Anne Marie's Smile

In 1978 I met the most wonderful woman in Haiti. Her name was Anne Marie Joseph. She was about 5'8", big smile and those big Haitian cheeks that are so prominent. She was originally from a town in Haiti called Hinch and she would speak about an aunt or cousin who still lived in that part of Haiti. She would also tell stories sometimes about Hinch and what would happen to children who didn't behave.

But, I should back up. Why does this matter? While she was born in Hinch, she grew up in Gonaieves, in my father's home. In 1939, When Anne Marie was 6 years old, her mother brought her to my grandmother and asked my grandmother to take her in. Anne Marie's mother didn't have the resources to take care of her because there were so many other kids to take care in Hinch. Anne Marie, my grandmother was told, was a gentle child and a good worker and would be an asset to the house. My Grandmother agreed.

So Anne Marie was handed over to people she didn't know at 6 years old -- the Miots. There were no adoption papers because she wasn't adopted, no papers at all. Anne Marie was just a little girl being handed off to a prominent family far away from the village she knew.

It was and is common and expected in Haiti that those who had more resources would hire help to cook and clean. Maids, yard boys and cooks would not only work for you and be paid, but you would make sure that they had a room in the house and plenty to eat. Make no mistake, these sleeping quarters were quite small and seemed rather dark, the wages were low, but somehow this communal system seemed to work in some basic ways.

While Anne Marie was given small jobs to perform about my Grandmother's home in Gonaives, she was expected to dress in a clean uniform and attend school everyday, just like the other children in the house. While a bit younger, she played with my father in the house as she grew. Of course there remained a class separation between my father and Anne Marie that would continue to grow. My father would go on to be educated in France and in the United States, and Anne Marie would stay in Gonaives and finish just a basic education and continue to work for my Grandmother and/or the family. In return for her service, the family would make sure that she was cared for for the rest of her life.

In 1978 Anne Marie came to work in our house in Haiti, for my mother and father. This warm, friendly and big smiling woman came to live with us with her two children. Anne Marie was in charge, but in a gentle way. She cooked and taught my mother how to cook Haitian food, she cleaned and she washed the clothes. She helped my mother buy the food in the markets.

As kids we tried to figure out how this maid system could work to our advantage and it was Anne Marie who showed us that it wouldn't really work for us. I remember my sister calling for Anne Marie to bring her a glass of water. Anne Marie replied "yes" she would bring it to her, and then would go back to the more important tasks she needed to complete, never bringing the water. I remember Anne Marie showing us how to clean our rooms and how to clean up after ourselves -- she wasn't going to do it. Anne Marie made sure we knew who was boss, as she smiled her gentle smile.

Her children lived with us as well -- Rosella and Katherine. The oldest was sent to school each day, although she preferred to skip her lessons if she could. Anne Marie was a bit harder on her own kids than she was on us, expecting them to be clean and respectful at all times. We played with Rosella and Katherine as if they were our siblings. We taught them English and they taught us to swear in Creole. I remember Rosella (3 years old) and my brother Jonathan (4 years old) falling asleep together in his room. Rosella's black hair and skin next to Jonathan's white skin and blond hair...

Just yesterday you can imagine how thrilled we were to hear he best news from Rosella, who now lives in the States. Anne Marie survived the Earthquake! She is safe working for friends of my family, a placement my father made for her after we left Haiti. My father still sends her money each year to make up for her meager income at her new placement. How I would love see Anne Marie smile once more, and it looks like I may get the chance.