Bonjou toutmoun!
Well I've made it to Carrefour and the team from Grace made it here too! Gloire a Dieu!
The last week in Jacmel was one of incredible memories and also a heavy heart as I departed. Thankfully, the church of Patrick and PP had services Wednesday and Thursday evening that I was able to attend and it was such a blessing. Wednesday night I was handed a microphone to introduce myself in front of the congregation - this seems to be a repeating pattern but every time I'm always a little caught off guard. Thursday, after a long day of feeling low and quiet and sad the service was rambunctious and full of laughter and joy and I left dancing through the streets with Jeanette and Mammi Doune (the matron of Patrick and PP's house).
Friday afternoon, I was in Carnest's classroom until PP stole me into his classroom. I will admit I much preferred this as PP's students are the most advanced and we can communicate the most easily. (I've come to recognize how much I value communication - I guess it shouldn't be that big of a surprise!)
I had written a letter in Kreyol and English that I was going to try to sign to each classroom - a letter of thanks and also one of encouragement, that though the world cannot always understand, God does. Instead, they had a surprise party planned and wouldn't let me begin to read my letter until after they had presented me with a Jacmel T-shirt, a calendar with a picture of all of the staff on one side and all of the students and myself signing "I love you" on the other, the preschool class also made me an adorable card that everyone signed. Marika made a little speech and then finally they let me read my letter while Patrick interpreted it for me. Perhaps the best part, was Patrick saying at the end that it's not a party unless we eat together and one of PP's students asked if this meant we were all going to eat the wheat and beans they always serve for lunch. We all laughed and in came the cake and sodas!! It was such a surprise and I will always cherish the time I spent at PAZAPA and in Jacmel.
I left with Carnest in a van packed full of people and luggage and a couple of hours later was being dropped off in front of the Morquettes' house. I thought my day had finally ended but instead I walked into 19 people waiting for dinner and having a
grand time while doing it. Not only were they 19 people from Xenos Christian Fellowship in Colombus, Ohio, half of them were people I had met, two days prior, at the Epi in Jacmel! They had recognized me from the photo on the fridge of the 2009 trip with the Peeles, the Morquettes, Joshua and myself. What a small world! What a big God!
The next morning, Tony's uncle and cousin came and picked me and drove me the traffic-free way to the airport, paying for parking and a bottle of water, against my insistence. Haitian hospitality knows no ends and I have never before felt so well taken care of. I waited at the airport pou kont mwe and met up with Jeff and Jude from Forward Edge and eventually the Grace Team!! That night we laid low staying in the Guest House in Grace Village, Carrefour (Kafou). Jon, an Associate Pastor/Worship Leader found a tired guitar and we sang a few songs, in English and went to bed. It was so enjoyable - in the true sense of the word, to sing in English and it has been an absolute pleasure being in the company of friends who get to experience Haiti for the first time.
Yesterday was a double header for church services but both were entirely different experiences. The first, Jon preached about the Lord's Prayer and really communicated well. For his first time with an interpreter, he really excelled and we are all proud of him, and more so blessed to have a God that is multilingual! The evening service was at a church a mile away and we crammed in, Haitian style, 20 people in a little mini-bus and drove over to another church. Jon introduced everyone, with me translating and we all sang How Great Thou Art. It was quite the cacophony of praise, but it was, indubitably, a joyful noise!
The sermon was about giving everything to God and not being half in- half out. The preacher was sweating and yelling and Frank "lost his voice for him." The team really enjoyed the service and it was a wonderful experience to see the service through "new eyes."
Today after a 5am wake-up to do devotions in the dark, we breakfasted and got to work. Beca and I "cleaned rice" with some of the women at the Lord's Kitchen and the other 5 got to work sorting through a storage room of donated items.
Talk about a practical "giving wisely" lesson. Who sends ski pants to Haiti!? And thank you, but there's no need to send expired canned octopus, we'll be fine without. After lunch we went out into the yard to help sort 470 kids into two lines to carry bowls full of rice and beans back to their families in the village. I interpreted a mini counseling session for one of the security guards and Jeff, and we all laughed quite a bit.
One of the best parts for me so far this week had been the conversations about faith and life and tough questions that I can understand 99% of. It has been so energizing already and I'm only praying now to not be too energetic for my still slightly jet-lagged, culture-shocked teammates.
Until I find internet again,
Ana
Monday, January 31, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Chloraquine #6
Dear fellow adventurers, this morning I took my 6th chloraquine (hot pink anti-malarial pill)- meaning we've been on this journey for coming on 4 weeks already.
The past few days have been filled with wonderful little moments I would like to share with you:
Friday after school got out I went home with Marika and we drove out to the Hotel Cyvadier. I had been there once before in 2009 but only to enjoy its wonderful view and then get back in the car to return to another hotel. This time we got to stay and actually go down to the water and swim! January 21st and I'm swimming in 80 degree water with two adorable kids clinging to me with every oncoming wave. The hotel is perched on a absolutely gorgeous tiny little bay and the kids and I traversed up and down rocks and through a spider-and-crab- filled terrain just to go in the water a little further down the coast. It was beautiful and also hilarious because I wound up carrying both kids across one particular section of the shore due to the sudden disappearance of a very large crab into the crashing waves.
