I arrived yesterday morning safe and sound.
It was a long night though...and day for that matter, with the lack of sleep. We left for Long beach airport at 6:30 last night. I had never been there before and it was kind of crazy busy. But, I got on the plane and headed for Fort Lauderdale. In Fort Lauderdale I had to claim my bags and recheck them and I had no idea how heavy they were. Of course I had to walk to a different terminal where I faced more frustration. Spirit made me buy a return ticket (for March) which means I will lose another 11o dollars. Of course, if I hadn't lost my FFP badge the day I left, I might have been able to avoid that. Then the security line went wound wayyy around the corner and I wasn't sure I would make my flight...I did. I stayed awake for both flights, so I was exhausted. When I arrived in Port-au-Prince, I warded off all the people trying to take my bags (to carry them out for money) and waited for Valentin in the scorching sun for a while. We ran a couple errands and then went back to wait for Liz to arrive. I slept about 30 minutes in the car waiting, which would be my only sleep for 36 hours. When we came back to the house, Stellecy was very excited for us to be back...and to be able to watch herself dance in front of our mirror again. The stuffed caterpillar my mom got her caused her to scream and run away, though. We set up all our stuff and are now happy to not have to live out of suitcases for the next 8 months. Liz and I reunited with the awesome roof and vibrant stars that we just can't see from our respective light and smog polluted cities. Too bad we weren't here for the lunar eclipse a couple of nights ago.
Sleep came easily last night. And, unfortunately, I slept until 11pm...I guess that's only 8am San Diego time. But that means that there is only a few more hours of sunlight. I had my first ice cold shower since I've been back...that was lovely...psych! Also, the mosquitoes bites are just great to have again. They seem to have enjoyed feasting on my arms, hands, and fingers last night. But, all those little complaints whined about, I'm glad to be back in the great country.
I have no idea what the plans are today, so we'll see. I'll let you know if there are any interesting New's Years festivities that occur.
Missing everyone already! <3
Friday, December 31, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Photos
I've updated photos for both the Haiti and Dominican Republic albums.
Check it out.
http://picasaweb.google.com/107031682907817075033/RepublicaDominicana2010
http://picasaweb.google.com/107031682907817075033/Ayiti20102011
Check it out.
http://picasaweb.google.com/107031682907817075033/RepublicaDominicana2010
http://picasaweb.google.com/107031682907817075033/Ayiti20102011
Friday, December 17, 2010
SD Livin'
I arrived back home on Wednesday night after a long day of travel.
It's nice to be home with my family for a couple weeks before I go back for 8 months.
Warm showers...electricity...fast internet...electricity on demand...KI SAAAAA??!!
But I do miss my Haiti family too.
It's nice to be home with my family for a couple weeks before I go back for 8 months.
Warm showers...electricity...fast internet...electricity on demand...KI SAAAAA??!!
But I do miss my Haiti family too.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Past Few Days
Going a little stir crazy...or a lot. Election results were announced Tuesday night and the aftermath was not pretty. There have been protests all over Haiti, including right here in Croix-des-Bouquets. All flights were canceled from Wednesday until this coming Tuesday. Wednesday morning we went up to the roof and could see black smoke (burning tires) in every direction.
Despite the chaos outside our walls, Wednesday was a pretty fun day. Henry, Dessalines, Luke, Valentin, Corey, and I played small 2x2 games of soccer and we spent the rest of the day doing a puzzle.
Thursday, again trapped in the house. Corey and Luke headed to Santo Domingo so that he could fly out from there. Liz and I spent hours finishing the puzzle and Pastor Valentin tried to figure out how to get Kirstin home from Love a Child safely. The road was blockaded in many areas and even police were, supposedly, unable to pass. I was allowed a few minutes out of the house to go see the roads with Valentin. It was crazy. You could see where tires and various other things had been burned, blocking the road, nearly every 100 meters down the road. Crowds of people congregated down the road, but Valentin wouldn't take me any farther. When we heard the string of gunshots, we decided we should head back toward the house. UN tanks and police rolled by toward the commotion. Kirstin was escorted home by police (Valentin has friends everywhere!) We came back home and even from here, we could hear more gunshots. Don't worry, though, we are safe! We sat outside in the dark for a long time, trying to conserve gas in the generator in case we really needed it.
Friday the boredom seriously settled in. I got in the shower that morning only to discover we were out of water. We're all going a little nuts. We watched a movie in the morning and then got out with Valentin to buy oil for the generator. The roads were covered in ash where the bulldozer had just spread it all across the roads. We saw burnt shells of cars on the side of the road. Even if it was a short excursion, at least we were out of the house for a few minutes. We got back and had no idea what to do to fill the time. Later that night, we watched "Cool Runnings." Then, we were entertained by the wonders of Haitian film making. Classic. When I walked into our room to go to bed, I saw a GIANT moth hanging out on the clock. Valentin was called to save the day. His first attempt to shoo the creature was a double clap...obviously wasn't effective. He left and returned with a giant machete which he used to coax the thing onto the wall and then proceed to flatten it, smearing it and gauging the concrete wall. A good laugh to end the day.
Today, Saturday, we'll sit inside again. I'm looking forward to going home on Wednesday. Warm showers, no mosquitoes, electricity, internet! Hopefully nothing happens with the flights. I'm expecting chaos at the airport since all of last weeks people will be trying to get out too.
That's all the news for now!
Despite the chaos outside our walls, Wednesday was a pretty fun day. Henry, Dessalines, Luke, Valentin, Corey, and I played small 2x2 games of soccer and we spent the rest of the day doing a puzzle.
Thursday, again trapped in the house. Corey and Luke headed to Santo Domingo so that he could fly out from there. Liz and I spent hours finishing the puzzle and Pastor Valentin tried to figure out how to get Kirstin home from Love a Child safely. The road was blockaded in many areas and even police were, supposedly, unable to pass. I was allowed a few minutes out of the house to go see the roads with Valentin. It was crazy. You could see where tires and various other things had been burned, blocking the road, nearly every 100 meters down the road. Crowds of people congregated down the road, but Valentin wouldn't take me any farther. When we heard the string of gunshots, we decided we should head back toward the house. UN tanks and police rolled by toward the commotion. Kirstin was escorted home by police (Valentin has friends everywhere!) We came back home and even from here, we could hear more gunshots. Don't worry, though, we are safe! We sat outside in the dark for a long time, trying to conserve gas in the generator in case we really needed it.
Friday the boredom seriously settled in. I got in the shower that morning only to discover we were out of water. We're all going a little nuts. We watched a movie in the morning and then got out with Valentin to buy oil for the generator. The roads were covered in ash where the bulldozer had just spread it all across the roads. We saw burnt shells of cars on the side of the road. Even if it was a short excursion, at least we were out of the house for a few minutes. We got back and had no idea what to do to fill the time. Later that night, we watched "Cool Runnings." Then, we were entertained by the wonders of Haitian film making. Classic. When I walked into our room to go to bed, I saw a GIANT moth hanging out on the clock. Valentin was called to save the day. His first attempt to shoo the creature was a double clap...obviously wasn't effective. He left and returned with a giant machete which he used to coax the thing onto the wall and then proceed to flatten it, smearing it and gauging the concrete wall. A good laugh to end the day.
