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Since the earthquake struck Haiti January 12, many Haitian students whose schools were destroyed now have no place to learn. Heritage has welcomed the arrival of several Haitian students on campus who will attend our school until they can return back to Haiti.

“I want to go back to Haiti as soon as possible,” said 7th grader Alexandre Fils-aime. “I like it here, but I think Haiti is much better. In Haiti I lived in a nice home with a big yard, and I miss the freedom that I had.” Fils-aime first arrived in Florida about a week ago. The school he attended is now in ruins, and probably will not be fully repaired until next year.

“The earthquake was shocking,” said Fils-aime. “After the earthquake the police let us drive through the streets to go to the airport. We were on the way when I saw piles of dead bodies on the streets. They were trying to cover up the piles, but I could still see them. I saw that everyone around was frozen in shock.”

Alexandre’s friend, Cedric Guichard, is also a new student at Heritage. He also first came to Florida a week after the earthquake. He attended a French system school, which he says is much harder than the schools in America. “The earthquake was the first time I ever felt the earth move beneath me. My father wouldn’t let me go out because he was insecure that I’d see all the damage and dead bodies.” Guichard said that he misses Haiti because that’s where he is comfortable.

“The media only really shows one side of Haiti,” said Director of Admissions Mrs. Johnston. “Television makes it seem as if Haiti is only poverty, but there are many different sides of the country.” There are about seven families who have come from Haiti and enrolled their children at Heritage for the remainder of the year.  ”The families called us, and Mr. Laurie made accommodations for them.”

“I’m living in my grandmother’s house right now,” said Fils-aime. “Most of my family was not injured or killed in the earthquake, but I did lose one family member. She was in the market when the earthquake started, and the market collapsed on her.”

“My friend back in Haiti lost his little 9 year old sister, and I lost a professor or two at my school,” said Guichard.

Although they are adjusting to life at Heritage, both Cedric and Alexandre are eager to go back to Haiti. Hopefully, the schools in Haiti will be in good condition by next school year, and the boys can return home.