The banks here in Haiti are very similar to banks at home. They look about the same. The tellers sit behind a desk. There's a guard at the front. A ribbon to help direct the line. One difference though that I love every time I go is that if you need to step out of the line for a moment (to answer your cell phone, to talk to someone, to get another deposit slip, etc), you may enter the line at the same place when you return. Every time I go to Unibank there are about 30 people in the line and it usually takes about an hour to get through.
Well, a couple of Saturdays ago we arrived at Unibank about 1 hour before closing time. After standing in line for about 15 minutes with my friend Ben, I realized that my bank (Fonkoze) might close earlier then Unibank. So, we decided to leave and catch another motorcycle to Fonkoze. We finished there, caught our 3rd motorcycle back to Unibank, and Ben walks right into the same place in line as when he left! This is about 30-45 minutes later. We return and yup, he just takes the same place in line. I was shocked! And yet not one person flinched. Can you imagine that in Canada? I mean, we don't usually have 1 hour line ups for things, especially at a bank, but if we did? Sheesh. People freak out if you "cut" them or "budge". I'd love to see that. Life here continues to amaze me.
Things to do at night cont'd:
26. Measure your height on the wall. Apparently I've grown and am now 5 feet tall!
27. Scratch your mosquito bites
28. Sing old songs (7 Club Seven, Spice Girls, Salt N' Pepa)
Saturday, May 22
Thursday, May 20
I is sweaty
I would like to write an entry today about how human beings adapt. Both as Haitians adapt to life here and as I adapt to life here. But rather, I am hot, sweaty, and have little patience left, so I plan to only share a few random thoughts.
I can't really speak English anymore. Anyone who's been here has learned this quickly (hence title). I can't really speak Creole well either, enough to get by and understand and say what I need. I also can't seem to think properlly. Charcoal is kind of like fire right...? Ugh.
Waiting here in Haiti is a common, everyday, occurrence. My time at the Clinic in this role is completed at the end of July. To me that's not much time to make sure that the 2 accountants know what they need to know. I can't teach them when they are not there. Sometimes I wait hours for them to show up. ("I'll be back in 30-40 minutes turns out to be 4 hours). Sigh. I also feel like I'm repeating myself, repeatedly! This would be why my patience is on the low end right now. Thank goodness for laughter though. Where would I be without laughing with friends.
I take frequent withdrawals from the patience bank. There are little "shacks" or buildings here in Haiti that are called the patience bank (it's not a bank but some kind of lottery, not really sure exactly how it works though or when because I don't see people in them often). I don't often make deposits in my own patience bank account but I know that back home many are doing this for me (thanks for all the prayers and deposits!!!)
It's getting hot around here. I dread the days of constant sweat and smells you never knew were possible to come from your body. Any week now. It's been cloudy the last week and a half but it's still hot. I is sweaty and I is smelly.
We have a big/important committee meeting tomorrow evening. A lot of financial matters and procedures to discuss. All prayers would be appreciated.
And m'ap tann. Chak jou, m'ap tann
(I am waiting. Every day, I am waiting)
I can't really speak English anymore. Anyone who's been here has learned this quickly (hence title). I can't really speak Creole well either, enough to get by and understand and say what I need. I also can't seem to think properlly. Charcoal is kind of like fire right...? Ugh.
Waiting here in Haiti is a common, everyday, occurrence. My time at the Clinic in this role is completed at the end of July. To me that's not much time to make sure that the 2 accountants know what they need to know. I can't teach them when they are not there. Sometimes I wait hours for them to show up. ("I'll be back in 30-40 minutes turns out to be 4 hours). Sigh. I also feel like I'm repeating myself, repeatedly! This would be why my patience is on the low end right now. Thank goodness for laughter though. Where would I be without laughing with friends.
I take frequent withdrawals from the patience bank. There are little "shacks" or buildings here in Haiti that are called the patience bank (it's not a bank but some kind of lottery, not really sure exactly how it works though or when because I don't see people in them often). I don't often make deposits in my own patience bank account but I know that back home many are doing this for me (thanks for all the prayers and deposits!!!)