Today, Saturday, we'll sit inside again. I'm looking forward to going home on Wednesday. Warm showers, no mosquitoes, electricity, internet! Hopefully nothing happens with the flights. I'm expecting chaos at the airport since all of last weeks people will be trying to get out too.
That's all the news for now!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Tuesday and Wednesday: December 6 and 7
I had under four hours of sleep when we left Santo Domingo at 5:30am Tuesday morning. The car battery overheated and smoke came out of the radio, Valentin was harassed by Dominican cops, and we had some trouble with customs at the border, but we made it home safely. Because the election results were scheduled to be announced at 2pm, we stayed home and I took a nap instead.
Last night it was announced that Celestin and Manigat will participate in a runoff election. There was a call for demonstrations and it was answered. This morning we went up to the roof and we could see black and white smoke in every direction we looked. People are burning tires on the roads and who knows what else. We have not left the house, so we are safe. Don't worry! Unfortunately, Betsy and Josh were supposed to fly in, but their flight was canceled. Corey, Luke's boss, is driving to Santo Domingo tomorrow to be able to fly out. Pretty crazy stuff happening here. But, this morning, we played 2x2 soccer within the gates of the house and have spent the rest of the day doing a puzzle. We're trying to finish it by candlelight tonight. All in all, it was a pretty fun day even though what is happening outside of our walls is far from it.
Last night it was announced that Celestin and Manigat will participate in a runoff election. There was a call for demonstrations and it was answered. This morning we went up to the roof and we could see black and white smoke in every direction we looked. People are burning tires on the roads and who knows what else. We have not left the house, so we are safe. Don't worry! Unfortunately, Betsy and Josh were supposed to fly in, but their flight was canceled. Corey, Luke's boss, is driving to Santo Domingo tomorrow to be able to fly out. Pretty crazy stuff happening here. But, this morning, we played 2x2 soccer within the gates of the house and have spent the rest of the day doing a puzzle. We're trying to finish it by candlelight tonight. All in all, it was a pretty fun day even though what is happening outside of our walls is far from it.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Friday: December 3
Today Valentin, Liz, and I drove about 7 hours to Santo Domingo. We have lots to do. Tomorrow is a full day of cooking for a postponed Thanksgiving Dinner. We also need to do some shopping for the house and stuff for school. And get the brakes on the truck fixed. Yikes. But...we have 24 hr. electricity for a couple days and fast internet!
I put some photos on my picassa page. Check it out.
Here's the link again:
http://picasaweb.google.com/107031682907817075033/RepublicaDominicana2010
I put some photos on my picassa page. Check it out.
Here's the link again:
http://picasaweb.google.com/107031682907817075033/RepublicaDominicana2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Tuesday's Classroom Quotes
Straly: (after I call a student by the wrong name)
"You shouldn't forget Nadia. She has an amputation."
Lyonel: (as I was trying to end a class early because Valentin didn't want to drive in the dark)
"The class is not satisfied. The time is small."
Liz: (I hear from a few rooms down: "Every thirty days, a woman...")
(Liz runs past classroom)
In car report- the student asked what sounded like "what is menstruate?"Liz attempts an explanation with hand motions then runs to Valentin to find out how to say the word in French. She runs back to her classroom to write it on the board and give a more thorough explanation. Class confused and taken aback. Student restates the question as asking for the pronunciation of "Main Street."
"You shouldn't forget Nadia. She has an amputation."
Lyonel: (as I was trying to end a class early because Valentin didn't want to drive in the dark)
"The class is not satisfied. The time is small."
Liz: (I hear from a few rooms down: "Every thirty days, a woman...")
(Liz runs past classroom)
In car report- the student asked what sounded like "what is menstruate?"Liz attempts an explanation with hand motions then runs to Valentin to find out how to say the word in French. She runs back to her classroom to write it on the board and give a more thorough explanation. Class confused and taken aback. Student restates the question as asking for the pronunciation of "Main Street."
Monday, November 29, 2010
Words of Reassurance
As you may know, Sunday was election day here in Haiti. I don't know the complete story, just bits and pieces, but many of the candidates are calling for any results to be voided and promoting demonstrations. Widespread fraud was suspected, etc., etc. With that, there is a lot happening here, especially in Port-au-Prince. Yes, we did come upon a roadblock of burning tires in Fond Parisien this morning, but everything is fine and we are safe.
I don't know what they are showing on the news, but I can assure you that it isn't as bad as whatever is being said.
We, here, are all safe and well.
I don't know what they are showing on the news, but I can assure you that it isn't as bad as whatever is being said.
We, here, are all safe and well.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Week 2: November 23-27
As the days lump together, so do my posts.
After hours and hours of grading, placing, creating excel spreadsheets, etc., Liz and I planned for our first day of class on Monday. But...in Haiti you have to expect the unexpected and I forgot that for a moment on the car ride there when I had a near panic attack. Almost everything seemed extraordinarily unorganized for being the first day of class and the stress got to me for a moment. That, along with the fact that we were nearly an hour late. But everything worked out well, considering. We got most people in the appropriate classes and accommodated time preferences as best we could (a week in and people still continue to come at varying times though.) I spent a few minutes trying to explain a few rules to each of the classes and then we planned to push our lesson to the next day.
Tuesday was the first official day of class. In the morning, we went out to deliver water purifying tabs to a community with a single water source and many cholera related deaths. We went around with a small group of guys working for Luke and the University of Chicago, which included my buddies Thomas and Lamy. Liz and I entertained ourselves for a good amount of time narrating a horse's thoughts. I was designated photographer of the mission so I did my best to keep up with the long-legged distributors. When we arrived at shool, I had my lesson plan to teach commands and identifying objects. I have students that don't speak a word of English and some who are able to ask me questions. My first class is very small (around 12,) the second around 15-20, and the third about 25. The last class, though crammed into the little room, is the most fun and the most eager to learn. One student told me that I shouldn't speak Creole at all in the class, so the class turned on him and told him he spoke too much English to be there. I was all too eager to send him to Liz's intermediate class. By the end of the class, my voice was squeaking and my hands raw from the chalk. We are in tiny classrooms with a cork-board like chalkboard, Peptobismal pink cement walls with holes for windows, shaky wooden benches for the students, and an unfinished rocky, dirt floor.
Wednesday morning Valentin wasn't able to pick us up for school, so Dessalines showed up with a Tap-Tap that took us in to camp. School was similar to the day before. We delivered our lessons plans and called it a day. By the end of those three hours, though, nou fatige. We picked up ice cream on our way home, so that made everything better. We still spend a couple hours on the roof every night. I'm not used to seeing so many stars. And I saw a meteor thing. It was awesome.
