Fun adventures and random thoughts

Sometimes I get the antsy feeling of just needing to get out of Haut Limbe. There are days that I haven't left and have visited about 3 or 4 buildings in total. It gets repetitive and draining. Last week Janelle and I went into Cap with a couple friends. Bought some great sandwiches, cold juice with ice, walked along the "boardwalk", and we found some delicious ice cream. On the drive home through Cap we drove past a cinema, we both couldn't believe our eyes. A movie theatre in Cap! I'm beginning to get curious as to what other things we don't know about. It was a good evening being out of town and changing up the routine. We also took some medication to another small clinic we are connected with on Friday and enjoyed a few hours at a beach near by afterwards. These times of escaping seem to be what keep sane sometimes. It is hard to be intentional about taking care of myself here amongst all that is going on, but I'm slowly figuring out how to do that better. The last week and a half I've had my head crammed in my statistics textbook, writing quizzes, and preparing for my final exam. Although this has been such a burden and has taken so much out of me, it's been a good distraction and way to bring me back to some sort of normalcy and familiarity.

Things continue to progress at the clinic. One day at a time. One task at a time. The hospital is really coming along. Most of the bathrooms are finished with tiling and most plumbing. The tiling is about 1/4 to 1/3 done for the rooms/hallways and we are waiting for the next group to arrive on Friday to work on that. The shelves are also finished for now in the depot so the supplies can begin to be organized and stored there. What a journey this has all been. I look forward to seeing how much will be accomplished with this group of 14 coming. What a blessing it is to receive visitors here.

I will have been here 2 months exactly on Thursday and can't even begin to figure out where those months went. So amongst the stress and craziness of this country and culture, I find blessings amidst it all. We are bird/house sitting tonight so will enjoy 24 hour internet, electricity, supper made by us, a shower that's a bit warmer, and ice to put in our drinks! :) It truly is the little things here that make a difference.

In other sad news, the lady that cooks for us (Malene) found out that she has glaucoma. She went to the hospital yesterday and brought us back the news. I'm not sure exactly what that all means and what they all told her but through this I've felt our relationship get stronger. People seem more comfortable around me, can communicate with me and it seems are beginning to see I'm not much different then them (to some very small degree of course...). It's beginning to feel just a little bit more like home here.

Update

- The group from Winnipeg has come and gone (the 2 nurses are still here until Monday). They finished tiling the pediatric room and are about 1/2 done the mens ward.

- The tiling in the washroom of the pediatric room is being worked on in between groups.

- Shelves have been built in the depot and are painted. The supplies will now need to be organized and put on the shelves.

- Plumbing is almost complete (or so I think).

- The clinic saw 217 patients on Monday (normal is 100). We had 18 people from the USA who brought medications and helped see patients. Never seen that place so packed. Our staff are tired.

- A successful trip to Port au Prince finished this weekend. They did a mobile clinic and handed out food packages which were prepared by the Winnipeg group consisting of rice, beans, sugar, oil etc.

- A website is being worked on for the clinic by a volunteer who is here this week. We look forward to having that up and running soon.

- Everything still takes a long time here. Everything seems so much more difficult. We pray for patience everyday and for a sense of humour.

- My eyes are opened everyday to real life here in Haiti. Illnesses. Death. Accidents. Hunger. Sorrow. Joy. Friendships. Lack of choice. Fear. Hope and hopelessness. Sometimes I wish I could keep my blinders on and not be exposed to so much, and yet I know that's not real.

- Relationships are most important here, above all else. Sometimes I forget that and make mistakes. I hate making mistakes.

- The last of our guests leave on Saturday and Monday. We will have just under 2 weeks to regroup and prepare for 14 to arrive. We are tired and continuing on. Life in Haiti...

Here's a song that describes me this week. I came across is on a blog I follow: http://livesayhaiti.blogspot.com/2007/11/long-defeat.html

Enough for Today

While driving into Cap Haitien for supper with friends on Friday I was watching as everyone was finishing their days and making their ways home. Along the road in the city there were the ladies sitting, selling their goods. I noticed one lady with her few things to sell and saw a large can of tomato paste, containing maybe 4 litres, the tin lid still partly attached to protect from bugs and dust from day to day. Another women came by to buy some and she was given 3 little scrapes (about 3 teaspoons) of paste on a small piece of paper. This was sold for 5 Gourdes (approximately 8 cents). This woman buying the paste purchases only what she needs for today. As I saw this I thought of the fridges full of food all over the world and thought of my friends, neighbours, my community, and this country, and all those who don’t eat for a few days at a time. I know when my next meal with be, so many do not. May we all recognize that we only need enough for today.

Normal

Life here is pretty normal. I don't really know what to write about because of that. No real inspiration. Groups have come and gone. Random people joining us and leaving us. It's fun to see this community and culture through their eyes. Reminders of the realities. Here's a bit of a glimpse into my everyday life here.
Wake up at 7am. Get dressed and do very little in way of preparing myself for the day.
Eat breakfast
Head to the clinic around 8am. Stand around and talk for awhile (relationships first!)
Head up to the office. Work on expenses, income, new forms/systems, maybe take a trip to the bank etc.
Head home for lunch.
Back to the office.
Check emails quickly and chat with friends.
Head back to shower and get a "pick me up".
Maybe read or write a bit in my journal.
Eat supper.
Head down to the corner and sit there for the evening. Hang out with friends. Maybe watch a movie if there's electricity.
Bed around 10 or 11pm.
Start all over again the next day!

We take a trip to Cap (25 kms, about a 1 hour drive) about once a week. That's a good outing. There are also lots of other surprises and crazy encounters along the way.

Work has been challenging and encouraging all around. Baby steps. Everyday we get a little further.

After driving through Cap Haitien on Sunday and Limbe on Monday I realized there is a lot more trash piles all over, places there wasn't before. The hope for this country is nonexistent at times. I have little faith that much will change over the years, and it seems the feeling is pretty common with many people here. And yet they and I continue on, trying to better our little piece. Hoping somehow that it will make a difference. Who knows.

A group from Winnipeg is coming next week which means my parents could send some things I had forgotten or misjudged in packing over a 1 week period. I will be happy to receive more shirts and tank tops as I only brought enough for a few days of sun and a few days of rain intermixed. Apparently the weather here doesn't work like that! It will be good to see familiar faces and hang out with good friends.

Life goes on. I've been getting a little sick over the last few days. I'm trying to rest lots to try and prevent a full on head cold.

I'll try to update more often. Sorry!

The hospital construction is coming along. The plumbing is started and will continue after the tiling gets going. The group from Winnipeg will start on that next week. Lots of work still left and lots of miscommunication with coordinating all that.

Would love to hear from you all. Miss everyone back home and think of you often!