3 Powerful Reasons to Connect with Your Country of Origin
Many of our parents migrated in search of better opportunities. While some left their birth country never intending to look back, many left not to abandon their homeland but with hopes of someday giving back or returning. Yet the routine of building a life, going to school, starting careers, raising children, and eventually planning retirement often prevents them from revisiting those dreams. Plans to retire or return to start a long-imagined business don’t always become reality. Not because they aren’t accomplished, but because building two parallel lives in different countries is hard.
As their children, we carry both the ability and the responsibility to connect with that origin. We continue their dreams not to abandon our own, but because their sacrifice shaped our upbringing, life, and identity. Privilege is found not only in race, but also in being multicultural. Whether the opportunity is financial, cultural, familial, or something else, you never lose when you connect with your country of origin.
Moving to Haiti changed my life and future. In this blog, I’ll share three powerful reasons to connect with your country of origin.
Your Origin and Your Identity
Your origin country is part of your identity, and it’s been echoed time and again by many leaders: the biggest asset of a country is its people. Our parents aimed to bring knowledge and resources back. Even if they did not return, we can. By doing so, we honor their original mission and become an asset to our country of origin.
Many people migrate to countries like America for better opportunities, such as education and work. There are larger industries, systems, and innovations; it’s a melting pot of not just culture but intellect—a hub for creativity and the financial resources to foster it. This can and should be created around the world, but as we know, it doesn’t happen for many reasons. This creates not only physical lack in developing countries like Haiti but also intellectual and creative setbacks, making it difficult for these countries to contribute to global conversations about our future.
We are the change. We are the brains. Many of you likely grew up watching your parents work incredibly hard to achieve their American dream, which included putting you in a better position through education. That investment wasn’t just for you to ‘get a good job’—think bigger. Your mind, ideals, worldview, and experiences are the greatest asset to your country of origin, benefiting the world. Think about what you can do and how you can change the world simply by connecting with your origin country, understanding that country’s history and challenges, and asking yourself, ‘How can I be of value here?’ Then you’ll recognize: I was born Haitian (insert your identity) for a very specific reason. I have this life experience for a very specific reason.
Starting with a Foundation
While migration often means starting at zero, for many, going to your country of origin means tapping into assets: land, property, businesses, networks, and more. When I moved to Haiti, many couldn’t understand why I left the USA; why I left my career and my home, both key building blocks of the American dream. But what they didn’t see is that, in moving to Haiti, I gained so much more. In the U.S., I had a mortgage, not a paid-off home. I had a career, which I could honestly build from anywhere. But I was building alone. In Haiti, my parents had homes, plots of land, rental units, and businesses. I wasn’t losing.
Through working with my parents and helping them build on what they had, I had the potential to do more than I could in the U.S. With so many opportunities in Haiti for new businesses and services, and with the support of my parents, I wasn’t afraid to bet on myself. I’m not saying you have to move to Haiti, but I am saying it may be easier for you to build there because you might already have the foundation to succeed. Why build on one dream when you can build multiple? Unlike many of our parents, they couldn’t build both the American and Haitian dream at once. But for many of us, the Haitian dream has already started; we just need to finish it.
Deepening Connections with Family and Culture
At this point, you’ll notice that community is key. Connecting with your origin country means connecting with family and culture. My dad is one of 10, and my mom is one of 12, which means I have a large family, many of whom I didn’t meet until I moved to Haiti. Growing up in the USA, I knew I was Haitian because of my parents, but my identity was always a slight question mark. I identified as American, Black American, but through phenotype, culture, and citizenship, not through heritage and history. There was so much I didn’t grasp about American culture, especially Black American culture, because I wasn’t American in that sense. Yet I also knew very little about Haitian culture. I felt like a homeless being, never quite knowing how to answer when people asked where I was from.
Moving to Haiti helped me understand Haitian culture and what it meant to me. It clarified my identity as a Christian Haitian American Black woman, with each part of that identity playing a role in how I show up in the world. Hearing my family’s stories from multiple members and seeing the many angles of our family story helped me understand my parents. Being in Haiti helped me see why they raised me as they did, where their strength came from, where their fears came from, and how I became who I am.”
An Invitation to Begin Your Connection
Many of us grow up with complex feelings about where we’re from and whether we want to reconnect with our family’s homeland. But I hope these three reasons gave you a fresh perspective. Reconnecting can enrich your evolving journey, helping you understand both where you come from and where you’re going.
If this has sparked your curiosity, whether about traveling to Haiti, building something new, or exploring opportunities, please check out my other blog posts. And if you have further questions or want personal guidance, feel free to reach out or book a discovery call. I’d be honored to support you on your path, wherever it may lead!