Thursday morning plans took a little longer than usual, so what was going to be lunch out turned into lunch from the side of the road in cardboard boxes with Tampico. Chicken, rice, and beans on Thanksgiving is another good alternative. We had to cut class a little short, which stressed me out, but things happen. One class is farther behind than my other two now, so I need to figure out how I am going to handle that. On the roof though, Liz and I saw 4 shooting stars combined, so that was cool. We're still working on identifying constellations.
Grading homework I see lots of basics like capitalization and periods missing that I need to work on. My first assignment was to write a conversation between two people. I got one back that was between me and the student where I asked for his name, he anwered with "did you forget me" and, obviously, I responded with "come in and kiss me." I wrote "Please be respectful" on the paper with my oh-so authoritative red pen.
On Friday, Wendy flew in. We were waiting for her for a couple hours at the airport, but we had a lot of fun trying to speak Creole with a policeman. The running joke here is that they are going to sell me for 1900 US dollars so that the house can have satellite. We got a picture of the transaction going down.
We got an internet stick at the house, but it is super slow. I have pictures, but I can't upload them from here. When I go home in December, I will be sure to add them.
After hours and hours of grading, placing, creating excel spreadsheets, etc., Liz and I planned for our first day of class on Monday. But...in Haiti you have to expect the unexpected and I forgot that for a moment on the car ride there when I had a near panic attack. Almost everything seemed extraordinarily unorganized for being the first day of class and the stress got to me for a moment. That, along with the fact that we were nearly an hour late. But everything worked out well, considering. We got most people in the appropriate classes and accommodated time preferences as best we could (a week in and people still continue to come at varying times though.) I spent a few minutes trying to explain a few rules to each of the classes and then we planned to push our lesson to the next day.
Tuesday was the first official day of class. In the morning, we went out to deliver water purifying tabs to a community with a single water source and many cholera related deaths. We went around with a small group of guys working for Luke and the University of Chicago, which included my buddies Thomas and Lamy. Liz and I entertained ourselves for a good amount of time narrating a horse's thoughts. I was designated photographer of the mission so I did my best to keep up with the long-legged distributors. When we arrived at shool, I had my lesson plan to teach commands and identifying objects. I have students that don't speak a word of English and some who are able to ask me questions. My first class is very small (around 12,) the second around 15-20, and the third about 25. The last class, though crammed into the little room, is the most fun and the most eager to learn. One student told me that I shouldn't speak Creole at all in the class, so the class turned on him and told him he spoke too much English to be there. I was all too eager to send him to Liz's intermediate class. By the end of the class, my voice was squeaking and my hands raw from the chalk. We are in tiny classrooms with a cork-board like chalkboard, Peptobismal pink cement walls with holes for windows, shaky wooden benches for the students, and an unfinished rocky, dirt floor.
Wednesday morning Valentin wasn't able to pick us up for school, so Dessalines showed up with a Tap-Tap that took us in to camp. School was similar to the day before. We delivered our lessons plans and called it a day. By the end of those three hours, though, nou fatige. We picked up ice cream on our way home, so that made everything better. We still spend a couple hours on the roof every night. I'm not used to seeing so many stars. And I saw a meteor thing. It was awesome.
Thursday morning plans took a little longer than usual, so what was going to be lunch out turned into lunch from the side of the road in cardboard boxes with Tampico. Chicken, rice, and beans on Thanksgiving is another good alternative. We had to cut class a little short, which stressed me out, but things happen. One class is farther behind than my other two now, so I need to figure out how I am going to handle that. On the roof though, Liz and I saw 4 shooting stars combined, so that was cool. We're still working on identifying constellations.
Grading homework I see lots of basics like capitalization and periods missing that I need to work on. My first assignment was to write a conversation between two people. I got one back that was between me and the student where I asked for his name, he anwered with "did you forget me" and, obviously, I responded with "come in and kiss me." I wrote "Please be respectful" on the paper with my oh-so authoritative red pen.
On Friday, Wendy flew in. We were waiting for her for a couple hours at the airport, but we had a lot of fun trying to speak Creole with a policeman. The running joke here is that they are going to sell me for 1900 US dollars so that the house can have satellite. We got a picture of the transaction going down.
We got an internet stick at the house, but it is super slow. I have pictures, but I can't upload them from here. When I go home in December, I will be sure to add them.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: November 15, 16, 17, 19
Oh where to begin.
This weekend Liz and I made up 4 versions of English placement tests for the language school at Camp Hope. Come to find out, they were probably too difficult. We had an interesting time trying to come up with culturally and situationally sensitive questions for the writing assessment portion.
MONDAY: NOVEMBER 15 (first day of language school)
Today, we went into Port-au-Prince to make copies of the tests. After waiting for a while, Liz and I went to market down the street and hung out in the air conditioning while Valentin did all the work. Here, the electricity is unpredictable, so it took longer than expected because the electricity went out and all the machines had to be restarted. Liz and I, however, had time to come up with many wise things to share about different foods and their packaging. To give you a taste (pun intended,) anything with body builders on it is good for you, but anything with chickens that look like drug dealers is not.
By the time we made it to Camp Hope, we were 45 minutes late for class. We separated all the students into different classrooms and handed out the exams. Liz and I kept watch over our pupils. It is very strange for me, especially, because I am supposed to be their teacher, but I am so much younger than almost all of them. We were able to pick out the troublemakers very quickly. After a few hours of testing, we were wiped out and hungry. We did, however, discover that the 75 students we thought we had had morphed into over 100. We also have no idea to go about teaching a beginner class with a book completely in English and without adequate Creole skills. Yikes! When we got back, we ate dinner and then fell asleep on the beds for a quick cat nap. It was an early night.
TUESDAY: NOVEMBER 16
Today, we woke up early to the live chickens in the backyard being made into lunch...they didn’t sound happy. The mosquitoes must have mated and multiplied during the night too, because the air was thick with them. I got bit on the butt a couple times at some point…just lovely! Liz and I spent the morning grading tests and in near tears every time we came across one with an actual answer on the writing assessment portion. Letters written to family and friends, words of hope for a job to be able to help their families….
I rode Kellcy’s bike around the house which, to say the least, is a little too small for me. But it made for a pretty funny camera video. The car broke down, so Valentin wasn’t able to take us to Camp Hope. So, Liz, Dessalines, and I took a Tap-Tap. That was quite the experience. Both the dust caked to my face and upper body and the feeling of a prolonged near death experience make for a good time. We did make it to Camp, however, but 45 minutes late again. Today, we did “oral exams.” We took one student at a time and asked them a few questions. Almost all of my students spoke basically no English at all, so it was very quick. A couple did okay and a couple were very proficient. When I asked one guy to explain what was in the room, he said “Well, there is a blackboard. It’s not really a blackboard, more like cement…..” Ok, you speak English. This went on for about 45 students each.
