Wednesday, June 29, 2011

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!

4 comments:

Mrs. Fuzz said...

Pretty sure I would have been in the screaming crowd when it comes to the spiders. Guess I better steer clear of Haiti! You were kind to give it a second shot at life.

Tonya said...

Brave Jillian, friend of spiders! :) I'm so impressed!

Jill said...

It as pure sound judgement that made me save the spider. Spiders are some of few critters that eat the pesky mosquitos. :P It was a wolf spider. I might post a picture later that others took. :)

Mrs. Fuzz said...

I implore you to NOT post a picture!!