It's getting hot around here. I dread the days of constant sweat and smells you never knew were possible to come from your body. Any week now. It's been cloudy the last week and a half but it's still hot. I is sweaty and I is smelly.
We have a big/important committee meeting tomorrow evening. A lot of financial matters and procedures to discuss. All prayers would be appreciated.
And m'ap tann. Chak jou, m'ap tann
(I am waiting. Every day, I am waiting)
Tuesday, May 18
A few more things to do at night...
16. waiting
17. calling/texting friends to see where they are
18. sit and wait
19. talking with friends in the dark
20. move to another room and sit
21. bolting upright when the light comes on the middle of the night because there is suddenly edh for some random reason and you left the light switch turned on
22. practice walking in heels
23. put make-up by lamp light
24. fold clothes
25. swat mosquitoes buzzing in your ears
17. calling/texting friends to see where they are
18. sit and wait
19. talking with friends in the dark
20. move to another room and sit
21. bolting upright when the light comes on the middle of the night because there is suddenly edh for some random reason and you left the light switch turned on
22. practice walking in heels
23. put make-up by lamp light
24. fold clothes
25. swat mosquitoes buzzing in your ears
Saturday, May 15
Those feelings...
I was sent the link to this blog. It explains so much of how I feel being here most days.
http://blexi.blogspot.com/2010/04/why-i-have-not-made-dinner.html
I'm not sure exactly how to make living in Haiti sustainable, but I sure would like to try.
http://blexi.blogspot.com/2010/04/why-i-have-not-made-dinner.html
I'm not sure exactly how to make living in Haiti sustainable, but I sure would like to try.
101 Things to do at night in your house in Haiti
- Play with candle wax
- Make hand puppets on the wall from the candlelight
- Put lotion on your wrist to try and rub off the thick black hair (from wearing a cast for 2.5 months)
- Kill spiders
- Kill cockroaches
- Kill vonvons (huge beetles that fly around like their drunk)
- Play with the mosquito net hanging above your bed
- Laugh about the ridiculousness of the day
- Clip your nails with a headlamp
- Watch the Gecko's each moths
- Learn new fun Creole words (souke bouda ou = shake your butt)
- Send morris code messages to your roommate with your ipod light in the bed next to yours
- Make up songs to the rooster, drum, chickens and dogs all "singing" at the same time
- Pull down your books, movies, cosmetics etc. from the "bookshelf (windowsill)" when the rain starts coming down
- Find ways to stay cool
Friday, May 14
Learning the "language"
"M'ap vini" mean I am coming, or I am coming back. You'd think that means in the near future, maybe withing the hour, but really it could mean tomorrow, or maybe in weeks to come. Maybe you'll never see them again!
30-40 minutes might mean 4 hours. When I say might, I mean, it did yesterday.
"I am coming in some minutes" can mean whatever they want it to. This one makes me laugh every time I think about it. I don't think that would fly anywhere else. "I'll be there in some minutes..."
(after making a trip to Cap Haitian, the information was), "I am on the road." This means exactly what it says. Somewhere on the road. Not necessarily on the road BACK to the Clinic and not necessarily close. It means literally, I'm on the road. That was the phone call I received yesterday to inform me of their expected time back. 1.5 hours later the truck drove by...
Haitian friend says: "I don't want to tell you a time that I'm coming back because then it could be a lie" (if they are late you see).
Canadian friend says: "Well just make a good estimate as to when you think you'll come back and try to get back by then. Try REALLY hard..." (patience a little thin at this point).
Haitian friend says: "Okay, maybe 7:30pm."
Canadian friend says: "Great, I will see you then."
8pm rolls around and I see above Haitian friend at the corner NOT with my above Canadian friend who's at our house waiting.
So I ask: "What are you doing here!!!?"