And I saw Thomas, Serge, Ritha, and Lamy today. Yes mom, Thomas asked about how you were doing.
Liz and I hung out on the roof for a little while. It is gorgeous up there at night. I gazed at the stars for a little while and then brought up my iPod and we danced like goofballs. We’re trying to come up with a way to string a sheet so we can project movies up there.
As I write, Stellcy is roaming around our room cracking up at her self in the mirror and walking around removing various items of clothing as she gets hot. I wish it was still socially acceptable for me to do that, since I am so temperature challenged!
WEDNESDAY: NOVEMBER 17
Today we woke up really late, had our usual carbo loaded breakfast, and got to work inputting results of the written and oral English tests into excel. There are still a lot of questions that need to be answered about how we are going to organize the classes and execute the lessons.
It took me around an hour and a half to do my laundry by hand today. Three buckets: wash, rinse, fabric softener. My hands were so cramped up by the end. Then the line was too high for me to reach to hang my clothes so it took me, Dessalines, and Marceline to complete the job. Come to find out, my hand washing skills aren't up to par...I need lessons.
When Liz and I tried to take a quick walk down the road by ourselves, Dessalines came running up to us after about 20 paces. We weren’t scared until he startled us. So, apparently unsupervised walking is a no-no...unsupervised anything for that matter.
A “One Love” each on the roof and some fuzzy cell phone radio tunes and it was time to call it a night. Apparently, the sun here didn’t get the memo on when to rise and set. Up at 5:00am and down at 4:30-5:00pm. It makes the night hours pass a whole lot slower.
FRIDAY: NOVEMBER 19
We spent the morning in Petion-ville trying to find a way to get internet here, but that didn't work out too well. Super expensive. So for now we will be getting online only when we can make it to the internet cafe.
I don’t usually say this kind of cheesy thing, so I think that I’ll take this opportunity to do so. When I was in the Dominican Republic, Julian said something to me that really made me think. He asked how I could be friends with Fernelis, who speaks only Spanish. He said: “you do not even understand each other. You do not speak the same language.” And then I came to Haiti, and I am living with and among more people with whom I cannot really communicate in the normal, easy way. For example, Stellcy and I are buddies and I cannot figure out a word that comes out of her mouth. But then I realized that this is the beauty of it all. Human connection doesn’t require verbal comprehension. Friends don’t require words to form bonds. We have the capacity to understand, to love one another with no more than a friendly demeanor, a smile, and a little effort. It really is an interesting and amazing thing to consider.
Until next time...<3>
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Thursday, Friday, Saturday: November 11, 12, 13 (Ayiti)
Thursday: November 11
(Happy Birthday Dad!)
Woke up at 5:00 am for the drive to Haiti. After loading the car and saying our goodbyes, we hit the road around 6:00 am. Kristin is in Seminary School, so Liz spent a while reading about "rhetorical criticism" out loud. It was extraordinarily dry, but there is nothing you can't make entertaining. When one sentence read "Go in my Torah," I commented, "That sounds dirty!" Many future jokes revolved around that. The DR/Haiti border was crazy because it was Market Day. Absolutely insane! And I had to pee so it felt like we were stuck there that much longer. We were stopped about 5 times on our way through, but eventually we crossed into Haiti. About two minutes after that I had to admit that I could not wait any longer and we pulled over to the side of the road. I returned to announce that I felt better, but I now had nature in my pants: new joke for the trip. We then stopped at Love A Child to wait for Valentin. (After hearing about things that have been said and done, I have lost just about all respect for the organization.) We saw Luke, Dr. Scotty, Kirstin, Junior, and Lamy. We all went back to Valentin's house and were surprised with a big sign that said "Byen Vini A Liz e Andrea!" and a cake as well. We got situated in our room where Liz and I each have a bunk bed. We'll still need to get some furniture. Valentin and his family are great, and their daughter, Stellcy, is absolutely adorable with ample amounts of energy. We had a little incident opening a bottle of wine and my clothes smelled like white wine for the rest of the night. And the mosquitoes still love me!
Friday: November 12
Woke up to the EARLY rising Haitian sun and Stellcy's singing. We had a delicious breakfast and then left to escort Kirstin to the border. We make a quick stop at Camp Hope on the way to see the school. On our way back, we stopped again to pick up the registration forms for the English classes Liz and I will be teaching starting on Monday (there are over 50.) I feel sorry for them having to have class with me. We'll see how that goes...cross your fingers. We were exhausted when we got home, so we took a little nap. After dinner, I practiced Kreyol on my computer for a little bit and then Valentin gave me a Kreyol test which I was told I passed. He joked that he is going to cancel translators for February. I will not let that happen. Valentin is absolutely hilarious! Full of what Liz calls "bad Haitian jokes." I'm getting better at contributing. Never a dull moment.
Saturday: November 13
At breakfast Valentin helped us a little bit with some of our Kreyol questions. I feel confident that we will pick it up relatively quickly. However, understanding is another story entirely. They speak so fast and with so many contractions that learning to understand seems impossible. Time will tell. Valentin is amazing with how many languages he speaks and how he can switch between them so seamlessly and without hesitation. Wish I could do that! Now Liz and I are at the internet cafe where we are working hard blogging, facebooking, emailing, etc., but mostly I'm just scratching my mosquito bites relentlessly. I think we are supposed to be working on making English placement tests. I'll get on that.
All in all, we made it here safely and everything is going really well.
Take care all! <3
(Happy Birthday Dad!)
Woke up at 5:00 am for the drive to Haiti. After loading the car and saying our goodbyes, we hit the road around 6:00 am. Kristin is in Seminary School, so Liz spent a while reading about "rhetorical criticism" out loud. It was extraordinarily dry, but there is nothing you can't make entertaining. When one sentence read "Go in my Torah," I commented, "That sounds dirty!" Many future jokes revolved around that. The DR/Haiti border was crazy because it was Market Day. Absolutely insane! And I had to pee so it felt like we were stuck there that much longer. We were stopped about 5 times on our way through, but eventually we crossed into Haiti. About two minutes after that I had to admit that I could not wait any longer and we pulled over to the side of the road. I returned to announce that I felt better, but I now had nature in my pants: new joke for the trip. We then stopped at Love A Child to wait for Valentin. (After hearing about things that have been said and done, I have lost just about all respect for the organization.) We saw Luke, Dr. Scotty, Kirstin, Junior, and Lamy. We all went back to Valentin's house and were surprised with a big sign that said "Byen Vini A Liz e Andrea!" and a cake as well. We got situated in our room where Liz and I each have a bunk bed. We'll still need to get some furniture. Valentin and his family are great, and their daughter, Stellcy, is absolutely adorable with ample amounts of energy. We had a little incident opening a bottle of wine and my clothes smelled like white wine for the rest of the night. And the mosquitoes still love me!