After rinsing off, we ate as the sunset and large beetles dive-bombed the tables around us. I forgot the way fish is served here an ordered the Poisson Creole. It was on the cheaper side but came Haitian-style: head, eyes, tail, fins, skin, bones - everything but the guts. I struggled through it with guidance from Marika and felt quite accomplished an hour later to have eaten about 4 ounces of fish. It was a beautiful evening.
Saturday was fairly uneventful as I was coming down with a head cold and I spent the day reading and playing cards with kids and fighting the inevitable.
Sunday: the inevitable. Slept in, missed church and sat sleepily on the sidewalk to watch Mardi Gras celebrations around noon and then later Carnival in the evening. Mardi Gras is quite lively- people running en masse, mostly naked, covered in a mud they make out of sugar cane syrup and charcoal dust (the flies love this). Often, the mud/nudity is replaced or in addition to face paints and dressing in drag. Large groups of people will form around a few men in drag and they will parade the streets for hours with Haitian rum and song. It's during this marching about that people can do pretty much whatever they want including, covering other people in mud! Luckily, I was not covered though I did have a lovely conversation in French with a fairly large important businessman as he sat next to me, very drunk, shirtless, covered in black mud, with a long brown flowing wig and man thong intentionally exposed. Just lovely.
I had lost my braids to the Caribbean on Friday so Monday when I arrived at school Madga, one of the teachers, told me that I was no longer Haitian, I was back to being just another blan. She loves me. : )
After school and dinner (amazing chicken, a boiled plantain, iceberg lettuce and tomato slices) I went over to PP, Patrick, Carnest, and about 11 other people's house for Lekip Langle. English club! It was only PP and I for a little while laughing as he called himself Superman for jerrywiring a lightbulb and styrofoam to make an area outside bright enough for us to gather. It failed enough times for us to call it quits and go inside. All the while laughing at the not-so-super Superman. Patrick came home apologizing for being late and not too long after Mister Noel also joined us. The other members never came but we discussed titles and "have been" and our best friends. One of my favorite lines was: "My best friend, he's female." I have a growing appreciation for already being able to speak English. Creole is much easier to learn, though what it lacks in conjugations it makes up for in contractions and idioms!
After Mr. Noel went home, Carnest joined us and we began an odd circle of saying our goodbyes prematurely. I nearly cried - and for me that's saying quite a bit! Jeanette cried earlier in the day at the news of my coming departure this Friday. It would be a lie to say that I want to leave this place.
Today, I was at PAZAPA all day, with Carnest and the little little deaf kids in the morning - one of whom fell asleep within seconds when she crawled into my lap as we waited our lunch (blè e pwa franse - wheat and French beans), and then the afternoon with PP in the 5th and 6th grade class. We read in Creole/watched in Sign a story about a goat named KeKe, did some division problems and were learning geography when we had a little problem with discipline with one of the older boys. He had made an offensive sign to one of the other teachers but only PP saw it. While all of the teachers dealt with this, I was left standing in front of a class trying to explain what a baromètre is in Sign. I can hardly do this in English let alone ASL/Creole/French! But they were understanding and I used lots of colored chalk and we pretty well covered végétation, saisons, l'atmosphere, le zone tropicale, and l'equateur. All in a days work!
I am home now, sitting on the 2nd floor porch, overlooking the quiet street. A couple of cows were led past earlier and motorcycles pass every so often. The kids are studying with Marika's help and I am resisting the urge to scratch my bug bites. It's going to be hard to say goodbye to Jacmel, but the adventure must continue - I still have 6 more chloraquine to take before returning Ozetazini (to the U.S).
Love and rice and beans,
Ana
The past few days have been filled with wonderful little moments I would like to share with you:
Friday after school got out I went home with Marika and we drove out to the Hotel Cyvadier. I had been there once before in 2009 but only to enjoy its wonderful view and then get back in the car to return to another hotel. This time we got to stay and actually go down to the water and swim! January 21st and I'm swimming in 80 degree water with two adorable kids clinging to me with every oncoming wave. The hotel is perched on a absolutely gorgeous tiny little bay and the kids and I traversed up and down rocks and through a spider-and-crab- filled terrain just to go in the water a little further down the coast. It was beautiful and also hilarious because I wound up carrying both kids across one particular section of the shore due to the sudden disappearance of a very large crab into the crashing waves.
After rinsing off, we ate as the sunset and large beetles dive-bombed the tables around us. I forgot the way fish is served here an ordered the Poisson Creole. It was on the cheaper side but came Haitian-style: head, eyes, tail, fins, skin, bones - everything but the guts. I struggled through it with guidance from Marika and felt quite accomplished an hour later to have eaten about 4 ounces of fish. It was a beautiful evening.
Saturday was fairly uneventful as I was coming down with a head cold and I spent the day reading and playing cards with kids and fighting the inevitable.
Sunday: the inevitable. Slept in, missed church and sat sleepily on the sidewalk to watch Mardi Gras celebrations around noon and then later Carnival in the evening. Mardi Gras is quite lively- people running en masse, mostly naked, covered in a mud they make out of sugar cane syrup and charcoal dust (the flies love this). Often, the mud/nudity is replaced or in addition to face paints and dressing in drag. Large groups of people will form around a few men in drag and they will parade the streets for hours with Haitian rum and song. It's during this marching about that people can do pretty much whatever they want including, covering other people in mud! Luckily, I was not covered though I did have a lovely conversation in French with a fairly large important businessman as he sat next to me, very drunk, shirtless, covered in black mud, with a long brown flowing wig and man thong intentionally exposed. Just lovely.
