were doing similar things, including openly asking for money. My father paid a few dollars for the service, which also lasted about 30 minutes. The experience in Haiti did not lead to knowledge of the worrying situation in the country. The people were generous and respectful, more than I had ever seen in America. Despite the inevitable need for money, Haitians do not force tourists to offer money or accept a service. On the contrary, there was a great sense of hospitality, especially at the beach where guys in uniform were there..