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."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)