He replies: "Oh, I'm sorry. That's why I didn't want to tell her a time. Tell her I'm coming in 15 minutes..."
I reply: "Don't say sorry to me. Get your butt up there! ;)"
Sigh.
30-40 minutes might mean 4 hours. When I say might, I mean, it did yesterday.
"I am coming in some minutes" can mean whatever they want it to. This one makes me laugh every time I think about it. I don't think that would fly anywhere else. "I'll be there in some minutes..."
(after making a trip to Cap Haitian, the information was), "I am on the road." This means exactly what it says. Somewhere on the road. Not necessarily on the road BACK to the Clinic and not necessarily close. It means literally, I'm on the road. That was the phone call I received yesterday to inform me of their expected time back. 1.5 hours later the truck drove by...
Haitian friend says: "I don't want to tell you a time that I'm coming back because then it could be a lie" (if they are late you see).
Canadian friend says: "Well just make a good estimate as to when you think you'll come back and try to get back by then. Try REALLY hard..." (patience a little thin at this point).
Haitian friend says: "Okay, maybe 7:30pm."
Canadian friend says: "Great, I will see you then."
8pm rolls around and I see above Haitian friend at the corner NOT with my above Canadian friend who's at our house waiting.
So I ask: "What are you doing here!!!?"
He replies: "Oh, I'm sorry. That's why I didn't want to tell her a time. Tell her I'm coming in 15 minutes..."
I reply: "Don't say sorry to me. Get your butt up there! ;)"
Sigh.
Wednesday, May 12
Made it home
We made it home safely on Sunday. Quite the contrast coming from the DR back to Haiti. It hit me more this way then going to the DR. Across one river, life is so different. That's all that divides the two countries. Words can't even begin to describe.
As we were waiting in the bus depot in Santiago (before we crossed the border), the waiting area was filled with Haitians. I suddenly began to feel like I was coming home, listening to the conversations in Creole (is it eavesdropping if you don't really understand it all...?), seeing the differences in clothes, styles, choice of food, luggage. As we boarded the bus people talked to one another. Yup, that's Haitians. So friendly. We had friends waiting for us at the bus depot in Cape and things suddenly seemed back to normal.
Of course we were greeted with no water at the house to bathe with (I hadn't washed my newly cut/styled hair since Friday). A walk over to the University to the missionaries house was our solution. Looking back it doesn't seem that bad. At the time, it sucks.
Being back at work is a little crazy, but that was so be expected. Things went well while I was gone so that's an encouragement. There's still much to do but it feels like we are making progress. We have 3 months of reporting to compare so we are finally gaining some perspective of the organization and situation. It drives me crazy that things are so expensive here. Medication costs about the equivalent that it would in North America. How could an organization even be self sustaining in a country like this when so many patients can't afford to see a doctor or to buy medications. So frustrating.
Beth made it here safely. She's been working on the database that I started working on in the summer. She will be teaching the archivists how to use the program and will help them implement the system. This is huge progress for the Clinic. Once we work out all the kinks it will be great!
Tiling is almost finished at the clinic. The nursing station and the VIP rooms still need to be done. Once everything gets cleaned up and washed it will be a beautiful facility. The septic hole has some cement in it now. I think that's important because of the rain...(I know nothing about this kind of stuff!). The depot is fairly organized and we are looking at building some more shelves in the near future.
Last night we went to Cap to have dinner with an old friend (Kathy Brawley), her mom, daughter and a few others that are with her. It was great to chat with them. I drove to Cap as Manno was exhausted. First time I've driven there again since I've been back. Good to remember that I am able to drive.
Plans for the week? Well, today I hope to get progress on fixing our internet. That's my big task. That and having a conversation with the pastor about starting the computer lab/program. Not sure exactly what the best move would be but hope that it all works out!
I also recently found out that I passed my statistics class that I was finishing while I was down here. What a relief! I'm so close to being finished with my degree and yet it seems so far and difficult while being down here. 5 classes is only 1 semester, and yet that's a lot of distance courses!