I had lost my braids to the Caribbean on Friday so Monday when I arrived at school Madga, one of the teachers, told me that I was no longer Haitian, I was back to being just another blan. She loves me. : )
After school and dinner (amazing chicken, a boiled plantain, iceberg lettuce and tomato slices) I went over to PP, Patrick, Carnest, and about 11 other people's house for Lekip Langle. English club! It was only PP and I for a little while laughing as he called himself Superman for jerrywiring a lightbulb and styrofoam to make an area outside bright enough for us to gather. It failed enough times for us to call it quits and go inside. All the while laughing at the not-so-super Superman. Patrick came home apologizing for being late and not too long after Mister Noel also joined us. The other members never came but we discussed titles and "have been" and our best friends. One of my favorite lines was: "My best friend, he's female." I have a growing appreciation for already being able to speak English. Creole is much easier to learn, though what it lacks in conjugations it makes up for in contractions and idioms!
After Mr. Noel went home, Carnest joined us and we began an odd circle of saying our goodbyes prematurely. I nearly cried - and for me that's saying quite a bit! Jeanette cried earlier in the day at the news of my coming departure this Friday. It would be a lie to say that I want to leave this place.
Today, I was at PAZAPA all day, with Carnest and the little little deaf kids in the morning - one of whom fell asleep within seconds when she crawled into my lap as we waited our lunch (blè e pwa franse - wheat and French beans), and then the afternoon with PP in the 5th and 6th grade class. We read in Creole/watched in Sign a story about a goat named KeKe, did some division problems and were learning geography when we had a little problem with discipline with one of the older boys. He had made an offensive sign to one of the other teachers but only PP saw it. While all of the teachers dealt with this, I was left standing in front of a class trying to explain what a baromètre is in Sign. I can hardly do this in English let alone ASL/Creole/French! But they were understanding and I used lots of colored chalk and we pretty well covered végétation, saisons, l'atmosphere, le zone tropicale, and l'equateur. All in a days work!
I am home now, sitting on the 2nd floor porch, overlooking the quiet street. A couple of cows were led past earlier and motorcycles pass every so often. The kids are studying with Marika's help and I am resisting the urge to scratch my bug bites. It's going to be hard to say goodbye to Jacmel, but the adventure must continue - I still have 6 more chloraquine to take before returning Ozetazini (to the U.S).
Love and rice and beans,
Ana
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Glass Half Full
This week has been one of perspective and choice. I think it being the third week gone had something to do with it; but I also received the email from Teach For America saying that I would not be joining the corps this year.
I firmly believe that the days leading up to hearing this news had been full of preparation for hearing it. I have been learning to look at the positive when things seem frustrating. For example, bug bites. What could be more annoying than the constant itching and ever-present fear of tiny little insects? Well, I've discovered that these bug bites all seem to go away within about 3 days provided I don't touch them. This was probably common knowledge for most people but I was still rather pleased to make this little discovery. Also, children with special needs can be so frustrating because nothing seems to get through sometimes. But on the positive side, kids I've never even spoken with come up and take my hand smiling, and kids that I have been able to work with these past few weeks smile when they see me and wave me over to sit with them, greeting me with sign for "bonjou" I didn't think they understood. If I have helped them with their abc's perhaps I will never know, but to spread a little joy in other people's lives has become my life goal and all that I hope to pursue. There are many other positive sides to life too: toilet paper and indoor plumbing, clean water and food every day. A fan to sleep in front of and music-- something I've come to appreciate more spending so much time around deaf people.
Nevertheless, despite my days of thinking positive, hearing about TFA did make me feel fairly incompetent. I was hoping to have some sort of pity party after work yesterday but before I could make the suggestion, PePe and Patrick invited me to church. Can't really suggest going to a bar after that! (Just kidding parents!)
So, last night another 3 hours of church. I understood more and more and could ask appropriate questions afterwards, though I was very brain-tired. The best part of the evening however was not my growing understanding of Creole but the fact that Jeanette came with me. Apparently she hasn't been going since she moved from her home in the mountains to Jacmel to work in this house. On our walk home Patrick was joking with her and saying that now she has to come all of the time. This made me so incredibly happy to think that even though I won't be here for very much longer, Jeanette can now feel comfortable and go as often as she wants. It's a small thing really, but it's the whole concept of long-term positive actions that makes me most happy. and filled with joy.
Just this morning Jeanette and I walked to the market where in search of a new skirt I purchased a dress and a bathing suit instead. Jeanette stretched her money quite a bit further coming home with a bag full of food AND a new skirt. I still have so much to learn, but this is ALWAYS something I consider to be on the positive side of life!
True, I was disappointed about Teach For America and didn't want to write any sort of blog about it due to embarrassment and feeling downhearted, but life is too good to worry about things like rejection from organizations when I can always make new friends. Friends last longer than jobs anyway! So thanks for being a friend!