Friday: November 12
Woke up to the EARLY rising Haitian sun and Stellcy's singing. We had a delicious breakfast and then left to escort Kirstin to the border. We make a quick stop at Camp Hope on the way to see the school. On our way back, we stopped again to pick up the registration forms for the English classes Liz and I will be teaching starting on Monday (there are over 50.) I feel sorry for them having to have class with me. We'll see how that goes...cross your fingers. We were exhausted when we got home, so we took a little nap. After dinner, I practiced Kreyol on my computer for a little bit and then Valentin gave me a Kreyol test which I was told I passed. He joked that he is going to cancel translators for February. I will not let that happen. Valentin is absolutely hilarious! Full of what Liz calls "bad Haitian jokes." I'm getting better at contributing. Never a dull moment.
Saturday: November 13
At breakfast Valentin helped us a little bit with some of our Kreyol questions. I feel confident that we will pick it up relatively quickly. However, understanding is another story entirely. They speak so fast and with so many contractions that learning to understand seems impossible. Time will tell. Valentin is amazing with how many languages he speaks and how he can switch between them so seamlessly and without hesitation. Wish I could do that! Now Liz and I are at the internet cafe where we are working hard blogging, facebooking, emailing, etc., but mostly I'm just scratching my mosquito bites relentlessly. I think we are supposed to be working on making English placement tests. I'll get on that.
All in all, we made it here safely and everything is going really well.
Take care all! <3
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Haiti Date Change #2
Liz and I will now be leaving for Haiti tomorrow: Thursday, November 11 (also someone's birthday...who is it again? My father...no, that doesn't sound right.)
Here you have to expect the unexpected and expect plans to change.
Tambien, we found out that there is currently no internet connection at the house, so we will need to either go to an internet cafe or Love A Child. Correspondence and posts may be less frequent.
Lo siento.
Here you have to expect the unexpected and expect plans to change.
Tambien, we found out that there is currently no internet connection at the house, so we will need to either go to an internet cafe or Love A Child. Correspondence and posts may be less frequent.
Lo siento.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Cholera Update: November 9
I suppose posting these articles may only serve to cause more worry, (especially among the parentals) but it is important to be informed about what is going on. Personally, I am not worried or "scared" at all.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2010/11/2010118225019323724.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/09/world/americas/09haiti.html?ref=world
If things go according as planned today, we should be leaving around 6/6:30 am tomorrow morning for Haiti.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2010/11/2010118225019323724.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/09/world/americas/09haiti.html?ref=world
If things go according as planned today, we should be leaving around 6/6:30 am tomorrow morning for Haiti.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Fotografías
I have added photos from this weekend at the Don Juan. Livin' in paradise. Check them out!
http://picasaweb.google.com/107031682907817075033/RepublicaDominicana2010
http://picasaweb.google.com/107031682907817075033/RepublicaDominicana2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Sunday: November 7 (Republica Dominicana)
It was a very eventful weekend, so I finally have something to share with you all.
Thursday: Ken and Wendy arrived and it was nice to finally be able to put faces to the voices. 20 of us went out for some very, very salty "Chinese" food (word used rather loosely.) Of course hurricane Tomas was just beginning to show his face and we experienced a good deal of rain. I discovered that Liz keeps track of funny things people say in a notebook and that I have made it in there with a ridiculous comment I made during an episode of Law & Order...I must say that I am stoked and honored! (Trying to hang on to some of my SoCal lingo there)
Friday: More rain and wind. We visited a school for disabled children and, wow, you can't walk out the doors unaffected. Kristin, Ken, Wendy, Liz, Julian, CiCi, Fernelis, and I checked into the Don Juan resort and begun our time in the Conference Room. There were puddles everywhere you could look, shoes/socks soaked through immediately, and the staff worked diligently to keep water out of the dining hall. We had meetings until late that night and then Liz, Fernelis, and I walked on the beach. Night water kind of scares me...don't know why. Lovely room. Water shower water. Lumpy pillows. Air Conditioning. "Murder blankets" (according to Liz, that is.) It was a very nice place.
Saturday: More rain and wind. Up early for breakfast and then meetings all day. I learned a great deal about our work here and about the Foundation. Liz, Ken, Wendy, and I took a little walk on the beach in the afternoon and Liz and I got a little shopping fix. After dinner we went out for gelato, but left rather quickly when the prostitute situation and some horrifying sights scared us off.
Sunday: No rain. Sun. We had a brief meeting in the morning where I learned of my new project-renovating Foundation for Peace's facebook page. The meeting ended at around 11 and we didn't have to leave until 5...so Liz, Fernelis, and I hit the beach. It turned out to be a gorgeous day and the water was absolutely terrific. Carribean water: teal and clear and so salty you can float without any effort. Let's just say that I am deep fried (like much Dominican food.) I continue to redden as time passes, cooking from within. Oh yes, and I got my most interesting "compliment?" today. Apparently I have a "boca grande" or big mouth and, supposedly, this is a good thing. I think it was meant to have something to do with smiles, but something was lost in translation. With buffet style meals (all with dessert) and open bars, I came back to the house in Santo Domingo with a desperate need to get some exercise. Liz and I went down to the park and I ran laps while she walked Luna. I was definitely a spectacle. It felt really good to get my lungs burning again. I'm guessing that I may have sacrificed my body to the mosquitoes, however. We returned home to an unexpected (to everyone) group. They showed up without any notice and expected to stay here for three nights. We're all a little peeved about the whole situation.
And the new plan is to head to Haiti on Wednesday. The storm pushed everything back a little bit...
I have to say this, though: despite the long hours spent in the conference room talking about projects I currently know nothing about, this weekend was invaluable. I learned so much about this organization, the people that I am working with, and am more sure now that I am in the right place and with the right people. The cynic in me was tested this weekend as I observed and listened to incredible people devote themselves entirely to serving others. Never was the conversation "I" centered. FFP says: "We can't do everything, but we'll do anything" and this is very true. We spent hours calculating how many people benefit from FFP's services in communities all around the Dominican Republic, and the numbers speak for themselves. Schools, water systems, clinics, economic develop...they really do whatever it is the people need. We went through every single project and discussed what had been done, what still needs to be done, and how it should be done. Unlike many NGOs, all the money donated goes to serving the people. They don't put any aside for "just in case" situations, because there are needs that need to be met now. They are willing to put egos aside and work with others as long as the job gets done, and is done right. I could go on and on about what amazing work is being done, but the last thing I'll say is this: I am honored to be a part of Foundation for Peace and I look forward to the upcoming months. I know that I am exactly where I need to be.
