When you travel, you meet reality. Haiti shares its island with the Dominican Republic. Haiti speaks French and the Dominican Republic speaks Spanish. Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere while the Dominican Republic is a tourist mecca with white beaches, all inclusive resorts, stunning landscapes. Haiti was discovered by Columbus, claimed for Spain, ceded by Spain to the French, and became an independent country when Toussaint L’Overture, in 1804, led half a million slaves in revolt.  In 2003, Voodoo became an official Haitian religion.  There have been 70 dictators here since their Independence Day.  Unemployment is around 80% .  The 2010 earthquake that hit Haiti was a 7.0 magnitude with over 300,000 Haitians killed and property damage that has never been rectified.  There is too much Africa and Europe here, and not enough opportunity and freedom..   Being kept a slave, by your own countrymen, is hard to fathom.  Where all the money donated to Haiti went, after the earthquake, is in someone else’s Swiss bank account.