This expression is commonly used when someone gets angry and they start “cussin’!” But “raising cane” in Haiti is a happy time for any Haitian child! They “love sugar cane!”

It is hard for us to find because they don’t grow sugar cane in our area. But, some lady sellers (machans) brought it to our Gwo Maché Mirak (Grand Miracle Market) to sell! When the “word was out on the street,” our kids found out! So, we sent our older girls to buy “cane!”

The moms would not let the children have the cane until they finished lunch and had a nap! (This is called “bribery!”) Ha!

Camy, the big guy in the yellow shirt, is one of the men [who watches] over the boys. He cut up the cane and passed it out! Wow! Lots of “crunching!!”

What happy kids!! Thank you, partners, for helping us raise these children!

Sherry Burnette