Going to the National Library every Saturday was the most regular appointment in my schoolboy life. It was an opportunity to discover books that weren't available at the Justin Lhérisson Library in Carrefour. But also, the National Library in Port-au-Prince was my favorite place for rendezvous with my first loves. Twenty-five years later, I still remember authors I discovered there like Daniel Defoe, Dany Laferrière, J.K. Rowling, Louis-Ferdinand Céline, among others. I also remember many little kisses in the back courtyard of the library, away from prying eyes...

Growing up in the commune of Carrefour in the 1990s and 2000s, young people like me who hadn't completed their classical studies didn't feel the need to go to Port-au-Prince for leisure or romantic encounters. Between the bustling cinemas, the Justin Lhérisson Library, public beaches in Mariani, the swimming pool at the Adventist Campus in Diquini, cultural activities... we were spoiled for choice. Going into town (Port-au-Prince) wasn't an option for us.