Thursday: Ken and Wendy arrived and it was nice to finally be able to put faces to the voices. 20 of us went out for some very, very salty "Chinese" food (word used rather loosely.) Of course hurricane Tomas was just beginning to show his face and we experienced a good deal of rain. I discovered that Liz keeps track of funny things people say in a notebook and that I have made it in there with a ridiculous comment I made during an episode of Law & Order...I must say that I am stoked and honored! (Trying to hang on to some of my SoCal lingo there)
Friday: More rain and wind. We visited a school for disabled children and, wow, you can't walk out the doors unaffected. Kristin, Ken, Wendy, Liz, Julian, CiCi, Fernelis, and I checked into the Don Juan resort and begun our time in the Conference Room. There were puddles everywhere you could look, shoes/socks soaked through immediately, and the staff worked diligently to keep water out of the dining hall. We had meetings until late that night and then Liz, Fernelis, and I walked on the beach. Night water kind of scares me...don't know why. Lovely room. Water shower water. Lumpy pillows. Air Conditioning. "Murder blankets" (according to Liz, that is.) It was a very nice place.
Saturday: More rain and wind. Up early for breakfast and then meetings all day. I learned a great deal about our work here and about the Foundation. Liz, Ken, Wendy, and I took a little walk on the beach in the afternoon and Liz and I got a little shopping fix. After dinner we went out for gelato, but left rather quickly when the prostitute situation and some horrifying sights scared us off.
Sunday: No rain. Sun. We had a brief meeting in the morning where I learned of my new project-renovating Foundation for Peace's facebook page. The meeting ended at around 11 and we didn't have to leave until 5...so Liz, Fernelis, and I hit the beach. It turned out to be a gorgeous day and the water was absolutely terrific. Carribean water: teal and clear and so salty you can float without any effort. Let's just say that I am deep fried (like much Dominican food.) I continue to redden as time passes, cooking from within. Oh yes, and I got my most interesting "compliment?" today. Apparently I have a "boca grande" or big mouth and, supposedly, this is a good thing. I think it was meant to have something to do with smiles, but something was lost in translation. With buffet style meals (all with dessert) and open bars, I came back to the house in Santo Domingo with a desperate need to get some exercise. Liz and I went down to the park and I ran laps while she walked Luna. I was definitely a spectacle. It felt really good to get my lungs burning again. I'm guessing that I may have sacrificed my body to the mosquitoes, however. We returned home to an unexpected (to everyone) group. They showed up without any notice and expected to stay here for three nights. We're all a little peeved about the whole situation.
And the new plan is to head to Haiti on Wednesday. The storm pushed everything back a little bit...
I have to say this, though: despite the long hours spent in the conference room talking about projects I currently know nothing about, this weekend was invaluable. I learned so much about this organization, the people that I am working with, and am more sure now that I am in the right place and with the right people. The cynic in me was tested this weekend as I observed and listened to incredible people devote themselves entirely to serving others. Never was the conversation "I" centered. FFP says: "We can't do everything, but we'll do anything" and this is very true. We spent hours calculating how many people benefit from FFP's services in communities all around the Dominican Republic, and the numbers speak for themselves. Schools, water systems, clinics, economic develop...they really do whatever it is the people need. We went through every single project and discussed what had been done, what still needs to be done, and how it should be done. Unlike many NGOs, all the money donated goes to serving the people. They don't put any aside for "just in case" situations, because there are needs that need to be met now. They are willing to put egos aside and work with others as long as the job gets done, and is done right. I could go on and on about what amazing work is being done, but the last thing I'll say is this: I am honored to be a part of Foundation for Peace and I look forward to the upcoming months. I know that I am exactly where I need to be.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Tomas Update
Well, Tomas is rolling through...We're seeing a little of him here with continuous rainfall, but, of course, Haiti will be hit harder.
All residents at Camp Hope have been evacuated to either the school, Love A Child, or gone to stay with family. The tents have been dismantled as well. There is concern about the spread of cholera, once the storm passes, with excess and stagnant water.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/11/05/world/main7025062.shtml
Check of "Hands of Light in Action"'s facebook page for more details.
All residents at Camp Hope have been evacuated to either the school, Love A Child, or gone to stay with family. The tents have been dismantled as well. There is concern about the spread of cholera, once the storm passes, with excess and stagnant water.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/11/05/world/main7025062.shtml
Check of "Hands of Light in Action"'s facebook page for more details.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Sunday: October 31st (Republica Dominicana)
The internet is down at the house, so Liz and I are sitting at Krispy Kreme (no, that is not a typo) using their wi-fi...located directly next door to the Burger King.
With the group gone, I now have much more time on my hands. I've been doing a lot of reading and playing with little Michael. Yesterday I watched the British version of "The Office," which was pretty hilarious, with Kristin. With the internet down, there is even more time to kill. I suppose I spend most of my time scratching my numerous mosquito bites and applying Calamine lotion. They wake me up in the middle of the night. Just thinking about it now is making me itch!
The kitten in the house, la gatita, is my new friend. She is just thrilled to get the attention. And the dog, Luna, has a horny boyfriend who hangs around all the time. We had an incident when the group was here where they were getting busy in the middle of the night (through the fence) and making a lot of noise. Apparently, Terri Jo tried to pull them apart, but it took Fernellis throwing a bucket of water on them to end the love-making. Perros en amor. It makes me sad how skinny el novio de Luna is, though.
Hopefully we can get the internet back up soon.
With the group gone, I now have much more time on my hands. I've been doing a lot of reading and playing with little Michael. Yesterday I watched the British version of "The Office," which was pretty hilarious, with Kristin. With the internet down, there is even more time to kill. I suppose I spend most of my time scratching my numerous mosquito bites and applying Calamine lotion. They wake me up in the middle of the night. Just thinking about it now is making me itch!
The kitten in the house, la gatita, is my new friend. She is just thrilled to get the attention. And the dog, Luna, has a horny boyfriend who hangs around all the time. We had an incident when the group was here where they were getting busy in the middle of the night (through the fence) and making a lot of noise. Apparently, Terri Jo tried to pull them apart, but it took Fernellis throwing a bucket of water on them to end the love-making. Perros en amor. It makes me sad how skinny el novio de Luna is, though.
Hopefully we can get the internet back up soon.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Fotografías
Here are some photos (hopefully, this link works...?):
http://picasaweb.google.com/107031682907817075033/RepublicaDominicana2010
or my general page:
http://picasaweb.google.com/107031682907817075033
http://picasaweb.google.com/107031682907817075033/RepublicaDominicana2010
or my general page:
http://picasaweb.google.co
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Wednesday: October 27 (Republica Dominicana)
Had a good day working with the children. I had one little girl, Lisi, attached to my side all day long.
After a nice, cold shower we all went out to a nice dinner on the water. I had a very good Dominican dish called Mofango. It was fried/smashed plantains with some pork and sausage. Delicioso. The group treated us to dinner, so that was very nice of them.
I am wiped out, so I am going to head off to bed.
After a nice, cold shower we all went out to a nice dinner on the water. I had a very good Dominican dish called Mofango. It was fried/smashed plantains with some pork and sausage. Delicioso. The group treated us to dinner, so that was very nice of them.
