Contradiction

 One of the strangest things in Haiti is dealing with money. Their currency is officially called gourde and has a conversion rate of about 40 gourde to 1 US dollar. However people also talk in, and prices are often listed in, Haitian dollars. A Haitian dollar doesn’t actually exist, it is just 5 gourdes. Calling 5 gourdes a Haitian dollar started a long time ago when the US and Haitian dollar were equivalent. Unfortunately it’s stuck around since then, though now there are 8.65 Haitian dollars in 1 US dollar. This system, combined with speaking Creole, leaves me standing for long periods of time trying to figure out how much I owe.

Weirder than the conversion system, is people’s perception of fake money. Many people like to be paid in US dollars because it is often equated to having a better job and making more money. People usually have to go exchange the money to actually use it; but, the pride from being paid in US dollars makes this inconvenience worth it. Because of this pride and the significance placed on the US dollar, people expect the bills to be flawless. I learned this the first day I was in the country. I paid my driver from Port-au-Prince to Arcahaie in US dollars and he returned thirty minutes later to exchange one of the 20s because a small piece was missing from the corner. Similarly, no one will take this 5 with a little marker on it.

The contradiction is if your gourdes look too nice, people assume they’re fake. Most people don’t carry wallets and instead just shove their money in their pocket. Most gourde is covered in dirt and oil and makes you want to bath in hand sanitizer. The 25 gourde bill below is a little too perfect still. It needs to ride in my backpack for a little while longer to become acceptable currency.