Just because I like to confuse all of you and make things more difficult, I'm moving my blog over to wordpress. Just more interesting.
Here is the link:
http://andreainhaiti.wordpress.com/
You can subscribe to my posts and you will receive new posts by email. Also, new posts should appear on facebook.
Si ou pa konprann...mande m'.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
What a Thursday!
After a few days of waking up at 6am to run, I slept in late. Woke up to no one in the house. No big deal. Liz had gone to school early to collect sponsorship information and then decided to just stay until class.
Valentin came back and we were heading over there a few hours early. I drove. It was about half way to Fond Parisien that we watched a red car swerve off the road and slam into a tree and a relatively high speed. I pulled over and we all got out and ran over. The driver and rear passengers appeared fine, but Valentin and Dessalines extricated the woman in the passenger's seat and carried her to a "somewhat" flat dirt ditch. I tried to summon up the information I had learned in EMT class. I held the woman's hand, asked her where it hurt. She said her back, her neck, and her head hurt. I pressed on the quadrants of her belly. She didn't scream, but the upper left quadrant did seem a little harder than it should have been. Valentin called an ambulance and we waited...about 20 minutes. I basically held her hand and yelled at anyone that tried to move her (including her.) I held C-Spine as the ambulance arrived and prepared to load her onto a gurney. When the doctor did the same belly test, she screamed at the upper left quadrant which might indicate some sort of internal bleeding. The gurney loading was definitely not the way I would have recommended. I offered a suggestion to the doctor, but he just said that he wanted to pick her up, trying keep her neck and spine in line, and lift her onto the gurney. About 10 hands grabbed various parts of her body and pulled her up. I really think it would have been best to log roll her onto the gurney. I held one end of the gurney (which was very heavy and difficult getting up a small slope) and we loaded her into the ambulance. I had Valentin drive the rest of the way to school. In the car, Valentin asked me if I was scared. And I was glad to say I wasn't...I was calm. I was dirty from kneeling in the dirt and I couldn't feel my toes, but I was calm. But it has been a while since EMT class and I wish I could have remembered and done more. Asked more questions...something...I don't know. I sat there thinking how different that situation would be in the U.S. But there really is no point in that...you have to work with the situation you are handed, no matter what it is or where you are. I hope she is okay.
It was a good day at school though. We have an exam on Monday, so we have spent the last few days reviewing. I think (and really hope) they will do better on this one. A new student came up to me after class and said, "I am grateful for what you are doing. I do not have words to thank you." That is always good to hear as I am in a constant struggle with how I am doing as a teacher. Later I heard from Jon's practical class (the room across the hall) the question: "If I marry a woman and she doesn't want to have babies, what can I do?" I started laughing...realizing it was one of my students. Jon just told him it wasn't the time or place to answer that question. The student said: "You said we could ask anything!" Haha.
Jon and I are going in today for tutoring. I have a feeling it's going to be packed.
Valentin came back and we were heading over there a few hours early. I drove. It was about half way to Fond Parisien that we watched a red car swerve off the road and slam into a tree and a relatively high speed. I pulled over and we all got out and ran over. The driver and rear passengers appeared fine, but Valentin and Dessalines extricated the woman in the passenger's seat and carried her to a "somewhat" flat dirt ditch. I tried to summon up the information I had learned in EMT class. I held the woman's hand, asked her where it hurt. She said her back, her neck, and her head hurt. I pressed on the quadrants of her belly. She didn't scream, but the upper left quadrant did seem a little harder than it should have been. Valentin called an ambulance and we waited...about 20 minutes. I basically held her hand and yelled at anyone that tried to move her (including her.) I held C-Spine as the ambulance arrived and prepared to load her onto a gurney. When the doctor did the same belly test, she screamed at the upper left quadrant which might indicate some sort of internal bleeding. The gurney loading was definitely not the way I would have recommended. I offered a suggestion to the doctor, but he just said that he wanted to pick her up, trying keep her neck and spine in line, and lift her onto the gurney. About 10 hands grabbed various parts of her body and pulled her up. I really think it would have been best to log roll her onto the gurney. I held one end of the gurney (which was very heavy and difficult getting up a small slope) and we loaded her into the ambulance. I had Valentin drive the rest of the way to school. In the car, Valentin asked me if I was scared. And I was glad to say I wasn't...I was calm. I was dirty from kneeling in the dirt and I couldn't feel my toes, but I was calm. But it has been a while since EMT class and I wish I could have remembered and done more. Asked more questions...something...I don't know. I sat there thinking how different that situation would be in the U.S. But there really is no point in that...you have to work with the situation you are handed, no matter what it is or where you are. I hope she is okay.
