Bienvenue (Welcome) to our very first blog post! 

We want to share a little bit about our favorite island while also giving you a glimpse into us as well. So, here we go! Our top reasons "We love Haiti because..." (in no particular order) 

The Mountains -  Did you know that Haiti had mountains?! And lots of them! There is a well known saying in Haiti- "Dèyè mòn, gen mòn" which translates, "beyond mountains, there are mountains".  There were so many weekends where Jean Paul and I would just jump in the car and drive 45 minutes up into the clouds to a place called Wynne Farm and just walk around, breathe in the fresh air, and spend time together.  We even did our engagement pictures there.  Some of our favorite memories are in the mountains.

The Food + Drinks - give me some paté ANYDAY! Paté is Haiti's version of Italy's calzone or Spain's empanada, and it is out of this world. Plantains + spicy slaw aka banann + pikliz are an addiction.  Soup joumou (pumpkin soup) is had every January 1st to celebrate Haiti's independence day, and many other days too in our home because it's so stinking good!  Rice, beans, fried chicken, okra, conch... mangos, coconuts and avacados straight from the trees are the best in the whole world (yes, there I said it)! Haiti also makes its own beer called Prestige which is the only way to quench your thirst on a hot summer's day +++ don't even get us started on the coffee (check out Avanti Coffee run by two of our dear friends)!!! 

The Music - we walked into our wedding reception to J. Perry's "Dekole".  A few weeks later we saw him at the grocery store and I (Alexa) awkwardly stalked him up and down multiple aisles to make sure he knew he was my favorite artist.  I'm pretty sure I scared him but it was totally worth it!  Haiti's music is authentic and passionate mixed with some Caribbean swag- we love it! Some of our favorites are J. Perry, Harmonik, Mikaben, Carimi + Kaï. Also, Haiti's gospel music is FIRE - shoutout to Ruth Francois!  

The Art - it's everywhere.  Bright and vibrant with such powerful emotion behind it.  Whether it's painted on a wall, carved out of a piece of metal or worn around your wrist - the artistry that runs through Haiti's veins is powerful. 

The Community - Haiti has brought meaning to what the word means to us.  There is such a sense of community whether it be through family, the church, friends, or the block you live on - those in your circle will always have your back.  We had a long list of people we could call and knew they would show up at our door in a second (or an hour, depending on traffic).  Over the years we have rejoiced, cried, peed our pants in laughter, and screamed with fists raised.  We've done all these things - but never alone.

The Beaches - crystal clean water and warm sand underneath your feet.  The sight of luscious mountains running right into the ocean. Fisherman in wooden canoes going out diving for their catch of the day to sell at the market.  People walking along the sand selling art or handmade jewelry, lobsters or Prestige.  The beach was always where time was well spent and memories were made.

The Sunsets (+ Sunrises) - so many nights were spent just sitting on our roof with a bottle of Prestige just talking about our day or playing dominoes.  Most mornings you could find me having my morning quiet time (and coffee of course) on the roof in my adirondack chair.  I felt like God was so close I could reach out and touch Him.  The colors in the sky with each new day changed, but were just as vibrant and beautiful as the last.

The Simplicity - life in Haiti is beautifully simplistic. Slow and steady is the pace, which allows space for people to just be.  There were many days where we had a list of things we "had" to do, but then someone would show up at our door or the kids at Wings of Refuge would want to go for a walk and you would just throw out the to do list and enjoy just being in the moment of the day.  It's something we really miss in our everyday life.  

The People - you can't sum up a group of people by reducing them to a few adjectives - everyone is an individual and deserves to be recognized as such.  However, after living in Haiti for over 7 years, I (Alexa) have incredible respect for my Haitian friends and family.  Goodness, I married a very handsome Haitian man! The Haitian people in my life are the reason I stayed as long as I did, and they are the reason our family will never stop advocating for Haiti. They are beautiful and resilient with so much pride (the good kind) for their country. Hospitality runs through their veins. If you were to show up at someone's house they would pull out all the stops - just for you.  They want you to feel welcomed and valued. It's something I (Alexa) have tried to implement in my own family.  I am a better person because of the incredible people God intentionally placed on my journey in Haiti.   

Well folks - that's a wrap!

We hope you enjoyed our first blog with little glimpses into our heart for our island home and the heart behind the creation of Bonjou Boutique. 

Feel free to share your thoughts, questions, or what you'd like to hear about next below.  We are all about interaction in this space!