For those of you who are interested, Bob Welch wrote a wonderful column about Haiti. It appeared in Sunday's Register Guard and can be found via the link below:
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/cityregion/25775939-46/haiti-carr-says-fans-earthquake.csp
I firmly believe that the days leading up to hearing this news had been full of preparation for hearing it. I have been learning to look at the positive when things seem frustrating. For example, bug bites. What could be more annoying than the constant itching and ever-present fear of tiny little insects? Well, I've discovered that these bug bites all seem to go away within about 3 days provided I don't touch them. This was probably common knowledge for most people but I was still rather pleased to make this little discovery. Also, children with special needs can be so frustrating because nothing seems to get through sometimes. But on the positive side, kids I've never even spoken with come up and take my hand smiling, and kids that I have been able to work with these past few weeks smile when they see me and wave me over to sit with them, greeting me with sign for "bonjou" I didn't think they understood. If I have helped them with their abc's perhaps I will never know, but to spread a little joy in other people's lives has become my life goal and all that I hope to pursue. There are many other positive sides to life too: toilet paper and indoor plumbing, clean water and food every day. A fan to sleep in front of and music-- something I've come to appreciate more spending so much time around deaf people.
Nevertheless, despite my days of thinking positive, hearing about TFA did make me feel fairly incompetent. I was hoping to have some sort of pity party after work yesterday but before I could make the suggestion, PePe and Patrick invited me to church. Can't really suggest going to a bar after that! (Just kidding parents!)
So, last night another 3 hours of church. I understood more and more and could ask appropriate questions afterwards, though I was very brain-tired. The best part of the evening however was not my growing understanding of Creole but the fact that Jeanette came with me. Apparently she hasn't been going since she moved from her home in the mountains to Jacmel to work in this house. On our walk home Patrick was joking with her and saying that now she has to come all of the time. This made me so incredibly happy to think that even though I won't be here for very much longer, Jeanette can now feel comfortable and go as often as she wants. It's a small thing really, but it's the whole concept of long-term positive actions that makes me most happy. and filled with joy.
Just this morning Jeanette and I walked to the market where in search of a new skirt I purchased a dress and a bathing suit instead. Jeanette stretched her money quite a bit further coming home with a bag full of food AND a new skirt. I still have so much to learn, but this is ALWAYS something I consider to be on the positive side of life!
True, I was disappointed about Teach For America and didn't want to write any sort of blog about it due to embarrassment and feeling downhearted, but life is too good to worry about things like rejection from organizations when I can always make new friends. Friends last longer than jobs anyway! So thanks for being a friend!
For those of you who are interested, Bob Welch wrote a wonderful column about Haiti. It appeared in Sunday's Register Guard and can be found via the link below:
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/cityregion/25775939-46/haiti-carr-says-fans-earthquake.csp
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Bon Fete!
Apparently in Haiti if it is your sweetheart's birthday it's your birthday too. I like this idea very much as today is Joshua's birthday - and therefore I celebrated.
I spent much of the morning on Skype hoping to catch a certain Birthday Boy but then I remembered the three hour time difference. Darn. But the day was not spent in vain, I was able to do some English editing and document formatting for Marika/PAZAPA and then at 3pm Patrick and PePe (in Haiti you would only need to write PP but since I want you my dear reader to understand the pronunciation, I shall write Pepe) arrived. I had not understood what they meant yesterday when they said that they would be by at 3 and then we would go visit Jacmel together so I was stinky and sweaty when they arrived to take me out and about to see more of the city.
I changed quickly and off we went, laughing at my misunderstanding. Our first stop was their church to grab a bowl of rice and beans and to go online. I was handed a mac and instantly went on Skype just to check and who should I find there but the beautiful Ashley Nelson available for a video chat. She met Patrick and PePe and we all shared some lovely broken English, both from translation and from internet connection. Nevertheless, it was a true blessing and absolutely filled me with joy!
We went down to the docks and caught a sunset and a futbol in the back (whoops!) and then we walked through the mache (market ) at dusk on a Saturday - which is veritably crazy. I came to understand that if you say "wheelbarrow" people get out of your way - just like in a kitchen if you say "hot" - regardless of whether you have a plate of hot food or a wheelbarrow - people seem to move!
We sat in a park and talked with a group of young boys, one of whom had a deformed wrist. We told him about PAZAPA and chastised another little boy for teasing him. Hopefully some good will come of that little encounter. I love how in Haiti if you want to talk to someone, you just talk to them, no matter if you know them or not. It makes for a very friendly, very talkative country.
We walked all over town and up past the cemetery and back to Marika's house just as it was getting truly dark. Not too long after I went with Marika e ti moun yo (and the kids) to pizza at the local fast food/wireless restaurant next door to PAZAPA. Truly a day of good friends and celebrations.
Bon Fete Mon Amour! I'm celebrating here in beautiful Jacmel!!
I spent much of the morning on Skype hoping to catch a certain Birthday Boy but then I remembered the three hour time difference. Darn. But the day was not spent in vain, I was able to do some English editing and document formatting for Marika/PAZAPA and then at 3pm Patrick and PePe (in Haiti you would only need to write PP but since I want you my dear reader to understand the pronunciation, I shall write Pepe) arrived. I had not understood what they meant yesterday when they said that they would be by at 3 and then we would go visit Jacmel together so I was stinky and sweaty when they arrived to take me out and about to see more of the city.