It was a good day at school though. We have an exam on Monday, so we have spent the last few days reviewing. I think (and really hope) they will do better on this one. A new student came up to me after class and said, "I am grateful for what you are doing. I do not have words to thank you." That is always good to hear as I am in a constant struggle with how I am doing as a teacher. Later I heard from Jon's practical class (the room across the hall) the question: "If I marry a woman and she doesn't want to have babies, what can I do?" I started laughing...realizing it was one of my students. Jon just told him it wasn't the time or place to answer that question. The student said: "You said we could ask anything!" Haha.
Jon and I are going in today for tutoring. I have a feeling it's going to be packed.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
M' leve bone (left accent on the e)...Yikes!
Finally...a little exercise. Unfortunately, it requires a 6am wake up.
The last couple of days, Luke and I have done a little morning run with some push-ups and sit-ups on the roof. It's really pretty up there when the sun is rising. My abs and arms are sore, but I love that feeling! I think we are the morning entertainment for the Haitians living in the area...crazy white people running by...one breathing like an 80 year old with emphysema.
Groups start coming down in a couple of weeks, adding to the stress of it all. It is difficult figuring out how we can have enough staff for the groups and still continue with the language school. I think we have figured most of it out, but time will tell. Liz is going home for 4 weeks for her sister's wedding, so that makes it more complicated.
We've decided to add an extra day on to the week at school. Instead of having Friday off, we'll go in for a couple hours for an optional "tutoring" session where students can ask questions they have on the material. We're starting this Friday, because we are having an exam on Monday. I think it will be good.
Ok...mwen fatigue. Mwen pa kapab ekri plis. Se two (accent on o) bone (accent on e) pou mwen. (I need to figure out how to put accents on this thing.)
The last couple of days, Luke and I have done a little morning run with some push-ups and sit-ups on the roof. It's really pretty up there when the sun is rising. My abs and arms are sore, but I love that feeling! I think we are the morning entertainment for the Haitians living in the area...crazy white people running by...one breathing like an 80 year old with emphysema.
Groups start coming down in a couple of weeks, adding to the stress of it all. It is difficult figuring out how we can have enough staff for the groups and still continue with the language school. I think we have figured most of it out, but time will tell. Liz is going home for 4 weeks for her sister's wedding, so that makes it more complicated.
We've decided to add an extra day on to the week at school. Instead of having Friday off, we'll go in for a couple hours for an optional "tutoring" session where students can ask questions they have on the material. We're starting this Friday, because we are having an exam on Monday. I think it will be good.
Ok...mwen fatigue. Mwen pa kapab ekri plis. Se two (accent on o) bone (accent on e) pou mwen. (I need to figure out how to put accents on this thing.)
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Too Many White People!
Bonswa tout moun!
So we've been home, for the most part, since Tuesday night. We didn't go to school on Wednesday because they were supposed to announce the candidates for the runoff election...which they didn't. Then we stayed home Thursday just to play it safe. But, thankfully, there were no demonstrations on the streets and everything remained calm. Hopefully things stay calm when the runoff election is held at the end of March. Cross your fingers!
We've just been doing puzzles, reading, and getting a little too obsessed and too intense with Farkle (a dice game) to pass the time.
