Sample Immersion Schedule

Here's a sampling of the type of schedule:

A fully accompanied (24/7) cultural immersion experience based in the rural community of Gwo Jan, with city and country-wide excursions to broaden your experience, encompassing all sectors and types of populations and regions.

Monday to Wednesday:

8:00 - 9:30 Kreyòl lessons, structured grammar and vocabulary studies
9:30 - 10:00 Break (Haitian snack and drink)
10:00 -11:30 Kreyòl lessons, sentence structures
11:30-1:00 Kreyòl practice, walking and getting to know the rural community with DOA/BN, neighborhood encounters
1:00 - 2:30 Traditional meal and rest, optional waterfall relaxation (a lovely waterfall is in the limits of the land where DOA/BN and guesthouse are located)
2:30 - 4:00 History/Culture lessons, DOA/BN's specialty
4:00 - 4:30 Rest
4:30 - 6:00 Haitian Religion and Geography lessons (all major religions are represented in the population of Gwo Jan - to be visited during daily excursions)
6:00 Traditional Haitian evening meal, conversations and then much needed sleep

Thursdays:

8:00 - 12:00 City excursions, using public and/or private transportation. Learning streets, addresses, government buildings, hospitals, schools, art galleries, downtown markets, etc.
12:00 - 2:00 Learning good restaurants
2:00 - 4:00 Appointments with key people in various NGO's
4:00 - 6:00 Return to Gwo Jan, evening meal

Friday - Sundays:

Getting to know the country. Each weekend will be planned to visit a city, town and community each in a different department of the country. DOA/BN recommends some of these trips made using public transportation when appropriate, depending on the place chosen in order that they experience a very close contact with the Haitian people that shouldn't be underestimated! Here is a selection of places, each having a different lodging selection from rural housing to hotels:

Kenscoff and Segen: (Transportation can be rental or public) farming communities in the mountains directly north of the capital where a majority of the cities' vegetables come from. A private guesthouse in the high mountains a possibility as well as other hotels available in the area for daily walking excursions visiting local farmers and farms, and organizations.

Lavale Jacmel: (transportation can be rental or public) a highly organized community in the mountains north of Jacmel where the oldest savings and loan cooperative began. A community hospital built and run by the local community can be visited, with visits around the village and hospital.

Mirebalais: (transportation should be rental) The town at the corner where the mountains and Artibonite Valley intersect. Visits to the Peligre Dam and its operations, visits to a local peasant sugar mill cooperative, etc. Nice hotel lodging in the town of Mirebalais. Paul Farmer's hospital (at Cange) is a two-hour (rough) ride from Mirebalais.

Cape Haitian: (rental transportation is recommended in order to see the country and to be used to climb the vehicle road to the parking below the citadel and other excursions while in Cape). The birth place of independence.

*Excursion to the Dominican Republic: a special guided tour organized by Haitian/Dominican folks in order to give a taste of the entire island flavor, politics and cultures.

Contact us for more information about a budget in US dollars.