I am very timid about speaking for the collective. I can say what I see, I can say what I've heard, I can say what I feel, but I can't speak for - no one can speak for - 10 million people, and it takes away something from them if you make yourself their voice.

Especially moments when things are very difficult and complicated for me and I am still trying to grasp what is happening and I am still trying to understand and to reach family back home.

Whole interaction between the storyteller and the listeners had a very powerful influence on me.

When you write ,it's like braiding your hair. Taking a handful of coarse unruly strands and attempting to bring then unity.

To start with, for example this year, 2004, is the bicentennial of Haitian independence.

In Haiti you had the Duvaliers for 29 years and they were very well supported by the United States.

We live now in a global culture where anything that happens in a place that's 90 minutes from your shores really affects you.