Hey hey everybody! Thanks for the patience with the slight delay in posts. The goal is to try to have something new every Friday since we don't have clinic over the weekend. However, routine here is hard to maintain.
The architect who designed the new clinic and lab/residence is coming to check on things next week and do some carpentry. In order to prepare for his arrival, Friday was a Work Day. We drove up to the site early Friday morning, gloves and tools in hand. For the next 8 hours we shoveled mountains of clay and gravel to smooth out the land around the new buildings. We piled up trash and dried-up bamboo to burn in giant bonfires we could see from the road half an hour away from the clinic. The day was long and the work sweaty, but I feel like it broke down the small cultural barriers between me and the rest of the crew. Swinging a pick all day earns a girl some street cred!
Earlier this week was also a change from the routine. On both Tuesday and Thursday, Clif, Jemi (the community health educator) and I ventured into the country surrounding the clinic to meet with promoters of the water project and inform them of the meeting on Saturday morning. We journeyed at least two hours in each direction both days, up and down countless hills and valleys. We passed capped springs that people come to from miles around for water. To walk into the rural countryside with the tiny footpaths and tied up goats and free range chickens everywhere was such a joy. The Oregonian hiker in me was ecstatic.
Today is our one day of rest this week as we spent Saturday at the clinic meeting with 15 promoters and discussing their efforts at educating their communities about the importance of clean water.
I'll be spending it at the nearby beach. It's pretty rough. :)
This upcoming week should be a bit more calm, clinic Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and then guests arriving on Sunday. But, as I've learned from previous trips and am continuing to be reminded here, roll with whatever happens because in Haiti you never really know what the day will bring.
The architect who designed the new clinic and lab/residence is coming to check on things next week and do some carpentry. In order to prepare for his arrival, Friday was a Work Day. We drove up to the site early Friday morning, gloves and tools in hand. For the next 8 hours we shoveled mountains of clay and gravel to smooth out the land around the new buildings. We piled up trash and dried-up bamboo to burn in giant bonfires we could see from the road half an hour away from the clinic. The day was long and the work sweaty, but I feel like it broke down the small cultural barriers between me and the rest of the crew. Swinging a pick all day earns a girl some street cred!
Earlier this week was also a change from the routine. On both Tuesday and Thursday, Clif, Jemi (the community health educator) and I ventured into the country surrounding the clinic to meet with promoters of the water project and inform them of the meeting on Saturday morning. We journeyed at least two hours in each direction both days, up and down countless hills and valleys. We passed capped springs that people come to from miles around for water. To walk into the rural countryside with the tiny footpaths and tied up goats and free range chickens everywhere was such a joy. The Oregonian hiker in me was ecstatic.Today is our one day of rest this week as we spent Saturday at the clinic meeting with 15 promoters and discussing their efforts at educating their communities about the importance of clean water.I'll be spending it at the nearby beach. It's pretty rough. :)
This upcoming week should be a bit more calm, clinic Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and then guests arriving on Sunday. But, as I've learned from previous trips and am continuing to be reminded here, roll with whatever happens because in Haiti you never really know what the day will bring.
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