The most dangerous thing I did in Haiti.

People think of Haiti, and the uninitiated often think of hardships and danger. But when I think back, I have to say that the most dangerous thing I did was while I was there was ride public transportation. Buses are crowded, and the highway is filled with all kinds of vehicles. People walk, bicycle, ride donkeys, and drive a variety of vehicles.

From my front porch, I had a view of Rte 1 - the main road in the South department. At any moment it would have some vehicle, person carrying water or produce etc. You would see a bus filled beyond capacity blasting down the road horn honking. In the two years I spent there with the Peace Corps, 7 people died on that road. One group of 5 were killed when a tree fell on their pickup. I would even every so often see a burned bus by the road.

My first ride in Haitian public transportation was terrifying. But just like with anything, you go into denial. You stop thinking about it and you just endure. Until eventually, it becomes "normal".

But it remains, by far, the most dangerous thing I ever did in Haiti.