The clinic continues to do work down in Port au Prince. Building some houses or structures, giving out food packages, caring for needs. We are working on an upate for the donors so I will post that for those interested when it's finished.
Live in Haiti is crazy. Hot. Exciting. Unpredictable. Hilarious. Frustrating. It's about everything, everyday. I started running again, so hopefully that will help with all of the above! :)
As we were waiting in the bus depot in Santiago (before we crossed the border), the waiting area was filled with Haitians. I suddenly began to feel like I was coming home, listening to the conversations in Creole (is it eavesdropping if you don't really understand it all...?), seeing the differences in clothes, styles, choice of food, luggage. As we boarded the bus people talked to one another. Yup, that's Haitians. So friendly. We had friends waiting for us at the bus depot in Cape and things suddenly seemed back to normal.
Of course we were greeted with no water at the house to bathe with (I hadn't washed my newly cut/styled hair since Friday). A walk over to the University to the missionaries house was our solution. Looking back it doesn't seem that bad. At the time, it sucks.
Being back at work is a little crazy, but that was so be expected. Things went well while I was gone so that's an encouragement. There's still much to do but it feels like we are making progress. We have 3 months of reporting to compare so we are finally gaining some perspective of the organization and situation. It drives me crazy that things are so expensive here. Medication costs about the equivalent that it would in North America. How could an organization even be self sustaining in a country like this when so many patients can't afford to see a doctor or to buy medications. So frustrating.
Beth made it here safely. She's been working on the database that I started working on in the summer. She will be teaching the archivists how to use the program and will help them implement the system. This is huge progress for the Clinic. Once we work out all the kinks it will be great!
Tiling is almost finished at the clinic. The nursing station and the VIP rooms still need to be done. Once everything gets cleaned up and washed it will be a beautiful facility. The septic hole has some cement in it now. I think that's important because of the rain...(I know nothing about this kind of stuff!). The depot is fairly organized and we are looking at building some more shelves in the near future.
Last night we went to Cap to have dinner with an old friend (Kathy Brawley), her mom, daughter and a few others that are with her. It was great to chat with them. I drove to Cap as Manno was exhausted. First time I've driven there again since I've been back. Good to remember that I am able to drive.
Plans for the week? Well, today I hope to get progress on fixing our internet. That's my big task. That and having a conversation with the pastor about starting the computer lab/program. Not sure exactly what the best move would be but hope that it all works out!
I also recently found out that I passed my statistics class that I was finishing while I was down here. What a relief! I'm so close to being finished with my degree and yet it seems so far and difficult while being down here. 5 classes is only 1 semester, and yet that's a lot of distance courses!
The clinic continues to do work down in Port au Prince. Building some houses or structures, giving out food packages, caring for needs. We are working on an upate for the donors so I will post that for those interested when it's finished.
Live in Haiti is crazy. Hot. Exciting. Unpredictable. Hilarious. Frustrating. It's about everything, everyday. I started running again, so hopefully that will help with all of the above! :)
Saturday, May 8
Heading back and looking ahead
The end of our vacation is quickly coming to a close. Yesterday we took a bus from Puerta Plata to Santiago and spent the afternoon getting our hair cut/styled and enjoying a nice meal with friends. What a treat that was. While joking with Tammi (our missionary friend that we are hanging out and staying with) about life in Haiti, it was a reminder of life there. The unpredictableness of everything. The waiting. The poverty. No water or electricity. I was also reminded though, of the reasons why I love being there. The spirit and resilience of our Haitian brothers and sisters. The purpose of the health clinic that I'm attempting to help at. The laughs and tears that are shed there.
