Greetings dear readers and welcomeeeeeeeeeeeeeee back to Karo’s little corner. It’s been a while. A lot has happened; I needed a break from everything, and honestly, I felt like quitting. Thankfully, some of my amazing readers did not give up on me. They encouraged me to come back and I could not let them down. I am super happy and excited for this new season. Buckle up, because we know Karo doesn’t play😉!!!
As some of you may know, those last few months have been extremely hard, to say the least. It was a mixture of pain and sorrows. From a family member being abducted, to tragically losing one of my high school classmates, one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. Sometimes I ask myself how I am still sane.
My last article was a cry for help. I tried using my words to explain how people from my generation were feeling in regards to the country’s situation. Today, once again, I will talk about something that has been bothering me for a while.
Before writing this article, I asked people in my inner circle what was one thing that they absolutely hate when people living abroad say to them, and I will share below some of the answers I’d received.
Things you should avoid saying to a young person living in Haïti right now :
“Why are you still in this country?”
“You have a visa, why don’t you leave?”
“I am so happy I left this hell hole.”
“I will never return to this country.”
“You’re okay with this situation that’s why you don’t want to leave.”
“When you leave you’ll be in paradise.”
“I don’t understand how you can live in such conditions.”
“Why are you going out? Can’t you stay home?”
“Find a way to leave this country.”
“ Oh why did you come back? I thought you’d stay where you were.”
“At this point you’re probably friends with the people causing chaos, that’s why you’re okay with everything going on.”
Whether you realize it or not, every single sentence I mentioned above really affects our mental health because it adds up to the level of stress we’re already feeling. Every time someone asks me why I’m still here, it pisses me off because I certainly do not have an answer for that question. No matter what I say, it will not be considered as a valid answer.
We are at a point where we’re all desperate and confused. Everyday we receive news that someone is leaving the country, whether it’s a friend, a coworker or just someone we know. No matter how happy and excited we are for them, it always leaves a bittersweet feeling. For me, it definitely feels like this country is not only crushing all my dreams but it’s also taking away from me, people I’ve learned to love and care for. I’m not okay, we’re not okay!!!
To all those questions asked above, we certainly don’t have an answer. One thing is certain : Not all of us will be fortunate enough to leave. There are different groups of people living in Haïti right now : first of all, we have those who want to leave but don’t have the means, then we have the ones (myself included) who don’t want to leave their house and family to go settle somewhere else, where they don’t know anyone. We also have the ones who would rather stay here and die instead of leaving , while others can’t imagine themselves, living anywhere else. Finally, we have the ones who still believe in a bright future, in a better Haïti.
I used to be one of those who believed that it could not get any worse, that one day the country would be “livable” again. Maybe there’s still hope but for now, I just focus on the present and take it day by day, enjoying every moment and making it worthwhile. At this point, living in Haiti is like waking up everyday and accepting that it could be your last.
At the end of the day, we all know how bad the situation is, and we don’t know if it will ever get better. We can’t just stay home and not go out because well, we have to live, one way or another, and home is no longer the safest place. The one thing that we need is emotional support. So please, be more considerate of the words used, and stop bashing us for living a life we certainly didn’t choose. Take into consideration all the buildup emotions inside of us. Mental health is not really talked about in our society, so if you can offer an ear, any kind of emotional support, it will be gladly appreciated.
That’s all I have for today guys! Thank you for still being here with me after all this time! Also special shout-out to my friend who just launched her blog @bloombyMR, please show her your support by visiting her blog. I’ll put the link below. Until we meet again, stay safe and be blessed… always!!!❤️ Love you guys!!