Haiti Day 4

The camera we brought refused to turn on while we were out working today, so no pics from the site. :(  I have a few from later though.

Today was another painting day with our favs white and orange/brown.  The orange/brown makes one think of the colors houses are painted in Mexico.  But, a fresh coat of paint, no matter the color, was desperately needed.  We finished painting all of the kids' bedrooms in the main building and they look worlds better.  We put in a full days' work for sure today.  We had people coming in to help off and on, but me being the picky painter I am found most people's help to be more of a hindrance, as I had to go back and fix their edges and slops after they left again.  This made me rather cranky and short with everyone today.  But oh well, hopefully tomorrow will be better and I'll be more patient.

I took a few pictures of the common areas around the Indigo Club (name of our resort).  They are really quite beautiful and well-maintained.  So here they are:

Justice before showering off the paint splatters :) and am, post-shower.  Showers are beyond amazing now.  They were nice before, now they're essential for survival.

Justice using our favorite equipment. ;)

Our main sitting area, it was dusk when I took these so, bear with me.

This is the bar and lounge.  They are quite amenable and give us as many virgin drinks as we like. :)  They are only 3 dollars too.  Yay pina colodas!

The larger pool.  Isn't it just like a elite resort?  Still haven't gone in though.  It just doesn't have the attraction of the ocean.

A view of the pool and the balcony suites on one end.  I thought they looked rather picturesque, so here you are.  None of us could hope to afford those rooms I think.  We shall enjoy them from afar.

So, we have had some adventures with little critters.  I have had quite the time with mosquitos.  They have been desperate to get to know me and become intimate, regardless of me wearing this rather unpleasant spray.  But it's alright, they think I taste so good, it's worth it. Sadly, this leaves me with approximately 20 bug bites that I am having a hard time trying to resist itching.  These critters are my least favorite.

We also have seen some rather large waspish looking bugs that fly really loud and fast.  These critters freak people out really quickly, disrupting meetings really easily.  I find their antics quite funny.  They bugs probably do too.

But, above all, people despise the large spiders we kept finding in the rooms we were attempting to paint.  One in particular was about the size of a full grown man's fist, including legs.  I did not get a picture, because I was the one chasing after it to catch it so I could remove it and no longer have a parade of people coming in to look and then run out screaming again.  They were messing up our "flow", so I took my opportunity when the terrified 6-legged spider (it had lost 2 evidentally) fell from the ceiling.  I captured it in a plastic container and carried it out into the wooded area, knowing it would most likely be back, but that it would not be back until we had all left and the Haitiians have a much healthier perspective on spiders and it doesn't bother them a bit that they share a habitation. They cohabitate nicely with the humans drawing in the mosquitos and the spiders having a mosquito dinner whenever they please.

We have seen several geckos.  They live in the larger cracks of the buildings around here.  One small gecko landed on Amy's head while we were all sitting in a truck bed waiting to be driven to the site.  I made some noise "oh!" when I saw it and reached to try and catch it, but Candy, the lady next to me literally leaped upon me screaming and started pounding my back with her hands in terror.  I was absolutely astonished.  Here was a full grown woman absolutely terrified of a small gecko and felt that climbing on me was her best protection.  She was very apologetic after the gecko had been chased out, but I found it all quite hilarious.  I should've shown her the spider before releasing it . . . but I'm not that mean, usually. ;)

Those are all the stories for now.  Take care all and more later!

Haiti Day 3

 Snapshots from today:

This is another unfinished house.  It's one of the nicer ones.  Luckily, the northern area of Haiti didn't get as decimated by the earthquake, leaving a few bigger buildings standing like this one.

Here is the road we drive down to get to the orphanage we worked at today.  It's the nicest road in the whole country I think.  Just paved unlike the dirt/gravel roads in the capital city.

More of the little town nearby.

The mountains.  Aren't they lovely?

A la plage (at the beach):

Just wanted to add a few pics of our relax time after working.  Here's our beach just outside our room.

It look cool, but it's not very comfy.

Justice and I taking in the waters.