I changed quickly and off we went, laughing at my misunderstanding. Our first stop was their church to grab a bowl of rice and beans and to go online. I was handed a mac and instantly went on Skype just to check and who should I find there but the beautiful Ashley Nelson available for a video chat. She met Patrick and PePe and we all shared some lovely broken English, both from translation and from internet connection. Nevertheless, it was a true blessing and absolutely filled me with joy!
We went down to the docks and caught a sunset and a futbol in the back (whoops!) and then we walked through the mache (market ) at dusk on a Saturday - which is veritably crazy. I came to understand that if you say "wheelbarrow" people get out of your way - just like in a kitchen if you say "hot" - regardless of whether you have a plate of hot food or a wheelbarrow - people seem to move!
We sat in a park and talked with a group of young boys, one of whom had a deformed wrist. We told him about PAZAPA and chastised another little boy for teasing him. Hopefully some good will come of that little encounter. I love how in Haiti if you want to talk to someone, you just talk to them, no matter if you know them or not. It makes for a very friendly, very talkative country.
We walked all over town and up past the cemetery and back to Marika's house just as it was getting truly dark. Not too long after I went with Marika e ti moun yo (and the kids) to pizza at the local fast food/wireless restaurant next door to PAZAPA. Truly a day of good friends and celebrations.
Bon Fete Mon Amour! I'm celebrating here in beautiful Jacmel!!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
And Spaghetti for Breakfast
It's hard to believe that I have only been here in Jacmel for 4 days. Already I have done so much and experienced so many things I never imagined and made so many new friends (not that I can remember all of their names yet, but I'm working on it!).
I have two friends in particular that I am especially grateful for, Mesye Patrick and Mesye PP (Pierre-Paul). They are both teachers at the school for the deaf as well as youth pastor-type figures at the local Protestant church. They know everyone in town and have taken me under their wing to show me around. They live nearby and walk me to and from places, and they are always making sure I am safe. I especially appreciate this since last night I found myself in the middle of a few thousand people marching down the streets of Jacmel singing praises to God and
carrying signs to further praise the one who kept them alive this time last year and ever since.
It was the one-year anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti yesterday and everything shut down like a Sunday so that people could go to church or remember in their own way. I chose to go to church and I learned why the sign for Protestant in ASL is fists waving above your head. The place was packed with people dancing and singing and swaying and shouting and kneeling and weeping and going absolutely crazy with gratitude and adoration. One of my favorite songs was I Know My Redeemer Lives - mainly because they sang the chorus in English a few times!
After church in the morning, I took a nap to let the incredible humility and gratitude of the morning sink and settle in my brain, I am learning so much here.
In the afternoon I met up with every Christian in Jacmel and together we walked the entire length of the city, singing and dancing and shouting praises to God again. It was incredible. Hours and miles later, we stood in the downtown square/big intersection and waited for the truck which had been carrying the band to unload piece by piece the whole setup and bucket-brigade it through the crowd onto the less mobile stage for the actual message part of the "croisade." Unfortunately, by this point, I was completely exhausted and thinking that I ought to get home in case Marika was waiting up for me, since we usually went to bed around this time (9). So I asked Patrick when it would end, "in two more songs we are going to start." Oh. I said I should leave soon, "no problem" he said and went back to singing. Then I repeated myself a little later, and he said "whenever you say" after this song? "sure." Then the song merged into the next one and he started singing, but then looked at me and I nodded so we took off through the crowd! It was amazing how fast we threaded through this crowd of people and I was about to feel relieved when I saw that now he was talking to his friend Bebe, the Motorcycle taxi driver. Oh dear.
I had heard stories of moto accidents and had already figured out how to say "oh no thank you, i really can't, you see, i promised my mother I wouldn't do anything stupid.." and then here I was sitting on the back of Bebe's motorcycle, cruising through the streets of Jacmel, and trying not to get dust in my eyes but still be able to see in order to brace myself for the inevitable death.
Glory to God I made it home in one piece! Marika was not worried at all, but rather spending the 12th in a different Haitian style, with friends and some good Haitian rum. I showered, drank about a gallon of water and passed out. And this morning, spaghetti for breakfast.
I love Haiti.
I have two friends in particular that I am especially grateful for, Mesye Patrick and Mesye PP (Pierre-Paul). They are both teachers at the school for the deaf as well as youth pastor-type figures at the local Protestant church. They know everyone in town and have taken me under their wing to show me around. They live nearby and walk me to and from places, and they are always making sure I am safe. I especially appreciate this since last night I found myself in the middle of a few thousand people marching down the streets of Jacmel singing praises to God and
carrying signs to further praise the one who kept them alive this time last year and ever since.
It was the one-year anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti yesterday and everything shut down like a Sunday so that people could go to church or remember in their own way. I chose to go to church and I learned why the sign for Protestant in ASL is fists waving above your head. The place was packed with people dancing and singing and swaying and shouting and kneeling and weeping and going absolutely crazy with gratitude and adoration. One of my favorite songs was I Know My Redeemer Lives - mainly because they sang the chorus in English a few times!
After church in the morning, I took a nap to let the incredible humility and gratitude of the morning sink and settle in my brain, I am learning so much here.
