Elsy Dinvil, Creole Me Up

From Creole Me Up "My name is Elsy and I am originally from Jérémie, Haiti. Haiti is divided into departments, much as the US is divided into States. Jérémie is the third largest city of Haiti and is part of the Grand’Amse department. In 1991, I came to America with a full ride scholarship to study in the United States. I was among just 20 Haitian students selected for this great opportunity. I studied Food Science Technology, graduated, and then, as part of the scholarship agreement, returned to Haiti for two years. I came back to the United States in 1999 after working at the United States Agency for Development (USAID) for two years and at CARE-Haiti for six years. Currently, I am in the process of completing my MBA with a concentration in strategy. I grew up in the kitchen. In fact, in Haiti, girls don’t have a choice. As soon as my mother started cooking, my sisters and I were in the kitchen helping with all sorts of chores"