We are just so talented.

Letting ourselves be washed up.

We made it!

We were trying to pretend we were dead, but the wave competely engulfed us.  We had water up our nose, sand in our eyes.  Sand everywhere really.  It took a while to get all the sand off and out of our hair.  But, it was worth it.  It felt like the temp of bath water, yet not too warm because it still felt refreshing.

Today on the site I was "head-painter" since I'd had some painting experience.  I would've made mom proud.  We were painting the main building in white and orangish-brown (yeah, gorgeous right? :P).  It was mostly indoors though, so I didn't have to worry about getting burned today, yay!  I got another few opportunities to speak French with the young people.  I'm getting a little better at speaking French and much more confident.  But most of the time, I'm not really needed since knowing Creole is much more needed, especially when working with the children.  So, it is rare that people ask for my help, I just usually find it quite convenient when getting around and getting people to paint better.  It was a good day, I think.  I have no idea what we'll be doing tomorrow, more painting I suppose, since we still have more white paint left.

Until tomorrow everyone! Bonne nuit!

A initial glimpse of Haiti . . .

And now some photos for your view pleasure:

In the airport:

Justice and I in the tiny baggage claim waiting for the rest of our group members to arrive.

Our pile of suitcases we were waiting next to.  There are 22 or more people in our group.

The sorts of cars available in Haiti.  This one was next to us as we waited in the van to leave for the hotel.

On the way to our hotel:

On our ride back, we saw this pig rummaging through the refuse.  It was chained to the dumpster nearby, probably so it could find its own dinner till its owner came to pick it up.

Here's a free residence here in the Haiti (and the most prolific). Anyone wanna come over here to live? :P Didn't think so . . .

More of the most common residences.

An average market area along the roadway.

The majestic mountains further north of Port au Prince.

A house that has never been finished due to lack of funds probably.

A storm rolling in over the ocean.

Day 2 on the way to the orphanage:

A brief view of the gorgeous ocean and sandy beaches.  More picturesque pictures to come once we bribe a fellow photographer for his pics. :P

The laundromat.

A goat, very very common animal found here.  Seemed to be more common than dogs or cats.

At the orphanage:

Our young reception committee upon arrival.

From left:  Amy, Kerry (one of our orphans, notice his superficial digit), and Justice.

Adeline holding one of our youngest clinic patients.

Amy and another orphan.

Kerry getting his hands bandaged after removing his superficial extra digit. He was terrified, poor little guy.  It was only attached by skin, so not a major procedure, but as a 3 year old, I don't think he really understood until they cut the first one off (one on each side).

Our medicine cabinet for the entire clinic.

The beginning of a square platform construction to create a dry place to sleep that wouldn't wash away.  It complete when we left today.

Tomorrow we will return to the orphanage and continue building, treating orphans from another orphanage, and doing VBS with the children.

After spending one day in the life of the average Haitiian, we know that we've only caught the briefest of glimpses into what it's really like here.  Our lives at the hotel seem like paradise in comparison, although we have tiny rooms, clogged showers, tiny bathrooms.  At least we HAVE air-conditioned rooms and plumbing.  Getting adequate and decent food after certain times seems to be the only issue for us at this point.  But, we've always managed to find something while some tent communities go days without eating.  My translating abilities are limited as I can't communicate with the uneducated or the young very well since they only know Creole.  I also had a hard time trying to figure out how to talk about the various medical problems with people.  We managed and hopefully I helped a little, but I did have fun talking with the locals who came to help.  They all were rather surprised and happy to have someone as caucasian as it gets be able to speak with them.  : )  I also thought I would have to worry about getting burned, but the orphanage is pretty shaded and the clinic is set up indoors.  The only trouble I'm having is getting bitten by pesky mosquitos despite the bugspray I put on.  Evidentally I must stink from several feet away to repel them enough.

On the other hand, one forgets that one is in a primitive, underdeveloped and ravaged country the instant one looks out at the ocean.  It looks deceivingly like Hawaii or the Cook Islands.  The contrast is astonishing and heartbreaking. 

