What summer means to Herby

Today, we are sharing what summer means to Herby who is such a bright light in our team. Herby is the king of smiles and dance moves and we never had a dull moment with him.

As we reflect on our summer series Lavi an Koulè, we cannot help but feel grateful for all of these summer memories that you shared with us. Keep reading as Herby also shares his memories and what summer means to him.

What does summer mean to you?

Summer season means a lot to me. Ever since I was a little kid, it has been the season where I go to the beach with other kids to swim and eat mangos. This is a time where I really feel like I am enjoying my vacation.

What is your best childhood summer memory?

My best childhood summer memory is going to Haiti’s countryside . I played a lot with my cousins. We ate tons of sugar cane and mangos and enjoyed the beach. It felt so good to be in such an environment with great people. That’s the type of ambiance I love.

How do you feel this summer with everything going in in Haiti?

I don't feel good about it at all. It affects me emotionally and mentally.

How are you planning on keeping your joy alive this summer?

The best thing for me to keep my joy this summer is to watch a soccer game as soon as I get off work. This is how I relax.

THIS OR THAT! SUMMER EDITION

Port-au-Prince or Countryside?

Countryside

Beach or river?

Beach

Mango or soursop?

Mango

Kenèp or sugarcane

Sugarcane

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SAIKA AP VIV LAVI AN KOULÈ

Welcome to another interview of the series Lavi an koulè, a series dedicated to featuring Haitian creatives, entrepreneurs, artists and more; bringing colors to our lives through their work and personality. In order to celebrate summer and it’s colors all season long, we will keep the conversation flowing around joy, Haitian childhood memories, seasonal fruits and everything in between.

Introducing Saika in this Kreyòl piece….

Bonjou, bonswa tout moun! Mwen se Saika, yon kreyatè dijital. Mwen kreye kontni sou janm viv, sa mw wè ki bèl nan jem. Sou rezo yo,mwen rele Saiti ki se yon melanj ak prenonm Saika epi Ayiti. Paske malgre tout bagay, se Ayiti ki fèm. Mwen komanse asepte tit enfliyansè a selman nan lane 2020. Men mw komanse pibliye kontni seryezman en 2016 sou Facebook epi an 2017 sou Instagram.

Kisa ete vle di pou ou?

Pou mwen, ete vle di pi bon moman nan ane a. Menm sim leve an Ayiti kote li toujou fè cho, ete a toujou gon lòt anbyans. Pou mwen ete se pwofite lavi , se kè kontan, se avanti, se yon sezon poum rechaje batrim pou rès ane a.

Ki pi bèl souvni ou genyen de vakans ou?

Mwen gen anpil bèl souvni de anfans mwen Ayiti. Mwen te vreman renmen fè lago, jwe marèl, jwe kay , kawo, ak kouzen m yo epi kèk lòt timoun nan vwazinaj la. Nou te konn renmen envante resèt ak sa nou te gen anba men nou, soti nan chodyè a ki te fèt ak mamit, engredyan Nou pran lakay nou an kachèt ,etc. Nou te renmen fe eksperyans anpil anpil. Preske chak ane Nou konn ale Jakmèl kay matant mwen Meyè. Lotbo a mwen gen souvni jounen plaj yo, bon mango, kokoye ak zaboka ki soti nan pye bwa lakou Nou. Ti mache nan lavil Jakmèl, etc.

Ki fwi ou pi renmen manje nan epòk vakans ete?

Sanm pa menm ezite : mango ak melon. Menm sim voyaje e ke fwii sa yo disponib pandan tout ane a, pou mwen ete se pi bon moman pou apresye frui sa yo. Sa raplem kijan nou te konn itilize po melon a pou n rafrechi figi Nou lel fè cho lem te piti.

Kisa ki ede ou kenbe kè kontan nan lavi a?

Apre relasyon m ak Bondye, se lanati. Pou Mwen se pi bel mèvèy ki genyen. Mwen renmen bote ki genyen nan ti bagay senp yo. Zwazo kap chante, pebwa yo kap danse gras ak van an, tande lapli kap tonbe, solèy la kap kouche etc.

Kijan wap simen lajwa nan lavi ou ete sa?

Nan pase moman kalite ak moun mw renmen. Nan vizite nouvo zòn, nan pase tan nan lanati, nan redekouvri sam deja genyen nan lavim, nan pratike gratitid, nan kontinye cheche e apresye bote nan bagay ki pi piti yo.

MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW SAIKA ON INSTAGRAM. DO NOT FORGET TO GIVE THEM A FOLLOW AND SUPPORT BY SHARING WITH FRIENDS!

Haitian Dominoes

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Dekabès!

a Haitian Creole expression meaning a double win in dominoes or the lottery

Pèdi // Chen

When you lose in Haitian dominoes you must put clothes pins on your face or arms for the remainder of the game. As a joke, you also are called "Chen", meaning "dog" for the rest of the game. Number of clothes pin is decided ahead of time by everyone playing. If you do not have clothes pins, you can also hold a small tree branch in your mouth or hold a cinder block. 

All Photography is from the talented (and super fun) Kelsey Cherry.