I don't feel ready to head back tomorrow. To have my heart broken all over again. It seems I was able to shut that all off for a week and a half while being in the DR. I don't feel ready to be in sensory overload: the smells, the sites, the noises, all the painful realities. Some days it feels difficult to have hope for this country. When you look at life in the DR you hope only that life in Haiti could develop to even a fraction of what they have here. I wish so deeply that there was some easy solution to creating jobs for Haitians. That they could have the choice to work. That they wouldn't have to rely on their children and the education that they are getting to earn an income to help the family. I just wish they had a choice. Do they? Where?
Over the next couple months I will be trying to ensure that the guys working as the accountants will be equipped with the tools that they need. How do you teach someone about accounting, about transparency, about all that's included in making good financial decisions and accountability for an organization, while at the same time attempting to teach them how to use a computer in order to do all that (all in 6 months time)? I feel like there's never an end to this task. They have been learning so much on their own with regards to Excel and Word, but there's just so much to know. And when you haven't grown up with computers, it's all brand new to you. And when you don't have training or experience in the field, it seems to just take a little longer. So, these next few months will interesting. I have no idea how the "wrap-up" will turn out.
I've been brainstorming about what's to come following the end of July. While here in the summer I mentioned in my blog that I had an idea or a dream as to what I would do if I ever came back to Haiti (following August 2009). It seems to still be on my heart quite heavly. I would love to teach people how to use a computer and how to type properlly. The internet and computers are an amazing thing and I so wish that the community of Haut Limbe would be able to have the chance to get to know the rest of the world through the internet (and talk to family for free on Skype, or at least know that it's an option!). So, over the next couple of weeks I hope to have some conversations with a few people about the realities of this task. I would love any ideas or connections that people might have for me regarding this. How would we find and get laptops down here? Are there good programs to teach typing? Is there a foundation that does work like this already in Haiti that we could partner with? Any suggestions or contacts?
I don't feel ready to head back tomorrow. To have my heart broken all over again. It seems I was able to shut that all off for a week and a half while being in the DR. I don't feel ready to be in sensory overload: the smells, the sites, the noises, all the painful realities. Some days it feels difficult to have hope for this country. When you look at life in the DR you hope only that life in Haiti could develop to even a fraction of what they have here. I wish so deeply that there was some easy solution to creating jobs for Haitians. That they could have the choice to work. That they wouldn't have to rely on their children and the education that they are getting to earn an income to help the family. I just wish they had a choice. Do they? Where?
Over the next couple months I will be trying to ensure that the guys working as the accountants will be equipped with the tools that they need. How do you teach someone about accounting, about transparency, about all that's included in making good financial decisions and accountability for an organization, while at the same time attempting to teach them how to use a computer in order to do all that (all in 6 months time)? I feel like there's never an end to this task. They have been learning so much on their own with regards to Excel and Word, but there's just so much to know. And when you haven't grown up with computers, it's all brand new to you. And when you don't have training or experience in the field, it seems to just take a little longer. So, these next few months will interesting. I have no idea how the "wrap-up" will turn out.
I've been brainstorming about what's to come following the end of July. While here in the summer I mentioned in my blog that I had an idea or a dream as to what I would do if I ever came back to Haiti (following August 2009). It seems to still be on my heart quite heavly. I would love to teach people how to use a computer and how to type properlly. The internet and computers are an amazing thing and I so wish that the community of Haut Limbe would be able to have the chance to get to know the rest of the world through the internet (and talk to family for free on Skype, or at least know that it's an option!). So, over the next couple of weeks I hope to have some conversations with a few people about the realities of this task. I would love any ideas or connections that people might have for me regarding this. How would we find and get laptops down here? Are there good programs to teach typing? Is there a foundation that does work like this already in Haiti that we could partner with? Any suggestions or contacts?
Monday, May 3
So about blogging...and life
I guess I'm somewhat bad at this keeping the blog updated thing. The truth is, I've been struggling with knowing how much to post and how much to keep private, and so I just haven't written anything. I want my struggles and joys to be shared, but it's hard to know that they'll be understood in the context properlly. Sorry about the lack of updating!