We watched the sunset last night as the rose-orange sun set in the perfectly blue sky.  It was a wonderful way to end the day.  A storm blew in this evening, which obscured the sun, but was quite magnificent with the gusts of wind and rain.  The storm is over now and the usual evening breeze is blowing as we gather for our evening meeting. 

Till tomorrow all . . .

Haiti Day 1!

We all arrived safe and soon at about 11am Sunday morning. I was on my own for most of the night's journeys, but no mishaps and I joined the group early Sunday morning for our flight from Miami to Haiti.

Now on to the main attraction, Haiti, a country ravaged by selfish politics, hurricanes, and earthquakes.  Billions of dollars in relief funds are not being distributed to the people that need it so desperately.  Whole communities of people living in "tents" sometimes go days without food before a group of people such as ourselves finally bring food and supplies in directly.  It is a very sad sad state of affairs.  Donating money to Haiti Relief efforts seems to have little to no effect on the well-being of the destitute, which comprise of the majority of this countries population.  Not to mention the gorgeous mansions closed off from the poor in the gutters right outside their gates.

But, Haiti still has beauties to offer.  The beaches are paradise, the sunsets are exquisite, the tropical weather and swift breezes in the evening makes one forget the sweltering humidity of before.  This country has so much beauty and potential.  It saddens me that people suffer so in such an amazing place.

I cannot post more than this for now.  The internet is touch and go tonight.  I wish all my readers well, and will look through our first set of pictures tonight sometime and hopefully have some to post tomorrow.

PS:  I have surprised quite a few people with the fact that I can speak French so far.  Mostly, people speak creole, so I have little idea what they are saying, but everyone knows and understands French, so I'm confident I'll still be useful. :)

lost my job . . .

I can now officially say that I have lost my first job.  Not surprising though, due to non-continuing contracts and rearranging of teachers/classes due to budget cuts.  All of us teachers are suffering.  Not only are our pays getting cut, but teachers with continuing contracts are losing classes, meaning they pick up the classes of the non-continuing, leaving us to fend for ourselves or sub.

I'm hoping for a long term sub position somewhere, and they can pop up at anytime.  So, we shall see, but as of right now, no job for next year, with the exception of subbing.

I was especially sad to say goodbye to my high school class.  I always kind of knew that high school was where I belonged.  I hope someday to be one of the uppity continuing contract teachers in a high school someday. :)  They were truly a wonderful bunch of young people.

So, that's really the biggest concern these days for me.  I leave for Haiti on Saturday evening and will be posting daily (hopefully) about my adventures there. :) So stay tuned.  I think I shall continue wedding stuff after I return.

My baby niece here recently turned 1 year old!  She's getting so big.  She's in the 90th percentile for height still and she's starting to lose some of her baby chub due to her new discovery that crawling is worth her time.  She'll be a tall thin little girl before we all can say "Jack Robinson".  :) 

Here's some pics of her and her mommy and daddy on the big day:

She's quite a bit different looking then a year ago, don't you think?

It's so special to watch her grow up, even though we must do so mostly using iphones. ;) 

We love you more than bears love honey Sienna (and everyone know that's an awful lot!),

Auntie (and Uncle)



Watched the latest X-men movie . . .

James McAvoy . . . *sigh*.  He's a very beautiful beautiful man. He's a wonderful actor, as he's proved again in the new X-men movie, which is actually a prequel.  If you're into sci-fi, you HAVE to see it. :)  Mom, recommend to dad.

I'm also partial to Adam Levine, so talented, such a unique voice.

I'm starting to notice a trend . . . are you?

There's just something about those men with just a few more "refined" features with pointed chins, beautiful eyes.  They make my heart melt.

Case in point:

Speaking of which hun, I think you could pull off Adam's do nicely.  You've always wanted to switch it up but not change much, take a picture for your next haircut. :)

There are plenty of men out there who are attractive all-round, but it's these men that I know I'm chemically attracted to the most.  I rather pleased that I understand my biology so well . . . ;)