In the afternoon I met up with every Christian in Jacmel and together we walked the entire length of the city, singing and dancing and shouting praises to God again. It was incredible. Hours and miles later, we stood in the downtown square/big intersection and waited for the truck which had been carrying the band to unload piece by piece the whole setup and bucket-brigade it through the crowd onto the less mobile stage for the actual message part of the "croisade." Unfortunately, by this point, I was completely exhausted and thinking that I ought to get home in case Marika was waiting up for me, since we usually went to bed around this time (9). So I asked Patrick when it would end, "in two more songs we are going to start." Oh. I said I should leave soon, "no problem" he said and went back to singing. Then I repeated myself a little later, and he said "whenever you say" after this song? "sure." Then the song merged into the next one and he started singing, but then looked at me and I nodded so we took off through the crowd! It was amazing how fast we threaded through this crowd of people and I was about to feel relieved when I saw that now he was talking to his friend Bebe, the Motorcycle taxi driver. Oh dear.
I had heard stories of moto accidents and had already figured out how to say "oh no thank you, i really can't, you see, i promised my mother I wouldn't do anything stupid.." and then here I was sitting on the back of Bebe's motorcycle, cruising through the streets of Jacmel, and trying not to get dust in my eyes but still be able to see in order to brace myself for the inevitable death.
Glory to God I made it home in one piece! Marika was not worried at all, but rather spending the 12th in a different Haitian style, with friends and some good Haitian rum. I showered, drank about a gallon of water and passed out. And this morning, spaghetti for breakfast.
I love Haiti.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Jacmel! (Or Part 2 of a 6 Part Journey)
I made it to Jacmel!! By the grace of God!! My dear friend Tony came and picked me up from the Morquettes Sunday morning and took me all the way back across Port-au-Prince (from Delmas 33 to Bon Repot) to attend the church of his friend (the driver of the taptap). We arrived late, meaning we were seated in the very front. I was not only the only blan in the city, but the only woman without my head covered. Sweet. Then, his friend had us stand in front of the church and introduce ourselves. I went first. i think this is one of those experiences that make people in the US never want to return to church. It wound up being totally fine, i made a little joke and everything seemed to lighten up afterwards.
I couldn't help but make a few observations about the church building while the sermon was being given. It's a large wide room, almost circular. Built with concrete blocks for walls and 2x4s (sort of) for roof support. The roof is a collection of tarps from various relief organizations and there is a wonderful gap between the walls and the ceiling just about everywhere that makes for a lovely breeze. There was toilet paper wrapped around several of the posts as decorations and a red sheet hung behind the stage with some large gold Christmas bows. We sat on 2x10s placed on cinder blocks to make benches and it was sticky and we sat close together. All in all, it was beautiful. It was about John 6, and the bread of life and everything took on a much deeper meaning. When you might not actually eat any bread that day, to say Amen after being told that Jesus is the bread of life and that you will never hunger again means so much more!
I prayed to better appreciate all that I do have, and to keep remembering that I will always have more than enough.
I met up with a medical team from Virginia yesterday at the airport - again thanks to Tony. And we all shared a big van to Jacmel. It was a beautifully curvy road, and we arrived at what felt like very late last night but was in actuality only around 7:30. We met with Marika at a ridiculously gorgeous hotel right on the beach and then I returned with her to her house, a few blocks away. It is also beautiful and she lives here with her two children Anika and Max. They are adorable and sweet and speak a wonderful mixture of Creole French and English. Marika, who has lived here all her life, also teaches Spanish at the local school and works at a school for the deaf in the afternoon - meaning she also signs ASL. Uhh, role model!? Definitely. I am so blessed to be living here for 3 weeks.
I'm not positive what I'll be doing yet besides anything that I'm told - but I'm getting better at that! : )
I couldn't help but make a few observations about the church building while the sermon was being given. It's a large wide room, almost circular. Built with concrete blocks for walls and 2x4s (sort of) for roof support. The roof is a collection of tarps from various relief organizations and there is a wonderful gap between the walls and the ceiling just about everywhere that makes for a lovely breeze. There was toilet paper wrapped around several of the posts as decorations and a red sheet hung behind the stage with some large gold Christmas bows. We sat on 2x10s placed on cinder blocks to make benches and it was sticky and we sat close together. All in all, it was beautiful. It was about John 6, and the bread of life and everything took on a much deeper meaning. When you might not actually eat any bread that day, to say Amen after being told that Jesus is the bread of life and that you will never hunger again means so much more!
I prayed to better appreciate all that I do have, and to keep remembering that I will always have more than enough.
I met up with a medical team from Virginia yesterday at the airport - again thanks to Tony. And we all shared a big van to Jacmel. It was a beautifully curvy road, and we arrived at what felt like very late last night but was in actuality only around 7:30. We met with Marika at a ridiculously gorgeous hotel right on the beach and then I returned with her to her house, a few blocks away. It is also beautiful and she lives here with her two children Anika and Max. They are adorable and sweet and speak a wonderful mixture of Creole French and English. Marika, who has lived here all her life, also teaches Spanish at the local school and works at a school for the deaf in the afternoon - meaning she also signs ASL. Uhh, role model!? Definitely. I am so blessed to be living here for 3 weeks.
I'm not positive what I'll be doing yet besides anything that I'm told - but I'm getting better at that! : )
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Election Day
It occurred to me this morning, Saturday January 8th, that yesterday was election day and I did not tell you anything about it. I assume that if you're following Haiti news at all, you might be curious as to my on the ground impressions.