I'm here in Puerta Plata for 1 week on vacation with Janelle. We were given this as a gift and what a blessing it has been. The suspected culture shock is of course different than expected. When first arriving in the DR I realized how normal this life here is. How normal shopping is, eating at restaurants, taking a taxi or going somehwere when you want, walking at night, eating frozen yogurt, swimming in a pool, all of that. I miss this kind of life. Where things are easy. There's electricity, toilets that work, running water, internet, nicely constructed buildings, things to do and see. This world just seems normal to me. I understand it (although I don't understand the language). Life in Haiti is much different. My days repeat themselves, going 1 of 3 places repetitively. Sometimes we get out in the evening which is a nice change of scenary. That's been harder on me then I thought. I miss having a vehicle. Miss going to walk around a mall. Going for runs in different parks. Sitting in coffee shops. Going to school or work. All of those things.
I hadn't realized how hard things were back home in Haiti. Each day passes by and you make do. You find a way to stay busy and happy. You see that life is so much worse for others, which gives perspective. You see life in it's simplest and rawest forms most days. I love the people in Haiti. I love the people that I work with at the Clinic. The kids are amazing. The patients are resilient. The faith of all Haitians is so admirable and miraculous. There's so many difficulties about living in Haiti, and yet so many blessings. What a different life they live.
I've scheduled a visit home for the summer. I hope to return this fall to continue working and serving. I'm not sure in what capacity but hope to figure that out in the next few weeks. My job at the clinic officially finishes at the end of July and my plane arrives in Winnipeg on August 6th. I look forward to seeing friends and family again. Many of those I never got a chance to say goodbye to.
So while Janelle and I are here on vacation, we are enjoying the sun, laying on air matresses in the pool, wireless internet, television, a jacuzzi tub, amazing food, and I'm enjoying the "easiness" of life. Somehow, things just work and how refreshing it is. (We both commented on how nice it is to flush the toilet and have it work EVERY time! That's just one example...)
Here's a picture of us before going out to our supper off-site on Sunday.
I'm here in Puerta Plata for 1 week on vacation with Janelle. We were given this as a gift and what a blessing it has been. The suspected culture shock is of course different than expected. When first arriving in the DR I realized how normal this life here is. How normal shopping is, eating at restaurants, taking a taxi or going somehwere when you want, walking at night, eating frozen yogurt, swimming in a pool, all of that. I miss this kind of life. Where things are easy. There's electricity, toilets that work, running water, internet, nicely constructed buildings, things to do and see. This world just seems normal to me. I understand it (although I don't understand the language). Life in Haiti is much different. My days repeat themselves, going 1 of 3 places repetitively. Sometimes we get out in the evening which is a nice change of scenary. That's been harder on me then I thought. I miss having a vehicle. Miss going to walk around a mall. Going for runs in different parks. Sitting in coffee shops. Going to school or work. All of those things.
I hadn't realized how hard things were back home in Haiti. Each day passes by and you make do. You find a way to stay busy and happy. You see that life is so much worse for others, which gives perspective. You see life in it's simplest and rawest forms most days. I love the people in Haiti. I love the people that I work with at the Clinic. The kids are amazing. The patients are resilient. The faith of all Haitians is so admirable and miraculous. There's so many difficulties about living in Haiti, and yet so many blessings. What a different life they live.
I've scheduled a visit home for the summer. I hope to return this fall to continue working and serving. I'm not sure in what capacity but hope to figure that out in the next few weeks. My job at the clinic officially finishes at the end of July and my plane arrives in Winnipeg on August 6th. I look forward to seeing friends and family again. Many of those I never got a chance to say goodbye to.
So while Janelle and I are here on vacation, we are enjoying the sun, laying on air matresses in the pool, wireless internet, television, a jacuzzi tub, amazing food, and I'm enjoying the "easiness" of life. Somehow, things just work and how refreshing it is. (We both commented on how nice it is to flush the toilet and have it work EVERY time! That's just one example...)
Here's a picture of us before going out to our supper off-site on Sunday.
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