Friday was Nadege's birthday. Liz, Luke, Jon, and I got up early to make her breakfast in bed. Liz did coffee cake, Jon did eggs, Luke did bacon, and I made crepes. Everything turned out well...although we learned that the concept of laying in bed while eating breakfast was foreign here. I hit an all time low that day when I ate coffee cake wrapped in a crepe. That does not make one feel very good about herself.
This morning we went to English speaking church where there were just too many white people. It was weird. I felt uncomfortable. Liz and I got to play on the playground before the service, though. We realized how to tell if you are too old for the swings: if you're out of breath and have motion sickness while swinging. But they had this awesome bouncy thing.
Now I'm listening to Stellecy screaming her lungs out and doing my best to keep my sanity. Oye!
So we've been home, for the most part, since Tuesday night. We didn't go to school on Wednesday because they were supposed to announce the candidates for the runoff election...which they didn't. Then we stayed home Thursday just to play it safe. But, thankfully, there were no demonstrations on the streets and everything remained calm. Hopefully things stay calm when the runoff election is held at the end of March. Cross your fingers!
We've just been doing puzzles, reading, and getting a little too obsessed and too intense with Farkle (a dice game) to pass the time.
Friday was Nadege's birthday. Liz, Luke, Jon, and I got up early to make her breakfast in bed. Liz did coffee cake, Jon did eggs, Luke did bacon, and I made crepes. Everything turned out well...although we learned that the concept of laying in bed while eating breakfast was foreign here. I hit an all time low that day when I ate coffee cake wrapped in a crepe. That does not make one feel very good about herself.
This morning we went to English speaking church where there were just too many white people. It was weird. I felt uncomfortable. Liz and I got to play on the playground before the service, though. We realized how to tell if you are too old for the swings: if you're out of breath and have motion sickness while swinging. But they had this awesome bouncy thing.
Now I'm listening to Stellecy screaming her lungs out and doing my best to keep my sanity. Oye!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Happy Groundhog Day!
It's been a while since I last wrote. This internet stick is a pain and it's really hard to get this blog up and rolling. Once we get the inverter batteries installed in the house, we should be able to get satellite internet.
Let's see...I don't believe anything spectacular has happened since I last wrote. Class has gone on as usual. If there were any funny anecdotes I wanted to tell you, I have already forgotten.
I have now driven a few times. It takes me longer to get to our destination because I am a little more cautious. Rules here are different....or non-existant.
Oh, Valentin got a washing machine. It's the kind where it does half the work and you do the other half, but having a wash cycle cuts down laundry time by a good amount.
Today they are announcing who will be going into the runoff election, so we are staying home to avoid any potential street demonstrations and road blocks. Hopefully we don't see a repeat of what happened after the elections.
I smashed my toe into a bucket and now can't wear shoes...so, needless to say, the mosquitoes are loving the access to my feet. Exciting news, I know!
Oh, and Liz and I received a virus from Valentin's computer that infected her external hard drive and my thumb drive. We still haven't really figured out what our plan of action will be.
That's about all the news I have for now. Take care all!
Let's see...I don't believe anything spectacular has happened since I last wrote. Class has gone on as usual. If there were any funny anecdotes I wanted to tell you, I have already forgotten.
I have now driven a few times. It takes me longer to get to our destination because I am a little more cautious. Rules here are different....or non-existant.
Oh, Valentin got a washing machine. It's the kind where it does half the work and you do the other half, but having a wash cycle cuts down laundry time by a good amount.
Today they are announcing who will be going into the runoff election, so we are staying home to avoid any potential street demonstrations and road blocks. Hopefully we don't see a repeat of what happened after the elections.
I smashed my toe into a bucket and now can't wear shoes...so, needless to say, the mosquitoes are loving the access to my feet. Exciting news, I know!
Oh, and Liz and I received a virus from Valentin's computer that infected her external hard drive and my thumb drive. We still haven't really figured out what our plan of action will be.
That's about all the news I have for now. Take care all!
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