I am wiped out, so I am going to head off to bed.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Tuesday: October 26 (Republica Dominicana)
Last night we received conformation that the DR closed off all borders with Haiti due to the Cholera outbreak. This is really devastating for Haitians that need to cross the border to get food, etc. and supplies needing to get into the country. It seems the DR government had plenty of time to prepare for this as water contamination was known to be inevitable with the Haitian conditions. Hopefully a better solution will be figured out quickly.
We went back to the church today. We had a bigger room and Bobby, a translator, to keep the kids in check. He basically did our job for us and it was awesome. I caught him, though, when one of the group leaders said "this is the hard part" and he translated it as "this is the good part." When I called him out, he said he didn't want to mess with their minds and keep them focused. The noise level here (everywhere here) is insane though. It was fun though.
In the afternoon, a few of us worked on decorating one of the kids' classroom instead of blowing out our eardrums downstairs again. We made animales, meses, colores, y formas out of construction paper and wrote the names down in Spanish. After, the entire group took a tour around the community there (Los Alcarrizos.) I will try to post some photos soon.
We had a delicious dinner of pork, rice, vegetables, and fried sweet potatoes. We watched a little soccer (though they thought it was boring and complained about it being 0-0 at 90 minutes) and baseball. You probably know that baseball is HUGE in the Dominican Republic (a lot of MLB players come from here.)
Tonight we walked to get some ice cream (I'm sure my mother's jaw is dropping reading this. Maybe with jealousy?) Coconut and Dulce de Leche if you're wondering. Yum.
That's all for now folks. Buenos noches.
We went back to the church today. We had a bigger room and Bobby, a translator, to keep the kids in check. He basically did our job for us and it was awesome. I caught him, though, when one of the group leaders said "this is the hard part" and he translated it as "this is the good part." When I called him out, he said he didn't want to mess with their minds and keep them focused. The noise level here (everywhere here) is insane though. It was fun though.
In the afternoon, a few of us worked on decorating one of the kids' classroom instead of blowing out our eardrums downstairs again. We made animales, meses, colores, y formas out of construction paper and wrote the names down in Spanish. After, the entire group took a tour around the community there (Los Alcarrizos.) I will try to post some photos soon.
We had a delicious dinner of pork, rice, vegetables, and fried sweet potatoes. We watched a little soccer (though they thought it was boring and complained about it being 0-0 at 90 minutes) and baseball. You probably know that baseball is HUGE in the Dominican Republic (a lot of MLB players come from here.)
Tonight we walked to get some ice cream (I'm sure my mother's jaw is dropping reading this. Maybe with jealousy?) Coconut and Dulce de Leche if you're wondering. Yum.
That's all for now folks. Buenos noches.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Monday: October 25 (Republica Dominicana)
The music was loud last night, but the earplugs (courtesy of Jet Blue) did their job. I had to sleep on my stomach so that no parts of my body were touching each other and exacerbating the heat. My stubbed toe throbbed throughout the night, but it'll pull through.
This morning I met the group of 8 from Florida that came down to help install a water system in one of the churches here. They are all very nice and we had a delicious breakfast of eggs, papaya, pineapple, and bread. Around 8:40 we headed out and onto the roads packed with Dominican drivers (meaning wild!) The designated lanes don't seem to have any meaning...nor do red lights and other various traffic signs and courtesies.
At the church, a few went to work on installation, a few teaching, and a few (including myself) playing with the kids. It is hard, of course, with the language barrier. Some of my Spanish is coming back to me, but basically I'm just a poser. Conjugation is out the window. Bare bones Espanol. We did some arts and crafts, singing, animal noises, etc. I had to confiscate one kids backpack because I was informed that he had a gun. I opened it up to find that the accusation was correct and, though I didn't think it was real, handed it off (it was a fake after all.) There was also a fight we had to break up and incredible amounts of screaming. My ears are still ringing. Very cute kids, though. Lunch was delicious: rice, beans, chicken, carrots, and some fried thing. I will not go hungry.The children came back around 1:30 and they were put into small groups to make a paper craft about the creation story. They were also taught about clean water.
Oh, and I found it hilarious that a kid pointed at my nose ring and gave me a nod and air fist pump. Yup, total badass is right!
When we got back to the house, I spent some time on the balcony with some of the team members, lounging in a hammock, and bonding with Luna the dog before it started raining. There is a black and white cat too, who is nameless, but we haven't had that same bonding experience yet. Now that I found that hammock, I'll probably be out there all the time. Although the mosquito bites have started. I'm still exhausted and will need to catch up on my sleep from these last couple nights. For now, I will head to dinner.
Day one=Success
This morning I met the group of 8 from Florida that came down to help install a water system in one of the churches here. They are all very nice and we had a delicious breakfast of eggs, papaya, pineapple, and bread. Around 8:40 we headed out and onto the roads packed with Dominican drivers (meaning wild!) The designated lanes don't seem to have any meaning...nor do red lights and other various traffic signs and courtesies.
At the church, a few went to work on installation, a few teaching, and a few (including myself) playing with the kids. It is hard, of course, with the language barrier. Some of my Spanish is coming back to me, but basically I'm just a poser. Conjugation is out the window. Bare bones Espanol. We did some arts and crafts, singing, animal noises, etc. I had to confiscate one kids backpack because I was informed that he had a gun. I opened it up to find that the accusation was correct and, though I didn't think it was real, handed it off (it was a fake after all.) There was also a fight we had to break up and incredible amounts of screaming. My ears are still ringing. Very cute kids, though. Lunch was delicious: rice, beans, chicken, carrots, and some fried thing. I will not go hungry.The children came back around 1:30 and they were put into small groups to make a paper craft about the creation story. They were also taught about clean water.
Oh, and I found it hilarious that a kid pointed at my nose ring and gave me a nod and air fist pump. Yup, total badass is right!
When we got back to the house, I spent some time on the balcony with some of the team members, lounging in a hammock, and bonding with Luna the dog before it started raining. There is a black and white cat too, who is nameless, but we haven't had that same bonding experience yet. Now that I found that hammock, I'll probably be out there all the time. Although the mosquito bites have started. I'm still exhausted and will need to catch up on my sleep from these last couple nights. For now, I will head to dinner.
Day one=Success
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Sunday: October 24th (Republica Dominicana)
I have arrived in the Dominican Republic.
After an interesting experience last night, I got a row to myself and about 3 hours of sleep. I awoke in Boston and ran into the embrace of my love, Marlie! We got a workout lugging my bags all around the city, but I was able to see her apartment, enjoy the views of the city, and best of all, spend time with my best friend before I had to leave.
This second flight was an improvement in that I was able to remain in my seat, but I was sat next to a mother with two shrieking children. Cute doesn't always get you off the hook babies. The airport in Santo Domingo was much nicer than the image I had in my mind. I guess I pictured something just slightly improved from Port-au-Prince chaos, but it was very orderly, modern, and air-conditioned! I am ashamed that my Spanish has all but disappeared. Three years just didn't seem to do the job. Oh, and where do I live? That's right...San Diego! No Spanish speakers there, eh? I think I speak more Creole now than I remember Spanish.