Ironically, when I wrote the previous entry, on election day, the thought never occurred to me. Primarily because it was such a non-event.
True, I saw armored U.N. vehicles driving through the streets with men and women soldiers in the back with large guns. True, I saw a large plume of dark smoke from what could have been a road blockade of burning tires. True, I saw the Haitian police at major intersections, but they were directing traffic as they always do. And the smoke is always billowing from somewhere. And the U.N. always drive around with impressive weaponry. If I hadn't known that it was election day, I would not have been able to tell. So there you have it, the election news.
As for cholera, there are many banners throughout the section of the city through which we travel. Saying things like: give your baby your breast for the prevention of cholera. Wash your hands for the prevention of cholera and don't drink untreated water. Dr. Junie told me that at King's they have seen 10 cholera patients thus far with no fatalities. It's true that it is a concern, but with many things in Haiti, media hype and the idea of "selling misery" come into play.
I should make the disclaimer that I am in no means a political analyst, or someone who has the most current information on anything. Please take my comments as simply hearsay, a young woman's interpretations of an incredibly complicated situation.
Ironically, when I wrote the previous entry, on election day, the thought never occurred to me. Primarily because it was such a non-event.
True, I saw armored U.N. vehicles driving through the streets with men and women soldiers in the back with large guns. True, I saw a large plume of dark smoke from what could have been a road blockade of burning tires. True, I saw the Haitian police at major intersections, but they were directing traffic as they always do. And the smoke is always billowing from somewhere. And the U.N. always drive around with impressive weaponry. If I hadn't known that it was election day, I would not have been able to tell. So there you have it, the election news.
As for cholera, there are many banners throughout the section of the city through which we travel. Saying things like: give your baby your breast for the prevention of cholera. Wash your hands for the prevention of cholera and don't drink untreated water. Dr. Junie told me that at King's they have seen 10 cholera patients thus far with no fatalities. It's true that it is a concern, but with many things in Haiti, media hype and the idea of "selling misery" come into play.
I should make the disclaimer that I am in no means a political analyst, or someone who has the most current information on anything. Please take my comments as simply hearsay, a young woman's interpretations of an incredibly complicated situation.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Enough
I speak English. You speak English. We speak English.
But MAN is it a crazy language!!
Today was Day 3 of giving the children who live at King's Garden (the orphanage part of King's Organization) English lessons. The lessons last about 2 hours or until everyone is exhausted (including myself). Today we conjugated to be, to have and to know and then made sentences with nouns, all in the present tense. We then conjugated to be and to have in the past tense and made sentences with both adjectives and nouns. They wound up being slightly depressing! You were pretty. We had a big house. I had a sister. You were a big mother. So we moved on from past tense to sentences with multiple verbs and then onto questions with Do and Does. All was going well and to finish, we learned a new song. Perhaps you know it, it's called "Enough" and it goes like this:
All of you, is more than enough for, all of me. For every thirst and, every need, you satisfy me, with your love, and all I have in you, is more than enough.
You are my supply, my breath of life, and still more awesome than I know. You are my reward, worth living for, and still more awesome than I know.
More than all I want, more than all I need, You are more than enough for me. More than all I know, more than all I can see, You are more than enough for me.
I stood in front of the class, covered in chalk dust (yellow on my black shirt), fending off the mosquitoes that came from who-knows-where as soon as the rain started, and sang this song. It was such a timely reminder.
I am going to Jacmel on Sunday - if all goes according to plans I have yet to make (don't worry mom, I'll make them!) - and will commence the part of my journey where I really am on my own. But even there, I know that I will have more than enough.
But MAN is it a crazy language!!
Today was Day 3 of giving the children who live at King's Garden (the orphanage part of King's Organization) English lessons. The lessons last about 2 hours or until everyone is exhausted (including myself). Today we conjugated to be, to have and to know and then made sentences with nouns, all in the present tense. We then conjugated to be and to have in the past tense and made sentences with both adjectives and nouns. They wound up being slightly depressing! You were pretty. We had a big house. I had a sister. You were a big mother. So we moved on from past tense to sentences with multiple verbs and then onto questions with Do and Does. All was going well and to finish, we learned a new song. Perhaps you know it, it's called "Enough" and it goes like this:
All of you, is more than enough for, all of me. For every thirst and, every need, you satisfy me, with your love, and all I have in you, is more than enough.
You are my supply, my breath of life, and still more awesome than I know. You are my reward, worth living for, and still more awesome than I know.
More than all I want, more than all I need, You are more than enough for me. More than all I know, more than all I can see, You are more than enough for me.
I stood in front of the class, covered in chalk dust (yellow on my black shirt), fending off the mosquitoes that came from who-knows-where as soon as the rain started, and sang this song. It was such a timely reminder.
I am going to Jacmel on Sunday - if all goes according to plans I have yet to make (don't worry mom, I'll make them!) - and will commence the part of my journey where I really am on my own. But even there, I know that I will have more than enough.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Tuesday
We passed a funeral procession on the way to the hospital Tuesday morning. It was a be-flowered hearse followed by taptap and car after taptap and SUV, all full of people dressed in their best black and white attire. The whole procession seemed odd because it was so sunny and because all of the life around the procession continued unaffected. It was not the procession you see in films, with somber music and light drizzle. It was rather humbling, as reminders of mortality often are.
