Shops shops shops.

So I may not have a Target, or a grocery store bigger than a 7-11, and I may not have a mall, or even a drug store on every corner. But what I do have are lots of little shops. I don’t have a mall, but I have about 25 tables with jeans of all different sizes shapes and colors. And there may not be a fitting room, but I have about 30 personal shoppers that will tell me if that pair will fit me and look good.

I may not have a salon or any kind of spa like the ones back home, but there is beauty shop on almost every corner.

And I am not a fan of big bad corporate businesses that put all the little guys out of business (don’t even get me started on Walmart!) which means by default I like the little guys. In Haiti, the little guys are the only guys, and when you have a list of 20 things you need, chances are you are stopped at about 15 stores.

What does that mean for everyday life? Craziness. Not only being okay with only finding 10 things on your list, but rejoicing that you actually got ten things on your list! And it also means that there is lots going on. All these little shops are right on the main road, advertising their goods with brightly colored signs and pictures for those that can’t read.

I have to show you so you understand.

Since I don’t like being that person with a camera pointed out of the car all the time, there are still many things I have yet to capture on film and share. But when we have a team, there are few cameras out, and so sometimes I join the masses and bust mine out too. On this day, Christine and I were ridding shot gun (with an impeccable view of everything) so while she was making a video-which really tells the story even better than photos- I grabbed her camera and started snapping away. Let me show you some interesting finds along the way. Check out my Facebook timeline if you want to see the video Christine took of downtown Cap Haitian.