Liz and JJ picked me up from the airport. The driving is crazy here, too, but at least there are designated lanes and fully paved roads. The ocean is gorgeous, the palm trees majestic, and the music more than lively.
There is a group of 8 here until Friday doing some sort of water system, so it is a little crammed in my room, but then it'll free up. I get top bunk. The music is so loud that sleep is questionable, but by the current drooping of my eyelids as I type, far from out of the question.
It is very hot/humid...as was to be expected. It is the Caribbean after all. Like Haiti, I took a shower and dried off to feel like another was just about necessary. And then I stubbed my toe moving my luggage around and had blood dripping all over. Hopefully that nail hangs on. Nice. You'll be happy to know that a little gauze and tape seemed to get the bleeding under control. (Is the the sort of thing I'm supposed to write about in my blog? Apparently this is the uncut edition that you signed on to.)
That's it for now. The rest of the group is still out at Church, so I should be meeting them shortly.
Love you all.
After an interesting experience last night, I got a row to myself and about 3 hours of sleep. I awoke in Boston and ran into the embrace of my love, Marlie! We got a workout lugging my bags all around the city, but I was able to see her apartment, enjoy the views of the city, and best of all, spend time with my best friend before I had to leave.
This second flight was an improvement in that I was able to remain in my seat, but I was sat next to a mother with two shrieking children. Cute doesn't always get you off the hook babies. The airport in Santo Domingo was much nicer than the image I had in my mind. I guess I pictured something just slightly improved from Port-au-Prince chaos, but it was very orderly, modern, and air-conditioned! I am ashamed that my Spanish has all but disappeared. Three years just didn't seem to do the job. Oh, and where do I live? That's right...San Diego! No Spanish speakers there, eh? I think I speak more Creole now than I remember Spanish.
Liz and JJ picked me up from the airport. The driving is crazy here, too, but at least there are designated lanes and fully paved roads. The ocean is gorgeous, the palm trees majestic, and the music more than lively.
There is a group of 8 here until Friday doing some sort of water system, so it is a little crammed in my room, but then it'll free up. I get top bunk. The music is so loud that sleep is questionable, but by the current drooping of my eyelids as I type, far from out of the question.
It is very hot/humid...as was to be expected. It is the Caribbean after all. Like Haiti, I took a shower and dried off to feel like another was just about necessary. And then I stubbed my toe moving my luggage around and had blood dripping all over. Hopefully that nail hangs on. Nice. You'll be happy to know that a little gauze and tape seemed to get the bleeding under control. (Is the the sort of thing I'm supposed to write about in my blog? Apparently this is the uncut edition that you signed on to.)
That's it for now. The rest of the group is still out at Church, so I should be meeting them shortly.
Love you all.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Ayewopo fun!
And the adventures begin!
Bags checked, security cleared, boarding accomplished. I sat in my back row window seat on my 8:47pm flight to NY JFK watching GolTV and waited for the plane to take off. All the bags were loaded and passengers seated. That was when the lady in the yellow "if you don't see me now you're blind" vest came up to me and the woman in the same row and asked for proof that we were returning to the US. Of course no one told me this was necessary when I booked my one-way flight to Santo Domingo. The woman next to me was able to prove residence at her destination, but I was escorted off the plane, trying to ignore the heads turning and eyes glaring at the girl who delayed take-off. After a little time to pull myself together and wrap my mind around the whole thing, and a good amount of time leaning up against the ticket counter, we were able to switch my flight to a 10:15 to Boston. I just had to book a flight from Haiti to Florida to have proof that I'll be coming back, even if it is likely I'll have to cancel it and lose a chunk of cash (0f course, the wifi connection timed out on me right when I hit the "reserve flight" button the first time...but a location change and another attempt did the trick.) The 6 hour layover in Boston will allow me to see my best friend, Marlie...YAY!
And that is where I am right now. Pulled off my plane, sitting on the awkward gate chair, hoping I can get a hold of someone at Foundation for Peace in the morning about my ride in Santo Domingo, and longing for a whole row to myself to stretch out and catch a few z's.
What a way to start off the trip, right? Never a dull moment here!
Bags checked, security cleared, boarding accomplished. I sat in my back row window seat on my 8:47pm flight to NY JFK watching GolTV and waited for the plane to take off. All the bags were loaded and passengers seated. That was when the lady in the yellow "if you don't see me now you're blind" vest came up to me and the woman in the same row and asked for proof that we were returning to the US. Of course no one told me this was necessary when I booked my one-way flight to Santo Domingo. The woman next to me was able to prove residence at her destination, but I was escorted off the plane, trying to ignore the heads turning and eyes glaring at the girl who delayed take-off. After a little time to pull myself together and wrap my mind around the whole thing, and a good amount of time leaning up against the ticket counter, we were able to switch my flight to a 10:15 to Boston. I just had to book a flight from Haiti to Florida to have proof that I'll be coming back, even if it is likely I'll have to cancel it and lose a chunk of cash (0f course, the wifi connection timed out on me right when I hit the "reserve flight" button the first time...but a location change and another attempt did the trick.) The 6 hour layover in Boston will allow me to see my best friend, Marlie...YAY!
And that is where I am right now. Pulled off my plane, sitting on the awkward gate chair, hoping I can get a hold of someone at Foundation for Peace in the morning about my ride in Santo Domingo, and longing for a whole row to myself to stretch out and catch a few z's.
What a way to start off the trip, right? Never a dull moment here!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Leaving Saturday!
Hi everyone!
I just found out that I will be leaving for the Dominican Republic this Saturday! It was short notice, but I am very excited! Keep checking this page to see what I'm up to.
I will miss you all! <3
I just found out that I will be leaving for the Dominican Republic this Saturday! It was short notice, but I am very excited! Keep checking this page to see what I'm up to.
I will miss you all! <3
Friday, October 1, 2010
New Blog
Hey all!
I am jumping the gun a little on creating this new blog. I won't be leaving for a couple weeks. When the adventures start rolling, I will make sure to keep you all in the loop!
Andrea <3
If you haven't had the chance to already, check out the blogs from my past two trips in July and September:
http://haitijuly2010.blogspot.com/
http://haitiseptember2010.blogspot.com/
And my photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/107031682907817075033/HaitiSeptember2010?authkey=Gv1sRgCKSCuOOs08ak8QE#
http://picasaweb.google.com/117901094771866752297/HaitiJuly2010#
I am jumping the gun a little on creating this new blog. I won't be leaving for a couple weeks. When the adventures start rolling, I will make sure to keep you all in the loop!
Andrea <3
If you haven't had the chance to already, check out the blogs from my past two trips in July and September:
http://haitijuly2010.blogspot.com/
http://haitiseptember2010.blogspot.com/
And my photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/107031682907817075033/HaitiSeptember2010?authkey=Gv1sRgCKSCuOOs08ak8QE#
http://picasaweb.google.com/117901094771866752297/HaitiJuly2010#
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