The day continued and I passed the morning sitting in on a presentation in the nursing school on communication and how to act during interviews. It was all in French and I had a rare feeling of linguistic competency. I even made a few jokes to the people around me and the class as a whole at one point. I returned to the hospital not long after being "hired" during an interview simulation and felt particularly joyful.
The hospital did not feel the same joy. I was still trying to track down a few nurses for my sole task of making new badges for the staff and every time I searched one out, I was given the same answer: "l'ap nan sal doperasyon" --she is in the operating room. I knew Dr. Morquette had left for the surgery early in the morning but I was nevertheless surprised at its duration.
I only found out later that the little boy who had the operation passed away on the table.
I did not know him, nor his story. But I saw it all on the faces of his family as they packed their suitcase after hours of waiting, talking, and crying and left the hospital.
The day continued, as days are wont to do, and everything felt odd. Too much "c'est la vie" not enough anger at the tragedy. I am tempted to rant at the injustices of the world and the likelihood that this boy would never have died so young had he not been born into a society with limited access to health care and basic nutrition. But this was just my impression based on stereotypical statistics and I was admittedly very removed. So I will spare you the tirade you've all likely heard me make before and tell you more of this unbelievably long day.
After an afternoon trip past the American embassy (next to the UN headquarters, next to the Philippine Armed Forces headquarters, next to the hospital St. Dominique - all large expansive properties with large fences) to search out some beautiful Haitian metalworks, that night there was a "guitar soiree" at the Morquettes. It was a BBQ/going-away party for Valerie and her beau, Laurent. There was music and laughter and dancing and amazing food and adorable children with whom I played. The most amazing part of it all was not the incredible banann frit or the acoustics of 4 guitarists playing in a concrete courtyard but the fact that Dr. Morquette was the one who did the BBQing, passed around the hors d'oeuvre, served everyone ice cream and cleared the bowls. After a day of surgery and consoling the bewildered and anguished family of a little boy who won't be going home with them.
To end it all, despite my feelings of linguistic competency (I even debated with Dr. Junie the detriments of drinking Coca-Cola in French) and my joy (i.e. pride) at socially surviving the fête, I fell asleep feeling very humbled, hoping to someday have the humility to serve others tirelessly, even at my own party.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Je suis arrivée
After each of my three flights was delayed, I finally landed in Port-au-Prince, surprisingly less than an hour late. My friend Tony was waiting, with car ready. Praise the Lord!
We went all over the city, getting some food, and searching for a phone and phone card. (No luck yet, but will keep you posted). We went to Bon Repo where his aunt and uncle live and are rebuilding their home. It was a beautiful afternoon with a cool breeze and delicious Haitian hospitality.
After several hours of sitting and trying to converse and feeling oh-so-exhausted, Tony's uncle, two cousins and Tony all drove me to the Morquettes, which is apparently NOT on Delmas 33 as I remembered. Nevertheless, we arrived and I met their daughter Valerie and her beau Laurent. We played dominos and laughed, ate delicious dinner (with red sauce!), I read my letter for the week and passed out asleep.
It's my first day "working" at King's and Dr. Junie has me making identification cards for all of the staff. I should get back to it...
Lanmou (Love),
Ana
(the Haitians are very efficient and instead of my name having 6 letters it now only has 3)
We went all over the city, getting some food, and searching for a phone and phone card. (No luck yet, but will keep you posted). We went to Bon Repo where his aunt and uncle live and are rebuilding their home. It was a beautiful afternoon with a cool breeze and delicious Haitian hospitality.
After several hours of sitting and trying to converse and feeling oh-so-exhausted, Tony's uncle, two cousins and Tony all drove me to the Morquettes, which is apparently NOT on Delmas 33 as I remembered. Nevertheless, we arrived and I met their daughter Valerie and her beau Laurent. We played dominos and laughed, ate delicious dinner (with red sauce!), I read my letter for the week and passed out asleep.
It's my first day "working" at King's and Dr. Junie has me making identification cards for all of the staff. I should get back to it...
Lanmou (Love),
Ana
(the Haitians are very efficient and instead of my name having 6 letters it now only has 3)
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Away We Go
After months of planning and re-planning the day has finally arrived. Bags are packed and checked. Arrangements made and confirmed. Goodbyes said and re-said. As I type, I am sitting in the San Diego Airport waiting to board my first of 3 flights to take me to Haiti.
What I find there will be so different from the luxuries I have enjoyed here but the biggest difference will be the company. I will miss so many people while I am gone, the ease of calling up a friend to laugh the day away, and the comfort of love's embrace.
I am so blessed to be flying into the care of friends. To know that familiar faces will greet me, meet me along the way (Michael and Grace Community Fellowship!) and take me home with them is more than I could have imagined. Thank you to all who are making this trip so unbelievable. I love you all!!
Now boarding flight 3028 to Los Angeles....
What I find there will be so different from the luxuries I have enjoyed here but the biggest difference will be the company. I will miss so many people while I am gone, the ease of calling up a friend to laugh the day away, and the comfort of love's embrace.
I am so blessed to be flying into the care of friends. To know that familiar faces will greet me, meet me along the way (Michael and Grace Community Fellowship!) and take me home with them is more than I could have imagined. Thank you to all who are making this trip so unbelievable. I love you all!!
Now boarding flight 3028 to Los Angeles....
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